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Theo stomps down the stairs and I quickly wipe away my tears before grabbing my coffee mug and raising it to my lips.
“Please tell me I’m not dreaming the smell of that coffee.”
I laugh. “You’re not. Did you sleep okay last night?”
He ambles over to the cupboard and grabs a mug. “Not really. I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn shoebox we found.”
“I know,” I answer with a sigh. “I couldn’t either.”
We spent the rest of the evening reading through some of the letters in the box and trying to figure out who this mystery person in our mother’s life was. Honestly, I think we’re both more confused now than we were before we found that box. Did we even know our mother at all?
“Do you think this “M” guy is our dad?”
Theo sighs as he leans back against the counter and raises his cup to his lips. After he takes a sip, he runs his hand over his short hair.
“Anything is possible, T. But who says “M” is a man?”
My mouth pops open and I stare at him. “You think Mom was gay?”
He shrugs again. “Why not?”
“But she had us,” I point out.
“Like I said, anything is possible.”
Before I can say anything else, the doorbell rings and I glance over my shoulder, seeing a figure through the small windows at the top of the door.
“You expecting someone?” Theo asks and I shake my head.
“No, are you?”
My brother changes before my eyes, straightening his shoulders and setting his cup of coffee down on the counter. It’s a look I know all too well – the same one I get anytime someone shows up at my apartment unannounced. Theo reaches into the hidden compartment next to the sink and pulls out Mom’s 1911. He puts his finger to his lips, instructing me to be quiet before he starts creeping toward the door. Rolling my eyes, I circle around the other side of the kitchen and step into the living room as he opens the door.
“Can I help you?” he asks, his voice gruff and to the point.
“Yes, sir. I’m looking for Mr. Theodore Carter and Miss Tatum Carter.”
Theo glances over at me with a raised brow before turning back to the man at the door. “And you are?”
“I’m Aaron Wiley, your mother’s attorney.” Mr. Wiley holds his hand out but Theo ignores it as he turns to me with wide eyes and sets the pistol down on the table next to the door. When he doesn’t move or even look at Mr. Wiley again, I step forward, examining the tall, wiry man.
“You’ll have to forgive us, Mr. Wiley. This week has been a bit of a whirlwind and we weren’t aware that our mother had a lawyer.”
He holds up a finger, nodding his head. “Ah, yes. Your mother did say that would be the case. Mind if I come in so we can talk?”
“Sure.”
As Mr. Wiley steps inside, Theo regains some of his composure and grabs the gun off of the table, tucking it into his waist. He meets my gaze and I roll my eyes but his only response is a stern look meant to shut me up. Not that it’s ever worked.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee, Mr. Wiley?” I ask as he sets his black leather briefcase on the dining room table. He nods.
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
As I retreat into the kitchen, I can feel Theo behind me and I glance over my shoulder, meeting his intense stare.
“Before you ask, I don’t have a clue what he’s here about,” I whisper.
He nods. “I know but why did Mom have a lawyer?”
