“Caleb says no.”
“You don’t believe him.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
There was a knock at Daniel’s front door.
Three sharp taps.
Daniel froze.
“Someone’s here.”
“Don’t open it.”
He checked the security camera.
Not Luke.
A woman stood outside.
Late fifties.
Red hair streaked with gray.
He knew her.
At least from old photographs.
Carol Mercer.
Luke and Caleb’s mother.
Sophie’s biological grandmother.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You’re kidding.”
“What?”
“Carol Mercer is on my porch.”
Rebecca swore.
“Do not open the door.”
“She’s holding something.”
“What?”
“A box.”
“Daniel.”
“I heard you.”
Carol rang the bell.
Sophie came into the hallway wearing pajamas.
“Who is it?”
Daniel stepped in front of the monitor.
“Nobody you need to worry about.”
She peeked around him.
“Who’s that?”
Daniel could not hide it now.
“That’s Luke’s mom.”
“My grandma?”
The word sounded strange.
Technically yes.
Emotionally, maybe not.
Carol looked directly at the door camera.
“Daniel.”
He did not answer.
“I know you can hear me.”
Sophie stared at the screen.
Carol continued.
“I’m not here to take her.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“I need you to see something.”
Rebecca was still on the phone.
“Do not open it.”
Carol placed the box on the porch.
“I found this after Luke left my house.”
Then she stepped backward.
“I think Hannah hid it there.”
Daniel stopped.
Rebecca said, “Daniel?”
He watched Carol.
She was crying.
“I should’ve given it to you years ago.”
Daniel’s heart began pounding.
Carol walked to her car.
Got inside.
Drove away.
The box remained.
Rebecca said, “Wait for officers.”
Daniel agreed.
Ten minutes later Rebecca arrived with another patrol officer.
They inspected the package.
No danger.
A cardboard archive box sealed with old packing tape.
Daniel carried it to the dining table.
Sophie sat across from him.
Rebecca stood nearby.
Inside were notebooks.
Photographs.
Court records.
A small digital voice recorder.
And six letters.
Every letter addressed to Carol Mercer.
All written by Hannah.
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
“Why would Carol have these?”
Rebecca did not know.
The first letter was dated shortly after Sophie’s birth.