“Your Husband Is Amazing,” the Nurse Told My Boss—She Looked at Me and Said, “I Know.”
Chapter 3
Claire drove home in silence.
Ethan had told her everything about his childhood.
His parents.
His father’s alcoholism.
His mother’s death.
His college years.
His first job.
His grandparents.
There had never been a sister.
Never.
She checked every old photograph.
Nothing.
She checked the family records she had access to.
Nothing.
Then she found a name she didn’t recognize on an old insurance document.
Emily Morgan.
Claire stared at it.
The surname was Ethan’s.
She waited until Ethan came home.
When he walked through the door, he immediately knew something was wrong.
“Claire?”
“Who is Emily?”
He stopped.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Ethan closed the door.
“You went to the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You said there was nothing.”
“I said it was complicated.”
“You said there was no one else.”
“There isn’t.”
“Then who is Emily?”
Ethan sat down.
Claire remained standing.
“She’s my sister.”
“You don’t have a sister.”
“I do.”
“Why have I never heard of her?”
Ethan looked at his hands.
“Because my family erased her.”
Claire’s anger disappeared.
“What?”
He swallowed.
“My father was a violent man.”
“I know.”
“You know some of it.”
“Apparently not enough.”
Ethan looked toward the window.
“When I was fourteen, my sister was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.”
Claire said nothing.
“She needed constant care.”
“What happened?”
“My father didn’t want people knowing.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed illness was weakness.”
Claire felt sick.
“He sent her away.”
“Where?”
“A private facility in Massachusetts.”
“You were fourteen.”
“I couldn’t stop him.”
“Did your mother know?”
“She tried.”
“What happened to her?”
Ethan’s eyes became wet.
“She died two years later.”
Claire sat across from him.
“And Emily?”
“She survived.”
“All these years?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because my father made me promise.”
“He’s dead.”
“I know.”
“Then why keep the secret?”
Ethan’s voice broke.
“Because I was ashamed.”
Claire stared.
“You had nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I abandoned her.”
“You were fourteen.”
“I could have found her sooner.”
“You were a child.”
“I was her brother.”
Claire moved closer.
“What does this have to do with the nurse saying you’re amazing?”
Ethan looked down.
“I’ve been visiting Emily for nine years.”
Claire’s eyes widened.
“Nine?”
“Since before we married.”
“Where?”
“That facility.”
“How often?”
“Every week.”
Claire felt tears forming.
“Every week?”
“Almost.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you’d see her as a burden.”
Claire recoiled.
“Do you really think that’s who I am?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because everyone leaves eventually.”
Claire stared at him.
“Everyone?”
Ethan nodded.
“My father left emotionally.”
“My mother died.”
“Friends stopped visiting Emily.”
“I couldn’t become another person who disappeared.”
Claire reached for his hand.
“Where is she now?”
Ethan looked at her.
“At St. Vincent.”
“Why?”
“She’s getting worse.”
Claire’s heart sank.
“What does she need?”
Ethan whispered:
“A transplant.”
