Her foster placement later restored her surname but not her original first name.
Dorothy Vale confirmed that Caroline had chosen to use Cora as an adult.
Emily wondered whether that choice represented freedom or adaptation.
Dr. Cho cautioned her that nobody except Cora could answer.
Emily wrote Cora another short letter explaining that the registry had been found and that the records contained details about her mother.
She enclosed an inventory rather than the most painful documents.
Cora could request any item she wanted to see.
A week passed without an answer.
During that week, Celeste’s office sent a letter demanding that the archive pause all contact with former shelter residents.
The letter cited privacy concerns that were genuine in principle but applied inconsistently to the work.
Simon replied with a policy that distinguished consent-based family research from public publication.
He offered an independent privacy review.
Celeste refused the review unless the foundation could select the reviewer.
Arthur insisted on an outside professional chosen through an open process.
The disagreement slowed the investigation but also clarified the rules everyone would follow.
Emily found herself impatient with procedure.
She wanted to tell Cora everything before another week disappeared.
Then she remembered how the original committee had claimed urgency to justify decisions about children without consulting their families.
Speed had not been the same as care.
She waited.
When Cora finally replied, the letter contained a single instruction.
“Please keep the records safe until I decide what I want to know.”
Emily placed the letter in the restricted correspondence folder.
She understood that waiting was now part of her responsibility.
Chapter 27: The Hearing Room
The city preservation board scheduled a public hearing about the ferry station renovation.
Celeste arrived with architectural renderings and estimates for a visitors’ center funded by new donors.
Priya arrived with the original plans and the inspection photographs.
Emily sat behind Simon and took notes.
Arthur requested a microphone at his seat because he preferred to speak directly rather than have someone summarize his position.
The chairperson described the hearing rules aloud before proceeding.
Several residents supported renovation because the building had been vacant for years.
Others feared the project would erase the working waterfront’s history.
A small business owner asked whether the building would remain accessible to the public.
Celeste said the foundation planned guided tours during approved hours.
Benjamin Ortiz stood and explained that families affected by the flood might need more than occasional tours.
