Chapter 9: The Name on the Birth Certificate
The words didn't sound real.
They couldn't.
I looked at my mother.
“Say that again.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Say it.””
“Emily, please.””
“Who is my father?””
My mother sank into the chair.
“I can't.””
“You've lied to me my entire life.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You keep saying that.””
I stepped closer.
“Protect me from what?””
She looked at Richard's old photograph.
“From your father.””
“My father isn't Richard.””
“No.””
“Then who is?””
She closed her eyes.
“Vincent.””
The name hit the room like a gunshot.
Brandon whispered, “Vincent Cole.””
My mother nodded.
I stared at her.
“The man who wanted me in 2004?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he was your biological father.””
I couldn't speak.
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
“Emily?””
I didn't answer.
“Emily, I'm here.””
I finally whispered, “Daniel…”
“I'm listening.””
“My father isn't Richard.””
Silence.
“Who is?””
“Vincent Cole.””
Daniel exhaled.
“Okay.””
I almost laughed.
“That's all you have?””
“No.””
His voice was steady.
“I just know you need someone calm right now.””
I looked at the letter.
“Mom, why did Sarah give me to you?””
She wiped her eyes.
“Because Vincent was dangerous.””
“Was?””
“He still is.””
“What did he do?””
My mother looked toward Detective Harris.
“Your father borrowed money from him.””
“Richard?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Enough that he couldn't repay it.””
“So Vincent wanted me as payment?””
My mother nodded.
“Not exactly.””
“What does that mean?””
“He wanted control.””
“Over me?””
“Over Sarah.””
I stared at her.
“Why would controlling me control Sarah?””
“Because Sarah loved you.””
The room fell silent.
My mother continued.
“Vincent knew that.””
I looked at Brandon.
“You knew?””
He shook his head.
“Not everything.””
“What did you know?””
“That Vincent wasn't just a creditor.””
My stomach tightened.
“What was he?””
Brandon looked at the old photograph.
“Sarah's husband.””
I froze.
“What?””
“They were married before you were born.””
I looked at my mother.
She nodded.
“Sarah left him.””
“Why?””
My mother's voice dropped.
“Because he was violent.””
I closed my eyes.
Another family secret.
Another man.
Another belt.
Another generation.
“How did Richard get involved?””
My mother looked down.
“He helped Sarah disappear.””
“Then why did he become abusive?””
“Because Vincent found us.””
“When?””
“After you were born.””
I stared at the letter.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because every time we tried to leave, Vincent found us.””
“So Richard became violent?””
“He was always controlling.””
My mother shook her head.
“But after Vincent came back, Richard became terrified.””
“Terrified people don't usually hurt children.””
She looked at me.
“Your father wasn't protecting you.””
She swallowed.
“He was punishing Sarah.””
I felt sick.
“He punished me because I looked like her.””
“Yes.””
“And Brandon?””
“He knew too much.””
I looked at Brandon.
His scars suddenly made sense.
He had discovered the truth.
He had tried to protect me.
And Richard had beaten him for it.
“Where is Vincent now?””
My mother didn't answer.
Detective Harris stepped forward.
“We need everything you know.””
My mother looked at him.
“He used several names.””
“Which ones?””
“Vincent Cole. Vincent Whitmore.””
I stared.
“Whitmore?””
She nodded.
“Sarah's family name.””
My heart pounded.
“He took her name?””
“After they separated, he started using it.””
Brandon suddenly stood.
“I know where he is.””
Everyone looked at him.
“Where?””
“He owns a storage facility.””
“What does that have to do with anything?””
“Because that's where Dad kept the original records.””
My mother's face drained of color.
“What records?””
“The ones Vincent wanted.””
I turned to Brandon.
“What records?””
“Bank records. Adoption papers. Medical files.””
I stared.
“Why would Vincent want my medical files?””
Brandon looked at me.
“Because they prove something.””
“What?””
He didn't answer.
“Brandon.””
He took a breath.
“They prove you weren't the child Richard thought you were.””
