Chapter 7: The Secret Behind Two Birthdays
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything.
The old house seemed to disappear Secret Behind Two Birthdays
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything.
The old house seemed to disappear around me.
Richard Williams.
My biological father.
The man whose photograph my mother had kept hidden around me.
Richard Williams.
My biological father.
The man whose photograph my mother had kept hidden in an album.
The man who had controlled Denise's life.
The man who had arranged for two newborn babies to be separated.
I looked at Thomas.
“That's impossible.””
He nodded toward the document.
“I know how it in an album.
The man who had controlled Denise's life.
The man who had arranged for two newborn babies to be separated.
I looked at Thomas.
“That's impossible.””
He nodded toward the document.
“I know how it sounds.””
“Richard was Denise's father.””
Thomas's expression tightened.
“He was legally sounds.””
“Richard was Denise's father.””
Thomas's expression tightened.
“He was legally considered her father. But Denise was adopted.””
Denise suddenly sat down.
Michael stared at considered her father. But Denise was adopted.””
Denise suddenly sat down.
Michael stared at her.
“You knew?””
She her.
“You knew?””
She shook her head.
“Not until much later.””
Thomas continued.
“Richard Williams adopted shook her head.
“Not until much later.””
Thomas continued.
“Richard Williams adopted Denise when she was a little girl. Her biological parents died in a car accident. He raised her as his own daughter, but he never told her the truth.””
I turned toward Denise.
“So you're not actually my biological aunt?””
Denise began crying.
“No Denise when she was a little girl. Her biological parents died in a car accident. He raised her as his own daughter, but he never told her the truth.””
I turned toward Denise.
“So you're not actually my biological aunt?””
Denise began crying.
“No.””
Thomas looked at the report.
“Renee and Denise were both.””
Thomas looked at the report.
“Renee and Denise were both biological daughters of Richard's family. They were half-sisters, though biological daughters of Richard's family. They were half-sisters, though neither of them knew the truth until shortly before the twins were born.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“Richard had neither of them knew the truth until shortly before the twins were born.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“Richard had another relationship years before he married his wife. Renee was the daughter of another relationship years before he married his wife. Renee was the daughter of that relationship. Denise was adopted to conceal the scandal.””
Michael sat heavily in a chair.
“Why that relationship. Denise was adopted to conceal the scandal.””
Michael sat heavily in a chair.
“Why would he do that?””
“Because Richard believed the family name was everything. He wanted to control both daughters would he do that?””
“Because Richard believed the family name was everything. He wanted to control both daughters and make sure nobody discovered the truth and make sure nobody discovered the truth.””
Thomas placed another document beside the report.
“This is a copy of a private letter Richard sent.””
Thomas placed another document beside the report.
“This is a copy of a private letter Richard sent to the hospital administrator.””
Patricia took it and read to the hospital administrator.””
Patricia took it and read silently.
Her expression changed.
“What does it say?”” Jordan asked.
She looked up.
“Richard knew the twins were biologically his grandchildren through silently.
Her expression changed.
“What does it say?”” Jordan asked.
She looked up.
“Richard knew the twins were biologically his grandchildren through two different daughters. He wanted to determine which child would inherit his estate.””
I stared at her.
“He separated us because of money two different daughters. He wanted to determine which child would inherit his estate.””
I stared at her.
“He separated us because of money?””
Thomas shook his head.
“Not only money.””
He sat down.
“Richard had discovered that Renee intended to expose his financial dealings?””
Thomas shook his head.
“Not only money.””
He sat down.
“Richard had discovered that Renee intended to expose his financial dealings. He believed she would eventually take both children away from his. He believed she would eventually take both children away from his influence.””
I remembered the message I'd received.
Your mother died protecting you.
Thomas influence.””
I remembered the message I'd received.
Your mother died protecting you.
Thomas continued.
“He decided the best way to control Renee was to take continued.
“He decided the best way to control Renee was to take her daughter. He arranged for Aaliyah to be her daughter. He arranged for Aaliyah to be adopted by another family and planned to keep Jordan under his own control.””
Jordan looked sick adopted by another family and planned to keep Jordan under his own control.””
Jordan looked sick.
“Why me?””
“Because Richard wanted.
“Why me?””
“Because Richard wanted a male heir. He believed a grandson would be easier to shape into the kind of successor he wanted.””
Michael stood.
“And a male heir. He believed a grandson would be easier to shape into the kind of successor he wanted.””
Michael stood.
“And what about Denise?””
Thomas looked at his former wife.
“She was part of the arrangement. Richard promised her what about Denise?””
