The name Carter immediately stirred an old memory. Shortly before Robert died, a mysterious woman named Evelyn Carter had visited him. Margaret had never understood who she was or why Robert seemed so concerned about keeping their conversations private. Now, twelve years later, Evelyn’s name had unexpectedly appeared again—this time inside Margaret’s medical history.

That was when Margaret’s youngest son, Daniel, admitted he had been hiding something. Twelve years earlier, shortly after his father’s death, Daniel had discovered a secret safe. Inside were bank records, hotel receipts, financial documents, and letters involving Evelyn Carter. Daniel had assumed the obvious: his father had been having an affair. Afraid of destroying his mother’s memories of Robert while she was grieving, he had hidden everything and remained silent. Margaret listened in disbelief. Suddenly she remembered the sealed envelope still sitting untouched beside her bed. Robert had told her to open it if something happened that she couldn’t explain. For the first time in twelve years, Margaret knew exactly what he had meant.