Chapter 7: The Man Who Signed My Name
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the steady beeping of Maya's heart monitor through the open doorway.
"My father?"" I repeated.
Rebecca was crying on the other end of the phone.
"Marcus, please let me explain.""
"You just told me my father may have forged my signature on a paternity document involving my daughter. What exactly am I supposed to understand?""
"I don't know if he forged it. I only know Claire said he was involved.""
"Then why didn't you tell me before?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of my father?""
"Of what he might reveal.""
I gripped the phone so tightly my fingers hurt.
My father, Robert Hayes, had been dead for three years. He'd died peacefully in his sleep at seventy-two, leaving behind a modest house, a collection of old watches, and the reputation of a man who never broke a promise.
He'd taught me to drive in an empty parking lot when I was sixteen. He'd stood beside me at my wedding. He'd cried when Maya was born, holding her tiny hand and whispering that she was the greatest gift our family had ever received.
Now Rebecca was telling me that the same man might have participated in a conspiracy surrounding my daughter's birth.
"What did my father have to do with Daniel?"" I demanded.
Rebecca hesitated.
"Your father knew Daniel's family.""
"How?""
"They had business dealings years ago. Your father worked as an accountant before he retired. He handled some financial records for Daniel's father's company.""
I closed my eyes.
I remembered my father mentioning a property development client once or twice, but I'd never paid attention to the name. His work had always seemed separate from our family life.
"Why would he care whether Daniel was Maya's father?""
"Because Daniel's father was threatening to expose something.""
"What something?""
"I don't know everything.""
"Rebecca, if you say that one more time—"
"I know your father was afraid of losing his reputation. Claire told me he helped her arrange the paperwork because he believed a paternity dispute would destroy your marriage before it began.""
I stared through the glass at Maya.
She was awake, watching me.
I forced myself to lower my voice.
"What paperwork?""
"The acknowledgment. The one with your signature.""
My mouth went dry.
"Are you saying my father signed my name?""
"I don't know. Claire said he took care of the documents.""
"Where are the originals?""
"I think Claire has them.""
I ended the call without saying goodbye.
For a moment, I simply stood in the hallway.
Then I went into Maya's room.
She immediately noticed my expression.
"What's wrong?""
I sat beside her bed and took her hand.
"I just learned something about Grandpa.""
Her eyes widened.
"Grandpa Robert?""
"Yes.""
"Is it bad?""
I considered lying.
I could tell her that everything was fine, that the adults would sort it out, and that she should concentrate on getting better.
But that was how we'd arrived here.
"Someone has told me that Grandpa may have been involved in the documents about your birth. I don't know whether it's true yet.""
Maya stared at me.
"Grandpa loved me.""
"I know he did.""
"He used to call me his little sunshine.""
My throat tightened.
"He did.""
"Then why would he do something bad?""
I brushed my thumb over her knuckles.
"People can love someone and still make terrible decisions. That doesn't make those decisions right.""
She looked toward the window.
"Are you going to hate him?""
I thought of my father sitting in the front row at Maya's first piano recital, holding a video camera that kept tilting sideways because he couldn't stop wiping his eyes.
"No, sweetheart. But I need to know the truth.""
Maya nodded, although she looked unconvinced.
After the nurse checked her temperature and adjusted her IV, I stepped into the corridor and called my father's old attorney, Thomas Reed.
Thomas had handled the estate after my father died. He was a careful man in his late sixties who wore suspenders and spoke as if every sentence might one day be read aloud in court.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Marcus? Is everything all right?""
"I need to ask you about my father's records.""
A pause.
"What records?""
"Anything related to Daniel Brooks, Claire, or a paternity acknowledgment signed around the time Maya was born.""
The silence stretched so long I checked whether the call had disconnected.
Finally, Thomas said, "Where did you hear those names together?""
"That isn't important right now.""
"It is if you're asking me to discuss confidential legal matters.""
"I'm not asking you to break the law. I'm asking whether my father kept documents that could explain why someone appears to have signed my name on a legal record.""
Thomas exhaled.
"I was hoping this would never come up.""
My stomach dropped.
"You knew?""
"I knew Robert had been involved in a private family matter. I did not know the full circumstances.""
"What did he tell you?""
