Mr. Stevens's jolly face clouded over with a dark frown as he followed his wife's gaze. "Are you Anna?"

Anna draped an arm across Robin's back, drawing him to her side. She lifted her chin. "I am. And this is Robin."

A tense silence oppressed the room, a silence unbroken even by movement.

Mandie, with Tommy and Joe on either side of her, stood to the right of Mrs. Stevens, whose eyes filmed over with tears.

Robin's lips were sucked into his mouth, and his cheeks puffed out as if he were physically holding words back.

"I'm glad you've finally agreed to see us," Mr. Stevens said in a tight voice.

Anna's eyebrows raised. "I was told you wouldn't see me."

"Nonsense. We came here for that very purpose."

"I knew there was a misunderstanding somewhere," Tommy said with evident relief.

Mandie frowned. "I wonder if it isn't more than a simple misunderstanding. What would you say, Mr. Haskins?"

The lawyer reared his head back in surprise. "I'm sure I don't know."

Mr. Stevens waved his hand in the air. "Never mind. We're here now and I hope we can come to terms, young lady, with what is best for Robin here."

Mandie wasn't ready to let it go at that. "Excuse me, Mr. Stevens, but I have to ask. Did you ever receive a letter from a Mr. Barnes while you've been here?"

"No."

"And has Mr. Haskins been bringing your mail to you every morning?"

"Yes." Now Mr. Stevens began looking at the lawyer too.

"Before Mr. Haskins saw us downstairs, he asked for your mail and separated one letter from the rest. I saw him put it in his suit pocket."

"It was a piece of my own mail." Mr. Haskins shook his head. "This is a silly waste of time. I'm afraid Ms. Shaw has read a few too many novels and fancies herself a heroine."

"That's enough of insults, Mr. Haskins." Mr. Stevens said. "Please show us this letter. If it's addressed to you, that will be the end of this "nonsense" as you call it."

Mr. Haskins reddened, but he slowly reached in his suit pocket and pulled out an envelope. "I didn't want to bother you with a trifle like this, looks to be junk."

"I'll be the judge of that." Mr. Stevens snatched the envelope, and his eyebrows climbed upward. "Addressed to me, all right." He slit it open and pulled out a piece of paper, along with another envelope bearing the mark For Anna.

"That's the letter the thief stole from Mr. Barnes's store!" Mandie exclaimed.

"It's unfortunately only the envelope," Mr. Stevens said, scanning the other piece of paper. "This gentleman who writes me is an opportunist. He says he was paid to destroy a letter, but he kept it and wants to know how much it would be worth to me, as he knows it's from my son. What is the meaning of all this?"

Mandie stepped forward and eyed the lawyer who glowered at her like a cornered snake. "Mr. Haskins could tell you, or I'll try."

A smile flicked across the lawyer's face. "Please, I'm sure we'd all be entertained with what you have to say, miss."

Joe moved up close beside Mandie and nodded encouragement at her. Mandie drew up to her full height and stared down Mr. Haskins. "You're the one who intercepted Mr. Barnes's letter, which explained about Anna's father having written to his daughter. You were worried of what he wrote; you wanted his letter destroyed."

"Preposterous." Mr. Haskins tried for a laugh that sounded hollow. "I have no reason to destroy anything."

Mandie's mind kept following the trail the first suspicion had left her. After once establishing Mr. Haskins's opportunity to intercept the Stevens's mail, the rest of the pieces fell together easily, like the unwinding of a spool of thread. "You would have reason if you knew Anna's father was innocent, and that he might deduce, of all people, who really stole the money from the safe. It was you who stole the money, wasn't it? And you let the blame fall on their son, then Anna in turn. That's why you tried to prevent any meeting between her and the Stevenses, and you kept feeding their distrust of Anna so they'd never find out the truth."

Mrs. Stevens gasped and shrank away from Mr. Haskins.

There was no hint of a smile on his face now, but his mouth stretched into a thin, hard line. "You have no proof, it's all speculation."

"This is evidence enough you've overstepped." Mr. Stevens tossed the letter onto the armchair behind him with a glower. "It was you. I remember how quick you were to accuse my son-how you insisted we not try to see him because he'd just work on our sympathy. How could I have been so blind?"

"I don't have to be insulted this way. If this is what you think of me, then fare the well, one and all." Mr. Haskins tried for dignity that was marred by his haste to dodge past everyone and dart out the door. Tommy moved as if to detain him, but Mr. Stevens shook his head. "Let him go. Time enough to deal with him." His face had drained of all color as he crossed over to his wife and clasped her hand. His shoulders bent as if weighed with a heavy load. "What have we done?"

"My question is," Anna said softly, "what will you do now? Robin and I belong with each other. Please don't try to change that."

"Never," Mrs. Stevens said quickly. "We wronged your parents, and we've wronged you. I am so, so sorry."

Mr. Stevens's voice was hoarse with emotion. "We would like to start over again…if you'd let us."

Anna's head was bent down but she raised it now, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I would like that." She held out her hand, which Mr. Stevens quickly grabbed with both of his.

"Leave us alone, you mean man!" Robin burst in, rushing up in front of Mr. Stevens. "My parents were a hundred times better than you and so is my sister. No sorrys will make me forget that you called us all thieves. We none of us wanted your money. If we had it, Anna wouldn't still be blind! I hate you, hate you!"

"Robin!" Anna gripped him by the shoulders, but he knocked her hands away and ran out.