A boy.<\/p>\n
The word felt impossible.<\/p>\n
Not because Rachel and I could not have had a son.<\/p>\n
Because somebody could have created him without us ever knowing.<\/p>\n
Grace sat down.<\/p>\n
Leah remained standing.<\/p>\n
Rachel gripped my hand so hard her nails pressed into my skin.<\/p>\n
I barely noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Anna looked at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe embryo was transferred twenty-six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same year as the twins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never knew her real name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarlan called her Candidate Six.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cA woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPregnant with our child.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot during the pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe came to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel\u2019s voice was barely audible.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf Harlan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he tell her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat the embryo came from an anonymous donor couple.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed without humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnonymous because he stole it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace asked, \u201cWas she paid?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor surrogacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she consent to giving the child up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe changed her mind after he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room quieted.<\/p>\n
Leah said, \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had carried him. She wanted to keep him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Harlan do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThreatened her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel whispered, \u201cAnd the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI helped her leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou helped them escape.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMissouri.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cName.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you, I didn\u2019t know her real one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat name did she use?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLast name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDonovan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael was already searching.<\/p>\n
Ortiz stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do this through official channels.\u201d<\/p>\n
He lowered the phone.<\/p>\n
Anna continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had a sister near Springfield.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long did you stay in contact?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe stopped writing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Harlan find her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid David?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace looked at Anna.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was the boy\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire called him Matthew.\u201d<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.<\/p>\n
Matthew.<\/p>\n
A son.<\/p>\n
Somewhere.<\/p>\n
Possibly thirty? No, twenty-six.<\/p>\n
The same age as Grace and Leah.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were born the same year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the embryo was created before the twins and transferred months earlier, Matthew could be older.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
Our son had been alive before our daughters were conceived.<\/p>\n
A child created from us before we ever knew we had successfully conceived anything naturally.<\/p>\n
I looked at Rachel.<\/p>\n
She looked back.<\/p>\n
Something passed between us that had no name.<\/p>\n
Grief for a stranger.<\/p>\n
Love for someone unseen.<\/p>\n
Violation.<\/p>\n
Wonder.<\/p>\n
All at once.<\/p>\n
Ortiz said, \u201cWe need records from Missouri.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere may be more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire sent photographs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you still have them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna looked at Michael.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Harlan\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hid things there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy old room.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had a room?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael stared.<\/p>\n
Harlan\u2019s house had been more crowded with hidden family than he ever knew.<\/p>\n
Ortiz arranged for the search team to check the room.<\/p>\n
We waited.<\/p>\n
Rachel leaned back in the wheelchair.<\/p>\n
Her exhaustion was becoming obvious.<\/p>\n
Grace noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to lie down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was almost bossy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace went quiet.<\/p>\n
Then said, \u201cBoth can be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
Leah looked away.<\/p>\n
Maybe the intimacy hurt.<\/p>\n
Maybe she wanted it too.<\/p>\n
I did not push.<\/p>\n
After twenty minutes, Ortiz\u2019s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
The photograph had been found behind a loose baseboard.<\/p>\n
She opened the image.<\/p>\n
A young woman sat on a porch holding a toddler.<\/p>\n
The boy had dark hair.<\/p>\n
Wide eyes.<\/p>\n
A crooked smile.<\/p>\n
My smile.<\/p>\n
Not exactly.<\/p>\n
But enough.<\/p>\n
Rachel touched the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
One sound.<\/p>\n
That was all she could manage.<\/p>\n
Grace leaned closer.<\/p>\n
Leah stood behind her.<\/p>\n
Anna whispered, \u201cThat\u2019s Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman looked about twenty-five.<\/p>\n
Tired.<\/p>\n
Protective.<\/p>\n
Her arms wrapped around Matthew as if someone might reach through the photograph and take him.<\/p>\n
On the back, a note had been written.<\/p>\n
Anna,<\/p>\n
We\u2019re safe. Matt is healthy. He laughs whenever trucks pass. I think he\u2019ll love machines.<\/p>\n
I stopped reading.<\/p>\n
Trucks.<\/p>\n
Machines.<\/p>\n
Meaningless coincidence.<\/p>\n
Maybe.<\/p>\n
But it cut anyway.<\/p>\n
The note continued.<\/p>\n
I changed our names.<\/p>\n
Please don\u2019t look for us unless you hear Harlan is gone.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n
C.<\/p>\n
Ortiz enlarged the image.<\/p>\n
A house number was visible.<\/p>\n
218.<\/p>\n
No street.<\/p>\n
A mailbox behind Claire showed part of a surname sticker.<\/p>\n
Only three letters.<\/p>\n
HAR.<\/p>\n
Michael frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarris?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarlan?\u201d Leah said.<\/p>\n
Grace looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t joke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz sent the image to investigators.<\/p>\n
Rachel kept staring at the boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if he doesn\u2019t want us?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
She did not mean the investigators.<\/p>\n
She meant Matthew.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t know us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at Grace.<\/p>\n
Then Leah.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently not always.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leah heard.<\/p>\n
She moved closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may be angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may hate us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may not care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not helping.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m being honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leah sat on the arm of a chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he\u2019s anything like me, he\u2019ll want facts before feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace glanced at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if he\u2019s like me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll pretend facts are feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t even make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, Rachel laughed with both daughters in the room.<\/p>\n
It was brief.<\/p>\n
But real.<\/p>\n
