Chapter 17: Two Mothers, One Truth
Nobody moved.
The woman holding the gun stood beneath the church entrance, her finger resting near the trigger.
Laura stepped in front of Lily.
"Margaret, put it down.""
Margaret laughed.
"You always did think you could tell me what to do.""
Michael stared between them.
"Which one of you is my wife?""
Laura looked at him.
"I am.""
Margaret raised the gun slightly.
"That's what she wants you to believe.""
Boone stepped forward.
"Let's all take a breath.""
Margaret turned the weapon toward him.
"Stay where you are.""
Boone stopped.
Duke remained near the rear entrance, out of her line of sight.
Michael looked at Lily.
The little girl was trembling.
"Please," he whispered.
"She's a child.""
Margaret glanced at her.
"I know exactly what she is.""
Laura's voice broke.
"She's your niece.""
"She's the reason everything fell apart.""
Michael stepped forward.
"Why did you take her?""
Margaret's expression hardened.
"Because Laura was going to destroy us.""
"Us?""
"She found the records. She found the families. She found out what Ryan was doing. And she wanted to hand everything to the police.""
Laura shook her head.
"That isn't true.""
Margaret laughed.
"You always leave out the parts that make you look bad.""
Michael turned to Laura.
"What happened?""
Laura looked at him.
"Margaret and I were both involved with Carterside in the beginning. We thought we were helping families who couldn't have children.""
"Helping them?""
"We believed the agency had proper authority. Ryan told us every placement was legal.""
Margaret interrupted.
"Until Laura started asking questions.""
Laura continued.
"Then I discovered the consent forms were forged. Some mothers had never agreed to adoption. Some children had been reported dead when they were alive.""
Michael stared at her.
"And you stayed?""
"For a while.""
"How long?""
Laura lowered her eyes.
"Too long.""
Margaret smiled.
"Tell him the rest.""
Laura's face tightened.
"After I found out about Sophie and Lily, I tried to get them out.""
Michael looked at the twins' mother.
"Why didn't you tell me about the second baby?""
"Because I didn't know who I could trust.""
"You could have trusted me.""
"I thought you were working with Ryan.""
Michael shook his head.
"I was trying to keep Sophie safe.""
Laura began crying.
"I know that now.""
Margaret laughed again.
"Beautiful. Really. But none of it changes what happened.""
Boone watched her carefully.
"Then tell us what happened.""
Margaret looked at him.
"Laura made a deal with Ryan. She agreed to give up one of the babies in exchange for keeping the other.""
Michael's face went white.
"That's a lie.""
Laura closed her eyes.
"Michael...""
He turned toward her.
"Tell me it's a lie.""
Laura couldn't.
For a moment, the church seemed to become completely silent.
Then Laura spoke.
"I was told Lily would be placed with a safe family. I thought I could find her later.""
Michael looked at her as if he no longer recognized her.
"You gave away our daughter?""
"I was trying to save both of them.""
"You let me believe she was dead.""
"I thought Ryan would kill you if you knew.""
Margaret lowered the gun slightly.
"She always has an excuse.""
Laura turned on her.
"You stole Lily from the family I chose for her!""
"I protected her.""
"You used her as leverage.""
"I raised her!""
Lily began crying.
"Stop fighting!""
Both women went silent.
The little girl stepped away from Margaret.
"Mommy said I had another family.""
Margaret's face softened.
"Sweetheart, come here.""
Lily shook her head.
"Which Mommy?""
Michael felt his chest tighten.
Laura knelt.
"I'm your birth mother, Lily.""
Margaret's eyes flashed.
"And I'm the one who fed you, held you when you were sick, and stayed awake when you had nightmares.""
Lily looked confused.
"Are you both my mommies?""
Neither woman answered.
Then a voice came from the rear of the church.
"That's enough.""
Deputy Harris entered with Agent Shaw and two officers.
"Put the gun down, Margaret.""
Margaret turned.
For a moment, she seemed to consider firing.
Then she lowered the weapon.
An officer rushed forward and took it.
Agent Shaw approached Laura.
"Laura Reeves, you're coming with us.""
Michael stepped between them.
"She's not going anywhere until she tells me the truth.""
Agent Shaw looked at him.
"She will have the opportunity to explain everything.""
Laura reached for Michael.
"Please. I need you to listen.""
He stepped back.
"How many times did you lie to me?""
Laura whispered.
"Too many.""
Margaret was handcuffed.
As officers led her away, she turned toward Laura.
"You think you've won?""
Laura didn't answer.
Margaret looked at Lily.
"Ask her what happened to Aaron.""
Michael frowned.
"What about Aaron?""
Laura went pale.
Margaret smiled.
"Your wife knows why Sophie's biological father died.""
Michael grabbed Laura's arm.
"What is she talking about?""
Laura shook her head.
"Not here.""
"Tell me!""
Agent Shaw intervened.
"Everyone needs to calm down.""
But Michael couldn't.
"Aaron was killed in a construction accident. That's what Claire was told.""
Laura looked toward the floor.
"He didn't die in an accident.""
Michael froze.
Boone stepped closer.
"What happened?""
Laura's eyes filled.
"Ryan arranged it.""
Michael stared at her.
"Why?""
Laura looked at Lily.
Then she whispered:
"Because Aaron was the first person who discovered the baby transfers.""
Agent Shaw's expression changed.
"You're saying Aaron was murdered?""
Laura nodded.
"And I have proof.""
She reached inside her coat and removed a small envelope.
Before she could hand it over, a gunshot shattered the church window.
Everyone dropped.
Boone tackled Michael to the floor.
Harris pulled Laura behind a pew.
Lily screamed.
When the officers looked toward the parking lot, a black SUV was speeding away.
Agent Shaw rushed to the window.
"Get the license plate!""
Duke ran outside.
But the vehicle was already gone.
Michael turned toward Laura.
The envelope had disappeared.
May you like
So had Lily.
And the last person anyone had seen near the side door was Margaret.
