Chapter 9: The Night Ethan Was Born
I called my mother immediately.
She didn’t answer.
I called again.
Nothing.
The third time, her phone went straight to voicemail.
I stared at the letter.
My hands were shaking.
How many more secrets were there?
How many moments in my life had been changed by decisions I never knew about?
The next morning, I drove to my mother’s house.
She opened the door before I knocked.
She had been expecting me.
“You got the letter.””
“Yes.””
She stepped aside.
“Come in.””
I didn’t sit.
“Tell me.””
She looked exhausted.
“The night Ethan was born was complicated.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She nodded.
“Laura went into labor early.””
I knew that part.
“She was alone.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“She called Jay first.””
I froze.
“But he didn’t come.””
My mother looked away.
“He tried.””
“What do you mean?””
She walked to a drawer and pulled out an old phone.
“I kept this.””
She handed it to me.
Inside were dozens of missed calls.
From Jay.
To Laura.
The dates matched.
The night Ethan was born.
“He kept calling?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she answer?””
My mother was silent.
“Mom.””
She whispered:
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of making the wrong choice.””
I stared at her.
“She was about to have a baby and was afraid?””
“Yes.””
The truth felt heavier than anger.
My mother continued.
“Jay arrived at the hospital.””
I looked up.
“He did?””
“Yes.””
“Then why wasn’t he there?””
She looked at the floor.
“Because I told him to leave.””
My heart sank.
“You were at the hospital?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I was worried about you.””
She took a breath.
“When I saw him standing there, I thought he would destroy your future.””
“You made that decision again.””
“Yes.””
She started crying.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
I walked outside.
I couldn’t breathe.
Everyone had been trying to protect something.
A marriage.
A child.
A future.
And somehow, everyone had damaged it.
That evening, I told Laura what I learned.
She sat quietly.
“I remember that night.””
“What happened?””
She looked at her hands.
“I was scared.””
“Why didn’t you answer Jay?””
“Because I didn’t know what I wanted.””
The honesty hurt.
“But when you arrived…”
She looked at me.
“You didn’t ask questions.””
I remembered.
I had rushed to the hospital.
I had held her hand.
I had promised everything would be okay.
“I fell in love with you all over again that night.””
She smiled sadly.
“And I knew I couldn’t lose you.””
I nodded slowly.
“So you chose me.””
“Yes.””
“And never told me the truth.””
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“I don’t know if I can forgive everything.””
“I understand.””
“But I want to try.””
Tears filled her eyes.
The next day, I met Jay.
I told him everything.
He listened quietly.
Then he laughed softly.
“Your mother really hated me.””
I almost smiled.
“She was trying to protect me.””
“She protected you from the truth.””
“Yes.””
Jay looked toward the park where Ethan was riding.
“Do you ever regret raising him?””
The question shocked me.
“No.””
“Even knowing?””
I looked at my son.
“No.””
Jay nodded.
“That’s why you’re his dad.””
For the first time, I believed him.
But just when I thought the secrets were finally ending…
My mother called me.
Her voice was shaking.
“Daniel.””
“What happened?””
“There’s something else.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom…”
“I found the original birth certificate.””
My heart raced.
“What about it?””
A long silence.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel, Ethan’s name was changed.””
“Changed from what?””
Her answer came quietly.
“He wasn’t born with your last name.””
I gripped the phone.
“Whose name was on it?””
May you like
My mother took a breath.
“Jay Carter.””
