Chapter 5 - Two Mothers on Paper
Impossible.
Rebecca was twenty-four twelve years ago.
She could have given birth.
But Daniel had known her then only casually through foundation work.
They began dating two years later.
Emma was born four years after that.
Daniel remembered no pregnancy.
Could she have hidden one?
Possible.
But Claire?
Evelyn was forty-seven.
Also possible.
Same baby couldn't legally have two biological mothers.
Unless records were fraudulent.
Rose explained.
Neither certificate was necessarily true.
They were draft forms discovered during audit.
Someone had created alternate maternity records.
Why?
Not baby swapping.
Not trafficking.
Something more bureaucratic.
St. Matthew’s operated private maternity program for high-profile families.
An unauthorized practice developed:
Temporary identity masking.
Patients seeking privacy were admitted under administrative aliases.
Later records reconciled.
Usually harmless if properly corrected.
But several weren't.
One baby remained attached to two maternal files.
That baby became C-17.
Daniel asked:
“What happened to her?”
Rose looked at him.
“She left hospital with her mother.”
“Which mother?”
“That’s what Evelyn and I argued about for years.”
DNA records?
No reliable samples retained.
Original lab card disappeared.
Then Rose revealed why she vanished.
Evelyn accused her of stealing card.
Rose accused Evelyn.
Their friendship ended.
Margaret helped Rose leave after hospital threatened legal action for records breach.
Margaret later told family Rose disappeared voluntarily to protect Rebecca from scandal.
So Margaret's lie was protective but damaging.
Then Daniel asked why Rebecca investigated years later.
Because she discovered C-17 while working compliance.
Her own name appeared on false draft birth certificate.
Someone had used her identity.
That terrified her.
Who?
Unknown.
Then she found Evelyn’s name on alternate.
Rebecca contacted Claire.
Now Claire’s family connection.
Then Daniel asked:
“Was C-17 Claire’s child?”
“No.”
Claire was twenty.
No known pregnancy.
Could still be, but evidence didn't support.
“Rebecca’s?”
Rose shook head.
“She swore it wasn't.”
Daniel believed Rebecca.
Then whose?
Rose pointed to lockets.
“Names tell you where to look.”
Still no reveal.
Then she gave him old staff roster.
Three women handled C-17:
Evelyn Bennett.
Rose Hayes.
Dr. Miriam Cole.
C.
Could be Cole.
Dr. Cole ran private maternity program.
She died seven years earlier.
Her estate?
Daniel searched.
One surviving daughter.
Claire.
No.
Different Claire?
Her daughter was named Catherine Cole.
Thirty-eight.
Living in Boston.
Daniel called.
Catherine answered.
When he mentioned C-17, she hung up.
Then texted:
DON’T CONTACT ME AGAIN.
Ten minutes later:
IF YOU HAVE GOLD LOCKET, BURN IT.
Daniel stared.
Another person afraid.
Then third message:
ASK YOUR FIANCÉE WHY MY MOTHER PAID FOR HER COLLEGE.
Claire had told Daniel her mother Evelyn paid tuition from savings.
Apparently not.
Daniel returned.
Claire was waiting.
He placed tuition records down.
Payments originated from Miriam Cole Foundation.
“Explain.”
Claire cried.
“My mother told me it was scholarship.”
“Did you know Miriam?”
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
“Yes.”
“How well?”
Claire whispered:
“They were sisters.”
Daniel stared.
Evelyn Bennett and Dr. Miriam Cole were sisters.
Claire had concealed that.
“Why?”
“Because Rebecca told me never to tell you.”
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“You keep using my dead wife to justify lies.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then ask why your dead wife was protecting me.”
Daniel did.
May you like
Claire answered:
“Because she thought your family had already paid once to make C-17 disappear.”
