Major Hannah Nolan Comes Home to Chesapeake and Discovers Nineteen Thousand Dollars Gone

“The box your mother-in-law dropped off in June.” Evelyn wiped down the counter without turning around.

“At the bottom.

I figured that thing was long gone.”

I turned the rattle over.

Lily Adele Nolan, engraved small on the handle beneath a film of tarnish.

“Was mine,” Lily said, and gave it a shake for me.

“Mama.” She put it down beside her plate.

“Daddy put brown envelopes in the closet.”