“Elena Alvarez helped me after the transfer. She promised she would watch over the pregnancy. If she brings the baby to Maria, it means something has gone wrong.”
Sophia’s head rested against my shoulder.
My daughter.
The word entered my mind before I could stop it.
The recorder clicked, then resumed.
“Daniel, if you are hearing this, I am sorry. I know secrecy is not love, no matter how much fear tries to disguise it. But I could not bear to watch you lose another child while you were losing me.”
A quiet sob came through the speaker.
“I thought I could tell you when the baby was born. Then the clinic director came to Bellwether and asked questions he should not have known to ask. He knew the transfer had taken place. He knew where the surrogate was staying. Elena helped move her.”
Claire coughed, and the recording paused.
“When the child is safe, tell Daniel the truth. Give him the key. He will know what to do.”
The recorder stopped.
No one spoke.
Sophia reached up and touched my face.
“Why are you crying?”
I had not realized I was.
I covered her hand with mine.
“Because I missed the sleepy lady.”
“She sounds nice.”
“She was.”
Sophia considered this.
“Is she my other mommy?”
Maria’s breath caught.
I did not know how to answer.
Before I could try, the house intercom chimed.
The sound jolted all of us.
A staff member’s voice came from the wall panel.
“Mr. Whitfield, there is a Dr. Nathan Keller at the gate. He says it is urgent.”
The name hit me like a second collision.
Dr. Keller had been the director of the fertility clinic.
He had overseen Claire’s treatment.
I had not spoken to him since the year she died.
Maria rose.
“Do not let him in.”
Her urgency was immediate.
I stood as well.
“Why?”
“Elena mentioned that name once.”
“When?”
“The night she gave me Sophia.”
My eyes went to the recorder.
Claire had said the clinic director came to Bellwether.
“Did Elena say he was dangerous?”
“No. She said she did not know whether he was protecting the child or protecting himself.”
The intercom chimed again.
I crossed the room and pressed the button.
“Tell Dr. Keller to wait at the gate.”
“Yes, sir.”
I released the switch.
Maria looked toward Sophia.
“She cannot be here when you speak to him.”
Sophia tightened her grip on my sleeve.
“I’m staying with Daddy.”
The word still stunned me each time she said it.
I knelt in front of her.
“I need to talk to someone for a few minutes.”
Her lower lip trembled.
“You won’t leave again?”
The fear in her face had nothing to do with biology. It came from thirty nights of waiting for someone she had decided belonged to her.
I held out my hand.
“How about we make a promise?”
She placed her small fingers in mine.
“I will stay in the house.”
“Forever?”
