“One baby was weak,” she whispered finally. “The doctors said he might not survive. You were sedated. I thought I was protecting you.”
“Protecting me?” Danielle’s voice trembled. “By giving my son away?”
“There was a hospital custodian,” Margaret said. “She had just lost her own baby. The staff suggested… arrangements. It all happened quickly.”
“You stole my child.”
“I saved you from grief.”
Danielle left without another word.
After days of searching, she found Ramona Lewis, the woman Adrian had mentioned. Ramona lived in a modest house behind the flea market.
When Danielle introduced herself as Ethan’s mother, Ramona’s eyes filled with understanding.
“You’re his biological mother,” she said quietly.
“You knew?”
“I suspected. But I loved him. I couldn’t give him back without knowing he’d be safe.”
Adrian came home from school while Danielle was there. He froze in the doorway.
“You came back,” he said simply.
Danielle knelt.
“Can I hug you?”
He hesitated — then stepped forward.
It wasn’t easy after that.