When Chanel opens the door anticipating company on her daughter’s fifth birthday, she discovers the one woman who vowed never to come again.
What follows unravels all she thought she knew about her family, her marriage, and the child she loves beyond words…
The frosting was crooked, but Evelyn clapped her hands like it was the nicest thing she’d ever seen. “It’s great, Mommy!” she said, bouncing on her toes. “Can I put the sprinkles on now?”
“Buttercup, only if you swear not to eat half of them first,” I responded, knowing that I would still allow her to do so.”It’s beautiful, Mommy!””Promise,” she exclaimed, beaming broadly.
Tara leaned against the doorway, a roll of tape dangling from her wrist and a banner thrown over her arm. “She’s going to crash from sweets by noon, Chanel. And I’ll be right here to see that messy time.” “I laughed and added, “That’s what birthdays are for.”
Tara leaned against the doorway…
Tara had been with me through everything – from college, through my miscarriages, the waiting list, and the day we met Evelyn. She wasn’t simply my dearest friend; she was Evelyn’s honorary aunt. She lived three streets over and never knocked when she came over.
She hung the sign as Norton, my husband, helped Evelyn arrange her stuffed animals. “You’re going to give your speech first,” she told her elephant. “Then Bear-Bear, then Duck.”
Tara had been beside me through everything. “Don’t forget Bunny,” my hubby warned. Evelyn grinned and wrinkled her nose as he tousled her curls.Evelyn tucked the plush against her side and whispered, “Bunny is shy.”
I felt a tug behind my ribs as I watched them from the kitchen; it’s the kind of tug you get only when you understand the price of feeling protected.Don’t forget Bunny.”
But it hadn’t always been this full; not in our house, and especially not in our hearts.
This time, five years ago, I was in a hospital bed for the third time in two years, bleeding into quiet while Norton held my hand and told me it was good to quit trying. “Chanel, we don’t need a baby to be whole. We’ll be alright, but it will take some time for us to get our bearings. I love you just the way you are.”
We wept gently, till the silence solidified. I stopped setting reminders for my cycle. Norton ceased asking about doctor appointments. And we stopped talking about the nursery we’d once painted a soothing blue.
For the third time in the past two years, I was bleeding into silence in a hospital bed.
Then Evelyn arrived.
She was fresh to the system at the age of eighteen months. She simply had a folded note and no medical records.We can’t handle a special-needs baby. Please, find her a better family. Let her be cherished well.”
Her diagnosis was Down syndrome, but what we saw was her smile. It was so gorgeous and so full of life that it cracked something open in us.
She was fresh to the system at the age of eighteen months.She needs us,” Norton had said following our first visit with the sweet girl. “She’s meant for us, Chanel. This child was created only for us.
At the time, I was unaware of how true that was.
We finally had a plan once the paperwork was signed and we took Evelyn to the doctor for a check-up and guidance.
At the time, I was unaware of how true that was.
Norton and I took Evelyn to physical therapy appointments. He helped her practise her grip strength and was there for her at every turn. And we hailed every inch of growth like it was a miracle.
Because for us, it was.
The only person who never welcomed our daughter was Eliza — Norton’s mother.
She came to the house once, when Evelyn was two. A squiggly crayon drawing of a sun with arms was handed to her by our daughter. Eliza didn’t even take it.
Every bit of advancement was lauded as though it were a miracle.”Chanel, you’re making a big mistake,” she remarked as she left.
Since then, we had not seen her.
Because of this, I assumed that Tara’s husband or one of the mothers and young children from Evelyn’s preschool would be arriving early when the doorbell rang that morning. I answered the door, still chuckling at something Evelyn said about Duck giving a speech.
But it wasn’t a neighbour. It was Eliza. “You’re making a big mistake, Chanel.”
My mother-in-law was there, in a blue coat she probably hadn’t worn in years, holding a present bag like she belonged to our household.
