She opened the office door.
I followed her out.
Outside the records room, Caroline carried the sealed file against her chest.
“Coffee?”
“I need something stronger than coffee.”
She gave me a small smile.
“Coffee is what I can get you before ten.”
At 10:15 we sat near the hospital window with two paper cups between us. Mine cost 3 dollars and 25 cents.
Caroline stirred hers once and stopped.
“You have not asked about the envelope.”
“What envelope?”
“The one Hannah left.”
She slid a photocopy across the table.
I put my cup down.
At the bottom of the page was Hannah’s signature.
Six months earlier.
I read the date twice.
“What did she sign?”
“A legal instruction.”
“About what?”
“Her property. Her records. And who could act if she could not.”
I looked at Hannah’s name.
“Why did you keep this from me?”
“Because she told me not to give it to you until you came home.”
