Chapter 2
A broken stem rolled against Priscilla's shoe.
Theo pulled his knee away from the glass.
Vivienne kept the bird closed in her hand.
"Someone taught him that story," Priscilla said.
The security officers reached the wheelchair.
Priscilla stepped aside to let them through.
"Take him somewhere else."
One officer bent toward Theo.
"Come with me, buddy."
Theo gathered the broken cord into his fist.
He started to get up.
"Wait," Vivienne said.
The officer stopped.
Priscilla leaned over her sister's chair.
"He knew your name before he came in."
Her voice softened for the watching tables.
"Someone sent him."
The woman in emerald lowered her phone.
A man nearby nodded once.
Theo stood with his shoulders tucked inside his coat.
Vivienne looked up at him.
"Did somebody send you?"
"Mama told me to find you."
"How did you know I'd be here?"
"The hospital had your picture on a poster."
He glanced toward the service doors.
"Ray said it was the right place."
Priscilla pointed toward the corridor.
"He needs a social worker, not an audience."
"Then we'll get him one," Vivienne said.
"But he isn't leaving with a theft accusation."
The officer straightened.
"Nobody's under arrest, ma'am."
Vivienne opened her hand again.
A short, crooked line crossed the bird's wing.
"I scratched that with a sewing needle."
Priscilla's mouth tightened.
"I gave it to my daughter when she left."
Vivienne held it beside the empty clasp.
The small fastening matched.
"It could've been sold," Priscilla said.
Theo shook his head.
"Mama wouldn't sell that."
He touched his bare collar.
"She sold her earrings."
Vivienne lowered the charm into her lap.
For a moment, she watched his fingers.
"What did your mama call you?"
"Theodore Ramsey when I was in trouble."
A few people shifted behind Priscilla.
"Theo the rest of the time."
"Was Ramsey her name, too?"
He nodded.
"She said you knew her before that."
Vivienne swallowed.
"Did she tell you who I was?"
"My grandma."
His eyes stayed on her bracelet.
"But I wasn't supposed to make you take me."
Priscilla reached for the wheelchair handles.
"We're done here."
Vivienne set her free hand over the brake.
"Take your hands off my chair."
Priscilla didn't move.
An older man stepped forward from a nearby table.
"Priscilla."
She released the handles.
Vivienne turned toward him.
"Martin, I need you as my lawyer tonight."
He pulled a chair beside hers.
"All right."
"Stay while he tells me."
Priscilla looked past him toward the donors.
"This is private family business."
"It became public when you called him a thief."
Martin's voice stayed level.
Ray brought Theo a chair.
The security officer moved it clear of the glass.
Theo sat on the front edge.
Vivienne waited until his feet stopped swinging.
"Did your mama ever try to find me?"
"She wrote."
"Recently?"
"Lots of times."
Theo spread his hands a few inches apart.
"She kept the ones that came back."
Vivienne pressed the charm against her palm.
"What did the envelopes say?"
"Return to sender."
Priscilla glanced toward the service doors.
"Those letters never reached the house."
Vivienne turned toward her.
"How do you know which house he means?"
Priscilla adjusted her diamond brooch.
"I meant your house."
Theo looked between them.
"Mama sent the whole stack to Aunt Pris."
Priscilla's hand stopped at her throat.
"When?" Martin asked.
"September."
"Do you remember where?"
"Her work."
Theo rubbed one thumb over the broken cord.
"I helped tape the box."
Vivienne leaned closer.
"Why did she send them?"
"She said somebody needed to see she'd tried."
Martin took out his phone.
"Where are your household records kept, Vivienne?"
"In the study at my house."
He looked at Priscilla.
"The same files you use for her affairs?"
Priscilla folded her arms.
"You can't search my things."
"My study," Vivienne said.
"My correspondence."
She gave Martin the household manager's name.
Then she spoke into his phone herself.
"Bring any packet from Addie Ramsey."
Her voice broke on the surname.
"And the notice about her death."
Priscilla moved closer.
"You'll upset yourself for nothing."
Vivienne handed the phone back.
"When did your mother leave home, Theo?"
"Before I was born."
"She was nineteen," Vivienne said.
"That was twenty years ago."
She smoothed the lace at her wrist.
"Eleven years ago, I was told she died abroad."
Theo frowned.
"She took me to school last year."
Nobody at the nearest tables moved.
Vivienne looked at her sister's empty hands.
"Someone answered her letters."
Priscilla said nothing.
"Someone sent them back."
Martin put his phone away.
"Someone gave me a death notice."
Theo leaned toward Ray.
"Did I do something bad?"
"No," Ray said.
"You brought back what you came to return."
Vivienne lifted her head.
"You told me my daughter was dead, Priscilla, and this child wasn't even born yet."