Chapter 9: The Third Birth Certificate
Gavin ran toward the scream.
“Lily!””
His flashlight beam swept across the corridor.
Daniel followed, calling her name.
An officer moved ahead ran toward the scream.
“Lily!””
His flashlight beam swept across the corridor.
Daniel followed, calling her name.
An officer moved ahead of them.
Then they heard a second sound.
A metal door rattling.
Gavin reached the old of them.
Then they heard a second sound.
A metal door rattling.
Gavin reached the old examination room and pushed it open.
Inside, a little girl was crouched beneath a desk.
Dark curls.
examination room and pushed it open.
Inside, a little girl was crouched beneath a desk.
Dark curls.
Pink shoes.
A yellow sweater.
Lily.
Gavin dropped to his knees.
“Baby?””
She looked up.
Pink shoes.
A yellow sweater.
Lily.
Gavin dropped to his knees.
“Baby?””
She looked up.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Daddy?””
He opened his arms.
Lily rushed toward him.
Gavin held her against his chestHer eyes filled with tears.
“Daddy?””
He opened his arms.
Lily rushed toward him.
Gavin held her against his chest, burying his face in her hair.
“I'm here. I'm, burying his face in her hair.
“I'm here. I'm right here.””
She began sobbing.
“I thought you forgot me.””
Gavin closed his eyes.
“Never. I didn't even know where to find you, sweetheart.””
She clutched his jacket.
“Someone said you didn't want me.””
G right here.””
She began sobbing.
“I thought you forgot me.””
Gavin closed his eyes.
“Never. I didn't even know where to find you, sweetheart.””
She clutched his jacket.
“Someone said you didn't want me.””
Gavin pulled back enough to see her face.
“Who said that?””
Lily pointed toward the corridor.
“The lady.””
Gavin looked up.
Nurse Collins was standingavin pulled back enough to see her face.
“Who said that?””
Lily pointed toward the corridor.
“The lady.””
Gavin looked up.
Nurse Collins was standing in the doorway.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who brought her here?””
The nurse shook her head.
“I didn't.””
An officer approached.
“Is in the doorway.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who brought her here?””
The nurse shook her head.
“I didn't.””
An officer approached.
“Is anyone else inside?””
The nurse hesitated.
Then she pointed toward a second door.
“There's someone in anyone else inside?””
The nurse hesitated.
Then she pointed toward a second door.
“There's someone in the records room.””
The officer moved immediately.
Gavin kept Lily close.
“It's okay. Nobody is taking you anywhere the records room.””
The officer moved immediately.
Gavin kept Lily close.
“It's okay. Nobody is taking you anywhere without explaining what's happening.””
Lily looked at him.
“Are you my daddy?””
Gavin's throat tightened.
“Yes without explaining what's happening.””
Lily looked at him.
“Are you my daddy?””
Gavin's throat tightened.
“Yes.””
She studied his face.
Then she touched his right wrist.
“You have the same leaf.””
Gavin stared at her.””
She studied his face.
Then she touched his right wrist.
“You have the same leaf.””
Gavin stared at her.
She had a tiny leaf-shaped birthmark on her own wrist.
His hand began to shake.
“Rachel.
She had a tiny leaf-shaped birthmark on her own wrist.
His hand began to shake.
“Rachel had one too,” Lily whispered.
Gavin looked at Daniel.
The two men exchanged a stunned glance.
Before either had one too,” Lily whispered.
Gavin looked at Daniel.
The two men exchanged a stunned glance.
Before either could speak, the officer returned.
“We found a man in the records room. He's being detained.””
“Who?””
The officer looked toward the doorway.
could speak, the officer returned.
“We found a man in the records room. He's being detained.””
“Who?””
The officer looked toward the doorway.
“Dr. Marcus Bell.””
Daniel went pale.
Gavin recognized the name from the old hospital documents.
The doctor who“Dr. Marcus Bell.””
Daniel went pale.
Gavin recognized the name from the old hospital documents.
The doctor who had signed the transfer authorization.
Dr. Bell was brought into the corridor.
He was in his sixties, wearing had signed the transfer authorization.
