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Her voice cracked into a shout.
“You cannot take her home until somebody checks that mark. Please. Trust me.”
“What does a birthmark have to do with anything?”
Carol looked at Darren.
Then covered her mouth.
“Because I’ve seen it before.”
“I should have told you years ago.”
Darren’s expression changed.
“Where?”
“I should have told you years ago.”
“Told me what?”
She looked at me first, almost apologizing before she spoke.
Then she said, “Darren, I didn’t give birth to you.”
“You were born to someone else.”
Silence.
Darren stared at her.
“What?”
“You were born to someone else.”
“Mom, stop.”
“I’m not confused.”
“You came to us when you were an infant.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Darren.”
“You’re upset. Sit down.”
She grabbed his wrist.
“You came to us when you were an infant.”
He pulled his arm free.
“How long were you planning to keep this from me?”
“No.”
“You’re saying I’m adopted?”
“It began as a private arrangement. Your father and I completed the legal adoption afterward.”
Darren stepped away from her.
“How long were you planning to keep this from me?”
“I always meant to tell you.”
“So when exactly was old enough?”
“When?”
“When you were old enough.”
“I’m thirty-four.”
“I know.”
“So when exactly would I have been enough?”
She had no answer.
“The woman who gave birth to Darren had the same mark.”
“What does any of this have to do with Lily’s arm?”
Carol wiped her face.
“The woman who gave birth to Darren had the same mark.”
Darren stared at her.
“What woman?”
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