Just two women and one child in a rented car, traveling toward a place we had spent most of our lives avoiding.

PART 14

The estate hearing took place in a county courthouse on a cold Wednesday.

Evelyn did not ask me to attend, but she looked relieved when I told her I wanted to come.

Poppy stayed with Mrs.

Alvarez and went to school as usual.

Warren Mercer was a tall, well-dressed man with a controlled smile.

He looked past me when Spencer introduced us, as though I were an unfortunate piece of furniture his stepmother had acquired.