Dr. Bell was brought into the corridor.
He was in his sixties, wearing a brown jacket and carrying a leather briefcase.
He looked at Gavin without surprise.
“You've grown older.””
Gavin stepped toward a brown jacket and carrying a leather briefcase.
He looked at Gavin without surprise.
“You've grown older.””
Gavin stepped toward him.
“You remember me?””
“Of course.””
“You signed my wife's medical records.””
The doctor said nothing.
“You him.
“You remember me?””
“Of course.””
“You signed my wife's medical records.””
The doctor said nothing.
“You told me my baby died.””
“I delivered difficult news during a difficult time.””
“You told me there told me my baby died.””
“I delivered difficult news during a difficult time.””
“You told me there was one child.””
Dr. Bell looked toward Lily.
Then at Nurse Collins.
“Not here.””
Gavin's was one child.””
Dr. Bell looked toward Lily.
Then at Nurse Collins.
“Not here.””
Gavin's voice sharpened.
“That's exactly where. Here. In voice sharpened.
“That's exactly where. Here. In front of everyone.””
The doctor sighed.
“Your wife had a complicated delivery. There were multiple medical decisions.””
“Two babies. Not one.””
Dr. Bell adjusted his jacket.
“I cannot discuss private medical information without proper authorization.””
Gavin laughed in disbelief.
“You've had six years to protect front of everyone.””
The doctor sighed.
“Your wife had a complicated delivery. There were multiple medical decisions.””
“Two babies. Not one.””
Dr. Bell adjusted his jacket.
“I cannot discuss private medical information without proper authorization.””
Gavin laughed in disbelief.
“You've had six years to protect private information. You've used them to destroy a family.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Tell private information. You've used them to destroy a family.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Tell him about the third certificate.””
The doctor's expression changed.
Gavin turned.
“What third certificate?””
Nurse Collins opened the folder.
She placed him about the third certificate.””
The doctor's expression changed.
Gavin turned.
“What third certificate?””
Nurse Collins opened the folder.
She placed the documents on a nearby table.
The first showed Gavin as the father of a male child the documents on a nearby table.
The first showed Gavin as the father of a male child.
The second showed Gavin as the father of a female child.
The third was dated two days later.
The mother's name was K.
The second showed Gavin as the father of a female child.
The third was dated two days later.
The mother's name was Kendra.
The father's name was listed as unknown.
Gavin stared.
“Why is my wife's name on a birth certificate?””
Drendra.
The father's name was listed as unknown.
Gavin stared.
“Why is my wife's name on a birth certificate?””
Dr. Bell remained silent.
Daniel picked up the third document.
“Because she had a baby too.””
Gavin looked toward the doctor.
“. Bell remained silent.
Daniel picked up the third document.
“Because she had a baby too.””
Gavin looked toward the doctor.
“Is that true?””
Dr. Bell finally nodded.
“Yes.””
Gavin's mind raced.
Kendra had neverIs that true?””
Dr. Bell finally nodded.
“Yes.””
Gavin's mind raced.
Kendra had never mentioned being pregnant before their marriage.
She had told him she couldn't have children before mentioned being pregnant before their marriage.
She had told him she couldn't have children before Ava was born.
He remembered their conversations.
He remembered the specialist appointments.
He remembered the tears when they'd discussed the possibility of having a baby together.
But this Ava was born.
He remembered their conversations.
He remembered the specialist appointments.
He remembered the tears when they'd discussed the possibility of having a baby together.
But this document was dated six years earlier.
The same week Rachel delivered the twins.
“Where is Kendra's child?”” Gavin asked.
Dr. Bell looked document was dated six years earlier.
The same week Rachel delivered the twins.
“Where is Kendra's child?”” Gavin asked.
Dr. Bell looked down.
“Transferred.””
“To whom?””
“I cannot say.””
Gavin stepped closer.
“You can, and you will.””
N down.
“Transferred.””
“To whom?””
“I cannot say.””
Gavin stepped closer.
“You can, and you will.””
Nurse Collins interrupted.
“Her child was a boy.””
Gavin turned.
“What?””
The nurse's eyes filledurse Collins interrupted.
