Caroline reached her hand into the backseat.

“Give it to me,” Caroline said.

Rebecca hesitated for a fraction of a second, then placed the heavy, thick paper into Caroline’s hand.

The red wax seal was old and slightly chipped at the edges, but the crest stamped into it was still visible.

“We need to go home,” Caroline said, looking down at the envelope in her lap.

“To Richmond?” I asked.

“Yes,” Caroline said. “I want to open this in our living room.”

The drive back to Richmond took over an hour through the heavy evening traffic and the relentless Virginia rain.

No one spoke.

Rebecca remained in the backseat, staring out the wet window at the passing highway lights.

Caroline held the envelope tightly against her knee, her fingers tracing the rough edges of the paper.

When we finally pulled into our driveway, the house was dark and quiet.

We walked inside, the warm air of the hallway smelling of old wood and the lavender soap I used.

I turned on the brass lamp on the side table, casting a warm amber glow over the living room.