Chapter 12: ## Chapter 12: The Woman Wearing My The Woman Wearing My Mother's Face
Nobody moved.
I stared at Mother's Face
Nobody moved.
I stared at Michael.
"What did you just say?""
He Michael.
"What did you just say?""
He tightened his grip on my arm.
"Margaret is in a private care tightened his grip on my arm.
"Margaret is in a private care facility. I spoke to her yesterday.""
The woman outside knocked again.
"Daniel, facility. I spoke to her yesterday.""
The woman outside knocked again.
"Daniel, please. It's cold out here.""
My heart please. It's cold out here.""
My heart began racing.
I knew that voice.
I had heard it on the phone.
I had heard it began racing.
I knew that voice.
I had heard it on the phone.
I had heard it in my childhood.
I had heard it in the dreams that followed in my childhood.
I had heard it in the dreams that followed my mother's funeral.
"Mom?""
Michael shook his head.
"Don't open that door.""
Rachel approached my mother's funeral.
"Mom?""
Michael shook his head.
"Don't open that door.""
Rachel approached the the window and carefully pulled the curtain aside.
She looked outside.
Then she stepped backward.
"Oh, my God.""
"What?""
"There's a woman standing on the porch.""
"Who?""
Rachel swallowed.
"Vivian.""
I turned toward the door.
The voice outside window and carefully pulled the curtain aside.
She looked outside.
Then she stepped backward.
"Oh, my God.""
"What?""
"There's a woman standing on the porch.""
"Who?""
Rachel swallowed.
"Vivian.""
I turned toward the door.
The voice outside changed.
"Daniel, I know you're all in there.""
It was no longer gentle.
It was cold.
Michael took out his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Before he could dial, changed.
"Daniel, I know you're all in there.""
It was no longer gentle.
It was cold.
Michael took out his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Before he could dial, someone outside struck the door with the palm of their hand.
"Open it!""
Lily grabbed my sleeve.
"That's her.""
I looked at her.
"Vivian?""
She nodded.
someone outside struck the door with the palm of their hand.
"Open it!""
Lily grabbed my sleeve.
"That's her.""
I looked at her.
"Vivian?""
She nodded.
"She used to knock like that whenever she was angry.""
I moved toward the front window.
Through the narrow gap in the curtains, I saw Vivian standing on the porch.
She wasn't alone.
Robert was beside"She used to knock like that whenever she was angry.""
I moved toward the front window.
Through the narrow gap in the curtains, I saw Vivian standing on the porch.
She wasn't alone.
Robert was beside her.
And behind them stood a third person.
A woman wearing a gray coat.
White hair her.
And behind them stood a third person.
A woman wearing a gray coat.
White hair.
Thin face.
My breath caught.
It was the woman.
Thin face.
My breath caught.
It was the woman Emma had described.
My mother.
I stepped closer.
Michael grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't.""
Emma had described.
My mother.
I stepped closer.
Michael grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't.""
"That's Margaret.""
"Look at her carefully.""
I did.
She was holding"That's Margaret.""
"Look at her carefully.""
I did.
She was holding something in her right hand.
A small photograph.
Then she raised it something in her right hand.
A small photograph.
Then she raised it toward the window.
It was a photograph of Emma.
My daughter.
The woman outside mouthed toward the window.
It was a photograph of Emma.
My daughter.
The woman outside mouthed three words.
Bring her here.
I felt sick.
"What do they want with Emma?""
three words.
Bring her here.
I felt sick.
"What do they want with Emma?""
Michael's expression darkened.
"Because Emma knows something theyMichael's expression darkened.
"Because Emma knows something they don't want her to remember.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
He took a don't want her to remember.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
He took a breath.
"Your mother told me that when Emma was born, she recognized something.""
"Recogn breath.
"Your mother told me that when Emma was born, she recognized something.""
"Recognized what?""
"Her birthmark.""
I frowned.
Emma had a tiny cresized what?""
"Her birthmark.""
I frowned.
