She threaded a long iron chain through the door handles and locked it. Every last shred of hope drained out of me.
Then Aunt Grace burst in with my cousin. "Vivian! What have you done with Irene?"
My mother's smile barely concealed her glee. "What could I possibly have done? The girl couldn't wait to consummate her marriage with Joel."
"Grace, since you're here, there's something I should tell you. We got our babies mixed up all those years ago. Irene is actually your biological daughter."
Grace pulled out a sheet of paper, her voice urgent. "Vivian, look at this paternity test. Irene is your daughter!"
