I told him he could start by telling me everything he had omitted—not the most comfortable version, not the pieces he thought I’d accept.

He sat down.

For the first time in twenty years, he did not ask me to trust him before offering the truth.

PART 8

We met Violet and her attorney, Lena Foster, at the storage facility the following morning.

The box was cedar, scuffed along its corners.

Inside were envelopes tied with ribbon, a child’s hospital bracelet, a photograph of Rose standing beside a little girl in the garden, and receipts from old searches.

Lena explained that she could not promise the contents established anyone’s parentage.