Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN NAMED CLAIREMichael spent the entire night searching.
Margaret refused to speak.
Emily sat beside him.
She did not know what to say.
Their marriage had already been damaged by fourteen months of silence.
Now they were discovering that Michael's entire childhood might have been built on another lie.
At three in the morning, Michael found an old photograph.
His father was standing beside a young woman.
The woman was pregnant.
On the back of the photograph was one name.
Claire.
Michael searched the internet.
After hours, he found a possible match.
Claire Morgan.
She lived in another state.
Michael called the number.
An elderly woman answered.
“Hello?”
Michael froze.
“Is this Claire Morgan?”
A long silence followed.
“Who is asking?”
“My name is Michael.”
The silence became heavier.
Then the woman whispered:
“Michael?”
His heart stopped.
“You know me?”
Claire began crying.
“Your father said you would never find me.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Why?”
“Because your mother made sure you wouldn't.”
The next morning, Michael drove to Claire's home.
Emily went with him.
Margaret tried to stop them.
“You have no idea what kind of woman she is.”
Michael looked at his mother.
“For twenty-five years, you told me what to think.”
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He picked up his keys.
“I'm done listening.”
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