They received documents showing that the birth mother had voluntarily relinquished her rights.
The papers appeared to be properly signed.
They had no reason to suspect fraud.
Vanessa grew up loved.
She had birthday parties, music lessons, and summer trips to the lake.
Her mother taught elementary school.
Her father repaired antique furniture.
They never pretended she wasn’t adopted.
But her mother always avoided discussing the circumstances surrounding her birth.
When Vanessa turned fourteen, she began asking questions.
Lillian said the adoption had been complicated.
She promised to explain when Vanessa was older.
Then illness intervened.
Years passed.
After Lillian died, Thomas gave Vanessa the sealed papers.
Among them was a letter from an adoption intermediary.
It contained my name.
Emily Rose Carter.
Vanessa searched for me.
She found old newspaper photographs from charity events.
Then she found Mark.
She approached him eight months before the lottery drawing.
At first, he denied knowing anything about an adoption.
