Chapter 7: What Elise Left Behind
Nia read the statement twice.
Then she looked up.
“Mom said she gave birth to me.””
Marcus nodded.
“She did.””
“But this says…”
Her voice disappeared.
Marcus took the page.
Elise's handwriting filled the lower half.
*Nia was born through a private adoption arrangement. Marcus believes she is his biological daughter. I have never told him otherwise because the truth would destroy him.*
Marcus read the sentence again.
His ears rang.
“Adoption?””
Nia sat down hard.
“But I'm Dad's daughter.””
Marcus knelt in front of her.
“You are.””
“Biologically?””
He couldn't answer.
Nia's eyes filled.
“Dad.””
“I don't know.””
She looked at him as though the answer mattered more than everything else.
Marcus pulled her close.
“I don't care what a test says. You're my daughter.””
“But you want to know.””
“Yes.””
She looked away.
“I want to know too.””
A knock sounded at the office door.
Everybody turned.
It was the security guard.
“Mr. Collins?””
Marcus stood.
“Yes?””
“There’s a woman downstairs asking for you.””
“Who?””
“She says her name is Lydia Hall.””
Marcus frowned.
He didn't recognize it.
Nia looked at the page.
“What if she knows?””
Marcus told the guard to send her up.
Five minutes later, an older woman entered.
She carried a worn leather folder.
The moment she saw Nia, she stopped.
“Oh,” she whispered.
Marcus stood.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at him.
“I knew Elise.””
Nia stared.
“How?””
“I worked at the hospital where you were born.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Why are you here?””
She opened the folder.
“Because Elise asked me to come if anything ever happened to her.””
She removed an envelope.
Marcus recognized the handwriting immediately.
His late wife's.
His hands shook as he took it.
“Why didn't you give this to me years ago?””
“Because she said not to.””
“Why now?””
The woman's eyes moved toward Nia.
“Because someone has started asking questions about the adoption records.””
Marcus looked up.
“Dean.””
The woman nodded.
“He came to the hospital archives twice.””
Nia whispered, “Why?””
The woman looked at her.
“Because he was trying to find your biological father.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
“Did he?””
“I don't know.””
She opened the folder again.
“There was one record Elise sealed.””
Marcus stared.
“Can you show me?””
The woman pulled out a photocopy.
A birth certificate.
Nia's name was not on it.
Instead, there was a temporary name.
*Baby Girl Hall.*
Marcus's eyes locked on the final line.
*Father: Unknown.*
Nia whispered, “Then who am I?””
The hospital worker shook her head.
“I was never told.””
Marcus unfolded Elise's envelope.
Inside was a single letter.
He read the opening line.
*Marcus, if you're reading this, someone is probably trying to use Nia's birth against us.*
His chest tightened.
The next sentence was worse.
*Do not let them tell you Dean is protecting her trust. He has been looking for her biological father since before we were married.*
Marcus stopped reading.
Nia saw his expression.
“What else?””
He continued.
*Because the man who fathered Nia doesn't know she exists.*
Nia covered her mouth.
Marcus read the final line.
*And Vanessa knows his name.*
The room went silent.
Marcus slowly lowered the letter.
“Vanessa.””
The hospital worker frowned.
“Who is Vanessa?””
Marcus looked at Nia.
May you like
His daughter was already reaching for her phone.
“Dad,” she said, “I think I know where she went.””
