Chapter 4: The Second Father
Gavin read the highlighted sentence three times.
*ADDITIONAL PATERNITY TEST REQUESTED — SECOND BIOLOGICAL FATHER NOT EXCLUDED.*
The paper trembled between his fingers.
He looked at Margaret.
“What does this mean?””
Margaret didn't answer immediately.
Eli was sitting beside Ava on the sofa, carefully examining the little girl's picture book. Neither child seemed to understand what was happening around them.
Kendra stood near the staircase, her arms wrapped around herself.
Finally, Margaret spoke.
“Rachel was carrying twins.””
Gavin stopped breathing.
“What?””
“Two babies, Gavin. A boy and a girl.””
He stared at her.
“That's impossible. I was at the hospital. I remember the delivery.””
“You were there for the emergency surgery. But you weren't there when Rachel regained consciousness.””
Gavin shook his head.
“Someone told me there was only one baby.””
Margaret nodded sadly.
“That's what the hospital records said afterward.””
“Where is the other baby?””
Margaret glanced toward Kendra.
Gavin followed her eyes.
His wife's face had become almost colorless.
“Kendra?””
She looked down.
“Don't.””
“Where is the other baby?””
“I don't know.””
Gavin stepped closer.
“You told me my son was dead. You locked him in a room. You forged my signature. And now you're telling me there was another baby?””
Kendra pressed her lips together.
“I'm telling you what I know.””
Margaret let out a bitter laugh.
“No. You're telling him the version you've rehearsed.””
Kendra spun toward her.
“You promised you wouldn't bring that up!””
Gavin looked between them.
“What exactly did you promise each other?””
Margaret reached into her handbag.
She removed an old photograph and placed it on the table.
It showed Rachel sitting in a hospital bed.
Her face was pale, but she was smiling.
Two newborn babies lay beside her.
One wore a blue blanket.
The other wore a yellow one.
Gavin picked up the photograph.
His vision blurred.
“That's Rachel.””
“Yes,” Margaret whispered.
“And those are...?””
“Your children.””
Gavin sat down heavily.
He remembered Rachel's pregnancy. The two names they'd discussed. The arguments over whether they should buy one crib or two.
He remembered laughing when Rachel said their house would never be quiet again.
Then he remembered the phone call.
The hospital had told him there had been complications. Rachel had died. The baby had not survived.
He had buried his wife believing his entire future had disappeared in one afternoon.
Now he was holding a photograph of two newborns.
“Why didn't anyone show me this?””
Margaret looked at Kendra.
“Because someone took the original records.””
Gavin turned.
“Kendra, how did you get involved?””
She stared at the photograph.
“Rachel and I knew each other.””
Gavin frowned.
“You never told me that.””
“We weren't close.””
“Then how did you know about the twins?””
Kendra swallowed.
“Because I was at the hospital that night.””
The room seemed to grow smaller.
“You were there?””
She nodded.
“I came to see Rachel.””
“Why?””
Kendra's eyes filled.
“I had reasons.””
Gavin's voice became dangerously quiet.
“What reasons?””
She didn't answer.
Margaret stepped forward.
“Tell him.””
Kendra shook her head.
“Not in front of the children.””
Gavin turned toward Ava.
“Sweetheart, would you take Eli into the kitchen? There's some fruit in the refrigerator.””
Ava nodded.
“Can he have strawberries?””
“Of course.””
The two children disappeared into the kitchen.
Gavin waited until their footsteps faded.
Then he faced his wife.
“Start talking.””
Kendra took a shaky breath.
“Before I married you, I knew Rachel was pregnant. I knew she was expecting twins.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She looked directly at him.
“Of losing you.””
Gavin stared.
“We weren't even together when Rachel was pregnant.””
“I know.””
“Then what did you have to lose?””
Kendra's face crumpled.
She looked at Margaret.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Then Kendra finally said it.
“Rachel knew something about me. Something that could have destroyed my life before I ever met you.””
Gavin's expression hardened.
“What?””
Kendra shook her head.
“I can't.””
Gavin placed the photograph on the table.
“Then I will find out without your help.””
He picked up his phone.
Kendra suddenly reached for his arm.
“Gavin, wait.””
He pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
She stepped backward.
“You need to understand something. The second baby wasn't supposed to survive.””
Gavin looked at her.
“What did you just say?””
Kendra's eyes filled with tears.
“The doctors told Margaret there were complications. One of the babies needed emergency treatment. I was told—”
“Who told you?””
She looked toward the kitchen.
Then back at Gavin.
“A man named Daniel.””
Gavin frowned.
“Who is Daniel?””
Kendra's lips trembled.
“Your brother.””
The name struck like a physical blow.
Gavin hadn't spoken to Daniel in almost eight years.
They'd fallen out after their father's funeral, when Daniel had accused Gavin of taking money from their mother's estate.
Daniel had disappeared from the family shortly afterward.
Gavin stared at Kendra.
“My brother was at the hospital?””
She nodded.
“And he knew about the twins?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Kendra's answer came so quietly that Gavin almost couldn't hear it.
“Because he was the second father.””
Silence swallowed the room.
Gavin looked at the photograph again.
Two babies.
One marriage.
One dead woman.
And a brother who had apparently been part of a secret that had lasted six years.
From the kitchen came Ava's cheerful voice.
“Eli, do you want the big strawberry or the little one?””
Gavin closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Kendra.
“Where is Daniel?””
Kendra didn't answer.
Her phone vibrated on the table.
A new message appeared.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: Stop talking. Gavin must never find out where the little girl is.*
Gavin read it.
Then slowly raised his eyes.
“There's a little girl?””
Kendra snatched the phone.
But it was too late.
May you like
He had already seen the message.
And somewhere inside the house, Eli began to cry.