Emma had a tiny crescent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
Sarah had always thought it was adorable.
cent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
Sarah had always thought it was adorable.
Michael continued.
"Margaret believed Emma had inherited the same genetic marker as the missingMichael continued.
"Margaret believed Emma had inherited the same genetic marker as the missing girl.""
I stared at him.
"You're saying Emma girl.""
I stared at him.
"You're saying Emma might be connected to the third baby?""
"Not might.""
He opened the hospital might be connected to the third baby?""
"Not might.""
He opened the hospital record again.
"The third child was a girl. Her name was registered as record again.
"The third child was a girl. Her name was registered as Anna. Margaret believed she survived, but someone changed her identity.""
I looked at Lily.
Then Anna. Margaret believed she survived, but someone changed her identity.""
I looked at Lily.
Then at Rachel.
"Who was Anna?""
Michael shook his head.
"We don't know yet.""
at Rachel.
"Who was Anna?""
Michael shook his head.
"We don't know yet.""
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then twice.
Robert's voice came through.
"The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then twice.
Robert's voice came through.
"Daniel, open this door. We need to talk.""
I walkedDaniel, open this door. We need to talk.""
I walked toward the entrance.
Michael stepped in front of me.
"Don't let him toward the entrance.
Michael stepped in front of me.
"Don't let him inside.""
But I was done being frightened of my father.
I unlocked the inside.""
But I was done being frightened of my father.
I unlocked the door and opened it halfway.
Robert stood outside.
"Finally.""
door and opened it halfway.
Robert stood outside.
"Finally.""
"What do you want?""
He looked past me.
"Where are the"What do you want?""
He looked past me.
"Where are the documents?""
"Safe.""
"Give them to me.""
"No.""
He sighed.
documents?""
"Safe.""
"Give them to me.""
"No.""
He sighed.
"Daniel, you're making a mistake.""
"Tell me why Vivian is"Daniel, you're making a mistake.""
"Tell me why Vivian is here.""
"She's my wife.""
"She's Margaret's daughter.""
here.""
"She's my wife.""
"She's Margaret's daughter.""
Robert's face tightened.
"Who told you that?""
"Vivian.""
He glanced towardRobert's face tightened.
"Who told you that?""
"Vivian.""
He glanced toward her.
She avoided his eyes.
I continued.
her.
She avoided his eyes.
I continued.
"And I know about Anna.""
That name changed everything"And I know about Anna.""
That name changed everything.
Robert's expression collapsed.
For a moment, he looked like an old man who had.
Robert's expression collapsed.
For a moment, he looked like an old man who had finally run out of excuses.
Then he recovered.
"You don't understand what happened.""
"Then explain it finally run out of excuses.
Then he recovered.
"You don't understand what happened.""
"Then explain it.""
He looked at the woman in the gray coat.
"Margaret?""
She.""
He looked at the woman in the gray coat.
"Margaret?""
She stepped forward.
Her eyes were wet.
"Robert, stepped forward.
Her eyes were wet.
"Robert, stop.""
He turned toward her.
"You shouldn't be here.""
"I've stop.""
He turned toward her.
"You shouldn't be here.""
"I've spent twelve years not being here.""
She looked at me.
"Daniel spent twelve years not being here.""
She looked at me.
"Daniel.""
My throat tightened.
"Mom?""
She nodded.
I wanted to embrace her.
I wanted to.""
My throat tightened.
"Mom?""
She nodded.
I wanted to embrace her.
I wanted to ask why she had abandoned us.
I wanted to know how she had survived.
But Michael moved ask why she had abandoned us.
I wanted to know how she had survived.
But Michael moved toward the doorway.
"Margaret?""
She looked toward the doorway.
"Margaret?""
She looked at him.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Michael's face cr at him.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Michael's face crumpled.
He stepped outside.
For a moment, they simply stared atumpled.
He stepped outside.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Then my mother touched his cheek.
"My little boy.""
Michael began crying each other.
Then my mother touched his cheek.
"My little boy.""
Michael began crying.
I watched them.
This was the woman who had supposedly died when I.
I watched them.
