Chapter 4: The Secret Hidden in My Name
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything.
Not the police officers speaking into their radios.
Not the paramedic asking Emma questions.
Not even Vanessa crying behind me.
All I could hear was the little girl's voice.
"She said you were my real daddy.""
I slowly lowered Emma until her feet touched the floor.
I crouched in front of her.
"Sweetheart, can you tell me exactly what Vanessa told you?""
Emma looked at the woman standing in the hallway.
Vanessa shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Emma immediately looked down.
I reached for her hand.
"You aren't in trouble. Nobody is going to punish you for telling the truth.""
Her fingers were cold.
"She said you were my daddy, but you didn't want me.""
My chest tightened.
"Why would she say that?""
"Because you already had Lily.""
I looked toward my daughter.
Lily was sitting beside the paramedic, holding a stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Her little face was pale.
"Emma," I whispered, "who is your mommy?""
"Her name is Sarah.""
I froze.
Sarah.
I hadn't heard that name in almost six years.
Before Vanessa.
Before the wedding.
Before Lily was born.
Sarah Mitchell had been my girlfriend during my final year of college. We had dated for three years, and for a while, I genuinely believed we would get married.
But our relationship ended badly.
I'd been offered a job in another state. Sarah wanted to stay near her family. We argued, broke up, and eventually stopped speaking.
A few months later, I met Vanessa.
I had assumed Sarah had moved on.
I had no idea she had a daughter.
I turned toward the officer.
"Can I see that document?""
He handed me the folder.
The birth certificate was a photocopy.
The child's name was Emma Rose Carter.
Father: Daniel Michael Carter.
Mother: Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell.
My full name.
My middle name.
My date of birth.
Everything was correct.
I stared at the paper.
"This is impossible.""
The officer remained calm.
"Do you recognize the mother's name?""
"Yes. Sarah was my girlfriend years ago. But we haven't spoken in a long time.""
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
"He's lying.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"He knows exactly who Emma is.""
The officer moved between us.
"Ma'am, stay where you are.""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Daniel knew about Sarah. He knew she was pregnant.""
I stared at her.
"That's a lie.""
"You told me!""
"When?""
"Before we got married!""
I shook my head.
"I told you Sarah and I used to date. That's all.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You always make yourself look innocent.""
I looked at the document again.
There was something else inside the folder.
A folded envelope.
My name was written across the front in blue ink.
Daniel.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
Sarah's.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
The paper was creased, and the ink had faded slightly.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, it means I finally found a way to get this message to you.
Emma is your daughter.
I tried to tell you before she was born. I called your old number, contacted your parents, and even wrote to the address you gave me before we separated.
Vanessa answered one of my calls.
She told me you had married someone else and didn't want anything to do with me.
She said contacting you again would only destroy your marriage.
I believed her.
I stopped reading.
My hands began shaking.
I looked up at Vanessa.
"You intercepted Sarah's messages?""
Vanessa said nothing.
I continued.
I never wanted money. I never wanted to interfere with your life. I just wanted Emma to know who her father was.
When I became sick, I contacted Vanessa because she told me she was willing to help. She said she would make sure Emma was safe until I recovered.
Please, Daniel. Don't let anyone convince Emma that she was unwanted.
She deserves to know she was loved.
Sarah.
I lowered the letter.
The room seemed to tilt.
"You knew.""
Vanessa looked away.
"You knew she was my daughter.""
She swallowed.
"I didn't know for sure.""
"You have her birth certificate!""
"Sarah sent it to me.""
"And you kept it?""
Vanessa's voice rose.
"I was protecting my family!""
I stared at her.
"From a six-year-old girl?""
"From Sarah!""
"Sarah wasn't here!""
Vanessa began crying again.
"You don't understand what it was like. You were always talking about having a perfect family. Then suddenly, there was another child.
Another woman. Another responsibility.""
I felt disgust rising in my throat.
"So you brought her into my house and locked her in a room?""
"I never planned for it to become like this.""
"How long has she been here?""
Vanessa hesitated.
The officer stepped closer.
"Ma'am, answer the question.""
"Three weeks.""
I stared at her.
"Three weeks?""
"Sarah asked me to look after her.""
"And you kept her locked up for three weeks?""
"Only when necessary!""
The officer's expression hardened.
"That's not an acceptable explanation.""
Vanessa pointed at Emma.
"She was difficult! She cried constantly, asked for her mother, and kept trying to leave!""
I stepped closer.
"Because she wanted her mother!""
Vanessa flinched.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Emma tugged gently at my sleeve.
"Mr. Daniel?""
I turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Are you angry because I'm your daughter?""
The question nearly destroyed me.
I crouched immediately.
"No. No, Emma.""
She stared at me.
"Mommy said you would be angry.""
I held her tiny hands.
"Listen to me. I didn't know you existed. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have loved you.""
Her eyes filled.
"Really?""
I nodded.
"Really.""
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around my neck.
I held her carefully.
And for the first time in years, I cried in front of strangers.
The paramedic approached.
"Mr. Carter, we need to take Emma to the hospital for a full examination.""
"Of course.""
"We should also examine Lily.""
I looked at my daughter.
"Yes. Please.""
Vanessa suddenly stepped toward us.
"Daniel, don't let them take the children away. We can fix this.""
The officer raised his hand.
"Ma'am, you're not in a position to make that decision.""
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"What?""
"We need to establish what happened here. You'll need to cooperate with the investigation.""
She looked at me desperately.
"Daniel, tell them I'm a good mother.""
I stared at her.
"You made my daughter search through garbage while your other child ate birthday cake.""
"Madison isn't involved in this!""
"And you locked another little girl in a bedroom.""
"I was helping her!""
I shook my head.
"No. You were hurting her.""
The officer guided Vanessa toward the living room.
Before she disappeared around the corner, she turned back.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Daniel.""
I didn't answer.
Then she said something that made me look up.
"You should ask Sarah what she did before you start believing that letter.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa's lips curled into a strange smile.
May you like
"Your daughter isn't the only secret she kept from you.""
And as the police officer escorted my wife away, I realized the letter might not have told me the whole truth.
