“Why didn't she come again?”
“I don't know.”
Sophie frowned.
“Why didn't Grandpa tell us?”
Emma took a slow breath.
“He believed he was protecting us. But in his letter, he admitted that he should have given us the opportunity to decide for ourselves.”
Sophie looked down.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Sophie asked another question.
“Did those people really offer Grandpa money to make everything disappear?”
“That's what he wrote.”
“And he said no?”
“Yes.”
Sophie smiled faintly.
“That sounds like Grandpa.”
Emma felt tears sting her eyes.
“Yes. It does.”
Sophie carefully placed the photograph on the table.
“Do you want to meet Helena?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Are you scared?”
“A little.”
Sophie nodded.
“I think I would be, too.”
Emma reached for her daughter's hand.
“I want you to understand something. Learning about these people doesn't mean you owe them anything. You don't have to meet anyone simply because you're related.”