“What does that mean?””
“You were switched.””
I stared at him.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No.””
My mother began crying.
“What does that mean?”” I demanded.
She whispered:
“Sarah gave birth to twins.””
The world went silent.
I could hear rain against the windows.
Two babies.
Two lives.
I looked at Brandon.
“Where is the other one?””
He looked at me.
“We don't know.””
My mother covered her face.
I stepped backward.
“You've known?””
“For years.””
“You knew I had a twin?””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
“We don't know.””
My voice broke.
“Why?””
“Because Richard changed the records.””
I looked at the old photograph again.
Sarah.
A newborn.
And a second bundle beside her.
I had never seen it before.
But now I noticed the corner of a photograph tucked behind the frame.
I pulled it out.
Two newborn babies.
One wore a pink bracelet.
The other wore blue.
On the back:
*Emily and Anna.*
My hands began shaking.
“Anna.””
My mother whispered the name.
“She was taken.””
“By who?””
“Vincent.””
The room spun.
“Why?””
“Because he believed one child belonged to him.””
I looked at Detective Harris.
“Which one?””
He examined the photograph.
“That's what we need to establish.””
My mother suddenly stood.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
“He has Anna.””
She was shaking.
“He always has.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You know something.””
She stared at me.
“I know where Vincent took her.””
My heart stopped.
“Where?””
She whispered the name of a town.
One I recognized.
It was where I had gone to law school.
Where I had lived for three years.
Where I had met Daniel.
Where I had started becoming the person my family could no longer control.
I looked at Brandon.
“Why would Vincent take my twin there?””
“I don't know.””
My phone vibrated.
Sarah.
I answered.
“Sarah?””
Her voice was faint.
“Emily, listen carefully.””
“Where are you?””
“No time.””
“Where's Anna?””
Silence.
Then:
“She's closer than you think.””
My heart stopped.
“What does that mean?””
“She has been watching you.””
“Who?””
“Your sister.””
I looked at Nicole.
She was crying.
“No.””
Sarah continued.
“Nicole knows where Anna is.””
I stared at my sister.
“Nicole?””
Nicole shook her head.
“I didn't know.””
“Sarah says you do.””
“I swear I don't.””
“Then why did she say your name?””
Nicole began sobbing.
“I know where she was.””
“Where?””
“Not where she is.””
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
Nicole wiped her face.
“Years ago, Dad made me deliver something.””
“What?””
“A file.””
“To whom?””
“Vincent.””
My blood went cold.
“What was in it?””
She whispered:
“Your birth certificate.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Why would Dad give Vincent my birth certificate?””
Nicole looked at me.
“Because it wasn't yours.””
I stared.
“What?””
She reached into her coat.
Pulled out a folded document.
“I stole this back from him.””
She handed it to me.
I opened it.
The name at the top was mine.
The date was my birthday.
The hospital was correct.
But beneath *Father* was a name I had never seen.
Not Richard.
Not Vincent.
Another name.
I looked at my mother.
She began crying before I could speak.
“Who is Daniel Mercer?”” I whispered.
My husband answered from the phone.
“Emily?””
I looked down.
The call was still connected.
His voice changed.
“Why are you asking about my father?””
I froze.
My husband's father.
Daniel Mercer.
The man I had met eleven years ago.
The man whose family I thought I knew.
The man whose surname I had taken.
I looked at the certificate again.
The name was unmistakable.
*Father: Daniel Mercer.*
My husband was silent on the phone.
Then he said:
“Emily…”
A terrible realization began forming.
“Your father knew my family?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“Daniel, what did you know?””
His breathing changed.
“I didn't know this.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Silence.
Then, finally:
“My father died with one secret.””
“What secret?””
“He told me once that there was a woman named Sarah Whitmore.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did he say about her?””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“He said she had a daughter.””
I looked at the birth certificate.
Then at my mother.
Then at Brandon.
And finally at Nicole.
Daniel whispered:
May you like
“He said the girl was supposed to be my sister.””
The line went dead.
