It was heavier than I expected.
"Lucas, what is this?"
He met my eyes without flinching. "There's one thing Mom never wanted you to find out."
"There's one thing Mom never wanted you to find out."
I felt the floor tilt slightly beneath me.
"What are you talking about?"
"Just open it," he said gently. "But not until you're ready to hear everything. Because once you see what's inside, you're going to understand why Auntie really came here tonight. And why she's been circling us for years."
"Lucas, you're scaring me."
I suddenly wasn't sure I wanted to know the truth anymore.
"Just open it,"
"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner. But I had to wait until I could legally stand next to you in a courtroom if it came to that."
I looked down at the box, then back at my brother.
The little boy I had raised was gone.
