“You offered him money to disappear from my life!”
She began sobbing harder.
But I didn’t comfort her.
Not this time.
Then something occurred to me.
“Wait. What photograph were you talking about?”
Ethan slowly stood.
“There’s something else I haven’t told you.”
My mother answered before he could continue.
“It’s the old house, Olivia.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The photograph Ethan sent me. It’s our house.”
I turned toward my husband.
He reached into his pocket.
When he opened his hand, a small silver key rested on his palm.
A faded blue ribbon was tied around it.
I stared at the key.
“Ethan?”
He looked nervous again.
“I bought it eighteen months ago.”
“Bought what?”
He took my hand and placed the key in my palm.
“Your childhood home.”
I stopped breathing for a moment.
“The house we lost?”
He nodded.
“The owners were preparing to move. I contacted them, made an offer, and purchased it.”
