Chapter 2: The Hidden Compartment
Chapter 2: The Hidden Compartment
Evelyn looked down at the silver locket resting in her hand.
"It's been open for years," she whispered.
Amelia took one small step closer.
"No."
She pointed with her tiny finger.
"The other part."
A puzzled silence settled over the hallway.
Thomas frowned.
"The other part?"
Amelia nodded with complete certainty.
"She said there's another little door."
Evelyn almost smiled.
"There isn't."
But as she turned the locket over, something caught the light.
Along the engraved edge was a barely visible groove she had never noticed before.
Her father had always repaired broken jewelry himself.
After the clasp snapped years ago, he'd insisted on fixing it alone.
With trembling fingers, Evelyn pressed against the tiny groove.
Click.
A hidden panel sprang open.
Everyone gasped.
Inside wasn't another photograph.
It was a tightly folded piece of yellowed paper no larger than a postage stamp.
Evelyn carefully unfolded it.
The handwriting stopped her breathing.
It was her mother's.
"If you found this, then someone finally showed you where to look."
Tears blurred the words.
Thomas wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
She continued reading.
"Evelyn, if this letter reaches you, it means I wasn't able to tell you everything myself. There is a cedar box in the attic of our old lake house. It contains the truth about our family, and why I asked your father to hide it until you were ready."
At the bottom was one final sentence.
"Love is stronger than fear. Always choose love."
Evelyn looked at Amelia.
"How did you know?"
May you like
The little girl simply shrugged.
"The nice lady said you'd understand."
