Chapter 10: The Baby in the Photograph
I read Sarah's handwriting three times.
If Michael ever discovers the truth, tell him Lily was never supposed to come home with us.
The words blurred.
I looked at the photograph again.
Sarah was standing beside a hospital bed, wearing the blue cardigan she had worn during the final weeks of her pregnancy. Her hair was tied back, and she looked exhausted.
A newborn baby slept beneath a white blanket.
But the date printed in the corner was wrong.
It was dated four days before Lily's recorded birthday.
I turned the photograph over.
There was another sentence beneath Sarah's handwriting.
Ask Dr. Eleanor Hayes about Room 306.
“Detective,” I whispered.
Harris was helping an officer secure Helen's handbag.
He turned.
“What is it?””
I showed him the photograph.
His expression changed.
“Where did you find this?””
“Mason pulled it from Vanessa's bag.””
Harris examined both sides.
“Don't make assumptions yet. We'll investigate the hospital records.””
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was sitting on the floor while paramedics treated her injured shoulder. Her face was pale, and her eyes were fixed on the photograph.
“Vanessa.””
She didn't answer.
“Look at me.””
Slowly, she raised her head.
“Who is the baby in this picture?””
Her lips trembled.
“Michael, please.””
“Who is it?””
She looked toward Helen.
Her mother was already being escorted outside.
“Don't answer him,” Helen snapped.
Vanessa flinched.
I stepped closer.
“You're going to tell me the truth.””
She began crying.
“It's complicated.””
“Then make it simple.””
She stared at Lily.
Then she whispered:
“Lily wasn't the baby Sarah gave birth to.””
The room seemed to disappear.
I heard Mason gasp behind me.
I looked down at my daughter.
Her little hands were holding the collar of my shirt.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa covered her face.
“Sarah's baby died.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Michael—”
“No. Lily is my daughter.””
“She is your daughter,” Vanessa said quickly.
“But Sarah didn't give birth to her.””
I felt physically sick.
“What happened?””
Vanessa looked toward the doorway.
Helen was gone.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Sarah gave birth to a little girl who died shortly after delivery. There was another baby in the hospital. A newborn whose mother had died during childbirth.””
I stared at her.
“And?””
“Sarah was devastated. She couldn't accept that her daughter was gone.””
I shook my head.
“Are you saying she took another woman's baby?””
Vanessa nodded.
My hands began trembling.
“That's impossible.””
“Dr. Hayes arranged everything.””
I remembered the name on the photograph.
Dr. Eleanor Hayes.
“Why?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because Sarah had discovered that the other baby was being placed into temporary care. She believed the child would be better off with her.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“Did I know?””
“No.””
“Did Sarah tell me?””
“No.””
I stepped backward.
My entire marriage to Sarah had been built on a truth I had never known.
Or so Vanessa wanted me to believe.
I looked at Lily.
She was watching my face.
“Daddy?””
I immediately crouched.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
“Are you sad?””
I swallowed.
“A little, baby.””
“Did I do something wrong?””
My heart shattered.
“No. You didn't do anything wrong. Not one thing.””
She reached out and touched my cheek.
“Then don't be sad.””
I pulled her into my arms.
Whatever the truth was, Lily was still my daughter.
Nothing could change that.
But I needed answers.
At the police station, Vanessa was questioned separately from Helen.
Detective Harris arranged for a child welfare specialist to take Mason's statement while I waited outside the interview room.
At 3:40 p.m., Vanessa finally agreed to speak with me.
She sat behind a metal table, her shoulder bandaged.
“You wanted to see me?”” she asked.
I remained standing.
“Tell me everything about the baby.””
Vanessa stared at her hands.
“Sarah gave birth at St. Mary's Hospital. Her daughter had a congenital condition. She died less than an hour after delivery.””
I closed my eyes.
Sarah had told me our daughter was healthy.
She had brought Lily home three days later.
I remembered holding that tiny bundle against my chest.
I remembered Sarah crying with happiness.
“Who was Lily's biological mother?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I was never told her name.””
“Then how did you know about the arrangement?””
“Because Helen was involved in the hospital's charity program. She knew Dr. Hayes.””
I gripped the back of a chair.
“What did Sarah do?””
“She took Lily home. The hospital records were changed. The other mother's death was concealed.””
“Why would Sarah do that?””
Vanessa looked up.
“Because she couldn't bear losing her child.””
I stared at her.
“Sarah was not a criminal.””
Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
“You don't know everything about the woman you married.””
I leaned forward.
“Neither do you.””
She looked away.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Michael, there's a reason Helen wanted the necklace.””
I waited.
“The safe deposit box contains the original hospital records. Birth certificates. Medical documents. The real identity of Lily's mother.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“And why does that matter to Helen?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Because Lily's biological mother wasn't just another patient.””
“Who was she?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“She was Helen's daughter.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Her name was Claire.””
I shook my head.
“That's impossible. Helen has only one daughter.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Claire was her older daughter. She died giving birth.””
I couldn't speak.
Vanessa leaned forward.
“And Claire's father was a man who left Helen millions in inheritance.””
The detective opened the door.
“That's enough for today.””
But as I turned to leave, Vanessa called after me.
“Michael!””
I stopped.
She whispered:
“There's something Sarah never told you about Claire.””
“What?””
May you like
Vanessa looked toward the observation window.
“Claire was alive when Lily was born.””
