Chapter 3: The Photograph in Her Purse
Celeste didn't answer immediately.
She looked toward the girls.
Zoe was showing Imani how to turn the pages without bending the corners.
Imani listened carefully.
"You're supposed to be gentle," Zoe explained.
"Daddy says books have feelings.""
Imani nodded.
"My mommy says books are like little doors.""
The girls smiled at each other.
Adrian watched them for a moment.
Then he turned back.
"Celeste. Did you know?""
She lowered her voice.
"Yes.""
His jaw tightened.
"Tell me.""
Celeste glanced around the library.
Then she led him toward a quiet corner near the windows.
Adrian followed.
The afternoon sunlight fell across the carpet, illuminating dust particles floating between the shelves.
Celeste held her purse tightly against her side.
"I found out at twenty weeks," she said.
Adrian stared.
"Found out what?""
"That there were two babies.""
His chest tightened.
"Two?""
She nodded.
"The doctor showed me the ultrasound. Two little heartbeats.""
Adrian looked toward Zoe and Imani.
For a moment, the sounds of the library seemed to disappear.
"Twins?""
"Yes.""
He pressed a hand against the bookshelf.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Celeste laughed bitterly.
"Because I thought you already knew.""
"How could I know something you never told me?""
"Your mother told me she had spoken to you.""
Adrian shook his head.
"My mother never told me you were pregnant.""
Celeste looked at him.
"She said you were furious. She said you wanted nothing to do with me or the babies.""
Adrian's voice grew sharper.
"That woman stood beside me when Zoe was born. She held my daughter. She helped me choose her name.""
Celeste looked down.
"And she told me to leave.""
He stared at her.
"Did she know you were having twins?""
"Yes.""
"Did she know both babies were girls?""
Celeste nodded.
Adrian closed his eyes.
A memory surfaced.
His mother standing beside his hospital bed.
Her hand resting on his shoulder.
Her voice calm.
One healthy little girl, Adrian. That's all that matters now.
At the time, he had assumed she was talking about Zoe's delivery.
Now the sentence sounded different.
"Where did you give birth?"" he asked.
"Jefferson Hospital.""
"Who was with you?""
"No one.""
"Not even your family?""
Celeste shook her head.
"My mother had died years earlier. My father was already gone. I didn't have anyone I trusted.""
Adrian looked at her.
"You could have trusted me.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know that now.""
"No. You don't understand. I spent months looking for you.""
"I looked for you too.""
"Then why didn't you find me?""
Celeste reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small, worn envelope.
The edges were yellowed.
The flap had been opened and sealed several times.
"I kept this because I couldn't throw it away.""
Adrian stared at the envelope.
"What is it?""
"Something your mother gave me.""
She slid out a photograph.
Adrian recognized himself immediately.
He was standing outside a restaurant, smiling beside a woman in a red dress.
The photograph looked convincing.
Too convincing.
But Adrian knew the woman.
She was his cousin, Denise.
The picture had been taken at a family birthday dinner.
He remembered the evening.
He had worn that same jacket.
He had taken Denise to her car afterward because she had been drinking.
But Celeste had no way of knowing that.
"She told me you were seeing this woman," Celeste whispered.
"She said you had already moved on.""
Adrian stared at the photograph.
"That's my cousin.""
Celeste blinked.
"What?""
"Denise. She's my cousin.""
Celeste's face drained of color.
"Your mother told me she was your girlfriend.""
"She lied.""
Celeste sat down heavily in the nearby chair.
Adrian remained standing.
"There's more," she said.
He looked at her.
She reached deeper into the envelope and pulled out a folded hospital document.
It was a copy of a discharge summary.
Two newborn girls.
Born November 14.
One listed as Baby A.
The other listed as Baby B.
Adrian's hands began to tremble.
"Where's the other baby?""
Celeste looked toward Imani.
"She's standing over there.""
"Then why did you only bring one home?""
Celeste swallowed.
"I didn't.""
Adrian stared at her.
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"I gave birth to two healthy girls. I held both of them. I kissed both of them. I had two little blankets waiting.""
Her voice broke.
"Then a nurse told me there had been a paperwork problem.""
Adrian's stomach turned.
"What kind of problem?""
"She said one baby had been transferred for additional monitoring. They told me not to worry.""
"Was Zoe that baby?""
"I don't know.""
Adrian looked toward his daughter.
His little girl was laughing with Imani.
Their matching smiles seemed almost unbearable now.
Celeste continued.
"When I woke up after the delivery, only one baby was in the room. I asked where the other one was. They said she had been moved.""
"Moved where?""
"They wouldn't tell me.""
Adrian stepped closer.
"Celeste, what are you saying?""
"I'm saying I went home with one baby because I was told the other had been placed under specialist care.""
"Did you ever see her again?""
"No.""
"Did you file a report?""
"Of course I did! I called the hospital every day. I spoke to social workers. I hired an attorney when I could afford one.""
"Then how did you find Imani?""
Celeste looked at him.
"Because two days later, someone left her outside my apartment.""
Adrian went still.
"What?""
Celeste's eyes filled with tears.
"She was in a pink blanket. There was a note tucked inside.""
"What did it say?""
Celeste pulled a second paper from the envelope.
Her fingers shook as she unfolded it.
Adrian took the paper.
The handwriting was familiar.
Too familiar.
He had seen it on birthday cards, grocery lists, and handwritten notes left on his kitchen counter.
It belonged to his mother.
There were only two sentences.
This child belongs with her mother.
Never let Adrian know she survived.
Adrian felt his knees weaken.
He read the words again.
Then once more.
Celeste watched him.
"Now do you understand why I was afraid?""
He couldn't speak.
Across the room, Zoe stood up.
"Daddy!""
Adrian quickly folded the note.
Zoe hurried toward him, holding a drawing.
"Look! Imani and I made a picture of our family!""
He forced himself to look at the paper.
Two little girls stood between two adults.
One man.
One woman.
Above them, Zoe had drawn a huge yellow sun.
Imani pointed proudly.
"That's my mommy. And that's your daddy.""
Zoe smiled.
"We need to draw another person.""
"Who?"" Imani asked.
Zoe looked up at Adrian.
"Grandma!""
Adrian's throat tightened.
Celeste slowly stood.
"Adrian...""
He looked at her.
"Where is my mother right now?""
"Why?""
"Because I need to ask her something.""
Celeste's eyes widened.
"Don't.""
"She separated two babies. She lied to both of us.""
"Adrian, you don't know what she's capable of.""
He stared at the note again.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared on the screen.
*MOM: Don't bring Zoe home late. I have something important to tell you about the girl you met today.*
Adrian's blood ran cold.
He slowly looked up at Celeste.
She had read the message over his shoulder.
Her lips parted.
"Adrian...""
"What?""
She pointed at his phone.
"How does your mother already know about Imani?""
May you like
And before Adrian could answer, another message arrived.
*MOM: Whatever Celeste tells you, remember that she is not the only one who lost a child that night.*
