I held my breath as Evelyn stared at the photograph, her fingers tracing the outline of the woman's face. Her eyes, usually so gentle, now seemed haunted.
"Tell me," I urged, leaning forward. "Who is she to me?"
Evelyn's lips trembled. "This woman is—"
The doors burst open. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont rushed in, breathless from their sprint through the house.
"We're so sorry to intrude," Mrs. Beaumont said. "But we couldn't let Juliana face this alone."
Mr. Beaumont nodded firmly. "We've come to support our girl."
Their sudden appearance startled Evelyn. She glanced from them to me, confusion clouding her face.
"Who are these people, Juliana?"
I quickly made introductions. "These are the Beaumonts. They've been...helping me."
Mrs. Beaumont stepped forward, her eyes bright with emotion. "Mrs. Johnson, we believe we may have discovered something extraordinary. That woman in the photograph—we have reason to believe she's your mother."
Evelyn blinked. "My mother?"
