Chapter 10: The Lawyer’s Office
The lawyer’s office was downtown, on the third floor of a narrow brick building between a bakery and a pharmacy.
Grace wore her black dress again because she had nothing else that felt appropriate. Noah wore Aaron’s baseball cap.
Mr. Daniel Reeves, the lawyer, stood when they entered.
“Mrs. Walker,” he said gently. “Captain Walker spoke of you often.”
Grace sat slowly.
“You knew my husband?”
“For years. He came to me before each deployment to make sure everything was updated.”
Grace looked down at her hands.
“He never told me.”
“He said you would tell him not to worry so much.”
Despite everything, Grace almost smiled.
“That sounds like him.”
Mr. Reeves opened a folder.
“Your husband arranged survivor benefits, insurance paperwork, and a protection plan for the house. The mortgage will be brought current. You and Noah will not lose your home.”
Grace stared at him.
The words did not make sense at first.
Not lose your home.
She covered her mouth.
Noah looked up. “We can stay?”
Mr. Reeves smiled.
“Yes, young man. You can stay.”
Grace began to cry again, but this time the tears were different.
Relief hurt too, but it did not crush her the same way.
Then Mr. Reeves opened another folder.
“There is also the matter of Lily.”
Grace straightened.
“You know about her?”
“I know Captain Walker never stopped searching. Sergeant Miller called this morning. They found a possible match.”
Noah gripped the badge.
“Where is she?”
Mr. Reeves looked at Grace.
“In a foster placement two towns over.”
Grace’s heart beat faster.
May you like
Aaron’s final secret was no longer just a memory.
It was a child.
