PART 7 — THE LETTER
Nathan drove to his father’s house as soon as we were discharged.
I stayed home with the babies.
That evening, he returned carrying a small wooden box.
Inside was Emily’s necklace.
A hospital bracelet.
And a sealed letter.
Nathan opened it with shaking hands.
The letter was written by his mother.
She confessed that Emily had secretly given birth to a daughter.
But the family had been terrified of scandal.
Emily was seventeen.
The baby’s father was unknown.
And Nathan’s mother had arranged for the child to be placed with another family.
Then came the most shocking sentence.
“Emily believed her baby had died. I told her that because I could not bear the shame.”
Nathan dropped the letter.
I covered my mouth.
“Your mother lied to her?”
He nodded.
“She told Emily the baby had died.”
“But why?”
Nathan looked at the final paragraph.
His face went white.
“Because she gave the baby to someone she trusted.”
“Who?”
He couldn’t speak.
Then he turned the letter around.
There was a name.
Dr. Helen Carter.
My name.
My mother’s name.
PART 8 — MY MOTHER
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