Chapter 12: The Daughter She Chose
I didn’t speak after Dr. Grant said it.
I couldn’t.
The words didn’t fit.
My mother.
Again.
Every road led back to her.
“Are you sure?””
Dr. Grant sighed.
“Yes.””
“How?””
“The records show the initial information was provided by Darla Carter.””
My hands went cold.
“She gave you information about me?””
“She reported concerns.””
“What concerns?””
The doctor hesitated.
“She claimed you had emotional instability during pregnancy.””
I closed my eyes.
“I’m not unstable.””
“I know.””
The way she said it surprised me.
“You know?””
“Yes. I reviewed your actual medical records.””
I sat down.
“And?””
“And they show a healthy pregnancy and appropriate emotional responses.””
A tear slipped down my face.
Someone finally said it.
Someone who wasn’t trying to gain something from me.
“Thank you.””
Dr. Grant was quiet.
“Emily, there’s more.””
Of course there was.
There was always more.
“What?””
“Your mother wasn’t only trying to help your husband.””
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?””
“She requested information about guardianship.””
I felt sick.
“Guardianship?””
“Yes.””
“Of my daughter?””
“Yes.””
The room blurred.
I looked toward the nursery.
The crib.
The blankets.
The tiny clothes.
Everything I had prepared for my child.
My mother wanted control over her.
“Why?””
Dr. Grant answered carefully.
“I don’t know.””
I ended the call a few minutes later.
Claire was standing near the window.
She had heard enough.
“She did this.””
I nodded.
“I don’t understand.””
Claire walked over.
“Maybe she thought she was helping.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Stop making excuses for people.””
She went quiet.
And I immediately regretted my tone.
But I was tired.
Tired of understanding everyone except myself.
That afternoon, I made one decision.
I was going to see my mother.
Not because I forgave her.
Because I needed the truth.
Darla opened the door before I knocked.
Like she had been waiting.
Her face changed when she saw me.
“Emily.””
“Why?””
Her eyes filled instantly.
“I knew you would find out eventually.””
“That’s your answer?””
“No.””
“Then tell me.””
She stepped aside.
I walked into the house where I grew up.
The same walls.
The same pictures.
Everything looked familiar.
And nothing felt safe.
“Cole told me you would leave me.””
I turned.
“What?””
“He said once the baby came, you would cut me out.””
I stared.
“So you helped him take my child because you were afraid of losing me?””
Her face crumpled.
“I was afraid.””
“You were my mother.””
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You were supposed to protect me when everyone else left.””
She cried.
“I thought I was protecting myself.””
That honesty hurt.
More than another lie.
“Do you love me?””
Her tears fell.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you choose him?””
She looked away.
“I don’t know.””
I nodded slowly.
“I think that’s the saddest part.””
She reached for me.
I stepped back.
“I can’t do this anymore.””
Before I left, she called my name.
I stopped.
“Emily.””
I looked over my shoulder.
“There’s something Cole doesn’t know.””
My heart tightened.
“What?””
She walked to a drawer.
Pulled out an envelope.
And handed it to me.
“I found this after he started coming to my house.””
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Written by Cole.
But it wasn’t addressed to me.
It was addressed to someone else.
The first line made my blood freeze.
*When Emily gives birth, we need to make sure she never knows the baby isn’t biologically yours.*
I looked at my mother.
Then back at the letter.
The room spun.
Because suddenly, the custody fight wasn’t the biggest secret anymore.
Cole had been hiding something about my daughter.
May you like
Something about her father.
And the truth was written in his own words.
