Chapter 5: The Sample My Husband Tried to Erase
I read the name three times.
Wesley Bennett.
My husband's name.
"That's impossible.""
Dr. Patel pulled the chair closer.
"According to the original embryology log, the sample labeled as your father's was never used in the fertilization process.""
I looked at the card.
"Then why was his name on the paperwork?""
"Because someone entered his identification number into the donor registration system.""
"Who?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
I pointed at the second column.
"What does this mean?""
Dr. Patel leaned forward.
"The sample that was actually used was registered under a temporary laboratory identification number. We have not yet confirmed its source.""
"But you just said the log shows Wes's name.""
"Yes. His name appears in the authorization section.""
I felt a cold shiver move through me.
"Did he donate sperm?""
Dr. Patel hesitated.
"Not according to the original medical history he provided.""
I stared at her.
"Then what are you saying?""
She carefully turned the document toward herself.
"I'm saying that the clinic received a specimen labeled as your husband's, but the associated chain-of-custody records do not match the original collection information.""
I laughed bitterly.
"So even the laboratory records are lying.""
"Some of them may have been altered.""
I looked at my daughters.
"Can you tell me whether Wes is their biological father?""
"Not from this document alone.""
"Then what can you tell me?""
Dr. Patel took a breath.
"That the paperwork Wes received was not an accurate representation of the original laboratory findings.""
I gripped the bedsheet.
"Did he know?""
She looked at me.
"We believe he did.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
Holly, we need to talk. Please don't trust Dr. Patel.
I stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
She's not telling you everything.
Then a third.
Ask her what happened to the second specimen.
My fingers went numb.
"Doctor?""
Dr. Patel looked up.
I turned my phone toward her.
She read the messages.
Her expression hardened.
"Who sent these?""
"I don't know.""
She studied the number.
"Don't respond.""
"What's the second specimen?""
For the first time, Dr. Patel looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"Holly, there were two specimens associated with the original transfer records.""
"Whose?""
"We're still trying to establish that.""
"Why?""
She looked toward the door.
"Because the second specimen was removed from the clinic's storage system without a documented release authorization.""
I stared at her.
"Someone stole it?""
"We cannot say that yet.""
"Then what happened?""
"We're investigating.""
I pushed the blanket away.
"I want the police.""
Dr. Patel nodded.
"That's reasonable.""
"And I want the clinic's director here.""
"I'll arrange it.""
She started to leave.
"Doctor?""
She stopped.
"Did you know my father?""
She turned slowly.
"Yes.""
The answer surprised me.
"When?""
"Your father came to see me shortly before he died.""
I stared.
"You knew him?""
"He asked me to review a fertility arrangement he had discussed with another clinic.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he asked me not to disclose private information without your consent.""
I swallowed.
"What did he ask you to do?""
Dr. Patel looked at the two bassinets.
"He wanted to make sure you would never be pressured into using his genetic material.""
I felt tears fill my eyes.
"He knew I would never agree without understanding.""
"Yes.""
I looked down at the letter.
My father had tried to protect me.
Even after his death.
And Wes had somehow turned that protection into a weapon.
Dr. Patel left to make the calls.
I sat alone with my daughters.
For the first time since waking from surgery, I allowed myself to touch the little identification bracelet around Emma's wrist.
I traced the letters.
Emma Bennett.
Lily Bennett.
Their names were printed beneath mine.
The nurse had explained that their birth records would be completed once the hospital finalized the paperwork.
I suddenly remembered what Megan had said.
Wes wanted to know the paternity results before signing the birth certificates.
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the caller ID showed Wes.
I stared at it.
It rang.
And rang.
Then stopped.
A minute later, a message arrived.
Holly, answer me. We need to discuss the girls.
I typed three words.
You left us.
I didn't send it.
Instead, I deleted the message.
Then I called him.
He answered on the second ring.
"Holly.""
His voice sounded tired.
Not frightened.
Not apologetic.
Just irritated.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Why?""
A pause.
"What do you mean?""
"Why did you leave the hospital?""
He sighed.
"Holly, this isn't the time.""
I stared at the phone.
"When is the time, Wes? After I recover? After the girls start school? After you've moved Vanessa into our house?""
He went quiet.
"Who told you about Vanessa?""
I laughed.
"That's your question?""
"Listen to me.""
"No. You listen. I gave birth yesterday.
I woke up alone. A stranger came into my room and showed me photographs of you kissing her.""
He exhaled sharply.
"Vanessa shouldn't have gone there.""
"That's what you're concerned about?""
"Holly, there are things you don't understand.""
"Then explain them.""
"I can't do that over the phone.""
"Fine. Come here.""
Silence.
"Wes?""
"I don't think that's a good idea.""
I closed my eyes.
"Are you ashamed to look at your wife?""
He lowered his voice.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be.""
I felt something cold settle inside me.
"Harder for whom?""
"For everyone.""
I looked at Lily.
Then Emma.
"Are you coming back to see your daughters?""
