Chapter 2 — The Baby in the Photograph

Daniel didn't answer.

That was the first thing I noticed.

Not the silence of a guilty man.

The silence of a man trying to decide which lie could save him.

I stood across from him with Chloe's photograph still open on his phone.

The baby in the picture slept peacefully.

Tiny fingers.

Dark hair.

A pale pink blanket.

And beneath the left ear, that unmistakable reddish mark.

The same mark Lily had.

The same place.

The same shape.

I looked at Daniel.

“Whose baby is that?”

His eyes moved toward Lily.

Then back to me.

“Jennifer…”

“Don't.”

My voice was quiet.

That seemed to frighten him more than if I had screamed.

“Don't say my name like that.”

His mother stood abruptly.

“Daniel, what is she talking about?”

He turned toward her.

“Mom, please.”

“Is that Chloe's baby?”

He didn't answer.

His father stepped closer.

“Daniel.”

Still nothing.

The ballroom had become painfully quiet.

Guests who had been laughing only minutes earlier were now pretending not to listen while listening to every word.

A waiter stood frozen near the dessert table.

Someone's champagne glass slipped from their hand and shattered against the floor.

I barely heard it.

My attention was fixed on Daniel.

“You told everyone this party was for Lily.”

“It is.”

“Then why is Chloe sending you pictures of another baby?”

“It's complicated.”

I almost smiled.

Of course.

Complicated.

That was the word people used when the truth was ugly.

“Is the baby yours?”

Daniel's jaw tightened.

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

Too immediately.

I studied his face.

“You're lying.”

“No.”

“You didn't even think about it.”

“Because I know the answer.”

“Then say it again.”

He stared at me.

“It isn't mine.”

I nodded slowly.

“Fine.”

I reached for my phone.

Daniel's expression changed.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling Chloe.”

His eyes widened.

“No.”

That single word told me more than his denial had.

I turned away from him.

He caught my wrist.

“Don't call her.”

I looked down at his hand.

Then at him.

“You've been paying her bills.”

I pulled my wrist free.

“You've been sleeping with her.”

His face tightened.

“And now she sends you pictures of babies you don't want me to see.”

I stepped closer.

“So why shouldn't I call her?”

“Because she'll make things worse.”

I laughed softly.

“Worse?”

I looked around the ballroom.

“Daniel, you have already destroyed the marriage. What exactly is Chloe going to make worse?”

He didn't answer.

I dialed the number.

The call rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

No answer.

I tried again.

Nothing.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message.

Unknown number.

Stop calling me.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

You don't understand what Daniel did.

My heart began pounding.

I showed the screen to Daniel.

His face went white.

“You know what she means?”

“No.”

“You're lying again.”

He shook his head.

“I swear.”

I turned to his mother.

“Do you know who Chloe is?”

She looked at her son.

Daniel closed his eyes.

His mother whispered:

“Is she the woman from college?”

I said nothing.

That was enough.

Her face crumpled.

“Daniel…”

His father looked furious.

“You told us there was no one else.”

Daniel rubbed his forehead.

“It wasn't supposed to happen.”

His father stared at him.

“You have a wife.”

“I know.”

“You have a daughter.”

“I know.”

“Then what exactly was it?”

Daniel's voice dropped.

“I made a mistake.”

I looked at him.

“A mistake is forgetting someone's birthday.”

His eyes met mine.

“A mistake is buying the wrong flowers.”

I held up the photograph.

“This is not a mistake.”

He looked away.

My mother came toward me.

She had Lily in her arms.

“Jennifer?”

I immediately walked to her.

“I've got her.”

My mother looked at my face.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

She knew me well enough not to believe it.

“Are you sure?”

I took Lily from her.

My daughter stirred against my chest.

Her tiny face pressed against me.

I kissed the top of her head.

Then I looked down.

The mark beneath her left ear was visible above the collar of her dress.

My stomach twisted.

I looked back at the photograph.

Same place.

Same color.

I had spent three months studying every inch of Lily.

I knew the little crease beside her thumb.

I knew the tiny birthmark.

I knew the way she frowned in her sleep.

And now there was another baby somewhere in the world carrying the same mark.

It could have been coincidence.

It had to be.

But Daniel's reaction made coincidence feel impossible.

I walked away from the table.

Daniel followed.

“Jennifer.”

I kept walking.

“Jennifer, wait.”

“No.”

“Please.”

I stopped near the hallway outside the ballroom.

I turned around.

“Where is Chloe?”

He hesitated.

“I don't know.”

“You know.”

“I haven't seen her.”

“Where does she live?”

“Jennifer…”

“Where?”

He looked at me.

“Why do you need to know?”

“Because I'm going to ask her what you refuse to tell me.”

He shook his head.

“Don't go to her.”

I stared at him.

“Why?”

He said nothing.

I stepped closer.

“Why are you afraid of me talking to Chloe?”

“Because she isn't stable.”

That made me pause.

“What does that mean?”

“She gets emotional.”

“She's pregnant.”

“She had the baby.”

I froze.

“What?”

Daniel looked away.

“When?”

He didn't answer.

“When did she have the baby?”

“About three months ago.”

My grip tightened around Lily.

Three months.

Lily was three months old.

I looked at him.

“You told me Chloe was still pregnant.”

His face changed.

“I never said that.”

“You told me she was due later.”

“I don't remember.”

“You don't remember?”

“No.”

I stared at him.

Then something clicked.

The date.

The photograph.

The baptism.

I pulled out my phone and opened the calendar.

Lily was born three months and eleven days ago.

I looked at Daniel.

“When was Chloe's baby born?”

He swallowed.

“I don't know.”

“Stop lying.”

“I don't know the exact date.”

“Give me the hospital.”

He looked toward the ballroom.

His parents were watching us.

“Jennifer, please.”

“Hospital.”

He said nothing.

So I called the number of the private investigator my attorney had recommended months ago.

Daniel heard the first ring.

His face changed.

“Who are you calling?”

“My investigator.”

“You hired an investigator?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Three months ago.”

He looked stunned.

I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

I walked back into the ballroom.

The party was effectively over.

People were leaving quietly.

Nobody wanted to be the last person standing inside a marriage that had just exploded in public.

My mother stayed close.

My attorney arrived forty minutes later.

She didn't ask questions in front of everyone.

She simply looked at me.

“Are you ready?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“Can I talk to you?”

My attorney looked at him.

“No.”

He ignored her.

“Jennifer, please.”

I looked at him.

“I'm done talking.”

“You don't understand.”

“I understand enough.”

“No, you don't.”

His voice cracked.

“There are things you don't know.”

I stared at him.

“Then tell me.”

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Exactly.

I walked away.

That night, I didn't sleep.