“She never mentioned us?”

“She told me she was estranged from her father. That’s all.”

Nathan looked down.

“I’m afraid there’s a lot you don’t know.”

I removed the door chain.

“Then you’d better start explaining.”

He stepped inside but remained near the entrance.

“The woman you met at Walmart is my other sister, Meredith.”

I shook my head.

“So that woman is Ellie’s aunt?”

“Yes.”

“And the diamond ring?”

“It belonged to our mother. Before she died, she wanted it passed down to Claire’s first child.”

I looked at the photograph again.

“Then why didn’t Ellie receive it?”

Nathan hesitated.

“Because our father refused to give it up.”

“Why?”

“He cut Claire out of the family nine years ago.”

I felt anger rise in my chest.

“For what?”

“I’ll explain. But first, you need to understand why Meredith had that ring.”