Chapter 2: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Patricia wasn't a stranger.
She was Claire's closest friend.
At least, that was what everyone in our family believed.
She had attended Claire's birthday parties, accompanied her on shopping trips, and even helped organize the baby shower. She was a real estate agent in Dallas, married to a wealthy businessman, and always seemed to have money for expensive handbags and weekend vacations.
But there was something strange about her appearance that afternoon.
She wasn't dressed like someone attending a baby shower.
She looked like someone arriving at an emergency meeting.
Patricia glanced at the wrapper in Daniel's hand.
"Oh, God," she muttered.
Claire immediately stood up.
"Patricia, please don't.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Don't what?""
Patricia looked at him.
"Daniel, this isn't the place.""
He laughed once, without humor.
"That's interesting. Apparently, my wife's pregnancy isn't real, and now everybody knows something except me.""
"You're misunderstanding the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Patricia placed her handbag on the nearest table.
"I helped Claire with some personal arrangements. That's all.""
"What personal arrangements require a fake pregnancy?""
She looked toward Claire.
Claire shook her head desperately.
"Don't say anything.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Why are you telling her what to say? I'm her husband.""
Patricia exhaled.
"Claire came to me because she was terrified of losing you.""
The room went completely silent.
Daniel stared at her.
"Losing me?""
"She told me you were becoming distant. You were working constantly, and she felt you were no longer excited about building a family together.""
"That's why she pretended to be pregnant?""
"Let me finish.""
"No. You don't get to walk into my brother's life, explain away seven months of lies, and expect everyone to sit quietly.""
I hadn't intended to speak, but the words came out before I could stop them.
Patricia turned toward me.
"Emily, I understand you're upset.""
"Don't tell me how I feel.""
I looked at my daughter, who was still clinging to my dress.
"Your friend just screamed at a four-year-old because she accidentally exposed a lie. I think we're past the point of polite explanations.""
Patricia looked away.
Daniel pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Start from the beginning.""
Claire wiped her face.
"I can explain.""
"Then do it.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Last year, when we started trying for a baby, I thought it would happen quickly. We talked about names, decorated the guest room, and you told everyone you wanted to be a father.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"I remember.""
"Then the months passed. Nothing happened. I started seeing doctors.""
"Which doctors?""
She hesitated.
"Dr. Wilson.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"What's his full name?""
Claire looked at Patricia.
Patricia lowered her eyes.
That was when Daniel understood something.
"You never saw a doctor, did you?""
Claire began sobbing.
"I was scared!""
"That's not an answer.""
"I couldn't bear disappointing you!""
Daniel stood up.
"Do you know what I did when you told me you were pregnant?""
Claire shook her head.
"I sold my motorcycle.""
"I know.""
"I worked sixty-hour weeks.""
"I know.""
"I canceled my fishing trip with Dad because I wanted to finish the nursery before our baby arrived.""
"I know, Daniel!""
He slapped his palm against the table.
"Then why would you do this to me?""
Claire flinched.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Patricia stepped forward.
"Daniel, she didn't intend for it to go this far.""
He turned toward her.
"How long have you known?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Since the beginning.""
"Seven months?""
She nodded.
My mother suddenly sat down.
I noticed her fingers trembling around her glass.
Daniel looked at her.
"Mom, why are you acting like you know something?""
Margaret quickly shook her head.
"I don't.""
"Then look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"Did you know Claire wasn't pregnant?""
My mother pressed her lips together.
"Daniel, I only wanted to protect you.""
His face changed.
"Protect me from what?""
She glanced at Claire.
Then at Patricia.
Finally, she whispered, "From another disappointment.""
I felt a cold sensation run down my spine.
"What does that mean?"" I asked.
Margaret looked at me.
"Emily, stay out of this.""
"No. You don't get to say something like that and expect me to stay out of it.""
Daniel moved closer to her.
"Mom, tell me what happened.""
She gripped the edge of the table.
"Claire came to me months ago. She was upset because the doctors had told her something.""
"What doctors?"" Daniel asked.
My mother swallowed.
"She said she might not be able to have children.""
Daniel stared at Claire.
For the first time that afternoon, his anger seemed to disappear.
"Is that true?""
Claire nodded slowly.
"I went to one appointment before we started trying. They told me there might be complications.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted to give you a child.""
"You didn't have to give me anything. I married you.""
She covered her face.
"I thought you would leave.""
Daniel looked genuinely devastated.
"I would never have left you because of that.""
Claire cried harder.
Patricia stepped beside her and rubbed her back.
"That's why we came up with the idea.""
Daniel looked at her sharply.
"You came up with it?""
Patricia nodded.
"At first, it was just supposed to be temporary. Claire wanted time to figure out what to tell you. We bought the artificial belly, created some ultrasound pictures, and arranged a few things.""
"Created ultrasound pictures?""
"Yes.""
My stomach turned.
I remembered the photographs Claire had sent to our family group chat.
Tiny black-and-white images.
A supposed eight-week-old baby.
Then twelve weeks.
Then sixteen.
I had congratulated her on every milestone.
I had even bought a little silver bracelet engraved with the words LITTLE MIRACLE.
Now I wondered whether any of those pictures had ever belonged to a real child.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"How did you fake the doctor's appointments?""
Patricia answered quietly.
"I helped her schedule them on days when you were working. She would leave the house for an hour, then come back with an excuse.""
Daniel looked at Claire.
"And the nausea? The morning sickness?""
Claire stared at the floor.
"I used medication to make myself look sick.""
My brother closed his eyes.
I could almost hear his heart breaking.
Then Sophie spoke from beside me.
"Mommy, why is Aunt Claire sad?""
I crouched beside her.
"Because grown-ups sometimes make bad choices, sweetheart.""
Sophie thought about that.
Then she pointed at Claire's stomach.
"Is there really no baby?""
Claire looked at her.
For a moment, something resembling shame crossed her face.
"No, sweetheart," she whispered.
Sophie nodded.
"Then why did you tell Uncle Daniel to buy a crib?""
Nobody answered.
Daniel turned away.
He walked toward the balloon arch and stared at the giant gold letters.
BABY ON THE WAY.
Then he slowly pulled one of the balloons loose.
It floated toward the ceiling.
"I need some air.""
He walked out.
I started to follow him, but Patricia caught my arm.
"Emily, wait.""
I turned.
"What?""
She lowered her voice.
"There's something else you need to understand.""
"About what?""
"Claire didn't fake this pregnancy just because she was afraid Daniel would leave.""
I looked at her.
"Then why?""
Patricia glanced toward my mother.
Margaret immediately stood.
"Patricia, don't.""
But Patricia had already reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a thick manila envelope and placed it on the table.
"Because the pregnancy was connected to a financial arrangement.""
Claire screamed.
"PUT THAT AWAY!""
Patricia ignored her.
Daniel, who had stopped at the doorway, turned around.
"What financial arrangement?""
Patricia opened the envelope.
Inside were printed bank statements, a property document, and several pages covered in handwritten notes.
She pushed them toward him.
"Claire was supposed to receive something when the baby arrived.""
Daniel picked up the first document.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then his face became completely expressionless.
The document wasn't a hospital bill.
It wasn't an insurance form.
May you like
It was a signed agreement involving my mother's house.
And at the bottom, beside the amount of $450,000, was my mother's signature.
