Margaret continued.
“Your records were changed before you crossed state lines.”
Daniel felt sick.
“How did nobody catch this?”
Margaret looked at him.
“Because every office trusted the previous office.”
The answer stayed with him.
Again.
Paperwork.
A lie gained authority simply because it arrived already stamped.
Judge Garner was eighty-one and living in assisted care.
Still mentally sharp.
Rachel advised against confronting him privately.
Daniel wanted public answers.
Evelyn wanted facts first.
Sophie flew home before the interview.
She met Evelyn at Daniel’s house.
The moment felt stranger than any television reunion.
Sophie stood in the living room holding a backpack.
Nineteen.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Evelyn stood near the fireplace.
Blonde.
Elegant.
Nervous.
Daniel watched both.
Sophie spoke first.
“So.”
Evelyn smiled weakly.
“So.”
“You’re my sister.”
“Apparently.”
Sophie nodded.
“You’re fourteen years older.”
“Yes.”
“You’re rich.”
Daniel sighed.
“Sophie.”
“What? We’re establishing facts.”
Evelyn laughed.
Daniel stared.
Maddy used to laugh like that.
Sophie smiled.
“Good. You laugh.”
“That is generally how humans work.”
“Dad said you’re intimidating.”
“I said no such thing.”
Sophie ignored him.
“I Googled you.”
Evelyn looked alarmed.
“That rarely ends well.”
“You fired three executives in one year.”
“They committed fraud.”
Sophie nodded approvingly.
“Excellent.”
Daniel watched them.
Something inside him relaxed.
Sophie stepped forward.
Then stopped.
“Do we hug?”
Evelyn answered, “Only if you want.”
Sophie shrugged.
“Seems efficient.”
She hugged her.
Evelyn froze.
Then held her tightly.
Daniel looked away because he could not survive watching directly.
That night the three of them went to Marlowe’s.
Friday.
6:15.
Daniel ordered three meals.
Then stopped.
“No.”
Megan looked confused.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“What do you want?”
She stared.
The second plate had always been chosen for a five-year-old.
Grilled chicken.
Mashed potatoes.
Green beans.
But Maddy was thirty-three.
She had preferences.
A whole life.
Evelyn looked at the menu.
“Cheeseburger.”
Daniel smiled.
“Fries?”
“Yes.”
“Pickles?”
“No.”
Daniel pretended outrage.
“You loved pickles.”
“At five.”
“Terrible development.”
Evelyn laughed.