Chapter 4: The Name on the Back of the Report
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
My father's name.
Not my husband's.
Not Vanessa's.
My father's.
I stared at the document until the letters blurred.
"That's impossible.""
Dr. Patel placed the paper on my blanket.
"I understand this is difficult, Holly.""
"No. You don't understand."" I pointed at the name.
"My father died four years ago. He couldn't have anything to do with my fertility treatment.""
Megan was still sitting in the chair.
Her face had gone completely white.
Dr. Patel exchanged a glance with the doctor beside her.
"Your father's name appears on the original sample registration," she explained.
"But we haven't established why it was included or who authorized the submission.""
I looked at Megan.
"Tell me.""
She shook her head.
"Megan, look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"Why is Dad's name on that document?""
"I don't know.""
"Stop lying to me!""
My voice came out louder than I expected.
Lily stirred in her bassinet.
A nurse hurried over and gently rocked her.
I immediately lowered my voice.
"Please," I whispered.
"I just gave birth. I can't do this if everyone keeps lying.""
Megan pressed her hands against her face.
"I didn't know it would turn into this.""
"Turn into what?""
She began crying.
"Wes told me your treatment had failed.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Three years ago. Before the successful pregnancy. He told me the clinic had discovered a problem with the stored samples.""
I stared at her.
"Which samples?""
"Your father's.""
My stomach tightened.
I remembered the last year of my father's life.
He had been diagnosed with an aggressive illness. During his final months, he had become unusually interested in my fertility treatments.
He would call every few days.
He'd ask whether I was eating properly.
Whether the doctors were hopeful.
Whether Wes was taking care of me.
Once, he'd said something I hadn't understood.
"Your grandmother would have wanted you to have everything she never had, sweetheart.""
I had assumed he meant a family.
Now I wondered.
"What did Dad have to do with the clinic?""
Megan looked at the floor.
"He contacted them before he died.""
"Why?""
"He wanted to help.""
"Help how?""
She swallowed.
"He asked whether there was a way to preserve something for you.""
I stared at her.
"What something?""
Dr. Patel interrupted gently.
"Holly, we need to be careful. We cannot assume the sample was what the paperwork claims it was. The original records are incomplete.""
I looked at her.
"But you know something.""
She nodded.
"We know your father contacted a fertility laboratory four years ago. We also know that a specimen was delivered under his name.""
My heart began pounding.
"Was it sperm?""
Dr. Patel didn't answer immediately.
Then she nodded.
I felt as though the bed had dropped beneath me.
"Why would my father do that?""
Megan started crying harder.
"I was supposed to explain.""
"Explain what?""
She looked at me.
"Before Dad died, he found out something about Wes.""
The room went silent.
I slowly turned toward her.
"What did he find out?""
Megan wiped her cheeks.
"He discovered Wes was having an affair.""
I stared.
"When?""
"Four years ago.""
Four years.
I remembered that period.
Wes had been working late.
He had become distant.
I'd been going through another failed treatment cycle.
My father had visited us one Sunday afternoon and asked Wes to help him move some boxes in the garage.
They had been gone nearly an hour.
When they returned, my father looked troubled.
I had asked whether everything was okay.
He smiled and said he was just tired.
Two months later, he died.
"Why didn't Dad tell me?""
Megan shook her head.
"He wanted to protect you.""
"Protect me from what?""
"Wes.""
I closed my eyes.
The man I'd loved for eleven years had apparently been betraying me for years.
My father had known.
And somehow, my sister had known too.
"Did Dad know about Vanessa?""
Megan nodded.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"He found messages on Wes's old tablet.""
I looked toward the window.
The morning sunlight was falling across the hospital floor.
Everything looked ordinary.
A nurse laughed in the hallway.
Someone pushed a cart past my door.
Somewhere, another newborn cried.
And my entire family was being dismantled in a hospital room.
"Tell me what happened," I said.
Megan took a shaky breath.
"After Dad confronted Wes, Wes told him the affair was over. He promised he'd never hurt you again.""
"And Dad believed him?""
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Then what did he do?""
Megan reached into her handbag and pulled out another envelope.
It was older than the others.
The edges were worn.
"Dad gave this to me two weeks before he died.""
I stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
"Because he told me to wait.""
"Wait for what?""
She looked at the envelope.
"For the day Wes tried to take something from you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What's inside?""