This was the woman who had supposedly died when I was thirty-one.
The woman whose grave I had visited every Christmas.
The woman who was thirty-one.
The woman whose grave I had visited every Christmas.
The woman who had missed Emma's first steps, her first words, and every birthday.
She had missed Emma's first steps, her first words, and every birthday.
She was standing less than ten feet away.
Alive.
And I was standing less than ten feet away.
Alive.
And I didn't know whether to hug her or demand an explanation.
Finally, I stepped outside.
didn't know whether to hug her or demand an explanation.
Finally, I stepped outside.
"Why didn't you come back?""
Margaret looked at me.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Why didn't you come back?""
Margaret looked at me.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Many times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
She glanced toward Robert.
"Because"Many times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
She glanced toward Robert.
"Because he had something I couldn't risk losing.""
"What?""
She looked through the doorway.
At Lily.
Then at Emma's photograph he had something I couldn't risk losing.""
"What?""
She looked through the doorway.
At Lily.
Then at Emma's photograph on the wall.
"All of you.""
I shook my head.
"That's not an answer.""
on the wall.
"All of you.""
I shook my head.
"That's not an answer.""
She nodded.
"You're right.""
Her eyes filled.
"I was wrong to let you grow up believing I was dead. I thought staying away would protect you. I thought I could fix everythingShe nodded.
"You're right.""
Her eyes filled.
"I was wrong to let you grow up believing I was dead. I thought staying away would protect you. I thought I could fix everything before coming home.""
"Did you know about Lily before coming home.""
"Did you know about Lily?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know about Michael?""
She nodded.
"Did you know about the other?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know about Michael?""
She nodded.
"Did you know about the other baby?""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
I felt my chest tighten baby?""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then tell me who Anna is.""
My mother looked at Robert.
He stared.
"Then tell me who Anna is.""
My mother looked at Robert.
He stared at the ground.
Finally, she whispered:
"Anna is your daughter.""
I couldn't at the ground.
Finally, she whispered:
"Anna is your daughter.""
I couldn't move.
"What?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your first daughter.""
move.
"What?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your first daughter.""
I stared at her.
"No. Lily is my daughter.""
"Yes. Lily isI stared at her.
"No. Lily is my daughter.""
"Yes. Lily is your daughter.""
"Then who is Anna?""
Margaret looked at Emma's your daughter.""
"Then who is Anna?""
Margaret looked at Emma's photograph.
"Anna was born before Lily.""
The room seemed to photograph.
"Anna was born before Lily.""
The room seemed to spin.
I remembered Laura telling me she had given birth to one girl.
spin.
I remembered Laura telling me she had given birth to one girl.
I remembered the birth certificate.
Lily Margaret Bennett.
But now my mother was saying there hadI remembered the birth certificate.
Lily Margaret Bennett.
But now my mother was saying there had been another child.
"Laura had twins?""
Margaret nodded.
"She gave birth to two girls been another child.
"Laura had twins?""
Margaret nodded.
"She gave birth to two girls.""
I looked at the hospital record.
Three babies.
Two boys.
One girl.
Then another child.
The.""
I looked at the hospital record.
Three babies.
Two boys.
One girl.
Then another child.
The dates were beginning to blur together.
"How many children dates were beginning to blur together.
"How many children were hidden from me?""
My were hidden from me?""
My mother began crying.
"Too many.""
Robert suddenly stepped mother began crying.
"Too many.""
Robert suddenly stepped forward.
"That's enough, Margaret.""
She turned toward him.
"No.""
"You're forward.
"That's enough, Margaret.""
She turned toward him.
"No.""
"You're upsetting him.""
"You've been upsetting him his entire life.""
Robert grabbed upsetting him.""
"You've been upsetting him his entire life.""
Robert grabbed her arm.
Michael immediately pushed him away.
"Don't touch her!""
her arm.
Michael immediately pushed him away.
"Don't touch her!""
My father stumbled backward.
Vivian stepped between themMy father stumbled backward.
Vivian stepped between them.
