Chapter 9
We watched the file at Bear’s clubhouse.
The video was a digitized hospital recording.
A nurse sat before the camera, crying.
“My name is Ruth Bennett,” she said. “In June 1971, an infant was taken from Margaret Hayes after delivery.”
My breath stopped.
I had been sixteen.
My mother told me my baby boy died before I could hold him.
The nurse continued.
“The child survived. Margaret’s father paid to arrange a private adoption.”
Bear stood slowly.
His face had lost all color.
The recording listed the adoptive family.
The Walkers.
Bear’s legal name was Thomas Walker.
He walked outside without speaking.
I followed him.
He removed a chain from beneath his shirt.
A small silver locket hung from it.
“My mother said this came with me.”
I opened it.
Inside was a faded photograph of me at sixteen.
My father had taken it days before the birth.
I touched Bear’s face.
“Thomas?”
He stepped back.
“Don’t.”
The pain in his voice broke me.
“I spent my life believing you were dead.”
“And I spent mine believing you abandoned me.”
Emily came outside.
She stared between us.
“Mom, is he…?”
“My son.”
Bear looked toward the dark highway.
Daniel hadn’t chosen that diner by accident.
He had known Bear’s identity.
He had driven me toward the one man whose anger could destroy my credibility.
My phone rang.
Daniel was calling from custody.
“You found your lost boy,” he said.
“How did you know?”
“Your husband knew. He paid me to keep the truth buried.”
“My husband is dead.”
Daniel laughed.
“No, Margaret.”
A door opened behind him.
May you like
Then my supposedly dead husband spoke.
“Hello, Maggie.”
