Chapter 3: The Woman at the Door
Vanessa held the envelope with shaking fingers.
Marcus stood behind her.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“You've said that word all night.””
She tore the envelope open.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Marcus twenty years younger, standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was a woman Vanessa had never seen before.
The woman was pregnant.
Vanessa's eyes moved to the back of the photograph.
A date had been written there.
*October 14, 2007.*
Her breath caught.
Emily had been born in 2015.
“What does this mean?””
Marcus stared at the photograph.
“Vanessa…”
“Who is she?””
“She was my father's nurse.””
“And why was she pregnant?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Was that your baby?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
She studied his face.
“Then whose?””
Before he could respond, Claire knocked again.
“Marcus!””
Vanessa marched to the door.
Marcus followed.
“Don't open it.””
She turned.
“I'm done being afraid of what you'll say.””
She unlocked the door.
A woman stood outside in a dark coat, her hair soaked by the rain.
She looked to be in her late forties.
Her eyes immediately went to Marcus.
“Where's Emily?””
Vanessa stepped in front of her.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at her.
“My name is Claire Bennett.””
“I know your name.””
Claire's face tightened.
“Then you know why I'm here.””
“No. I don't.””
Claire looked past Vanessa.
“Marcus, you have to tell her.””
Marcus stood silently.
Claire shook her head.
“You promised me.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
“Tomorrow.””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“There may not be a tomorrow.””
Vanessa's blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?””
Claire reached into her coat.
Marcus moved instantly.
“Don't.””
Claire pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“Your father kept this.””
Vanessa took it.
It was a photocopy of a birth certificate.
She looked at the name.
Then looked again.
Her hands began trembling.
The mother's name wasn't hers.
The father's name wasn't Marcus Johnson.
And yet the child's date of birth was unmistakable.
*March 3, 2015.*
Emily's birthday.
Vanessa looked up.
“This is Emily's birth certificate.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Claire nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa turned toward Marcus.
“Why does this say the father is someone named Daniel Reed?””
Marcus's face went white.
Claire whispered, “Because Daniel Reed is Emily's biological father.””
Vanessa couldn't speak.
She looked toward the stairs.
Emily was sleeping upstairs.
Her entire world had just changed while her daughter slept under the same roof.
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Vanessa, I never wanted you to find out this way.””
She backed away.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“How long?””
“Twelve years.””
Vanessa slapped him.
The sound echoed through the house.
Marcus didn't defend himself.
“You let me believe she was yours.””
“She is mine.””
“Biologically?””
“No.””
“Then you lied to me every single day.””
Marcus's eyes filled.
“I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“My father.””
Claire looked away.
Vanessa noticed.
“What does your father have to do with this?””
Marcus said nothing.
Claire answered for him.
“Everything.””
She stepped inside.
“Your husband didn't steal Emily from another man, Vanessa.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Then what happened?””
Claire looked at Marcus.
He nodded reluctantly.
“Tell her.””
Claire took a breath.
“Daniel Reed was Marcus's closest friend.””
Vanessa stared.
“Was?””
“He died three months before Emily was born.””
Silence.
“What?””
Claire continued.
“Daniel was the father of Emily. But he never knew you were pregnant.””
Vanessa's mind raced.
She had never met Daniel Reed.
At least, she didn't think she had.
She looked at Marcus.
“Then how did you know?””
Marcus whispered, “Because Daniel called me the night before he died.””
“Why?””
“He said he had made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Marcus's phone rang.
Everyone froze.
The screen displayed an unknown number.
Marcus answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Marcus.””
Marcus's face changed.
Vanessa watched him carefully.
“Who is this?””
The caller laughed softly.
“You've spent twelve years pretending Daniel is dead.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“That's impossible.””
The voice answered:
“No, Marcus. What's impossible is that you still think Vanessa hasn't found out what you did.””
The call ended.
Vanessa stared at her husband.
“What did you do?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
Then Claire slowly looked toward the upstairs hallway.
“Vanessa,” she whispered, “there's something you need to know about Emily.””
Vanessa's heart pounded.
“What?””
May you like
Claire's eyes filled with fear.
“Emily wasn't the only child born that night.””
