Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Cole Name
Adrian stared at his mother's face on the phone.
"Say that again.""
Evelyn sat perfectly still.
Behind her, the photograph of Raymond holding a newborn baby seemed to stare back at him.
"Neither of those girls has the father you think she has," she repeated.
Celeste grabbed Adrian's arm.
"What does that mean?""
Adrian ignored the question.
"Who is the little boy in the photograph?""
Evelyn looked away.
"His name was Daniel.""
"Was?""
"He died many years ago.""
"How was he related to Dad?""
Evelyn's lips tightened.
"He was Raymond's son.""
Adrian felt his stomach drop.
"You're saying Dad had another child?""
"Yes.""
"With another woman?""
Evelyn nodded.
Adrian looked toward Celeste.
She was watching him with wide, frightened eyes.
"Why did you never tell me?""
"Because your father made mistakes.""
"Having another child isn't a mistake you can erase.""
"Adrian, you don't understand.""
"Then explain it!""
Evelyn leaned toward the camera.
"Daniel was born before you. His mother died when he was very young. Raymond wanted to bring him into our home, but I refused.""
"Why?""
"Because I had already built a family.""
Adrian shook his head.
"You mean you didn't want another woman's child in your house.""
"I had my reasons.""
"Did Daniel have children?""
Evelyn went silent.
Adrian's heartbeat quickened.
"Mom?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
Evelyn looked directly into the camera.
"His daughter was Celeste.""
The room became silent.
Celeste took a step backward.
"No.""
Evelyn continued.
"Daniel was your father's first son. Celeste was his daughter. That makes her your half-sister.""
Adrian stared at the screen.
Then at Celeste.
Then back at his mother.
"You're lying.""
"I wish I were.""
Celeste shook her head violently.
"My father was Daniel Reed. My mother told me he died when I was a baby.""
"Your father was Daniel Cole," Evelyn replied.
"He changed his surname after leaving our family.""
Celeste covered her mouth.
Adrian felt as though the walls were closing in.
The woman he had loved.
The woman who had given birth to his children.
His half-sister?
"No," he whispered.
Evelyn's voice softened.
"Your father knew the truth. He discovered it shortly before you met Celeste.""
Adrian looked at her.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he didn't want you to know.""
Celeste sank into a chair.
"You're saying my father abandoned me because of your family?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"He didn't abandon you. He tried to return.""
"When?""
"Years later. He came to see Raymond.""
"Did he see me?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
Celeste's voice broke.
"Did my father know I was his daughter?""
"Yes.""
Celeste closed her eyes.
Six years of questions had suddenly become something much worse.
Her father hadn't simply disappeared.
He had been connected to a family that had quietly existed around her.
Adrian gripped the phone.
"Is that why you separated the twins?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Raymond wanted the family truth kept buried. When Celeste became pregnant with your children, I panicked.""
"Why?""
"Because if the babies were registered under both families, the truth would come out.""
Adrian stared at her.
"So you stole a child to protect a secret?""
"I was protecting everyone.""
"No. You were protecting yourself.""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Your father was going to tell you everything. I couldn't allow that.""
"Did Dad know what you did?""
"He knew enough.""
Adrian felt sick.
"And the family who paid you?""
Evelyn looked down.
"They were Daniel's relatives. They wanted the baby.""
"Which baby?""
"The one they believed belonged to their branch of the family.""
Celeste suddenly stood.
"That doesn't make sense. If Imani was Daniel's granddaughter, why would they want to take her away from me?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
Instead, she said something that made Adrian's blood run cold.
"Because Imani wasn't the only baby they were interested in.""
The call abruptly ended.
Adrian stared at the black screen.
Celeste was trembling.
"Adrian, I can't believe this.""
He moved toward her.
"Listen to me. We need to establish the facts before we believe anything she says.""
Celeste stepped away.
"How can I stand here and pretend this is normal?""
"We're not going to pretend.""
"You and I may be related!""
"I know.""
"Then what were we doing?""
Adrian couldn't answer.
He remembered their first date.
The restaurant.
Her laugh.
The night they promised to build a family.
Everything had suddenly acquired a terrible question mark.
He called Patricia.
She answered almost immediately.
"Did Evelyn tell you?""
"Yes. Is it true?""
Patricia sighed.
"Yes, Adrian. Daniel was Celeste's father.""
"Did Dad know?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know before Celeste and I got together?""
"Not at first. He found out later.""
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because Raymond was ashamed.""
"Of what?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she explained.
Daniel had been born during Raymond's first marriage. His mother had died when Daniel was young, and Raymond had raised him for several years.
But when Raymond married Evelyn, she insisted Daniel be sent to live with relatives.
Raymond eventually lost contact with his son.
Years later, Daniel returned to Philadelphia under the surname Reed.
He married and had a daughter.
Celeste.
Raymond discovered the connection when Celeste was a teenager.
But by then, Daniel had died.
"Did my father ever tell Celeste?"" Adrian asked.
"No. He tried to find a way.""
"And Evelyn?""
"She threatened to expose Daniel's past and destroy his reputation.""
Adrian looked toward the hallway.
Zoe's bedroom door was open.
Her little shoes sat beside the wall.
He thought about her future.
About Imani's future.
About what two innocent girls would have to carry because adults had chosen lies over truth.
"Patricia, I need the complete story.""
"I have something Raymond left with me.""
"What?""
"A sealed letter. He told me to give it to you only if you ever discovered what happened to the twins.""
"Where is it?""
"With me.""
"Send it.""
"I can't. It contains documents that need to be seen in person.""
Adrian exhaled.
"Then I'll come.""
"There's something else.""
"What?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Raymond believed Evelyn had made another mistake.""
"Which was?""
"She thought she knew which baby belonged to whom.""
Adrian frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
"She switched the hospital bracelets. But the original nurse made a private notation before the paperwork was changed.""
Adrian looked at Celeste.
Patricia continued.
"And that notation identifies the baby your mother took.""
"Who was it?""
"I'll tell you when you arrive.""
Adrian's voice hardened.
"Patricia, tell me now.""
She took a breath.
"Adrian, the baby Evelyn took wasn't Imani.""
He froze.
"Then who was it?""
Patricia whispered:
"She took Zoe.""
The call ended.
Adrian slowly lowered his phone.
Celeste looked at him.
"What happened?""
He couldn't speak.
He turned toward the hallway.
His little girl was upstairs.
The child he had raised.
The child he had loved.
May you like
The child his mother had deliberately chosen.
And somewhere beneath the layers of six years of deception was the truth about which baby he had brought home.
