Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO HAD TRIED TO REACH HIM
Beth Miller was recovering on the seventh floor at Mass General.
Ryan could not simply walk into her room demanding answers.
He was not family.
He did not even know whether Ava was actually his child.
A hospital social worker contacted Beth with Ava’s permission and arranged a phone conversation later that evening.
Beth sounded weak.
But lucid.
“Is Ava okay?”
Ryan looked through the glass toward the pediatric observation room.
“Yes.”
Beth started crying.
“I thought Claire was taking her home.”
“She did.”
Silence.
Ryan continued.
“She didn’t tell me.”
Another silence.
Longer.
Then Beth said:
“She promised she would.”
Ryan looked at Claire.
His wife sat twenty feet away with an investigator.
“When?”
“Months ago.”
His grip tightened around the phone.
“Months?”
Beth explained.
Sarah Miller had died eight months earlier from complications related to an autoimmune illness.
Beth, her older sister, became Ava’s legal guardian.
While sorting Sarah’s papers, she found a sealed envelope labeled:
FOR RYAN CARTER IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME.
Inside were photographs.
Medical information.
A letter.
And Ryan’s name listed as Ava’s probable biological father.
Beth searched for him online.
She found Claire first.
“I emailed her.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“What did she say?”
“That you knew about Ava.”
Ryan opened his eyes.
“She said what?”
“She said you weren’t ready for contact.”
“I never knew Ava existed.”
Beth stopped breathing for a moment.
Then:
“Oh my God.”
Ryan looked toward Claire.
She was watching him now.
She knew exactly what Beth was saying.
Beth continued.
“Claire told me not to push you. She said you had a son and that suddenly bringing Ava into your life could hurt both children.”
Ryan’s voice went flat.
“Did you believe her?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
That question hurt.
Beth had no reason to assume a man’s wife was secretly speaking without his knowledge.
“She sent money twice,” Beth added.
Ryan’s stomach tightened.
“For what?”
“School expenses. She said it came from both of you.”
It did not.
Ryan ended the call only after confirming Ava had somewhere safe to go once Beth was discharged.
Then he crossed the hospital hallway.
Claire stood before he reached her.
“Ryan—”
“You told Beth I knew.”
Claire started crying.
“You sent money in my name.”
“I was trying to help.”
“You told a child’s guardian that her father knew she existed and didn’t want her.”
“I never said you didn’t want her.”
“What exactly did ‘not ready for contact’ mean?”
Claire looked away.
Ryan felt something inside him become frighteningly calm.
“How long have you known Ava might be mine?”
Claire whispered:
“Six months.”
“Is that the first time you heard Sarah’s name?”
Claire froze.
Ryan saw it.
“No.”
Her eyes closed.
“How long, Claire?”
She did not answer.
Ryan suddenly remembered something from years ago.
A voicemail.
Sarah had called once after he and Claire became engaged.
Ryan had asked Claire whether Sarah left a message.
Claire had said:
“She wants attention. I deleted it.”
He had laughed.
He had let her.
Now he asked:
“What was in Sarah’s voicemail?”
May you like
Claire opened her eyes.
And Ryan realized the secret might be older than Ava herself.
