The wrinkled old woman smiled fondly at me. She looked a lot like my mother but far older. “I thought I might see you and your brother here eventually. Where is the other copy?”
“Waiting for my return. I wanted to inquire about the status of the claim against my brother and I,” I said flatly. It had been around two decades since I’d seen the old woman. Her eyes held a fondness I remembered from my youth.
“As I said, I think it best to recuse myself for this specific ruling. I do not see my absence as detrimental to the decision process,” she said, rising to her feet. She turned her attention to me. “I suspect this congregation will be ready to begin the proceedings in the morning. In the meantime, my granddaughter tells me that there is another set of Carlisle twins on their way. I do ho