Thomas lowered his voice.
"He asked me to retain a sealed envelope after his death. He instructed me not to release it unless you specifically requested documents relating to Maya's birth.""
I stared at the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me about it when he died?""
"Because you didn't ask.""
"What's in it?""
"I can't discuss its contents over the phone. But I can arrange for you to review it.""
"Today.""
"Marcus, you're at the hospital, aren't you?""
I froze.
"How do you know that?""
"Claire called me this morning.""
My blood ran cold.
"What did she tell you?""
"She said there had been a family emergency. She asked whether your father's envelope could be destroyed.""
I couldn't speak.
Thomas continued.
"I refused. The envelope is part of the estate file, and I will not destroy it.""
"Does Claire know what's inside?""
"I don't believe she does.""
"Then I want it.""
"I can meet you at my office tomorrow morning.""
"Today, Thomas.""
He sighed.
"I'll make arrangements.""
Before hanging up, I asked one final question.
"Did my father forge my signature?""
Thomas was quiet for a long moment.
Then he said, "I never saw him forge anything. But I did see him sign a document on your behalf once, and I warned him that it was legally dangerous.""
My heart began pounding.
"What document?""
"I don't know whether it was the same one you're asking about.""
"Where is it?""
"I believe a copy may be in the envelope.""
I ended the call.
When I returned to Maya's room, Claire was sitting beside her bed, holding a paper cup of water.
Maya looked relieved when she saw me.
Claire did not.
"We need to talk," she said.
"About what?""
"Thomas called me. He said you contacted him.""
I stopped beside the bed.
"How did he know to call you?""
"Because I asked him about the envelope.""
I stared at her.
"You tried to have it destroyed.""
"I asked whether it could be removed from the estate file.""
"Why?""
"Because it contains private information.""
"Private information about my daughter?""
Claire stood.
"Marcus, your father made mistakes. He was trying to protect you.""
"From what?""
"From the possibility that Maya wasn't biologically yours.""
I felt Maya's hand tighten around mine.
Claire noticed and lowered her voice.
"I didn't want her to hear this.""
"Then you should have told me the truth before she had to beg me to protect her phone.""
Claire looked at our daughter.
"Maya, sweetheart, I never wanted you to be hurt.""
Maya's eyes filled.
"But you knew I was hurting yesterday.""
Claire's face crumpled.
"I thought it would pass.""
"You always say that.""
The words were quiet, but Claire stepped back as though she'd been slapped.
Maya continued.
"You said my stomachache would pass. You said Dad would get over the money. You said I'd understand everything when I was older.""
She swallowed.
"I'm fifteen, Mom. How old do I have to be before you stop lying to me?""
Claire covered her mouth.
For once, she had no excuse ready.
I walked her to the door.
"You need to leave for tonight.""
She stared at me.
"You're throwing me out of my daughter's room?""
"I'm asking you to respect what she needs.""
She looked at Maya one last time.
"Do you want me to go?""
Maya hesitated.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
Claire picked up her handbag and walked into the hallway.
I followed her.
She turned toward me, her face streaked with tears.
"If you read that envelope, everything will change.""
I thought about the man who had taught me to ride a bicycle, who had carried Maya through our backyard on his shoulders, who had told me that honesty was the foundation of every good marriage.
"Maybe everything needs to change.""
Claire grabbed my wrist.
"Your father didn't do it for money.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
Her eyes widened as she realized what she'd said.
"Claire.""
She released me.
Then she hurried toward the elevators without another word.
I stood there until the doors closed.
My phone vibrated.
Thomas had sent a message.
I've located the envelope. There is a second document inside that Robert specifically instructed me to show you if you ever questioned Maya's paternity.
A second message appeared.
Marcus, I think you should know that your father may have been protecting someone other than you.
I read the words twice.
Then I looked through the glass at Maya, who was watching me with the same frightened expression she'd worn at our kitchen table.
Tomorrow, I would learn what my father had hidden.
But that night, as I returned to my daughter's bedside, I realized something far more painful.
May you like
The people who claimed to love Maya had spent fifteen years deciding which parts of her life she was allowed to know.
And I had been so certain I was protecting her that I hadn't noticed how many of those decisions had been made right under my nose.