"I haven't opened it.""
I didn't believe her.
"Then why bring it now?""
"Because yesterday, when Wes called me, he told me something that made me remember Dad's instructions.""
"What?""
Megan looked at Dr. Patel.
Then she looked back at me.
"He said the original sample had to disappear before you discovered what your father had arranged.""
Dr. Patel stood.
"Where is the original sample now?""
Megan shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Who had access to it?""
"Wes. Vanessa. And someone at the clinic.""
"Who?""
Megan opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
I recognized my father's handwriting immediately.
The familiar slant.
The little loops.
The way he always crossed his capital H.
My eyes filled before I even began reading.
My darling Holly,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I hoped you would never have to face.
I stopped.
My hands were shaking.
Megan leaned forward.
"Keep reading.""
I continued.
I discovered that Wes has been dishonest with you. I don't know how much you know, but I know he has been meeting another woman.
I also discovered something about the fertility clinic that I believe may affect your future.
My breathing became shallow.
You have spent too many years believing that your body has failed you. I want you to know that none of this is your fault.
I made arrangements to preserve a biological sample before my treatment began. I did it because I knew you and Wes were struggling, and I wanted you to have another chance at motherhood if the doctors believed it was medically appropriate.
I stopped reading.
The paper slipped slightly in my hands.
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"Why would my father preserve sperm?""
Dr. Patel's expression changed.
"Was your father aware that his sample might be used as a donor sample?""
Megan shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I looked down again.
I never intended to make this decision for you. I wanted you to have the option. Your consent was always supposed to come first.
My eyes moved to the final paragraph.
If Wes has somehow obtained these records, please be careful. He knows about the sample. He knows what it could mean for his plans. And I fear he may try to use it against you.
At the bottom, my father had written one final sentence.
Holly, if your children are ever born under circumstances you don't understand, ask for the original embryology log. Do not trust copies.
I lowered the letter.
Nobody spoke.
Then I looked at Megan.
"Did you know Dad had arranged this?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know he intended to give me the option?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you let Wes use the sample?""
She began crying.
"He said you had agreed.""
"You keep saying that!""
"He showed me a form.""
"What form?""
"A consent form with your signature.""
I stared at her.
"And you believed him?""
She shook her head.
"I wanted to.""
That answer hurt more than anything else.
Dr. Patel gently took the letter.
"Holly, we need to obtain the original embryology log. It should tell us exactly which specimens were used and how they were handled.""
"Then get it.""
"We've already requested it.""
"How long?""
"A few hours, perhaps.""
I looked at the clock.
"Then I want someone to stay with me until we have it.""
Dr. Patel nodded.
"I'll arrange that.""
Megan stood.
"I should go.""
I didn't stop her.
But as she reached the door, I called her name.
"Megan.""
She turned.
"If Dad knew Wes was cheating four years ago, why did he never tell me?""
Her lower lip trembled.
"Because he was afraid you'd leave him before the treatment worked.""
I stared at her.
"That doesn't make sense.""
She looked at the floor.
"Dad thought Wes would change if he became a father.""
I closed my eyes.
Even my father had believed a baby might save my marriage.
And now I had two beautiful daughters, a missing husband, and a family secret that had begun before either of them was conceived.
Megan opened the door.
Before leaving, she turned around.
"There's one more thing, Holly.""
I looked at her.
"Wes didn't leave because he thought one of the girls wasn't his.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"He left because Vanessa called him after the preliminary test.""
"What did she say?""
Megan swallowed.
"She told him that if the original records were found, he could lose everything.""
I stared at her.
"Everything?""
Megan nodded.
"His marriage. His house. His job. His reputation.""
Then she walked out.
I looked at the two bassinets.
Lily had fallen asleep with one tiny hand resting against her cheek.
Emma was making little noises beneath her blanket.
I wanted to hold them both.
I wanted to forget everything.
But I couldn't.
Because somewhere in that hospital, there was an original record that might tell me who had been manipulating my family.
And when Dr. Patel returned an hour later, she wasn't alone.
She carried a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a small laboratory storage card.
She placed it on the bedside table.
"Holly," she said, "we found the original embryology log.""
I looked at her.
"What's on it?""
Her face was pale.
"Your father's sample was never used.""
I blinked.
"Then what was?""
She turned the storage card around.
May you like
And pointed to a name.
*Wesley Bennett.*