Thomas looked at his former wife.
“She was part of the arrangement. Richard promised her financial security if she cooperated.””
Denise shook her financial security if she cooperated.””
Denise shook her head.
“I was terrified.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“You signed the papers.””
“I thought they head.
“I was terrified.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“You signed the papers.””
“I thought they would take both babies!””
“You signed the papers that would take both babies!””
“You signed the papers that separated them.””
Denise began sobbing.
Michael walked away.
I couldn't stop staring separated them.””
Denise began sobbing.
Michael walked away.
I couldn't stop staring at the paternity report.
There was a section at the bottom showing the biological relationships.
at the paternity report.
There was a section at the bottom showing the biological relationships.
Richard Williams was listed as the father of Denise and Renee.
But another name appeared beside theRichard Williams was listed as the father of Denise and Renee.
But another name appeared beside the second column.
*Thomas Carter.*
I looked up.
“Wait. What?””
Thomas nodded second column.
*Thomas Carter.*
I looked up.
“Wait. What?””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“Jordan is my biological son.””
“But you just said Richard was his father.””
“ slowly.
“Jordan is my biological son.””
“But you just said Richard was his father.””
“Richard was listed as his legal father onRichard was listed as his legal father on the original paperwork. The test was manipulated.””
Patricia took the report.
“This document appears the original paperwork. The test was manipulated.””
Patricia took the report.
“This document appears to contain multiple altered sections.””
Thomas reached into his pocket and removed another envelope.
to contain multiple altered sections.””
Thomas reached into his pocket and removed another envelope.
“This is the original.””
He handed it to Patricia.
She examined the pages“This is the original.””
He handed it to Patricia.
She examined the pages carefully.
Then she looked at Jordan.
“Your biological father is Thomas Carter. Your mother is Denise carefully.
Then she looked at Jordan.
“Your biological father is Thomas Carter. Your mother is Denise Carter.””
Jordan stared.
“And Aaliyah?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your biological Carter.””
Jordan stared.
“And Aaliyah?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your biological father is Richard Williams. Your mother is father is Richard Williams. Your mother is Renee Williams.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“So we're not twins?””
“No.””
“ Renee Williams.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“So we're not twins?””
“No.””
“Then why were we born on the same night?””
Thomas leaned back.
“Because Richard arranged forThen why were we born on the same night?””
Thomas leaned back.
“Because Richard arranged for Denise and Renee to deliver at the same hospital, under the supervision of people he trusted.””
My Denise and Renee to deliver at the same hospital, under the supervision of people he trusted.””
My hands began shaking.
“Why?””
“To make the records easier to manipulate.””
Patricia hands began shaking.
“Why?””
“To make the records easier to manipulate.””
Patricia looked at the original report.
“There's another issue.””
Thomas closed his looked at the original report.
“There's another issue.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Of course there is.””
She pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.
“The report eyes.
“Of course there is.””
She pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.
“The report states that the twins were initially registered under the wrong maternal records. It also confirms that the hospital administrator deliberately switched the identification states that the twins were initially registered under the wrong maternal records. It also confirms that the hospital administrator deliberately switched the identification bracelets.””
Jordan looked at her.
“So how do we know which baby is which?””
Patricia nodded bracelets.””
Jordan looked at her.
“So how do we know which baby is which?””
Patricia nodded.
“We don't. Not conclus.
“We don't. Not conclusively.””
My stomach dropped.
Thomas stood.
“I know.””
He reached into a drawer and removed an old photograph.
Itively.””
My stomach dropped.
Thomas stood.
“I know.””
He reached into a drawer and removed an old photograph.
It showed two newborn babies.
One had a small silver bracelet.
The other had a blue hospital tag.
Thomas pointed at showed two newborn babies.
One had a small silver bracelet.
The other had a blue hospital tag.
Thomas pointed at the silver bracelet.
“That was Aaliyah.””
He pointed at the blue tag.
“That was Jordan.””
“Who the silver bracelet.
“That was Aaliyah.””
He pointed at the blue tag.
“That was Jordan.””
“Who took this photograph?”” I asked.
“ took this photograph?”” I asked.
“Renee.””
I stared at the picture.
“My mother?””
Renee.””
I stared at the picture.
“My mother?””
Thomas nodded.
“She took it before RichardThomas nodded.
“She took it before Richard's men moved the babies.””
I looked at the photograph again.
A tiny handwritten note appeared on the back.
One day, they will know they belonged together.
My eyes filled.
My mother had known.
She had known I wasn't supposed to grow up alone.
