Chapter 4: The Message That Changed Everything
Adrian read his mother's message three times.
Whatever Celeste tells you, remember that she is not the only one who lost a child that night.
He looked at the screen until the words began to blur.
Celeste stood opposite him, clutching her purse against her chest.
"What does she mean?"" Adrian asked.
Celeste shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"She knows about Imani. She knows you're here. She even knows what we're talking about.""
"Adrian, please. We need to leave.""
"Why?""
"Because I don't want her coming here.""
Adrian looked toward the reading table.
Zoe and Imani were still sitting together, drawing pictures.
"Those are our daughters," he whispered.
"Whatever happened, they're not going anywhere without us.""
Celeste's eyes filled.
"That's exactly what I was afraid of.""
Before Adrian could ask another question, his phone rang.
MOTHER.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?"" he demanded.
"Hello to you too, sweetheart.""
His mother, Evelyn Cole, had always spoken in that polished, unhurried voice. Even when she was angry, she rarely raised it.
It used to make Adrian feel safe.
Today, it made his skin crawl.
"How do you know Celeste is here?""
There was a pause.
"I told you. I have something important to discuss.""
"How do you know?""
"Adrian, lower your voice.""
"Did you know she had twins?""
Silence.
A long, deliberate silence.
Then Evelyn sighed.
"Some things are better left alone.""
Adrian gripped the phone.
"You knew?""
"I did what I thought was necessary.""
His mouth fell open.
"What did you do?""
"Come home. We will discuss this privately.""
"No. You will answer me now.""
"Your daughter is waiting for you, Adrian.""
He glanced at Zoe.
Then Evelyn said something that made his blood run cold.
"Both of them are waiting.""
The call ended.
Adrian lowered the phone.
Celeste covered her mouth.
"She knows," she whispered.
"Apparently.""
"Adrian, we need to get those girls out of here.""
He nodded.
But before they could move, a library employee approached.
"Excuse me. Is everything all right? We received a phone call asking us to check on a little girl named Imani Reed.""
Celeste stiffened.
"Who called?""
The employee looked at her clipboard.
"A woman who said she was the child's grandmother.""
Adrian and Celeste exchanged a glance.
"Did she give you her name?"" Adrian asked.
The employee hesitated.
"Evelyn Cole.""
Celeste grabbed Imani's drawing.
"We're leaving.""
Adrian didn't argue.
He collected Zoe's jacket and guided the girls toward the exit.
Outside, the November wind cut through their clothes.
The girls walked ahead, holding hands.
Zoe's pale blue dress fluttered beneath her coat. Imani's yellow cardigan showed at the collar.
They looked so alike that two people passing them on the sidewalk turned for a second glance.
Adrian watched them.
He had spent six years believing Zoe was his only child.
Now he was walking beside two little girls who shared the same birthday, the same face, and a history that somebody had deliberately hidden.
"Where are we going?"" Celeste asked.
"Your apartment.""
"Why?""
"Because I want to see everything you kept from that night.""
Celeste nodded.
"All right.""
At the apartment, Imani immediately ran to her bedroom.
"Mommy! Zoe can see my toys!""
Zoe followed her.
"Do you have dolls?""
"I have twelve!""
"I have nine!""
"Then we can play with all twenty-one!""
Their laughter drifted down the hallway.
Adrian stood in Celeste's small living room.
It was modest but tidy. Children's drawings covered the refrigerator. A pink backpack rested beside the sofa.
On the mantel stood a framed photograph of Imani as a baby.
Adrian picked it up.
The little girl in the photograph had the same tiny crescent-shaped birthmark.
His fingers trembled.
"How old was she here?""
"Three months.""
"Can I keep a copy?""
Celeste nodded.
"Of course.""
He placed the photograph down.
"Show me the hospital papers.""
Celeste disappeared into her bedroom and returned with a cardboard box.
Inside were medical documents, letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings.
Adrian opened the first folder.
A hospital bracelet.
Another bracelet.
Both bore the same surname.
REED.
He picked up the second one.
There was a handwritten note attached.
*Baby B — transferred to nursery.*
"Where did you get this?""
"From the hospital records.""
"Did anyone explain the transfer?""
"They said the second baby needed monitoring. But when I asked to visit her, they kept telling me to wait.""
Adrian turned another page.
A discharge form.
One baby discharged into Celeste's care.
The second section had been crossed out.
He examined the signature.
Then he stopped.
"Who is this?""
Celeste leaned over.
"Dr. Marcus Bennett. He was the attending physician.""
Adrian read the document again.
There was something else.
A second signature, written in blue ink.
Evelyn Cole.
His mother's name.
He looked up.
"Why is my mother signing hospital discharge papers?""
Celeste's face went pale.
"She told me she was authorized to handle the paperwork.""
"Authorized by whom?""
"I don't know.""
Adrian placed the papers on the table.
Then he noticed a small envelope tucked beneath the bottom of the box.
It had never been opened.
His name was written across the front.
ADRIAN.
He looked at Celeste.
"You've never seen this?""
"No.""
He carefully opened it.
Inside was a photograph of two newborn babies lying beside each other.
Two tiny faces.
Two matching hospital caps.
On the back, someone had written:
November 14. Two daughters. One family.
Adrian turned the photograph over again.
There was a date beneath the sentence.
And a name.
Not Celeste's.
Not Evelyn's.
*Dr. Marcus Bennett.*
Then a final line appeared beneath the signature.
If either parent ever comes looking, tell them what happened in Room 214.
Adrian stared at the words.
"Room 214?""
Celeste shook her head.
"I've never heard of it.""
Adrian took out his phone.
He searched the doctor's name.
A medical practice appeared.
But beneath it was a notice.
*Dr. Marcus Bennett — Retired.*
Adrian's phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed a number he hadn't saved.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Cole? My name is Marcus Bennett.""
Adrian froze.
The caller continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about November fourteenth, six years ago.""
"Who gave you my number?""
"Your mother.""
Adrian tightened his grip on the phone.
"Then you can tell me what happened.""
There was a long pause.
Finally, the doctor said:
"I can. But you need to understand something first.""
"What?""
"Your mother didn't simply arrange for one of the twins to leave the hospital.""
May you like
His voice dropped.
"She arranged for both babies to be separated from their father.""
