Together with Chloe, who brought fresh coffees, we spent nearly two full hours meticulously sifting through old files, invoices, tax returns, and personal correspondence dating back decades.

Finally, Chloe gasped as she pulled a yellowed paper receipt from a legal file.

“Look at this receipt right here.”

Samantha took the frail paper from her hands and examined it closely, her eyes widening in surprise.

The receipt was dated twenty-six years ago, long before I had ever met Gavin, and long before my parents had passed away.

Printed clearly at the top was the business name: THORNTON AND MONTGOMERY RESTORATION SERVICES.

I stared at the page as Samantha pointed to the two distinct signatures written at the bottom.