"She took it from his nightstand two days ago. She was bringing it to you."
"She stole it."
"Yes."
"Why not ask him?"
"He cut Claire off nine years ago."
"He’d never agree. He won’t even say Claire’s name."
"And she lost it in a candy aisle."
"She can explain that."
"How did you find us?"
"We’d been trying to find Claire for years. Three months ago, an investigator found a guardianship record naming you and Ellie. That’s when we learned she’d died."
This whole story seemed unreal to me.
"You didn’t know your sister was dead?"
"No." His voice cracked. "We should’ve tried harder."
"It’s been three years."
"I know. We sent two letters through a law firm."
I thought of my kitchen drawer full of unopened envelopes.
"What do you want?"
"It’s been three years."
"My father is dying. The doctors give him weeks."
