Chapter 2 - Sarah Recognizes Her Mother Immediately
Sarah held the photograph with both hands.
The woman in the image was unmistakable.
Her mother, Evelyn Carter.
Young.
Smiling.
Standing beside a Christmas tree.
And holding the same music box.
Sarah turned the photograph over again.
Written in faded blue ink were the words:
Evelyn Carter — Winter House, 1989.
Victoria stepped forward.
“That proves nothing.”
Sarah looked at her.
“My mother owned this.”
Richard shook his head.
“No. That box has been in my family for decades.”
An elderly guest near the auction table spoke up.
“Not exactly.”
Everyone turned.
His name was Henry Walsh.
He had been the family’s estate appraiser for more than thirty years.
Henry stared at the music box.
“I saw that piece once before.”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“When?”
“At Margaret Vale’s estate inventory.”
Sarah froze.
Margaret Vale was Victoria’s mother.
Henry looked at Sarah.
“And it wasn’t listed as a Vale family heirloom.”
Victoria snapped:
“You’re remembering wrong.”
Henry shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
Then he pointed to the broken compartment.
“There was supposed to be something else inside.”
