“And?”
“She still lives in Chicago. She
refused to discuss your mail over the phone. But I found something in the old office.”
“What?”
“A locked cabinet in the records room. It was listed under your mother’s private correspondence.”Track Pregnancy
Evelyn went still.
Marcus continued, “The cabinet was never transferred when Clara retired. The building manager let me access it.”
“What was inside?”
“Letters.”
My eyes moved to the folder in Evelyn’s hands.
“How many?”
“Seven from Evelyn. Two from a hospital. One from a family court attorney.”
Evelyn’s lips parted.
Marcus looked at her. “There’s also an envelope addressed to Adrian. It was never opened.”
“Who signed it?” I asked.
He turned his phone toward me.
The photograph showed a cream-colored envelope, dust along its edges, my name written in a familiar hand.Find Baby Names
Beneath it, in smaller letters, was a sentence that made the room seem to lose all its warmth.
Victoria Moretti — Do not forward.
Evelyn
gripped the back of a chair.
“My mother,” I whispered.Track Pregnancy
Marcus nodded grimly.
“And Adrian,” Evelyn said, staring at the photograph, “that envelope was sent before the twins were born.”
I looked at her.
“What was inside?”
She shook her head slowly.
“I don’t know.”
Marcus’s phone buzzed again.
He read the new message, and his expression changed.
“What now?” I asked.
He looked from me to Evelyn.
“The envelope was opened tonight.”
“By whom?”
Marcus’s voice lowered.
“Your mother.”
PART 3
The words settled over the kitchen like a sudden drop in temperature.
“Your mother,” Evelyn repeated.Track Pregnancy
Marcus lowered the phone. “I don’t know why she opened it. I only know the building manager saw her enter the records room about twenty minutes ago. Clara Voss was with her.”
“Where are they now?”
“Clara left. Your mother is still inside the building.”
I looked at Evelyn. Her face had
gone pale, but she wasn’t frightened. She looked tired—tired in the way a person looks when an old suspicion has finally been given a name.Find Baby Names
“Did she take the envelope?” she asked.