“Her child was a boy.””
Gavin turned.
“What?””
The nurse's eyes filled.
“Kendra gave birth to a boy that night. He was placed in the same neonatal unit as Rachel's twins.””
Gavin looked at Lily.
“Kendra gave birth to a boy that night. He was placed in the same neonatal unit as Rachel's twins.””
Gavin looked at Lily.
Then toward Daniel.
Three babies.
One hospital.
Three birth certificates.
And a doctor who had apparently changed their.
Then toward Daniel.
Three babies.
One hospital.
Three birth certificates.
And a doctor who had apparently changed their records.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Where is that boy now?””
Dr. Bell looked toward the floor.
“I don't know.””
Gavin slammed records.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Where is that boy now?””
Dr. Bell looked toward the floor.
“I don't know.””
Gavin slammed his hand against the table.
“Stop saying that!””
The doctor flinched.
“I was paid his hand against the table.
“Stop saying that!””
The doctor flinched.
“I was paid to alter the records. I was told the children would be cared for.””
“By whom?””
He hesitated.
Then he looked at Gavin.
“By your brother.””
Gavin turned to alter the records. I was told the children would be cared for.””
“By whom?””
He hesitated.
Then he looked at Gavin.
“By your brother.””
Gavin turned toward Daniel.
Daniel's face went white.
“What?””
Dr. Bell continued.
“Daniel arranged the transfers.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
“You signed the authorization.””
“I toward Daniel.
Daniel's face went white.
“What?””
Dr. Bell continued.
“Daniel arranged the transfers.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
“You signed the authorization.””
“I signed a document saying I would help Rachel's children if signed a document saying I would help Rachel's children if anything happened to her!””
The doctor opened his briefcase.
He removed a photocopy.
Daniel's signature was at the bottom.
But the date had been altered.
Gavin looked at his brother.
“Did anything happened to her!””
The doctor opened his briefcase.
He removed a photocopy.
Daniel's signature was at the bottom.
But the date had been altered.
Gavin looked at his brother.
“Did you sign this?””
Daniel stared at the paper.
“Yes. But not that version.””
He turned you sign this?””
Daniel stared at the paper.
“Yes. But not that version.””
He turned toward the doctor.
“You changed it!””
Dr. Bell said nothing.
Nurse Collins stepped forward.
“I have the original.””
Everyone toward the doctor.
“You changed it!””
Dr. Bell said nothing.
Nurse Collins stepped forward.
“I have the original.””
Everyone turned.
She opened her folder and removed a yellowed document.
The original authorization had three names listed.
Gavin.
turned.
She opened her folder and removed a yellowed document.
The original authorization had three names listed.
Gavin.
Rachel.
Daniel.
But beneath them, someone had added another handwritten note.
**ALL THREE CHILDREN TO BE PLRachel.
Daniel.
But beneath them, someone had added another handwritten note.
*ALL THREE CHILDREN TO BE PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF KENDRA WRIGHT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.*
Gavin read itACED UNDER THE CARE OF KENDRA WRIGHT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.**
Gavin read it slowly.
“Why would Rachel agree to that?””
Nurse Collins shook her head.
“She didn't.””
“Then who wrote it?””
The nurse looked at Dr. Bell.
He finally spoke.
“Kendra requested slowly.
“Why would Rachel agree to that?””
Nurse Collins shook her head.
“She didn't.””
“Then who wrote it?””
The nurse looked at Dr. Bell.
He finally spoke.
“Kendra requested it.””
Gavin felt his stomach turn.
“Why?””
The doctor looked at him.
“Because she claimed she was the children's aunt.””
Daniel stared.
“She wasn't it.””
Gavin felt his stomach turn.
“Why?””
The doctor looked at him.
“Because she claimed she was the children's aunt.””
Daniel stared.
“She wasn't their aunt.””
“No,” the doctor replied.
“But she was their mother.””
Silence.
Gavin looked at the their aunt.””
“No,” the doctor replied.
“But she was their mother.””
Silence.
Gavin looked at the third certificate.
Kendra's name.
The unknown father.
The date.