"Robert, please. Let her speak.""
He turned on.
"Robert, please. Let her speak.""
He turned on her.
"You've done enough.""
Vivian looked at him.
"I her.
"You've done enough.""
Vivian looked at him.
"I did what you asked.""
"And now you're trying to did what you asked.""
"And now you're trying to destroy me?""
"I'm trying to stop you from destroying everyone else.""
destroy me?""
"I'm trying to stop you from destroying everyone else.""
I looked at my mother.
"Where is Anna?""
Margaret reached into her coat.
SheI looked at my mother.
"Where is Anna?""
Margaret reached into her coat.
She removed a small photograph.
It showed a little girl, perhaps four years old, sitting removed a small photograph.
It showed a little girl, perhaps four years old, sitting on a swing.
She had dark hair and a crescent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
The same on a swing.
She had dark hair and a crescent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
The same place as Emma's.
I felt my legs weaken.
"Who is she place as Emma's.
I felt my legs weaken.
"Who is she?""
Margaret handed me the photograph.
"Her name is Anna.""
I stared at the little?""
Margaret handed me the photograph.
"Her name is Anna.""
I stared at the little girl's face.
Then I noticed the woman standing behind the swing.
She was younger, girl's face.
Then I noticed the woman standing behind the swing.
She was younger, with dark hair and a familiar smile.
Laura.
My mother touched my with dark hair and a familiar smile.
Laura.
My mother touched my arm.
"Your father didn't just hide Anna from you.""
She looked at Robert.
"He arm.
"Your father didn't just hide Anna from you.""
She looked at Robert.
"He arranged for her to be raised by someone who would never let her arranged for her to be raised by someone who would never let her discover who she was.""
I turned toward him.
"Who?""
Robert didn't answer discover who she was.""
I turned toward him.
"Who?""
Robert didn't answer.
Then Lily suddenly spoke.
"Wait.""
Everyone looked at.
Then Lily suddenly spoke.
"Wait.""
Everyone looked at her.
She was holding her phone.
"I know that girl.""
her.
She was holding her phone.
"I know that girl.""
My heart stopped.
"How?""
Lily enlarged the photograph.
Then she opened anotherMy heart stopped.
"How?""
Lily enlarged the photograph.
Then she opened another picture from her phone.
It showed Lily standing beside picture from her phone.
It showed Lily standing beside a young woman at a restaurant.
The woman had dark hair.
A small cres a young woman at a restaurant.
The woman had dark hair.
A small crescent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
And the same eyes as thecent-shaped birthmark behind her left ear.
And the same eyes as the little girl in my mother's photograph.
Lily whispered:
"She's my best friend little girl in my mother's photograph.
Lily whispered:
"She's my best friend.""
I stared at the screen.
"What's her name?""
Lily looked at me.
"Anna.""
I stared at the screen.
"What's her name?""
Lily looked at me.
"Anna.""
My mother began sobbing.
Robert closed his eyes.
Then my phone.""
My mother began sobbing.
Robert closed his eyes.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Laura.
Daniel, I'm coming to get Lily.
vibrated.
A message from Laura.
Daniel, I'm coming to get Lily.
Another message appeared immediately afterward.
*And I'mAnother message appeared immediately afterward.
And I'm bringing Anna.
I looked up.
My mother was staring at the screen.
bringing Anna.*
I looked up.
My mother was staring at the screen.
"Daniel," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"Daniel," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She gripped my hand.
"Whatever Laura tells you, remember that Anna wasn'tShe gripped my hand.
"Whatever Laura tells you, remember that Anna wasn't the only baby Vivian took.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Marg the only baby Vivian took.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Margaret looked toward Vivian.
Then she said:
"One of those girls wasaret looked toward Vivian.
Then she said:
"One of those girls was switched at switched at birth.""
And suddenly, the question wasn't how many daughters I had.
It was whether the daughter I had raised for eight years was really mine at all. birth.""
May you like
And suddenly, the question wasn't how many daughters I had.
It was whether the daughter I had raised for eight years was really mine at all.
