“Start talking.”
Daniel stood in the middle of the hallway, holding his newborn son while Lily stayed close to his side.
Vanessa slowly placed her bag on the floor.
“I never wanted you to find that letter.”
“That much is obvious.”
“Daniel, please.”
“You were leaving with our son without telling me, Lily was crying, and now I'm holding a letter that says I need to know the truth about my own child.”
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
“I was scared.”
“Of me?”
“Of what would happen after you found out.”
Daniel looked at the letter.
“What does it say?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“The doctor discovered something during the baby's tests.”
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“Is he sick?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Vanessa looked at the baby.
“His blood type doesn't match what we expected.”
Daniel frowned.
“What are you saying?”
“The hospital records were entered incorrectly.”
“That's all?”
“No.”
Vanessa started crying.
“There was another baby born that same night.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What?”
“The hospital made a mistake.”
Daniel looked down at his son.
“Are you telling me our baby was switched?”
Vanessa nodded.
“For a few hours.”
Daniel's face went blank.
“A few hours?”
“The hospital discovered the mistake before we left.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
Vanessa covered her face.
“Because the other baby's mother was devastated.”
Daniel stared at her.
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“She was told her baby had a serious medical condition.”
Daniel looked confused.
“What does that have to do with us?”
“The hospital wanted both families to undergo another round of testing before making the mistake public.”
Daniel looked at the letter.
“And you agreed?”
“I was terrified.”
“You should have told me.”
“I wanted to.”
“Then why didn't you?”
Vanessa looked toward Lily.
“Because of her.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“What does Lily have to do with this?”
Vanessa sat down.
“Your mother told me that if the hospital reported the mistake, there could be a custody investigation.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Why would there be a custody investigation?”
“Because someone had to explain why the records were changed.”
Daniel looked at the letter again.
There was a second page.
He unfolded it.
“Mr. Brooks, we strongly recommend that you contact the hospital immediately. The infant currently listed under your family name was temporarily placed with another mother during the delivery process. Both infants were safely identified and returned to their biological families.”
Daniel stopped reading.
He looked at Vanessa.
“So he's our son?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why were you leaving?”
Vanessa began crying again.
“Because someone contacted me this morning.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“The other baby's father.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What did he want?”
“He said the hospital records were still wrong.”
“And you believed him?”
“He sent me photographs.”
“Of what?”
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out several printed documents.
Daniel looked through them.
Some of the hospital records showed different identification numbers.
One document had been altered.
Daniel immediately noticed the signature.
“This isn't the doctor's handwriting.”
Vanessa nodded.
“That's why I was leaving.”
“Leaving with our baby doesn't solve anything.”
“I know.”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“How did you know about the papers?”
Lily wiped her eyes.
“I heard Mommy talking on the phone.”
Daniel crouched beside her.
“What did you hear?”
“She said somebody was coming for the baby.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“Who?”
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Suddenly, someone knocked on the front door.
Everyone froze.
Daniel moved Lily behind him.
“Stay here.”
Another knock came.
Vanessa whispered.
“That's him.”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Who?”
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“The man who called me.”
Daniel held the baby tighter.
“Then we're going to find out what he really wants.”
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