Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER BEHIND THE BLUE DOOR
The house in Maine had a blue front door.
White siding.
A small porch.
Wooden chairs overlooking a garden.
It looked nothing like the world Gabriel had spent his life controlling.
We arrived with Detective Ellison and an investigator.
Gabriel stood beside the car.
He looked nervous.
I had never seen him nervous.
The front door opened.
A man stepped outside.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dark hair streaked with gray.
A scar near his temple.
He looked at Gabriel.
Then at me.
“Can I help you?”
Gabriel tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Finally, he whispered:
“Luca?”
The man frowned.
“My name is Luke.”
Gabriel swallowed.
“My name is Gabriel Costa.”
The man went still.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Luke stepped backward.
“I know that name.”
Gabriel's eyes filled.
“You do?”
Luke nodded slowly.
“Sometimes I dream about it.”
They sat on the porch.
Gabriel showed him photographs.
Their childhood home.
Their parents.
Isabella.
Luca stared at the pictures.
His hands trembled.
“I remember a girl,” he whispered.
Gabriel nodded.
“Your sister.”
Luke looked at me.
“Isabella?”
I shook my head.
“I'm her daughter.”
His eyes filled.
“She had a daughter?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He stared at me.
Then smiled faintly.
“You look like her.”
I began crying.
The reunion wasn't simple.
Luke didn't suddenly remember everything.
He had spent years living under another identity.
He had built a quiet life.
He was frightened by the truth.
And angry.
“Why didn't anyone find me?” he asked.
Gabriel lowered his head.
“I thought you were dead.”
Luke stared.
“Who told you?”
Gabriel swallowed.
“Richard Carrington.”
Luke's expression changed.
The name triggered something.
He pressed a hand against his temple.
“Richard.”
Gabriel leaned forward.
“What do you remember?”
Luke closed his eyes.
“A boat.”
Silence.
“A man shouting.”
His breathing quickened.
Then he whispered:
“Isabella tried to stop them.”
I covered my mouth.
Luke looked at me.
“She was there.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
He began crying.
“She told me to jump.”
Gabriel went still.
“Jump?”
Luke nodded.
“Into the water.”
He remembered cold water.
A bright light.
Someone pulling him into a boat.
Then nothing.
Gabriel embraced him.
Luke hesitated.
Then held on.
Two brothers.
Separated by greed.
Reunited by a painting.
I stepped away to give them privacy.
Naomi stood beside me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
She smiled.
“Your mother would be proud.”
I looked toward the porch.
Gabriel and Luke were still holding each other.
May you like
I smiled through tears.
“I hope so.”
