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“This scher too”

I poured myself a cup a tea, annoyed with Jeb’s amusement over my dysfunctional family

“It says Loden on their gravestones,” I said

Jeb showed me the copies of Van and Valencia’s birth certificates and I saw that their last nainally Nelson I slid the copies back to him

“This is a lot to take in,” I said

“I think she married your dad because he was a little bit older, and was settled, and could provide for her I’ enough”

“Are you saying you thinkto do with this?”

“With what?”

“With their deaths!”

Jeb looked exasperated “No I’ to show you I do my homework”

My egg roll arrived and I pushed it away, so Jeb ate it Repressed memories of overheard conversations between aunts and uncles came back to me Maybe I had always known Valencia and Van weren’t my real sister and brother It certainly explained a lot

“You can take these back,” said Jeb, returning the original photos and clippings I gave hiot what I need from these”

“Oh, thanks” I wasn’t thrilled to have the pictures back, as I had looked at them a little toowhere they were I tucked them in my purse

“Where did you find those pictures?” I asked, nodding at the photos of my et copies of their birth certificates?”

“You don’t need to kno I do my job,” said Jeb