And she had spent the rest of her life's men moved the babies.””
I looked at the photograph again.
A tiny handwritten note appeared on the back.
One day, they will know they belonged together.
My eyes filled.
My mother had known.
She had known I wasn't supposed to grow up alone.
And she had spent the rest of her life trying to protect me.
Jordan approached the photograph.
“Did she ever try to find me?””
Thomas nodded trying to protect me.
Jordan approached the photograph.
“Did she ever try to find me?””
Thomas nodded.
“Many times.””
“Why didn't she?””
“Richard.
“Many times.””
“Why didn't she?””
“Richard had people watching her. Every time she came close, someone intervened.””
I swallowed.
“Was that why she never told me about my family?””
Thomas nodded.
“She was had people watching her. Every time she came close, someone intervened.””
I swallowed.
“Was that why she never told me about my family?””
Thomas nodded.
“She was afraid the truth would put you in danger.””
Patricia put the documents away.
“We need to verify the biological relationships with independent afraid the truth would put you in danger.””
Patricia put the documents away.
“We need to verify the biological relationships with independent DNA testing.””
Thomas agreed.
“I've already contacted a laboratory.””
Michael looked at him.
“You've known all DNA testing.””
Thomas agreed.
“I've already contacted a laboratory.””
Michael looked at him.
“You've known all this for thirty years?””
Thomas lowered his head.
“Not all of it.””
“Then what did you know?””
this for thirty years?””
Thomas lowered his head.
“Not all of it.””
“Then what did you know?””
Thomas looked toward Jordan.
“I knew Richard was planning to take oneThomas looked toward Jordan.
“I knew Richard was planning to take one of the babies. I tried to stop him.””
“And?””
“He threatened to destroy of the babies. I tried to stop him.””
“And?””
“He threatened to destroy Denise. He threatened to have me arrested. He told me that if I interfered, he'd make sure neither Denise.
He threatened to have me arrested. He told me that if I interfered, he'd make sure neither of us ever saw our children.””
Jordan stared at him.
“You let him take of us ever saw our children.””
Jordan stared at him.
“You let him take me.””
Thomas's eyes filled.
“I was twenty-nine years old, me.””
Thomas's eyes filled.
“I was twenty-nine years old, and I made the worst decision of my life.””
“You let me grow up believing you were dead.””
“I thought it and I made the worst decision of my life.””
“You let me grow up believing you were dead.””
“I thought it would keep you safe.””
Jordan shook his head.
“Everyone would keep you safe.””
Jordan shook his head.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
He turned away.
“ keeps saying that.””
He turned away.
“Everyone claims they were protecting me. But nobody ever asked what I wantedEveryone claims they were protecting me. But nobody ever asked what I wanted.””
Thomas didn't follow him.
I stood beside Jordan.
For the first time, I understood that our lives had been.””
Thomas didn't follow him.
I stood beside Jordan.
For the first time, I understood that our lives had been shaped by the same man, even though we had grown up on opposite sides of the shaped by the same man, even though we had grown up on opposite sides of the same secret.
Then Patricia's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Her face changed.
“What happened?”” Michael asked.
Patricia same secret.
Then Patricia's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Her face changed.
“What happened?”” Michael asked.
Patricia ended the call.
“The laboratory has confirmed that the ended the call.
“The laboratory has confirmed that the original hospital identification records were tampered with.””
Thomas original hospital identification records were tampered with.””
Thomas frowned.
“Can they identify who did it?””
Pat frowned.
“Can they identify who did it?””
Patricia nodded.
“They foundricia nodded.
“They found a witness statement that was never included in the official file.””
“Who made it?”” I asked.
Patricia looked at me.
“Your mother.””
She handed me a photocopy.
At the a witness statement that was never included in the official file.””
“Who made it?”” I asked.
Patricia looked at me.
“Your mother.””
She handed me a photocopy.
At the bottom was Renee's signature.
And above it, one sentence had bottom was Renee's signature.
And above it, one sentence had been underlined.
*I did not take Aaliyah from been underlined.
I did not take Aaliyah from her mother. I took her from the man who had her mother. I took her from the man who had already decided she belonged to him.
I read it twice.
Then I noticed the date.
It had been written just four months before my mother's death.
And underneath it was another name.
*Harold Bennett.*
The hospital administrator.
The man who had supposedly died two weeks already decided she belonged to him.*
I read it twice.
Then I noticed the date.
It had been written just four months before my mother's death.
And underneath it was another name.
*Harold Bennett.*
May you like
The hospital administrator.
The man who had supposedly died two weeks earlier.
