Chapter 4: The Name On The Phone
I wanted to believe Tara was lying.
I wanted to believe there was some explanation.
A misunderstanding.
A mistake.
Anything.
But Maya’s expression told me there was more.
“Maya,” I said softly, “who have you been talking to?””
She looked down.
“Tara already knows.””
My wife smiled slightly.
“She’s been hiding things from us.””
I looked at Maya.
“Is that true?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
She hesitated.
“Because I was scared.””
“Scared of what?””
She looked at Tara.
“Of losing the only family I had left.””
The words hit me.
“What does that mean?””
Maya grabbed her phone again.
She opened a contact.
A name appeared on the screen.
I didn’t recognize it.
*Claire.*
“Who is Claire?””
Maya took a breath.
“She’s my birth mother.””
Everything stopped.
I sat down.
The woman I had never met.
The person connected to a part of my daughter’s life I knew nothing about.
“When did you start talking to her?””
“Eight months ago.””
Tara immediately spoke.
“Exactly.””
I looked at her.
“Exactly what?””
“She betrayed us.””
Maya shook her head.
“I didn’t betray anyone.””
“You went behind our backs.””
“Because you told me I wasn’t allowed to know her.””
Tara’s voice rose.
“Because she left you!””
“And you erased her!””
I had never heard Maya yell before.
Not once.
She was always the quiet one.
The one who apologized first.
Seeing her angry scared me.
Not because of her.
Because I realized how much pain it took to finally make her stop being quiet.
I looked at Tara.
“Did you delete her messages?””
Tara froze.
That was enough of an answer.
“You did?””
“I was protecting her.””
“No,” Maya whispered.
“You were controlling everything.””
I walked to the kitchen.
I needed space.
Air.
Something.
On the counter was the birthday card Maya had given me earlier.
I opened it.
Inside were five words:
*Thank you for choosing me.*
My eyes burned.
Because now I understood.
She had been afraid I would stop choosing her.
I walked back.
“Maya, why didn’t you tell me?””
She looked at me.
“Because every time I tried, Mom said I would destroy your marriage.””
I turned toward Tara.
“Did you say that?””
She didn’t respond.
“You told our daughter she was responsible for our marriage?””
“I told her to think about consequences.””
“She was a child.””
“She knew what she was doing.””
I stared at my wife.
I suddenly realized something.
Tara didn’t see Maya as a daughter.
She saw her as a problem to manage.
A piece on a board.
Something to move around when inconvenient.
My phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was an unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
“Is this Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Claire.””
I looked at Maya.
She covered her mouth.
The voice continued.
“I think you deserve to know why I contacted Maya.””
I stepped away from everyone.
“Why?””
There was a pause.
Then Claire said:
“Because I found out Tara never told you the truth about why Maya was placed for adoption.””
My stomach dropped.
“What truth?””
The woman took a shaky breath.
“Daniel… Maya wasn’t abandoned.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
“What are you saying?””
May you like
Claire whispered:
“She was taken from me.””