At first, I remained silent. She didn’t either.Eliza,” I murmured last, my voice rougher than I thought. “What are you doing here?”
She glanced at me, then squinted.
My mother-in-law stood there… “He hasn’t told you yet, has he? “Norton?””Told me what?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she just strolled through the door like she had every right to. “Eliza — “I started, but she was already past me.”He hasn’t told you yet, has he? Norton?”
I followed her into the living room, my heart hammering. Norton was sitting cross-legged on the rug, helping Evelyn arrange her stuffed animals yet again. When he looked up and saw his mother, I witnessed something drain from his face. “Grandma!” Evelyn murmured, pleased.
Norton remained still.
Tara froze mid-step beside the drink table. I didn’t know if she’d heard Eliza’s comments, but her whole body tightened.
Norton didn’t move. “Mom, “Norton said, standing slowly.”Be quiet,” Eliza urged, and then she turned to me. “You deserve the truth, Chanel. He should’ve told you years ago.” “What are you talking about, Eliza? This day is about Evelyn, so please can we do this another —” “No,” she snapped. “Now is exactly the time for this conversation.”You deserve the truth, Chanel.”
Tara stepped closer to me. Her presence, firm and silent, behind me was soothing. Since I’d first met Eliza, there was simply something about the woman that scared me. In her presence, I was unsure of how to be myself.
Then Eliza spoke, raising her chin as if she wanted everyone in the room to hear.This child is not merely adopted. Evelyn is Norton’s biological daughter.”
My mind didn’t process it all at once. My first thought was that doesn’t make any sense. Then of course it does. So why wouldn’t he tell me?
In her presence, I was unsure of how to be myself.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
Norton lifted Evelyn up, her legs flying as she grabbed around his neck. “I can explain,” he responded immediately. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”
I gave a headshake.No, the grenade was already thrown here by her. You’re going to tell me everything here. Now..”
Tara stood beside me, silent but coiled like a spring. Eliza didn’t move — she merely folded her arms like this was something she’d been rehearsing for.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
Norton moved Evelyn to his hip but remained silent for a moment. He appeared to be attempting to arrange a hundred shattered pieces in his mind.
It was before us, Chanel,” he replied finally. “Prior to our marriage. We’d only been dating a few months when we split for a little period. It wasn’t very long. Just long enough for me to assume it wasn’t going anywhere.”
My mouth clenched, but I didn’t interrupt. I remembered that time well. “Chanel, it was before us.”There was someone else. It wasn’t a romance; it was just one night. I never heard from her again. Then, almost two years later, I got an email from her.”
Norton’s voice broke, making our kid giggle. “She revealed she’d had a baby girl. And she’d tried to keep her, but it was too hard. Evelyn had been born with unique problems, and she stated she’d spent 18 months drowning. Her words. She said it wasn’t fair to shoulder it all alone.”
He gulped hard and stared down at our child. “I never heard from her again.” “She informed me she was handing Evelyn up to the foster system because she couldn’t cope. But she also informed me that it was a chance for me to step in. “You have a wife, a life,” she remarked. Time to carry your half.’ And then she attached all the social service details.”
I felt the floor tip under me. “So you pushed the adoption through?” “I tugged every string I had,” he added, nodding. “I made sure we were next in queue. I told you there was a child who needed us, but I didn’t tell you that she was… mine.”
“”So you made the adoption happen?””Why, Norton?””Because you were still in mourning, Chanel,” he remarked. “You’d recently had our third miscarriage. It was impossible to pass the infant aisle without crying. I thought it would crush you to know that I could have kids…”
“And you believed that I wouldn’t be destroyed by lying?”I thought love would solve things,” he murmured, dropping his voice. “I believed that she would be entirely yours if I gave her to you. Without you, I didn’t think I could raise a child.”Our third miscarriage had just occurred.”
I blinked away the ache in my throat as I gazed at my spouse.I responded, “You could have told me the truth.” “And I would’ve loved her anyway.”