Everything seemed to move around him third certificate.
Kendra's name.
The unknown father.
The date.
Everything seemed to move around him.
Then he remembered Kendra's words.
Rachel asked me to protect both children.
He looked at the doctor.
“Was Kendra pregnant before that night?””
“Yes.””
“Did she.
Then he remembered Kendra's words.
Rachel asked me to protect both children.
He looked at the doctor.
“Was Kendra pregnant before that night?””
“Yes.””
“Did she give birth to a boy?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Dr. Bell lowered his voice.
“I believe you've already met him.””
Gavin give birth to a boy?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Dr. Bell lowered his voice.
“I believe you've already met him.””
Gavin stopped breathing.
He thought of Eli.
The boy who had called him Daddy.
The boy with the matching leaf-shaped birth stopped breathing.
He thought of Eli.
The boy who had called him Daddy.
The boy with the matching leaf-shaped birthmark.
The boy who had been locked beneath the stairs.
Gavin shook his head.
“No.””
Dr. Bell nodded.
mark.
The boy who had been locked beneath the stairs.
Gavin shook his head.
“No.””
Dr. Bell nodded.
“The boy in your house is Kendra's biological son.””
Gavin stared at him.
““The boy in your house is Kendra's biological son.””
Gavin stared at him.
“Then why does he have my birthmark?””
The doctor hesitated.
Then he delivered the sentence that changed everything.
“Because KThen why does he have my birthmark?””
The doctor hesitated.
Then he delivered the sentence that changed everything.
“Because Kendra used Rachel's embryo during an unauthorized fertility procedure. The boy wasendra used Rachel's embryo during an unauthorized fertility procedure. The boy was genetically yours and Rachel's, but Kendra carried him.””
Gavin gripped the table.
Daniel whispered, “That's impossible.””
Dr. Bell shook his head.
“It happened.””
Gavin looked genetically yours and Rachel's, but Kendra carried him.””
Gavin gripped the table.
Daniel whispered, “That's impossible.””
Dr. Bell shook his head.
“It happened.””
Gavin looked toward Lily.
Then at the documents.
Rachel had given birth to one child who was biologically toward Lily.
Then at the documents.
Rachel had given birth to one child who was biologically hers and Gavin's.
Kendra had carried another embryo created from Rachel's egg and Gavin's sperm.
But where did that leave the third hers and Gavin's.
Kendra had carried another embryo created from Rachel's egg and Gavin's sperm.
But where did that leave the third baby?
The boy listed under Kendra's name?
Gavin slowly turned toward the doctor.
“You said Kendra gave birth to a boy baby?
The boy listed under Kendra's name?
Gavin slowly turned toward the doctor.
“You said Kendra gave birth to a boy.””
“Yes.””
“Then what happened to that child?””
Dr. Bell opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, Nurse Collins reached into the folder and.””
“Yes.””
“Then what happened to that child?””
Dr. Bell opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, Nurse Collins reached into the folder and removed a final photograph.
It showed a newborn wrapped in a yellow blanket.
On the back was a handwritten name removed a final photograph.
It showed a newborn wrapped in a yellow blanket.
On the back was a handwritten name.
*AVA.*
Gavin stared.
His daughter.
The little girl he'd raised for seven years.
The child who had brought Eli out of the darkness with a picture book.
He looked up.
“Are.
*AVA.*
Gavin stared.
His daughter.
The little girl he'd raised for seven years.
The child who had brought Eli out of the darkness with a picture book.
He looked up.
“Are you telling me Ava isn't biologically mine?””
Nurse Collins began to cry.
Dr. Bell lowered his eyes.
And Daniel whispered you telling me Ava isn't biologically mine?””
Nurse Collins began to cry.
Dr. Bell lowered his eyes.
And Daniel whispered:
“Gavin... there's something else you need to know about the night Ava was born.””
The officer's radio crackled.
A new report:
“Gavin... there's something else you need to know about the night Ava was born.””
The officer's radio crackled.
A new report had just come in.
Someone had entered Gavin's house.
And Kendra was gone.
had just come in.
May you like
Someone had entered Gavin's house.
And Kendra was gone.
