Chapter 6 - The Brother Cedric Could Have Found
The photograph came with no explanation, only a return address that led to Grace Moretti's attorney. Elena contacted the attorney and arranged a meeting without disclosing our location to anyone else.
Grace was in her late sixties. She sat across from us, holding a faded envelope.
“I thought I was saving a little boy,” she said.
“Where is he?”
“Safe. An adult now. He knows a different name.”
I pressed my hands together to keep them from shaking.
“Does he know about me?”
Grace lowered her eyes.
“No.”
She explained that a frightened colleague had brought Nico to her after the fire. He had suffered smoke exposure and believed his sister had died. Threats from people connected to Aldo Spedaro convinced Grace to keep his identity private. She eventually became his legal guardian under a new name, and the records were now under review.
For years, she had believed that revealing the truth would expose him to danger. Later, she had become ashamed of how long she'd waited.
“Why didn't you call me when he grew older?” I asked.
“I was afraid he'd hate me for lying.”
“You let me bury my brother.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I know.”
She offered no excuse that could make those years less painful.
Grace told us Nico's new name was Gabriel Moretti. He was twenty-four and restored historic houses for a living. He had a close group of friends and an independent life.
I was desperate to see him, but Elena reminded me that he deserved preparation, not an ambush.
Grace agreed to tell him who I was with professional support available.
As we left, her attorney handed me a copy of a letter written by Nico when he was ten.
May you like
Dear Anna, if heaven has mailboxes, please write me back.
I had to sit down before I could finish reading it.
