Chapter 5 - William Paid For Rebecca’s Silence
Detective Kim located Rebecca Hayes in Arizona.
She was seventy-one.
She agreed to speak by video.
Ethan almost did not recognize the woman from the few photographs Caleb
once had.
Rebecca began crying when Ethan appeared on screen.
“You look like Sarah.”
Ethan’s throat tightened.
His mother had died when he was twelve.
“What happened at the maternity home?”
Rebecca looked away.
“Your father promised me he’d tell you eventually.”
“He didn’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell me.”
Rebecca explained that she and Sarah met while pregnant.
The maternity home served women with complicated circumstances.
Sarah was married to William but suffered serious health problems.
Rebecca was unmarried and poor.
After both boys were born, Sarah deteriorated.
For several days, Rebecca helped care for Ethan while staff focused on
Sarah.
She fed him.
Held him.
Slept beside his bassinet.
Then Sarah recovered enough to go home.
William offered Rebecca money.
Not to buy Caleb.
Not to switch babies.
Nothing so sensational.
He offered to help her keep Caleb.
Rebecca accepted.
For years, William sent support.
So why did Caleb later enter foster care?
Rebecca’s face changed.
“Because I got sick.”
When Caleb was ten, Rebecca developed a serious addiction after
prescription pain medication.
She lost housing.
Caleb entered care.
William learned what happened and arranged to foster him.
Ethan stared.
“So Dad knew Caleb before he came to us.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Shame.”
“Whose?”
“Mine. His. Everybody’s.”
Rebecca recovered two years later.
She wanted Caleb back.
William opposed reunification.
He believed Caleb was safer with the Carters.
A bitter legal conflict followed.
Caleb was told his mother had abandoned him again.
Rebecca was told Caleb wanted to stay.
Neither was entirely true.
William used money and influence to keep Caleb.
Ethan felt ill.
“He stole Caleb from his mother.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Don’t make it simpler than it was.”
She had relapsed twice.
Missed visits.
Broken promises.
William had legitimate concerns.
But he also manipulated information.
He wanted Caleb to remain part of the family.
He convinced himself that gave him the right to control the outcome.
Then Ethan asked:
“What happened when Caleb was nineteen?”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“He found the letters.”
“What letters?”
May you like
“The ones I sent him.”
William had never delivered them.
