After picking up two boxes from Regan, Wade learned Godwin’s possessions had been delivered. She said because of the distance, the boxes would be shipped directly to his address. The delay wasn’t a concern for him since they had Star’s boxes to go through, and whatever they found in the attic at the house.
Dan met Wade and Rachel at the door when they arrived. Though Dan was wealthy, the estate was modest. Ten acres outside of the Richmond city line in Hanover, with horse stables, a tennis court, basketball court, Olympic-size pool, patio with outdoor kitchen, and firepit. The home was over five thousand square feet of comfortable luxury: six bedroom suites, each with its own bathroom and sitting area, three additional bathrooms, one on each level, and a finished basement, with a theater room, game room and wine cellar. Upstairs on the third floor was a finished attic. It could be easily transformed into bedrooms, but for now, each of the rooms were used as storage areas for the boys who were now grown men. This was home to all of them. Kate’s room, as they called it, was on this level. They all stood in the doorway, looking inside. The crates and boxes were neatly stack against the walls, with the sunlight from the windows beaming against them.
“I used to think every time we opened this door, Kate was shining down from heaven as if to say hello,” Ross stated.
“That’s pretty sentimental coming from you,” Dane smirked.
“It’s something about the way the sun shines in this room,” Drake stated.
“More like she was welcoming us into her sanctuary,” Wade added.
“Well, are we going in to look for those files, or are we going to stand here gabbing?”
They all turned to stare at Rachel. Dan chuckled.
“Rachel’s right. You can come back and reminisce later. Right now, you need answers.” Dan stepped inside, leaning on his cane. “You’ll find most of her work files in that closet over there.” He pointed. “All of these boxes are her personal belongings.”
Wade made his way over to the closet. Opening the double doors, he walked into the area. There were about twenty file boxes lined up against the wall.
“Wow, this is going to be easy.” Rachel said as she scanned over the boxes. “Each one is labeled by name and dates.”
The men stepped inside. “I never knew this was back here,” Drake looked around.
“I didn’t, either,” Dane looked around.
“None of us knew,” Ross said, then looked at Monty. “You knew, didn’t you.”
Monty nodded. “I did. I organized them years ago.”
“Why did you save these files all these years?” Wade asked Dan as he pulled down a box with his name on it.
Dan’s years of wisdom showed in his eyes. “I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them. These boxes are exactly the way they were at Kate’s house. Monty put them away in here for safekeeping. For years, I didn’t want them touched, for fear that I would be losing a part of her. Then I was so busy with you hardheads, I didn’t have time to even think about them.”
“I figured a day would come when one of you would ask questions. It seems they weren’t meant to be touched, until now,” Monty commented as he looked around the space. “I never came into this room because it reminded us of Kate.”
“I came in here often to just sit and be around her things,” Wade admitted. “It brought me some peace, I suppose.”
“You were always the sensitive one,” Drake teased.
“I got your sensitive,” Wade huffed back.
The boys laughed.
“Keep that laughter going,” Dan said as he began walking out of the room. “You’re going to need it to read through those files. I don’t know what you are going to find, but I have a feeling it will change all of your lives.”
“I’m going with you, Dan,” Rachel declared.
She asked Wade, “Do you mind if I read through some of your mother’s journals while you’re up here?”
“No, let me know if you see anything interesting.”
“She’s your mother, everything in her journals is going to be interesting.” She kissed Wade on the cheek. “You are Wade Tyson, the man I love. You hear me?”
“We all heard you,” Dane laughed.
“Don’t make me hurt you, Dane,” she laughed, then followed Dan out of the room.
Wade looked around at his brothers. “Are you all sure you want to take this journey with me? I can do this alone.”
“One for all and all for one,” Drake shrugged.
“We are not the musketeers for real, you do realize that … right? Ross asked.
“Let him have his fantasies,” Monty said. “Grab a box and claim a corner. It’s time to face our past.”
The brothers did exactly that.
About an hour in, Wade looked up, he could feel the tension in the room. “Say it out loud; don’t hold it in.”
Ross, Drake and Dane all glanced at Monty.
Monty held up a folder. “Roanoke Department of Social Services. We know we all came from the same area.”
Wade nodded. “So did I.”
“Were you found on a corner in Bristol?” Monty asked.
Ross, Dane, and Drake nodded. Wade did not.
“Turned over to Social Services by the Bristol court system,” Wade replied.
“1990?” Monty let the question hang.
“A year later,” Dane replied.
“Two years later,” Wade replied.
“1993 for me,” Ross added.
They all looked up at Drake. “Ninety-four,” he responded.
“All of us are from the same area within a five-year time span,” Monty stated. “Any mention of your parents?”
“None,” they all replied except Wade.
“Only that they would not relinquish custody,” Wade replied. “How many IQ testings did you go through?”
Monty flipped a few pages then replied. “Four, each time testing in at 190.”
Ross nodded, “Four times, 170.”
“Me too,” Dane replied. “Four times, 170.”
“Three for me, each time 190,” Drake answered, then looked at Wade.
“We all know you are smart, you just lack common sense,” Dane teased Drake.
“Ha, ha,” Drake replied then looked at Wade. “How many times did they test you?”
“Eight,” Wade replied then said nothing more.
The brothers all glanced at each other. “What was your score?”
“Well over 200,” Monty replied.
“No,” Drake smirked. “For real man, what was your score?” he looked from Monty to Wade.
“Closer to 300,” Wade replied.
The room was a quiet pause.
“Stop staring,” Wade said as he continued reading through his file. “I’m not a freak. Both of my parents scored in the mid-200s.”
“Do any of you find it strange that all of us were found less than a mile away from each other?” Ross asked. “What’re the odds of that?”
“Approximately five in 302.6 billion.” Wade looked around. “What I find more interesting is that each of us has two boxes,” Wade looked around. “There are at least ten more. I am willing to bet every one of those children were found in the same area within the same five-year timespan.” He sat up.
“Why that area?” Drake asked.
“Good question,” Monty asked. “I have another. What happened five years before, when there were a few children found, and five years after, when there were none later?”
“Did the children suddenly disappear after ’94?” Ross asked.
“The probability of that is slim to none. It is more likely the person or persons who created the increased number of abandoned children found a different way to dispose of them. The question we have to answer is, why?”