She pulled a small, aged photograph from the bottom of the archive box.

The picture showed Aunt Madeline standing side-by-side with a woman I did not recognize at all.

They both appeared much younger in the photo, perhaps in their early forties, posing together right in front of the Maple Avenue house.

On the back of the photograph, four words were written in Aunt Madeline’s neat handwriting: For Claire, when she is ready.

“Who is this woman standing beside my aunt?” I asked, studying the unfamiliar face.