The will was straightforward. Dad wanted the house sold and the proceeds divided equally between us. Everything else was also to be split equally. Callum leaned back with his arms folded, staring toward the window as though he wanted the meeting to end. Then Mrs. Vanterpool removed her glasses and said, “Before you leave, your father left a second instrument, dated the ninth of August. He specifically requested that I deal with it here, with both of you present.”

Callum immediately sat forward. “A second what?” She explained that it was a codicil, accompanied by a recording. The date was six weeks and two days before Dad died. According to her records, Arthur had arrived at her office alone that morning, taking the bus and staying for two hours and ten minutes. Nobody in our family knew about the visit. Mrs. Vanterpool explained that Dad had insisted neither of us be told beforehand. Then she turned her monitor toward our chairs. My father appeared on the screen, wearing his brown jacket and sitting in the very room where we were gathered. She pressed play. The recording lasted nine minutes and four seconds.