Another pause.
"I need to know the results first.""
I couldn't believe it.
"You're their father.""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
My hand began shaking.
"You think I cheated on you?""
"I didn't say that.""
"You just did.""
"Holly, the clinic made a mistake. I have documents.""
"Your documents were falsified.""
Silence.
Then Wes spoke.
"Who told you that?""
"Dr. Patel.""
He laughed once.
"Of course she did.""
"What does that mean?""
"She's been involved in this from the beginning.""
I frowned.
"You just told me you don't know what's happening.""
"I know enough.""
"Then tell me.""
He lowered his voice.
"Ask your sister what she did with the second specimen.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"Ask Megan.""
"Wes, stop playing games.""
"I'm not playing games.""
"Then come here.""
He didn't answer.
I heard a door close somewhere in the background.
Then a woman's voice.
"Is that her?""
Vanessa.
Wes moved away from the phone.
"Not now.""
I heard her again.
"Tell her.""
My chest tightened.
"Wes? Are you with Vanessa?""
He didn't answer.
I began crying.
"You're with her right now?""
"Holly, please.""
"While your daughters are in the hospital?""
He lowered his voice.
"Don't make me say something I'll regret.""
I stared at the wall.
"You're already saying it.""
Then he hung up.
I sat with the phone in my hand until the screen went dark.
The nurse came in a few minutes later.
"Everything okay?""
I wiped my cheeks.
"Can you help me hold my babies?""
"Of course.""
She brought Lily first.
Then Emma.
I held one in each arm, carefully supporting their heads.
They were so small.
So innocent.
Their fingers curled around mine.
I whispered to them.
"Nobody is going to decide whether you deserve to be loved.""
My voice cracked.
"Not your father. Not me. Not anyone.""
The nurse adjusted their blankets.
"Would you like me to take a picture?""
I nodded.
She used my phone.
For the first time, I had a photograph of my daughters together.
No Wes.
No family gathered around us.
Just me and my two girls.
And that was enough for the moment.
At 3:30 that afternoon, a hospital administrator arrived with a representative from the fertility clinic.
Her name was Elaine Foster.
She introduced herself as the clinic's director of patient services.
"Holly, I want to apologize for the distress this situation has caused.""
I looked at her.
"Did your clinic use my husband's sperm?""
She hesitated.
"The original documentation indicates that a sample was submitted under his identification.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Elaine opened her folder.
"We have discovered discrepancies in the records.""
"What discrepancies?""
"The donor identification number was changed after the original specimen was received.""
"By whom?""
"We're reviewing access logs.""
"Then review them in front of me.""
She looked uncomfortable.
"That's not standard procedure.""
"Neither is someone changing my medical records without my consent.""
Dr. Patel stood beside my bed.
"Holly has a right to understand what happened.""
Elaine nodded reluctantly.
She opened her laptop.
After several minutes, she turned the screen toward us.
A list of account activities appeared.
I recognized the dates.
One entry was dated two months before my embryo transfer.
Another was dated three weeks before my C-section.
I pointed at the second one.
"What happened here?""
Elaine read the entry.
"An amendment was submitted.""
"By whom?""
She clicked the details.
The name appeared.
*Megan Bennett.*
I closed my eyes.
Again.
My sister.
"Why did she have access?""
Elaine hesitated.
"She was listed as an authorized family representative on a temporary administrative form.""
"I never authorized that.""
"Your husband submitted the request.""
I stared at her.
"What else did he change?""
Elaine scrolled.
Then stopped.
Her expression changed.
"What's that?"" I asked.
She didn't answer.
"Show me.""
She turned the laptop toward me.
It was a record of the second specimen.
The status was marked:
*TRANSFERRED TO EXTERNAL STORAGE — PRIVATE COLLECTION.*
Below it was a destination.
A private reproductive storage facility.
And beneath that, the name of the person who had requested the transfer.
Wesley Bennett.
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"Why would my husband transfer a specimen somewhere else?""
Dr. Patel studied the screen.
"Do we have a date?""
Elaine nodded.
"Four months ago.""
Four months.
I was twenty-six weeks pregnant.
My husband had been planning something while I was carrying our daughters.
"Where is this facility?""
Elaine read the name.
"Northbridge Reproductive Storage.""
I looked at her.
"Who owns it?""
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Vanessa Cole.""
The room went silent.
I felt a cold wave move through my body.
Wes hadn't simply been having an affair.
He had moved something from the fertility clinic into a storage facility controlled by his mistress.
Something connected to my father's sample.
Something that was supposed to be used only with my consent.
"Call the police," I said.
Dr. Patel nodded.
Elaine began closing her laptop.
But before she could finish, her screen flashed with a new notification.
She looked at it.
Then her face drained of color.
"What?"" I asked.
She turned the laptop toward Dr. Patel.
A transfer request had just been submitted.
The specimen was scheduled to be released the following morning.
May you like
And the recipient's name was not Vanessa Cole.
It was mine.
