Chapter 3: The Little Girl Who Called Me Daddy
The hospital smelled like disinfectant and stale coffee.
I followed Nia through the emergency department, watching her move so quickly that her handbag kept slipping off her shoulder.
Jordan walked several steps behind us.
Nobody spoke.
When we reached the pediatric ward, an older woman stood outside a room, holding a paper cup with both hands.
She had silver hair, tired eyes, and a small photograph tucked into the pocket of her cardigan.
The moment she saw Nia, she stood up.
"Where have you been?""
Nia rushed toward her.
"Mom, what happened?""
The woman looked at Jordan.
Then her eyes moved to me.
"Who's this?""
"My husband," Nia answered quietly.
The woman closed her eyes.
"Good Lord.""
I extended my hand.
"Marcus.""
She shook it reluctantly.
"Denise. I'm Lily's grandmother.""
I looked through the glass panel in the door.
A little girl lay in a hospital bed.
She had dark curls, pale skin, and a tiny stuffed rabbit tucked beneath her arm.
An oxygen tube rested beneath her nose.
My chest tightened.
She looked so small.
"What's wrong with her?"" I asked.
Denise sighed.
"She developed a serious infection. The doctors are treating her, but she's been very frightened.""
Nia pressed her hands against the glass.
"Can I see her?""
"Of course. She's been asking for you.""
Nia entered the room.
I remained in the hallway.
Through the open door, I heard a tiny voice.
"Mommy?""
Nia rushed to the bedside.
"I'm here, sweetheart.""
The little girl reached for her hand.
"Where's Daddy?""
Nia froze.
I looked at Jordan.
He looked away.
Denise stepped closer to me.
"She misses him.""
I swallowed.
"Who is her father?""
The older woman looked at me for a long moment.
Then she asked a question that made my blood run cold.
"Didn't Nia tell you?""
"No.""
Denise sighed.
"I was afraid of that.""
She sat down in one of the plastic chairs.
I remained standing.
"Please," I said.
"I need someone to tell me what's happening.""
Denise looked toward the room.
"Four years ago, Nia was in a difficult situation. She was young, frightened, and had made some decisions she regretted. When Lily was born, she wasn't ready to raise a child.""
"Where was the father?""
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
"He was around.""
"Then why isn't he here?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because he was told to stay away.""
I felt a chill move down my spine.
"By whom?""
Denise didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she reached into her cardigan and removed a folded photograph.
It showed a younger Nia holding Lily outside a house.
Beside them stood Jordan.
His arm was around Nia's shoulders.
But that wasn't what caught my attention.
It was the man standing behind them.
I recognized him.
My older brother.
Daniel.
I took the photograph.
"What is my brother doing there?""
Denise's expression changed.
"You know Daniel?""
I stared at her.
"He's my brother.""
For the first time that evening, Denise looked genuinely shocked.
"Then you really don't know anything.""
I turned toward Nia.
She was standing beside Lily's bed, holding her daughter's hand.
"Nia!""
She looked through the doorway.
"What's wrong?""
I held up the photograph.
"Why is my brother in this picture?""
Her face drained of color.
Jordan stepped into the hallway.
"Marcus, don't do this here.""
I turned on him.
"Don't tell me what to do. Why is my brother standing with your ex-girlfriend and her child?""
Jordan rubbed his face.
"Daniel was helping us.""
"Helping you with what?""
Nia came into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
"Marcus, please. Lily doesn't need to hear us arguing.""
I lowered my voice.
"Then tell me the truth.""
She looked toward Denise.
The older woman stood up.
"I'm going to get some water.""
As Denise walked away, Nia folded her arms across her chest.
"Daniel knew about Lily.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Since when?""
"Since before she was born.""
I stared at her.
My brother.
My own brother had known about this child before I married Nia.
He had attended our wedding.
He had toasted our future.
He had stood beside me during my vows.
And he had never said a word.
