Chapter 4: The Second Child
“But I wasn't the only child she left behind.””
Daniel stared at Naomi.
The sentence seemed to hang between them, too large for the quiet sitting room.
“What do you mean?””
Naomi looked toward the doorway.
“Not here.””
“Naomi, my mother is being questioned by the police, my daughter was nearly put in danger, and I just found out I apparently have a sister I've never heard of. You don't get to say something like that and then tell me not here.””
Rosa appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Mr. Mercer?””
Daniel turned.
“Is Lily awake?””
“No. She's sleeping.””
“Good.””
Rosa descended the stairs and joined them.
Naomi lowered her voice.
“There is somewhere safer.””
Daniel studied her.
“Where?””
“The old carriage house.””
Ten minutes later, Daniel sat across from Naomi at a wooden table in the converted carriage house behind Mercer House.
Officer Shaw had been informed that Daniel wanted a private conversation with one of the housekeepers, and she had agreed, provided Naomi understood that she was free to leave and that anything relevant to the investigation should be reported.
Rain had begun tapping against the roof.
Naomi placed the silver pendant on the table.
“My mother gave me this when I was eighteen,” she said.
“Evelyn gave it to you?””
“Yes.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“You said you weren't the only child she left behind.””
Naomi folded her hands.
“She had twins.””
Daniel's mouth went dry.
“Twins?””
“A boy and a girl.””
“When?””
“November 3, 1988.””
Daniel looked at the pendant.
“That was Evelyn's birthday.””
“No.”” Naomi shook her head.
“That was the day she gave birth.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Then who was born?””
“You.””
The room went silent.
Daniel almost smiled.
Not because anything was funny.
Because his mind refused to accept what his ears had heard.
“No.””
Naomi's eyes glistened.
“You were one of the twins.””
“That isn't possible.””
“I know.””
“My mother was Eleanor Mercer.””
“Yes.””
“My father was Thomas Mercer.””
“Yes.””
“Then you're saying Evelyn Mercer was—”
“Your sister.””
Daniel pushed back from the table.
“No.””
Naomi didn't move.
“You were raised by Eleanor. Evelyn was forced out.””
“Who forced her out?””
“My mother said Eleanor did.””
Daniel paced toward the window.
Rain streaked the glass.
His entire life suddenly felt like a photograph someone had soaked in water.
He remembered being told he was born alone.
He remembered childhood birthdays.
His mother standing behind him while he blew out candles.
His father lifting him onto his shoulders.
Every family photograph had shown only three people.
Daniel, Thomas, Eleanor.
No missing daughter.
No twin.
No Evelyn.
“You're telling me my mother stole one of her own children?””
Naomi shook her head.
“Not exactly.””
“Then what?””
“She didn't steal you.””
Daniel turned.
“She chose you.””
His voice cracked.
“What does that mean?””
Naomi took a breath.
“My mother told me Eleanor couldn't have children. Not naturally. She had several miscarriages before you were born.
Your father wanted children badly. They were considering adoption.””
Daniel said nothing.
“Then Evelyn became pregnant.””
“Evelyn was my—”
“Your mother's younger sister.””
Daniel stopped.
That was somehow worse.
“She was nineteen,” Naomi continued.
“She worked at the hospital where your father was receiving treatment for a heart condition. Thomas met her there. He discovered she was pregnant and believed the baby belonged to someone else.””
“Someone else?””
“Evelyn refused to name the father.””
Daniel's thoughts raced.
“But if she was my aunt, how did she become my mother?””
“She didn't.””
Naomi reached into her handbag.
She removed a yellowed envelope.
“My mother kept copies.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate.
His name appeared at the top.
*Daniel Thomas Mercer.*
Mother: *Evelyn Margaret Cross.*
Father: *Thomas Andrew Mercer.*
Daniel's fingers went numb.
His eyes dropped to the date.
November 3, 1988.
He looked up.
“Cross?””
“Evelyn changed her surname.””
