Chapter 7: The Twin Nobody Was Allowed to Find
"That's impossible.""
The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.
I stared at Ethan, waiting for him to laugh or admit he'd misunderstood the documents.
He didn't.
Dad took the photograph from his hand and examined it.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Grandma's old belongings. She kept a box of hospital records, letters, and photographs. I found it after she was moved into the care facility.""
Dad turned the photograph over.
There was handwriting on the back.
*Hannah and Baby B. November 14.*
My birthday was November 25.
I looked at Karen.
She was standing near the fireplace, her face almost colorless.
"Tell me he's wrong.""
Karen didn't respond.
"Karen!""
She flinched.
"Your mother had twins," she whispered.
The room became painfully quiet.
Dad looked as if someone had struck him.
"Twins?""
Karen nodded.
"Two girls.""
I gripped the back of the couch.
"Where is she?""
Karen's eyes filled.
"Your sister was born prematurely. She needed special care.""
"Where is she now?""
"I don't know.""
Ethan shook his head.
"That's another lie.""
Karen turned toward him.
"Don't you dare.""
"I found the hospital's original transfer records.""
He took another document from his envelope.
It was a photocopy of a neonatal transfer form.
The patient's name was listed as Baby B.
The receiving facility was a children's medical center in Atlanta.
But the most disturbing detail was written beneath the transfer information.
*Legal guardian authorization: Karen Brooks.*
I stared at the page.
"You signed this?""
Karen wiped her face.
"She was very sick.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"Your sister had serious complications. The doctors told me she might not survive.""
Dad stepped closer.
"What happened after the transfer?""
Karen shook her head.
"I was told she needed long-term treatment.""
"By whom?""
"The hospital.""
Ethan interrupted.
"That's not what the records say.""
He placed another page on the table.
"This is the final discharge report. The baby was released into the care of a private guardian.""
Dad frowned.
"Who?""
Ethan pointed to the bottom.
The name was partially obscured by a black mark, but the surname was still visible.
*Miller.*
I looked at Karen.
"Who is Miller?""
She started crying.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
"Who is she?""
Karen sat down.
"Your grandmother arranged it.""
Dad looked confused.
"Your mother?""
Karen nodded.
"She said the family couldn't afford to raise two babies. She told me one of you would have a better chance with another family.""
I felt sick.
"So she gave my sister away?""
"She arranged a private placement.""
"Without telling me?""
"You were babies!""
I stepped forward.
"And then you hid it for seventeen years?""
Karen covered her face.
"I was trying to protect you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family seems to use those words when they're caught doing something terrible.""
Madison came downstairs.
She had been listening from the hallway.
"Mom," she said quietly.
"Is that why Grandma always asked about the other baby?""
Karen looked up.
"What?""
"When we visited her. She always asked if the little girl had found her sister.""
Ethan turned toward Madison.
"Grandma said that?""
Madison nodded.
"She told me there were two girls. I thought she was confused.""
Dad looked at Karen.
"How many people knew?""
Karen didn't answer.
Then Madison said something that made me turn toward her.
"There's another thing.""
She was holding her phone.
"I found something in Mom's messages last month.""
Karen stood abruptly.
"Madison, put that away.""
"No.""
"Give me your phone.""
Madison stepped behind Dad.
"I saved the conversation.""
She opened a message thread with a contact saved as *R. Miller*.
The first message was from six months earlier.
*R. Miller:* I need confirmation that Hannah and the other girl are not being told about the original arrangement.
Karen's response:
*Karen:* Neither of them knows. Please keep it that way.
The next message was dated two weeks earlier.
*R. Miller:* The medical authorization has become a problem. You need to stop using the old records.
*Karen:* I have no choice. The account is running out.
Then came the final message.
*R. Miller:* If you use Hannah's identity again, I will tell both girls what happened.
My fingers went numb.
"Who is R. Miller?""
Karen sat down again.
"Someone who helped your grandmother.""
"Someone who has my sister?""
Karen didn't answer.
Dad took the phone from Madison and photographed the messages.
"We're preserving everything.""
Karen began shaking her head.
"Please, Daniel. You don't understand what will happen.""
Dad looked at her.
"Then explain it.""
She swallowed.
"Ruth Miller was the woman who adopted your sister.""
"Adopted?"" I repeated.
Karen nodded.
"She and her husband couldn't have children. Your grandmother arranged the placement.""
"Did they know she had a twin?""
"Yes.""
"Did they know about me?""
Karen looked away.
"I don't know.""
Ethan leaned forward.
"Ruth has been contacting Grandma for years. She wanted the adoption records sealed permanently.""
Dad frowned.
"Why would she care now?""
Ethan pointed at the medical documents.
"Because the original medical arrangement included a financial trust for both children.""
I looked at him.
"Both of us?""
He nodded.
"Grandma divided her inheritance into two separate education funds. One for Hannah and one for her twin.""
Dad picked up the letter.
"But this one says fifty thousand.""
"That's Hannah's fund. The other one was established separately.""
Karen's eyes closed.
Ethan continued.
"Someone has been accessing both accounts.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Who?""
Ethan looked at Karen.
"That's what I haven't been able to prove.""
Dad called the attorney again.
This time, he asked for an immediate appointment and explained that the situation involved possible identity theft, forged documents, and missing trust funds.
When he ended the call, Karen was staring at me.
"Hannah, you need to understand something. Your sister was taken from me. I was young, frightened, and alone.""
I looked at her.
"You had seventeen years to tell me.""
"I thought if I kept quiet, everyone could move on.""
"Everyone except the person you gave away.""
Karen began sobbing.
Then my phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke softly.
"Hello, Hannah. My name is Ruth Miller.""
I couldn't breathe.
"I believe you've been looking for your sister.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where is she?""
There was a pause.
Then Ruth said:
"She's been looking for you too.""
May you like
Before I could ask another question, she added something that made my blood run cold.
"But Hannah, before you meet her, there's something you need to know about the woman who raised her.""