I began pacing slowly. I didn’t know how to react. I was startled and heartbroken, but nothing could erase the fact that I adored that tiny girl with every fibre of my being. “I stopped in front of Norton and said, “So.” “What happened when you found out?
Did you do all of this behind my back? “How certain are you that she belongs to you?”In any case, I would have liked her.I obtained a DNA test,” he stated. “I worked with the social workers, so everything was done appropriately. She’s mine.” “And you never thought to mention who she truly was? “After all these years?”I was terrified, Chanel.”
I blinked away my tears.You allowed me to raise her under the impression that she was brought to us by God’s mercy!”I had a DNA test.He said, “She did come to us.” “And maybe it was by God’s hand… You loved her. You adored her without even knowing —” “That’s not the point.” “It was always the point for me.”
Eliza finally cut in. “I told him to leave it buried. We were already being judged at church. You appear healthy enough to conceive, yet you are unable to do so.
If people found out that my son had an unmarried child, how would they react? and then had to use social services to adopt her?”That’s not the point.” “Tara angrily said, “You had a granddaughter who needed love and you rejected her.” “That’s what they’d say.”
I turned to my mother-in-law. “You didn’t reach back when you saw her reach for you. “You knew about her… and you thought she’d stain you, not because of her condition.”She serves just as a reminder of my son’s error with a woman he has never seen again.
She serves just as a reminder of what humiliation looks like.You didn’t reach back when you saw her reach for you.She’s a youngster, Eliza,” I said. “My gosh. You’re terrible for even suggesting that she’s our child.”
My clothing felt a gentle tug. With her head cocked, Evelyn stood next to her.Why are you upset with Daddy? Evelyn rubbed her eyes and enquired.
I squatted down and drew her into my arms.
There felt a slight tug on my dress. “Because he kept something crucial from me. I whispered into her hair, “But I’m not angry with you.”Did I make a mistake? “I heard my name.”No, sweetheart. You performed everything correctly.
She watched my face for a bit, then turned to Tara. “I’m not furious at you.” “Can I have some cake now?” “Come on, birthday girl,” Tara replied, smiling at her. “I’ll give you the biggest slice.”
With her rabbit securely tucked under one arm, Evelyn grasped her hand and hopped off.”I refuse to remain in an unwelcome place,” Eliza declared.”I’ll give you the largest portion.”Then don’t,” I murmured as I went to open the front door.
She glanced at Norton like she expected him to stop her. He didn’t.
When the door shut, I finally exhaled. “I never wanted to hurt you, my love,” Norton replied, the weight obvious in his shoulders. “It was before we got together again. I promise you.”
When the door shut, I finally exhaled.
I turned away from him and into the kitchen, where Evelyn’s laughter resounded.I muttered, “I wanted a baby more than anything.” “I felt like I had failed when we couldn’t. I didn’t care how Evelyn arrived. I didn’t care where or why…
She made me feel whole again, like I was finally enough.” “I know.” “But I don’t get to be lied to,” I added. “Not by the man who was supposed to hold that truth with me.”She restored my sense of wholeness.”When Evelyn is ready, I’ll let her know,” he assured her.
“But she may never be… ready. We’ll tell her the truth in a way she can understand.” “I know,” I answered honestly. “But whatever happens, you’ll do the right thing. And we’ll go to therapy if we need to. We only need to be prepared that she knows everything she needs. Especially if her… birth mother makes a reappearance.” “I’ll do whatever it takes.” “But she may never be… ready.”
I nodded, but didn’t smile. I had so much rage in me, but more than that, I had so much love for our little baby. And I wasn’t going to blow up my family over a lie that Norton and his mother had kept for years… the decision was mine and mine alone.
I watched Evelyn sleep that night, frosting still streaked in her hair and bunny under her chin.
She would, even though she didn’t know yet. She would still be mine when she did. I didn’t adore her because I had to.
She fulfilled my dream of being a mother, which is why I adored her.
I didn’t adore her out of obligation.
