Chapter 6 - The Adoption File Had Two Mothers
Peter finally answered when I called from Rachel's phone.
His first words were not hello.
"Is Margaret listening?"
I looked at her.
"Yes."
He disconnected.
Margaret cursed.
I called again.
Voicemail.
Rachel looked at me.
"Call from Chloe's."
Chloe handed me her phone.
Peter answered after two rings.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
Silence.
Then, "Emily."
"Start talking."
"Get Sophie out of that house."
Margaret shouted, "You filed the guardianship papers!"
Peter heard her.
"I filed documents provided by my client."
"Which client?" I asked.
He hesitated.
That mattered.
"You've represented this family for twenty years."
"Emily—"
"Which client?"
"Your father's trust."
Not Margaret.
Not Rachel.
The trust itself.
"Why did you certify my signature?"
"I didn't."
I stared at the attachment again.
"Your name is on it."
"My electronic seal was used."
Margaret laughed.
"Convenient."
Peter's voice sharpened.
"You have the password, Margaret."
She went silent.
Rachel looked at her.
"You used his account?"
"I did what was necessary."
Peter said, "That statement is now being recorded."
Margaret's face changed.
I almost smiled.
Then Sophie pulled on my sleeve.
"Mom, can we go?"
The anger drained out of me.
Of course.
My daughter didn't need another hour of adults tearing each other apart.
"Yes."
Margaret moved toward the door.
"No."
I stared at her.
She pointed at my phone.
"That guardianship order remains valid until a judge sets it aside."
Peter said, "It is not an order."
Margaret froze.
I looked at the speaker.
"What?"
"It's a petition. No judge has signed it."
Relief hit me so hard my knees weakened.
Margaret snapped, "The emergency review is tomorrow morning."
Peter responded, "And now that I know the supporting affidavit is disputed, I'll notify the clerk immediately."
Margaret stared at the phone as if she wanted to crush it.
Rachel whispered, "You told me it was already approved."
Margaret ignored her.
I picked up my handbag.
"Sophie, shoes."
She looked down.
She already had them on.
I was so shaken I hadn't noticed.
Chloe suddenly said, "Aunt Emily."
I turned.
She held a small yellow folder.
"What's that?"
"I found it yesterday."
Margaret rushed forward.
Rachel blocked her.
"Where?"
Chloe pointed toward the home office.
"Behind Grandma's printer."
Margaret said, "Give that to me."
Chloe walked straight to me instead.
I took it.
Inside were photocopies from Sophie's adoption.
The first page listed me as adoptive mother.
The second page had the birth mother section sealed.
The third page was different.
A temporary hospital release.
Birth mother: Rachel Anne Parker.
Rachel covered her mouth.
Then I saw another page.
Same form.
Same date.
Different version.
Birth mother: Emily Grace Parker.
My own name.
I stared at it.
"What the hell is this?"
Peter went quiet on the phone.
"Peter?"
"Read the certification number."
I did.
He swore.
"That document was never in the file I prepared."
Margaret turned toward Rachel.
"You said you destroyed that."
Rachel recoiled.
"I never saw it."
They stared at each other.
I felt cold.
"Somebody created a false version naming me as Sophie's biological mother."
Peter said, "That would explain how she was transferred to you without a standard interstate disclosure process."
My heart pounded.
"Why would anyone do that?"
No one answered.
I flipped another page.
A handwritten note was clipped to the back.
Use maternal continuity exception. No disclosure to Emily.
Initials: R.P.
Rachel Parker.
I looked at my sister.
She shook her head immediately.
"That's not mine."
"It's your initials."
"I didn't write it."
Margaret whispered, "I told you to stop asking questions."
Rachel turned.
"What questions?"
The two women stared at each other.
Something passed between them.
I saw it.
"Rachel, what did you find eight years ago?"
She began breathing faster.
"Nothing."
"Don't do this again."
"Emily—"
"Your daughter was chained to a staircase because all of you have been lying for eight years."
Rachel closed her eyes.
Then opened them.
"I found a hospital bill."
Margaret said, "Rachel."
"Shut up, Mom."
I waited.
Rachel looked at me.
"It wasn't for Sophie's birth."
"Whose was it?"
"Yours."
I frowned.
"I wasn't pregnant."
"I know."
She swallowed.
"It was dated the year you were born."
My skin prickled.
"What does that have to do with Sophie?"
Rachel looked toward Margaret.
"Because the same doctor's name was on both files."
I stopped breathing.
Margaret whispered, "Don't."
Rachel ignored her.
"Dr. Samuel Trent signed Sophie's sealed maternity transfer."
"So?"
"He also signed your birth certificate."
I stared at her.
Margaret's face had gone completely white.
Rachel's next words came quietly.
May you like
"Emily, I don't think Mom ever gave birth to you."
📖 Read why my own birth record was hidden with Sophie’s adoption papers—and what Rachel discovered about Margaret’s first lie decades before Sophie was born in CHAPTER 7. 👇
