“You don't know?”

“Caleb told me never to open it.”

Diane's heart began pounding.

“Why?”

“He said it was for you.”

She looked at the box.

“Then why didn't you give it to me?”

Marcus lowered his head.

“Because I was scared.”

“Of what?”

“I thought maybe it would hurt you.”

Diane reached toward the box.

Marcus stopped her.

“Before you open it, I need to tell you something.”

She waited.

“The night before Caleb died, he called me.”

Diane froze.

“What did he say?”

Marcus looked at Buddy.

“He said he had finally made a decision.”

“What decision?”

“He wanted to come home.”

The Secret Trip Caleb Had Planned

Diane stared at him.

“Come home?”

“He said he wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“I don't know.”

“Did he say?”

Marcus shook his head.

“He only said, ‘I think Mom deserves to know the truth.’”

Diane's hands trembled.

“What truth?”

“I don't know.”

“You must know something.”

“I don't.”

“Then why did you wait three years?”

Marcus looked devastated.

“Because after Caleb died, I couldn't bring myself to open anything he left.”

Diane softened.

She suddenly realized that Marcus wasn't keeping secrets from her because he didn't care.

He had been grieving too.

Perhaps differently.

But just as deeply.

The Box

Diane opened it.

Inside was a folded sweater.

A small notebook.

A key.

And several envelopes.

The first envelope had her name on it.

Mom.

She couldn't breathe.

She opened it carefully.

The letter was short.

Mom,

If you're reading this, I probably didn't get the chance to say everything I wanted to say.

Please don't think I was keeping things from you because I didn't trust you.

I was keeping them from you because I wanted to fix them first.

I wanted to come home with something good to tell you.

I wanted you to stop worrying about me.

I wanted you to know that the last few years weren't wasted.

I found someone who needed help.

And somehow, helping him helped me too.

Diane stopped.

She pressed the letter against her chest.

There was more.

His name is Marcus.

If anything happens to me, please don't let him disappear again.

He has spent too much of his life believing he doesn't belong anywhere.

Please tell him he does.

Diane looked at Marcus.

He was crying.

She continued reading.

And Mom…

Buddy knows the way home.

He always has.

Take care of him if you can.

Love,

Caleb.

Diane lowered the letter.

“What does he mean?”

Marcus wiped his eyes.

“I don't know.”

The Key

Diane picked up the small key.

“What does this open?”

Marcus stared at it.

“I've never seen it.”

There was a tiny number engraved on the metal.

214.

Diane looked at Marcus.

“Do you know any place with a 214?”

He shook his head.

Buddy suddenly stood up.

His ears lifted.

Then he walked toward the front door.

He looked back at them.

Diane almost laughed.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

Marcus stared at the dog.

“Buddy?”

The dog scratched at the door.

Diane looked at the key.