She and Derek were more like brother and sister than cousins, having been raised together after Reggie’s mother died, and she had been known to kick him quite frequently over the years, so he was quick to reply, “It’s a journal they wrote together, a history so to speak. Gads, that was nice of them, considering there’s no one left alive who knew them—really knew them, that is.”

He handed the parchment to Reggie, who shared it aloud with the others.

To our children and their children and so forth,

This record we leave to you may be a surprise, or it may not. It’s not something we talk of other than in private, nor have we ever told our son. And we are not assured of having more children that we may or may not speak of it to.

Know that it was not an easy task, getting my husband to agree to add his thoughts to this record, because he feels he does not express himself well with the written word. In the end, I had to promise him that I would not read his portion, so he would be free to include feelings and perspectives that I might not agree with, or might tease him about. He made me the same promise; thus, when we finished this record, we did securely lock it and throw away the key.

So we leave this written record to you, to be read at your leisure, and with your own imagination lending it life. Though when you do read it, it will most likely be when we are no longer with you to be questioned about our motives and less than honest dealings with the people who would do us harm. And I give you fair warning: If you have been led to believe that we are individuals that could do no wrong, then read no further. We are human, after all, with all the faults, passions, and mistakes that humans are known for. Judge us not, but perhaps learn from our mistakes.

Anastasia Malory

Amy was beaming widely as she held the journal to her chest. She’d been right! And she wanted to start reading this unexpected gift from her great-grandparents immediately, but the others were still discussing the letter . . .

“Anastasia?” Anthony was saying. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard my grandmother called that before.”

“It’s not exactly an English name, is it, whereas Anna is,” James pointed out. “An obvious effort to conceal the truth, if you ask me.”

“But what truth?” Derek asked. “Anastasia could be a Spanish name.”

“Or not,” Travis put in.

Marshall said, “No need to speculate at this point, when we’ll be reading the truth for ourselves. So who gets to read it first?”

“Amy does, of course,” Derek suggested. “It might have shown up before she made that bet with Jeremy, but it’s related as far as I’m concerned, though I’d still like to know who found it and wrapped it up for a Christmas gift, rather than just give it to m’father.”