Ortiz returned to business.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire Donovan doesn\u2019t exist in Missouri records under that name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo surprise,\u201d Anna said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral women named Claire gave birth to boys in the relevant year, but none match.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we have nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd a note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd DNA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cDNA databases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Matthew ever submitted a sample\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz raised a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need warrants and legal requests.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leah groaned.<\/p>\n
\u201cLaw moves like it\u2019s wearing wet boots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz ignored her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo any existing kinship databases show another first-degree relationship?\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe earlier report showed only David as Daniel\u2019s brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause that was a state database, not consumer genetics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew may be elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cJessica.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur niece used one of those ancestry websites.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat helps how?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe once said there was an unexplained close match in your family tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYears ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel gave me a tired look.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, an unexplained cousin on a website did not rank among our larger problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we call her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz said, \u201cYes, but do not tell her to alter or download anything yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
I called.<\/p>\n
Jessica answered groggily.<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle Danny?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs Aunt Rachel okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at me.<\/p>\n
I put the call on speaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m alive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Jessica exhaled loudly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Good. I\u2019m awake now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cJess, years ago you mentioned an unexpected family match on your ancestry account.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe account said likely close relative.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow close?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst cousin, maybe half uncle. Those estimates change.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Harris.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone looked at the photograph.<\/p>\n
HAR.<\/p>\n
My pulse jumped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you log in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz gestured for patience.<\/p>\n
Jessica typed.<\/p>\n
We waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found him.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mouth went dry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Harris. Twenty-seven.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLocation?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccount says Springfield, Missouri.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
Anna began crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny recent activity?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like last login was eight months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about messages?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe sent me one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica read.<\/p>\n
Hi. This may sound strange, but I\u2019m trying to identify my biological father. The site says we may be close relatives. Do you know anyone in your family named Daniel Whitmore?<\/p>\n
Nobody moved.<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew your name.\u201d<\/p>\n
I asked Jessica, \u201cDid you answer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you were my uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe asked if you had children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace and Leah both looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said no.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word hurt.<\/p>\n
At the time, that was what everyone believed.<\/p>\n
Jessica continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe never replied after that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz asked me to get the account identifier from Jessica.<\/p>\n
She did.<\/p>\n
Investigators began working.<\/p>\n
Michael leaned against the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Matthew knew Daniel\u2019s name two years ago, Claire told him something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr Harlan found him.\u201d<\/p>\n
That possibility killed the small relief.<\/p>\n
Rachel whispered, \u201cWhat if he\u2019s part of this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Leah said, \u201cPart how?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cVoluntarily?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel nodded.<\/p>\n
Michael considered it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he knew enough to search Daniel\u2019s name, maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated how plausible it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat genetic combination would he have?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cSame parents as Grace and Leah, but created from a different embryo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo related variants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarlan would want him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd David?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n
She listened.<\/p>\n
Then looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an address.\u201d<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpringfield?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cForty minutes from here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Harris moved six months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo where?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz turned the screen.<\/p>\n
A suburban address outside Austin.<\/p>\n
Rachel whispered, \u201cHe came here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
No one knew.<\/p>\n
Then Ortiz added, \u201cThere\u2019s something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmployer.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned the phone.<\/p>\n
MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL.<\/p>\n
My skin went cold.<\/p>\n
Position:<\/p>\n
Facilities maintenance supervisor.<\/p>\n
Leah laughed in disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have got to be kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace whispered, \u201cHe had access everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoors. Cameras. service corridors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreezers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTransport routes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Rachel.<\/p>\n
Matthew had not merely moved near us.<\/p>\n
He had entered the hospital at the center of everything.<\/p>\n
Maybe searching.<\/p>\n
Maybe helping.<\/p>\n
Maybe watching.<\/p>\n
Then Grace said, \u201cThe rear lock on David\u2019s transport van.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cReleased remotely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ortiz\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
Leah whispered, \u201cFacilities access.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael finished the thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew may have helped David escape.\u201d<\/p>\n
A boy. The word felt impossible. Not because Rachel and I could not have had a son. Because somebody could have created him without us ever knowing. Grace sat down. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19937"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20015,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19937\/revisions\/20015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}