Pris grinned. “You and Dev can fight over it, or we can donate it. I certainly don’t need another quilt in my life.”

Dev lost interest and turned back to the second bureau. “Not sure why Mom needed a trunk to store bedding. This place has a huge linen closet that’s only half full.”

“Maybe she liked the beauty of it,” Bailey murmured. “I’m always attracted to those pretty hatboxes, but I’ve never owned a hat in my life. It’s kind of romantic.”

Dev gave a snort. “Mom was the least romantic person I’ve ever known.”

“Why would you say that?” Bailey asked. “She probably had dreams and fantasies like everyone else.”

“I agree with Dev on this one,” Pris said, her voice a bit brisk. “Mom was practical. She preferred stability and smart decisions over passion. She wasn’t the type to date a bad boy or ditch a logical plan over an impulse.”

“Well, I disagree,” Bailey said.

“What’s new?” Dev muttered. She practically felt Bailey’s glare, so she concentrated on her task. A rustling rose in the air, along with her sister’s voice.

“Um, guys. I found something.”

Dev turned, expecting to see more quilts, but Bailey was holding a fat manila envelope in her hands. “It’s probably copies of important financials or old pictures,” Dev said, peering over her sister’s shoulder.

Bailey opened the clasp and pulled out a stack of letters tied with a purple ribbon. Dev watched as her sister tugged on the ribbon and flipped slowly through the papers. No envelopes. Just one letter after another with dates at the top and the same salutation repeated.

Livia, amore mio.

“What is it?” Pris asked, turning from the closet.

“Letters. A lot of them,” Bailey said.

Dev picked up the envelope and slid her hand inside. “Nothing else in here. Are they to us?”

Bailey shook her head. “They’re from someone named R. And they look like love letters.”

The sudden silence seemed to crackle with electricity. They shared a look. Pris shook her head. “Impossible. She wasn’t dating anyone after Dad. And she got married at twenty-three, so there wasn’t tons of time to have love affairs.”

“Maybe they were from a college boyfriend?” Dev suggested. “Maybe she forgot they were in there.”

Bailey’s fingers tightened around the papers as she scanned through some of them. “These seem kind of intense.”

Pris reached inside the trunk. “I found something else. It looks like a certificate.”

Dev waited while her sister examined the document. When she looked up, shock carved out the lines of her face. “It’s a deed for a house. That Mom owns. In Italy.”

Bailey gasped. “Wait—Mom has a house in Italy? That’s crazy! She would’ve told us.”