Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Our Secret

I didn’t sleep that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Daniel’s message.

Someone we both knew.

I thought about the people who had been close to us during our marriage.

Our friends.

Our coworkers.

The doctors who had treated us.

The relatives who had watched our relationship deteriorate.

I thought about the women who had sat beside me in waiting rooms, who had hugged me after failed treatments, and who had told me that everything would work out.

Which one of them could have been connected to Oliver and Sophie?

And why had Daniel recognized her name?

At six in the morning, I called him.

He answered on the first ring.

“Claire?””

“Tell me who she is.””

He was quiet for a moment.

“I need to explain this properly.””

“Then explain it.””

“Her name was Emily Carter.””

I stopped breathing.

Emily.

My best friend.

The woman who had stood beside me as my maid of honor.

The woman who had helped me choose my wedding dress.

The woman who had driven me home after my second fertility treatment failed because I was too exhausted to drive myself.

Emily had been part of my life since college. We met during our first year at nursing school and remained close long after our careers took us in different directions.

She knew everything about my marriage.

She knew how desperately I wanted children.

She knew how much the fertility treatments had hurt.

And she had been the first person I called after Daniel handed me the divorce papers.

I had cried so hard that I could barely speak.

Emily had come to my apartment, wrapped me in a blanket, and sat beside me until morning.

She had told me that Daniel’s decision wasn’t my fault.

She had promised that I would find happiness again.

Then, two years later, she moved to Chicago for a new job.

We stayed in touch for a while.

Then her messages became less frequent.

Eventually, we lost contact.

I had assumed life had simply carried us in different directions.

Now Daniel was telling me that her name appeared in the records concerning my children.

“How?”” I whispered.

“I don’t know everything.””

“Then tell me what you do know.””

He exhaled.

“When I saw the original report, I recognized Emily’s name. It listed her as a person who had provided information about the children’s biological mother.””

I sat down on the edge of my bed.

“What information?””

“I don’t know.””

“Did you speak to Emily?””

“Yes.””

My stomach twisted.

“When?””

“After I saw the report at the hospital.””

“You spoke to my best friend about two children who might have been related to your family, and you never told me?””

“I know how it sounds.””

“It sounds exactly like what happened.””

He was silent.

I continued.

“What did Emily say?””

“She told me she had known the children’s mother. She said there were things about the past that she wasn’t ready to discuss.””

“That’s all?””

“She asked me not to contact you until she had a chance to explain everything herself.””

I gripped the phone.

“And you agreed?””

“Yes.””

“Why?””

“Because I thought she was protecting you.””

I laughed once.

“Protecting me from what?””

“I don’t know, Claire.””

“That’s the problem, Daniel. You never know. You never ask.

You never investigate. You simply decide that the truth is too complicated and then leave everyone else to deal with the consequences.””

He said nothing.

I took a breath.

“Do you know where Emily is now?””

“No.””

“Did you try to find her?””

“I sent messages. She didn’t respond.””

“When?””

“Several months ago.””

I closed my eyes.

Emily had been silent for years.

Daniel had apparently been trying to contact her.

And neither of them had told me why.

I ended the call and searched through my old emails.

Emily’s last message had arrived nearly three years earlier.

It was short.

I’m sorry I’ve been distant. Things have been complicated, and I need some time. I hope you’re doing well, Claire. You deserve happiness.

At the time, I had been hurt by the distance but respected her request.

Now the message seemed different.

Things had been complicated.

She needed time.

I deserved happiness.

I read it again.

Then I searched my contacts for her old phone number.

It was still there.

I called.

The number had been disconnected.

For the rest of the morning, I tried to concentrate on ordinary things.

I made breakfast for Oliver and Sophie. I packed their lunches. I drove them to school and listened as Sophie explained why her class hamster was obviously the smartest animal in the world.

I smiled at the right moments.

I kissed them goodbye.