Chapter 053

The box you carried in from the attic is missing, Mike. I asked as I entered the living room and wiped my hands on a dishrag.

His brow furrowed, he hardly looked up from his phone. "Which box?"

"The one with the old documents and other items." Mia may have been playing close to it earlier.

Distractedly, he continued, "It's in the study."

I sighed and shook my head at his unwavering concentration. He wasn't talking about what was bothering him. Once more.

I discovered the box crammed beneath the desk in the study. It appeared to have been neglected for years, since it was dusty and dilapidated. Pulling it toward me, I sat on the floor cross-legged. Notebooks, papers, and old photo albums were jammed in, in no particular sequence.

I looked at one leather-bound diary. Its cover smelled faintly like lavender and was smooth yet worn. I opened it out of sheer curiosity and turned to the first page.

The handwriting was tasteful, thoughtful, and instantly identifiable. Kaila's.

My pulse quick