Chapter 14: The Truth About Both Girls
We spent the next two hours at Daniel's office.
He had contacted the hospital's compliance department and arranged for the original records to be preserved.
He had also sent copies of Helen's documents to an investigator.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the note.
Rachel knows Olivia was not the only baby involved.
I sat across from Richard.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept in a week.
"Do you know what that means?"" I asked.
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Did Patricia ever tell you anything about Olivia's birth?""
Richard rubbed his face.
"She said Olivia was premature. She told me there had been complications.""
"Anything else?""
"She said the hospital made a mistake with her medication.""
I leaned forward.
"Did she ever mention another baby?""
Richard went still.
Then he slowly nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About a year after Olivia was born.""
"What did she say?""
Richard looked toward the window.
"She told me that another family had been involved in the incident. She said the hospital had made a mistake involving two newborns.""
My stomach tightened.
"Which family?""
"She wouldn't tell me.""
I stared at him.
"Richard, my daughter was born that same night.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know the connection.""
Rebecca placed a hand on the table.
"We need to find out exactly what happened.""
Daniel entered carrying a printed email.
"The hospital has responded.""
We all looked at him.
"What did they find?"" I asked.
"They located an original neonatal incident log. It confirms that two newborns were involved in the medication error.""
Richard closed his eyes.
Daniel continued.
"One was Olivia Whitmore. The other was Lily Malone.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What?""
"The original log indicates that a medication administration error affected both babies.""
I stood.
"Was Lily harmed?""
Daniel shook his head.
"The records show that Emily identified the discrepancy and the doctors intervened. There is no indication in the surviving medical documentation that Lily suffered lasting injury.""
I sat down again.
For five years, I'd believed Lily's difficult first hours were simply an unfortunate complication.
Now I knew someone had made a mistake.
And someone had tried to hide it.
Rebecca opened the original trust folder.
"Emily knew.""
Daniel nodded.
"Her notes indicate she was concerned that the hospital's revised report concealed the involvement of both children.""
Richard looked at me.
"Bear, I swear I didn't know.""
I believed he hadn't known.
But that didn't make the situation easier.
"What did Patricia know?"" I asked.
Daniel placed the email on the table.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
My phone rang.
It was Mara.
I answered.
"Hey.""
"Bear, I need you to come to the academy.""
"What happened?""
"It's Olivia.""
I stood.
"Is she okay?""
"She's physically fine. But Patricia came back.""
My jaw tightened.
"Where is she?""
"In Eleanor's office. Richard needs to be here too.""
I looked at Richard.
He was already reaching for his jacket.
We drove to the academy.
When we entered, Olivia was sitting beside Mara in the small studio.
She was holding a stuffed rabbit.
Mara looked relieved when she saw us.
"Thank goodness.""
"What happened?"" Richard asked.
Mara lowered her voice.
"Patricia arrived and demanded Olivia's records. She said she was withdrawing her from the school.""
Richard frowned.
"Why?""
"She claims the academy has turned against her.""
I looked at Olivia.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She smiled weakly.
"Hi.""
"Everything okay?""
She nodded.
But her fingers were twisting the rabbit's ear.
Richard knelt beside her.
"Do you want to go home with me?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I want to stay with Mara.""
Mara smiled gently.
"She's welcome to stay while we sort things out.""
Then the office door opened.
Patricia stepped into the hallway.
Her face was flushed.
"Richard.""
He stood.
"We need to talk.""
"Not here.""
"Actually, yes. Here.""
Patricia looked at me.
"Why is he involved?""
Richard's voice was firm.
"Because this concerns both our daughters.""
Patricia laughed bitterly.
"Don't pretend you care about that girl.""
I stepped forward.
"Careful.""
Richard raised his hand.
"Bear, let me.""
He turned toward Patricia.
"Did you know the hospital made a medication error involving Lily and Olivia?""
Patricia froze.
For a moment, the expression on her face told us everything.
Then she recovered.
"That was years ago.""
Richard stared at her.
"So you knew.""
"I was protecting my daughter.""
"By changing the medical records?""
"Nobody changed anything important.""
Daniel, who had arrived behind us, stepped forward.
"The original records indicate otherwise.""
Patricia looked at him.
"You have no right to discuss my daughter's medical history.""
Daniel remained calm.
"We are discussing records that concern both children. The hospital is conducting its own review.""
Patricia's voice rose.
"You people don't understand what was at stake!""
Richard stepped closer.
"Then explain it.""
She looked at him.
"I was terrified!""
"Of what?""
"Of losing Olivia!""
Richard's expression changed.
"Why would you lose her?""
Patricia began crying.
"Because they said there would be an investigation. They said someone might decide I was responsible.""
Richard shook his head.
"You didn't administer the medication.""
"No, but I was there! I knew what happened!""
The hallway became silent.
Patricia wiped her cheeks.
"Dr. Harlan told me it could destroy everything. My marriage.
My reputation. My future with Olivia.""
Richard stared at her.
"So you helped him hide it.""
Patricia looked away.
"I did what I had to do.""
"And Emily?""
Patricia's face tightened.
"Emily wouldn't stop.""
"She was trying to protect both children.""
"She wanted to expose me!""
Richard shook his head.
"She wanted the truth.""
Patricia suddenly turned toward me.
"Rachel was the same.""
My entire body went still.
"What did you say?""
Patricia looked at me.
"Your wife found the original records. She wanted to report everything.""
"How do you know?""
"Because she told me.""
I stepped forward.
"When?""
"At the hospital.""
My voice dropped.
"You visited my wife?""
Patricia nodded.
"She asked me to leave her alone.""
"Why were you there?""
"Because she had the documents.""
I felt my pulse pounding.
"Did you threaten her?""
Patricia shook her head.
"No.""
"Did you tell her to keep quiet?""
She didn't answer.
Richard looked horrified.
"Patricia.""
She finally spoke.
"I told her she would destroy two families.""
I stared at her.
"And what did Rachel say?""
Patricia's eyes filled.
"She said two little girls mattered more than my reputation.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Olivia appeared in the doorway.
She was holding her stuffed rabbit.
"Mommy?""
Patricia turned.
"Go back inside.""
Olivia shook her head.
"Why are you shouting?""
Patricia's face softened briefly.
"Sweetheart, come here.""
Olivia took a step forward.
Then she stopped.
"Did you make Lily cry?""
Patricia looked stunned.
"What?""
Olivia's voice trembled.
"Did you tell people not to let her dance?""
Patricia looked at Richard.
Then at me.
And finally, at her daughter.
"I was trying to help you.""
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't want Lily to be sad.""
Patricia covered her mouth.
Richard approached Olivia and took her hand.
"Come on, sweetheart.""
Then he turned toward Patricia.
"I think you need to leave.""
She stared at him.
"You're choosing them?""
"I'm choosing the truth.""
Patricia looked at the three of us.
Then she walked toward the exit.
But before she reached the door, she turned around.
"You still don't know everything.""
I frowned.
"What else is there?""
Her eyes settled on Richard.
Then she spoke.
"Ask him what happened to the original hospital report.""
Richard looked confused.
"What are you talking about?""
Patricia gave a bitter laugh.
"You signed the revised report, Richard. You signed it yourself.""
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Richard went completely still.
And I realized that the secret had reached much closer to home than any of us had imagined.
