“Daddy, don't let her take him!”
Five-year-old Lily stood beside the baby carrier, crying so hard that she could barely get the words out.
Her mother, Vanessa, was already walking toward the front door in a red dress, carrying a small overnight bag in one hand.
“Lily, stop crying,” Vanessa said.
“But you said we were leaving!”
Vanessa froze.
“I said we were going to Grandma's.”
“Without Daddy?”
Vanessa looked away.
The newborn baby inside the carrier began to cry.
Lily reached toward him.
“He's hungry.”
“I'll take care of him,” Vanessa said.
“No!”
Lily grabbed the edge of the carrier.
“Daddy needs to see him first.”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Lily, move away.”
Before the little girl could answer, the front door opened.
Daniel walked inside.
He stopped immediately.
His wife was standing near the door with a bag.
His newborn son was crying.
And his daughter was on the floor with tears covering her face.
“What's going on?”
Vanessa quickly turned around.
“Daniel, you're home early.”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“Why is she crying?”
“She's tired.”
“That's not what she looks like.”
Lily ran toward him.
“Daddy!”
Daniel dropped his keys.
“Come here.”
Lily wrapped both arms around him.
“Mommy was taking the baby away.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“What does she mean?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“She's confused.”
Daniel walked toward the baby carrier.
“Why are you leaving?”
“I need some space.”
“With the baby?”
“He's my son too.”
Daniel carefully lifted the newborn from the carrier.
“Of course he is.”
The baby slowly stopped crying against his father's chest.
Lily watched them.
“Daddy, check his blanket.”
Daniel looked down.
“Why?”
“There's something underneath it.”
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Lily doesn't know what she's talking about.”
Daniel looked at his wife.
Then he looked at the baby.
He gently lifted the corner of the blanket.
A folded piece of paper was tucked beneath it.
Daniel pulled it out.
His expression changed as he read the first line.
“Daniel, if you are reading this, you need to know the truth about your son.”
Vanessa went pale.
“Give me that.”
Daniel stepped back.
“Who wrote this?”
Vanessa said nothing.
“Vanessa, who wrote this?”
Lily whispered from behind him.
“The doctor.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What doctor?”
Lily pointed toward the paper.
“The one Mommy talked to when you were at work.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel read the letter again.
His heart began pounding.
“Why would a doctor leave me a letter about my own baby?”
Vanessa finally spoke.
“Because I didn't know how to tell you.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Tell me what?”
Vanessa looked toward the open door.
“That everything you believe about the night our son was born is a lie.”
Daniel's arms tightened around the baby.
And suddenly, the woman trying to leave the house was no longer the only person he needed answers from.
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