Chapter 8: The Woman Who Never Stopped Looking
The next morning, we found the answer.
Not the whole answer.
But enough to change everything.
Rachel came downstairs holding a small box.
“I forgot about this.””
I looked at her.
“What is it?””
She placed it on the table.
“It was from Laura.””
Ethan immediately stood.
“What?””
Rachel looked at him.
“I received it years ago.””
The room froze.
“You received another letter?””
Rachel nodded.
“I never opened it.””
“Why?””
She looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid.””
Ethan stared at the box.
“Afraid of what it said?””
“Yes.””
I couldn’t hide my frustration.
“Rachel.””
“I know.””
She looked at me.
“I know how this sounds.””
“It sounds like you kept another piece of Ethan’s life away from him.””
She nodded.
“Because that’s exactly what I did.””
Ethan slowly opened the box.
Inside was a photograph.
A young woman holding a toddler.
Ethan.
His face changed immediately.
“I don’t remember this.””
“Because you were little,” I said.
He touched the photo carefully.
“She looks happy.””
Rachel whispered:
“She was.””
The room became quiet.
Ethan found the letter underneath.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
This time, he read it aloud.
“Ethan, if you ever read this, I need you to know something. I never stopped loving you.””
His voice cracked.
He continued.
“I left because I believed staying would create more pain. I was told you were happy. I was told you needed peace.””
He stopped.
I looked at Rachel.
She couldn’t meet my eyes.
Ethan kept reading.
“But every day, I wondered if I made the wrong choice.””
A tear rolled down his face.
Then he reached the final lines.
“She said if I ever wanted to find her, I should contact the number at the bottom.””
He looked up.
“There’s a phone number.””
Nobody spoke.
Because suddenly, this wasn’t just about the past.
It was about the present.
Ethan had spent years believing his mother abandoned him.
Now he knew she had been trying to leave a door open.
I looked at Rachel.
“Did you ever call this number?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I was scared of what would happen if Ethan found out.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
“I can’t believe this.””
Rachel started crying.
“I’m sorry.””
He looked at her.
“I believe you’re sorry.””
That sentence seemed to hurt her more.
“Then why does it sound worse?””
“Because sorry doesn’t bring back time.””
Nobody had an answer.
Later that afternoon, Ethan sat in my car holding the letter.
The number was written on a small piece of paper.
“Are you ready?”” I asked.
He looked out the window.
“I don’t know.””
“That’s okay.””
“What if she doesn’t want to talk?””
“Then you’ll know.””
“What if she does?””
I smiled sadly.
“Then you’ll finally get answers.””
He nodded.
I started the engine.
Before we could leave, Rachel came outside.
She stood in front of the car.
Ethan rolled down the window.
She looked at him.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.””
He stayed quiet.
“I just want you to know something.””
“What?””
Rachel took a breath.
“You were never a replacement for anyone.””
Ethan looked away.
“You just made me feel like one.””
Rachel nodded.
“I know.””
Then she stepped aside.
We drove away.
Twenty minutes later, Ethan held the phone in his hand.
The number stared back at him.
He took a deep breath.
Then pressed call.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
A woman’s voice came through.
“Hello?””
Ethan froze.
His eyes filled instantly.
I whispered:
“Ethan?””
He looked at me.
His lips trembled.
Then he said the words he had waited years to say.
“Mom?””
There was silence on the other end.
Then a broken whisper.
“Ethan?””
He covered his mouth.
Because after all these years…
She knew his voice.
And before either of them could say anything else, the woman on the phone whispered:
“I have been trying to find you for seventeen years.””
I looked at my son.
And I knew the truth was finally coming out.
But I also knew one thing.
May you like
Someone had spent years keeping them apart.
And we still didn’t know who.
