Chapter 1 - The Bracelet in the Drawer
Harper had only opened the drawer because she was looking for an old photograph of her grandmother.
Instead, she found the hospital wristband.
It was yellowed with age, the plastic cloudy at the edges, but the faded printing was still legible. The date matched Harper’s birthday exactly. So did Camille’s name in the maternal identification line.
What didn’t match was the infant number.
Harper’s own baby records had always identified her as Baby A.
This one said Baby B.
She was still kneeling beside the unlocked drawer when Camille crossed the living room and saw what was in her daughter’s hand.
Every trace of color vanished from her face.
“Give me that.”
Harper looked up.
“Mom?”
Camille grabbed Harper’s wrist and reached for the band.
Harper jerked it back against her chest.
“MOM... THIS SAYS THERE WAS ANOTHER BABY.”
Camille froze.
Before she could answer, the tall double doors opened.
Harrison stepped inside carrying a thin hospital file.
He had served as the family lawyer for most of Harper’s life, but Harper had never seen him look at her mother the way he did now.
Not accusing.
Disappointed.
Certain.
“The hospital has confirmed it was twins.”
Harper stared at him.
The room seemed suddenly too quiet.
Camille’s expression hardened.
Then Roland moved.
Harper’s grandfather stepped directly between Camille and Harrison, his broad frame blocking half the room.
“That file was sealed.”
Harrison raised it slightly.
“There is no death certificate for that child.”
Roland’s face transformed.
He charged.
Harrison reacted instantly, driving one hard kick into Roland’s torso.
THWACK!
Roland flew backward into the large wooden bookcase.
CRASH!
Shelves collapsed under his weight. Books cascaded across the marble floor as Roland landed beside the wreckage, dazed beneath several fallen volumes.
Harrison did not touch him again.
Camille suddenly lunged toward Harper.
Her fingers reached for the wristband.
Harrison turned and struck Camille once across the face with an open hand.
SLAP!
She stumbled backward and collapsed into a nearby chair.
Harper remained rooted to the floor, clutching the wristband so tightly it cut into her palm.
Harrison stepped toward her.
He opened the hospital file to its final page.
“Your twin was adopted that very night.”
Harper’s breathing stopped.
Harrison looked past her toward Camille.
“And you had his DNA test results before you signed the papers.”
Camille went completely pale.
Harper looked at her mother.
May you like
Then at the wristband.
And for the first time in fifteen years, Camille had no story ready.