"Did he know you were hiding her from me?""
Nia nodded.
I laughed once, without humor.
"So everybody knew except me?""
"Marcus, it wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
Jordan stepped forward.
"Daniel was the one who helped arrange things.""
I turned toward him.
"Arrange what?""
He hesitated.
"After Lily was born, Nia couldn't take care of her. Denise agreed to raise her. Daniel helped with the arrangements.""
I looked at Nia.
"Why would my brother be involved in your daughter's life?""
She began twisting the ring on her finger.
"Because he was trying to help.""
"Why?""
She looked at me.
Then she whispered:
"Because he was the only person who knew the truth about Lily's father.""
My heart started pounding.
"Who is it?""
Nia looked down.
Jordan took a step backward.
I noticed.
"Jordan.""
He stopped.
"Look at me.""
He slowly turned.
"Is Lily yours?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Then whose?""
Nobody answered.
I stepped toward Nia.
"Tell me.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Marcus, I never wanted you to find out like this.""
"Find out what?""
She pressed her lips together.
Then she said the words that shattered the last piece of trust I had left.
"Daniel is Lily's biological father.""
For a moment, the hallway disappeared.
I heard the distant beeping of medical equipment.
A nurse pushing a cart.
Someone laughing near the elevators.
But all I could hear was my wife's voice repeating itself inside my head.
Daniel.
My brother.
My own blood.
The man who had stood beside me at our wedding.
The man who had hugged me when I told him Nia was pregnant with our first child.
The man who had once raised his glass and said, "To my brother and his beautiful wife. May you build a family full of love.""
I stared at Nia.
"Are you telling me my brother is Lily's father?""
She nodded.
I looked toward the hospital room.
Through the glass, Lily was holding her stuffed rabbit and watching us.
Then she lifted one tiny hand and waved at me.
I couldn't move.
Nia whispered, "There's something else.""
I slowly turned back.
"What now?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Daniel didn't just know about Lily. He has been supporting her financially since she was born.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
She looked toward Jordan.
He answered.
"Every month.""
I stared at him.
"With what money?""
Jordan hesitated.
Then he pulled a folded bank statement from his jacket.
I took it.
The account holder's name was familiar.
Very familiar.
It belonged to a business I owned.
My business.
I read the transaction details.
Monthly transfers.
Four years.
The recipient account was registered under Denise's name.
I looked up slowly.
"Why is my company paying for my brother's child?""
Nia began crying again.
Jordan looked as if he wanted to disappear.
Then Denise returned from the water fountain.
She glanced at the statement in my hand and stopped.
"Oh," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She placed her paper cup on the chair.
Then she said something that made the entire situation even worse.
"Marcus, Daniel told me you knew.""
I stared at her.
"What did he tell you?""
Denise swallowed.
"He said you were the one who wanted Lily taken care of.""
My fingers tightened around the bank statement.
I had never met Lily.
I had never authorized payments for her.
I had never agreed to raise my brother's child.
And yet, someone had been using my money to support her for four years.
I looked at Nia.
"Call Daniel.""
She shook her head.
"Marcus—"
"Call. My. Brother.""
Before she could reach for her phone, mine began vibrating.
Daniel's name appeared on the screen.
I answered immediately.
"Daniel.""
There was a long silence.
Then my brother spoke.
"Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Nia has told you, don't believe everything.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you father Lily?""
Another silence.
Then Daniel whispered:
"Yes.""
My vision blurred with anger.
"Why did you let me marry her without telling me?""
His voice cracked.
"Because I thought I could fix it before you ever found out.""
I stared at the hospital room.
At the little girl who had been kept away from the truth for her entire life.
Then Daniel said something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, there's one more thing you need to know about Lily.""
I closed my eyes.
"What?""
"She's not the only child Nia and I had together.""
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
May you like
And behind me, Nia whispered:
"Daniel, don't tell him about the second baby.""
