Chapter 3 - The Child They Lost
Richard closed the bathroom door.
“Say that again.”
Laura couldn’t.
He maneuvered his wheelchair toward her.
“Nine months?”
She nodded.
“You were pregnant?”
“Yes.”
The word seemed to strike him physically.
Richard looked away.
“A boy or girl?”
“A boy.”
His eyes closed.
Laura had imagined this conversation thousands of times.
Never like this.
“What happened to him?”
“I couldn’t keep him.”
Richard opened his eyes.
“What does that mean?”
“I was nineteen. My mother was sick. Your father had threatened us. I had no money.”
“You gave him away?”
Laura’s face tightened.
“I gave him a chance to eat.”
Richard immediately regretted the accusation.
But it was too late.
Laura turned away.
“I spent three days with him in the hospital. Then I signed the papers.”
“What was his name?”
“The adoptive family changed it.”
“What did you call him?”
Laura hesitated.
“Daniel.”
Richard looked devastated.
“Daniel Bennett?”
“Daniel Mitchell.”
“Why not my name?”
“Because I thought using Bennett might bring your father to him.”
Richard said nothing.
That answer destroyed the last of his anger.
“Do you know where he is?”
“No.”
“Have you looked?”
“For years.”
Richard’s eyes lifted.
“You couldn’t find him?”
“The adoption was closed.”
“I can.”
Laura turned.
“No.”
“Laura—”
“No.”
“He’s my son.”
“And he’s somebody else’s son too.”
Richard went quiet.
Laura stepped closer.
“If Daniel had good parents, we do not destroy his life because we regret ours.”
Richard studied her.
Finally, he nodded.
“We find him.”
“And then?”
“We give him the choice.”
That stopped her.
Richard extended his hand.
“Together.”
Laura looked at it.
Slowly, she took it.
The next morning, Brandon woke in a private room at one of Chicago’s best pediatric hospitals.
Laura stood beside his bed in disbelief.
The doctor smiled.
“It’s pneumonia, but we caught it early. He’ll recover.”
Laura nearly collapsed from relief.
Later, she found Richard waiting outside.
“You did this.”
“I arranged transportation.”
“And paid for everything.”
Richard shrugged.
“You can deduct it from my salary.”
“No.”
“Then consider it a loan.”
“No.”
“Richard.”
He looked at her.
“You said you wouldn’t accept charity.”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Neither am I offering it.”
“What are you offering?”
His voice softened.
“Twenty years late.”
Laura didn’t know how to answer.
A week passed.
Then Richard’s attorney entered his study carrying a folder.
“We found Daniel.”
Laura’s heart stopped.
Richard stared at the folder.
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
Laura whispered, “He’s here?”
The attorney nodded.
“His name is Daniel Carter. He’s twenty years old.”
“Is he okay?” Laura asked.
“He’s attending community college and working nights.”
Richard asked the question Laura feared.
“His parents?”
“Adoptive mother died four years ago. Father died last winter.”
Silence.
Laura sat down.
“He’s alone?”
“Mostly.”
Richard looked at her.
“Do we contact him?”
Laura’s hands trembled.
“Yes.”
Two days later, Daniel Carter entered a quiet private room at the hospital.
He was tall.
Dark-haired.
And when Laura saw the small crescent-shaped birthmark near his collarbone, she covered her mouth.
Daniel noticed.
“So it’s true.”
Richard sat beside the window.
Laura stood.
“I’m Laura.”
“I know.”
Daniel looked between them.
“You’re my biological parents.”
Neither denied it.
Daniel laughed nervously.
“This is insane.”
Richard said, “You don’t owe us anything.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You’re Richard Bennett.”
“Yes.”
“The Richard Bennett?”
“Yes.”
Daniel turned toward Laura.
“And you work for him?”
Laura almost laughed.
“It’s complicated.”
“No kidding.”
He sat.
“Why did you give me away?”
Laura answered immediately.
“Because I was poor and terrified.”
Daniel watched her.
“Did you want me?”
“Every day.”
His face changed.
Richard looked down.
“And you?” Daniel asked.
Richard lifted his eyes.
“I didn’t know you existed.”
Daniel sat silently.
Then he asked, “Why now?”
Laura looked at Richard.
“Because I opened his shirt.”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
For the first time in days, Richard actually laughed.
Laura did too.
And after a moment, despite himself, Daniel smiled.
It was awkward.
Broken.
But it was a beginning.
Then Richard’s phone rang.
His expression changed as he listened.
“What happened?” Laura asked.
Richard ended the call.
“My accident.”
“What about it?”
He looked at her.
“The police just arrested the mechanic who worked on my car.”
Laura’s smile vanished.
Richard’s voice became cold.
May you like
“He says my crash wasn’t an accident.”
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