In the Shadows

couldn’t fathom, Minnie burst into gasping tears.

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry! But your brother? Whatever

gave you that idea?”

“He knew Father! And you said he was family!”

“Come here, Min. I’m sorry. I wish you had asked me

instead of assuming! I never talked about Arthur’s past because

it hurts me to think about, and I’m sure it hurts him, too. I’d

hoped with a new start here we could help him heal from so

much pain.”

“But he’s definitely not my brother,” Minnie said, hiccupping.

Charles shifted next to Thom, something restless in his

movements.

“No. His mother, Adelaide, was my best friend growing

up. Together with your father we were inseparable. But then

when we got older, and your father and I fell in love, Adelaide

was pushed to the side. Then a young man came to town — a

scholar — researching nonsense about ancient societies and con-

spiracies and evil. Adelaide was smitten with Josiah. He had an

attractive, tragic air about him. I tried to warn her that no stable

family could ever be built with such a strange, obsessive man, but

she wouldn’t hear it. In the end, your father and I didn’t stop her

from running off with him.” Mrs. Johnson sighed heavily. “Josiah

Liska was the death of her.”

“Wha

t happened?” Minnie asked, voice still heavy with

tears.

“They had a few good years. Traveling all the time, looking

at ‘sites’ that held clues, visiting libraries. She wrote of Josiah’s

work and how important it was. They had a baby — Arthur —

but still never settled down. Her letters became increasingly