“Why?””
“She was trying to disappear.””
Daniel sat down again.
“What about Eleanor?””
“She took you.””
The words were quiet.
“She told Evelyn that if she wanted you protected, she had to surrender you. She promised she'd raise you as her own.””
Daniel's chest tightened.
“And my sister?””
Naomi looked away.
“Eleanor said there was only room for one child.””
Daniel stared.
“She separated us.””
“Yes.””
“Where is my twin?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you say you weren't the only child she left behind?””
Naomi's fingers tightened around the edge of the envelope.
“Because Evelyn had another child.””
Daniel froze.
“A daughter?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three years after you and your twin were born.””
Daniel's heart began pounding.
“How many children are we talking about?””
Naomi looked directly at him.
“Three.””
Before Daniel could respond, the carriage house door opened.
Officer Shaw stood there.
“Mr. Mercer.””
Daniel rose.
“What happened?””
“Your mother asked for you.””
“Why?””
“She says she has something to tell you.””
Daniel looked at Naomi.
Naomi's face had gone pale.
“Don't go alone,” she whispered.
Daniel followed Shaw back toward the mansion.
They found Eleanor in the library.
She was sitting beside the fireplace, hands folded neatly over her knees.
Her lawyer, Martin Hale, stood behind her.
Daniel stopped.
The man was in his late sixties, silver-haired and immaculate, with a dark suit and an expression of practiced sympathy.
Daniel recognized him from family dinners and estate meetings.
His father's lawyer.
The man Eleanor had warned him about.
Martin extended a hand.
“Daniel.””
Daniel didn't take it.
“You knew.””
Martin's expression didn't change.
“Knew what?””
“That my father had another daughter.””
A pause.
Martin glanced at Eleanor.
“I knew there were matters your father considered private.””
“Don't lie to me.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Martin sighed.
“Your father asked me to maintain confidentiality.””
“After he died?””
“Especially after he died.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Did you know I had a twin?””
Martin's silence answered for him.
Daniel's voice dropped.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's what everyone says.””
Martin looked at Eleanor.
“Perhaps now is the time.””
“No,” Eleanor said.
Martin's jaw tightened.
“You can't protect him forever.””
Eleanor stood.
“I can protect him from the truth.””
Daniel stared between them.
“What truth?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“Your father wasn't the man you think he was.””
Daniel felt a chill.
“What did he do?””
“He believed he could fix everything after you were born.””
“Fix what?””
“Your sister.””
Daniel waited.
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“She wasn't missing.””
“What?””
“She was taken.””
Daniel's face went cold.
“By whom?””
Eleanor's lips parted.
But before she could answer, the library phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was an old landline mounted beside the bookshelf.
Eleanor stared at it.
Martin whispered, “Don't answer.””
The phone rang again.
Daniel picked it up.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
Older.
Shaky.
But unmistakably female.
“Daniel?””
He gripped the receiver.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Vivian Cross.””
Daniel's eyes widened.
Naomi had mentioned the name earlier.
His father's notebook.
The woman connected to Evelyn.
Vivian continued.
“I've been waiting thirty-eight years to speak to you.””
Daniel swallowed.
“How do you know my name?””
A breath.
“Because I was there the night your mother took you.””
Eleanor lunged toward the phone.
Daniel stepped away.
“Wait.””
Vivian's voice became urgent.
“Daniel, listen to me carefully. Your mother didn't separate you from your twin because she wanted one child.””
“Then why?””
“Because someone came to the hospital looking for both of you.””
“Who?””
The line went silent.
Then Vivian whispered:
“Your father.””
Daniel frowned.
“My father?””
“No.””
A pause.
“Your grandfather.””
The call ended.
Daniel stood frozen with the receiver against his ear.
Behind him, Eleanor whispered his name.
But Martin Hale was already moving toward the door.
May you like
And Daniel suddenly realized the lawyer wasn't trying to escape the room.
He was trying to reach the front entrance before someone else got there.
