Seven months after our divorce, I rushed into St. Jude’s Children’s and Women’s Hospital, still angry at my ex-wife, only to learn that she had just given birth to twin boys, and both of them were mine. Before the night was over, a nurse would place a brass key in my hand and tell me to use it before my own family arrived. And what was waiting for me beyond that was even more shocking.

“Yes, I found everything,” I answered gently.

“Was Ms.

Evelyn Shaw inside the quiet room?” she asked.

“Yes, she was waiting for me,” I confirmed.

“And did you get your grandfather’s letter?” she pressed carefully.

I took the folded letter out of my jacket pocket and set it gently on her bedside table.

“Evelyn was completely right about one important thing,” I said softly.

Sylvia looked down at the faded paper.