But it seemed all was not lost. The woman had remained silent all this while, making Mara think of the worst. But now she had a piece of welcome news. Her son had recently had the necklace appraised “just for curiosity,” and the jeweler’s reaction had shocked them both.
Mara gripped the phone tighter. The adoptive mother said softly, after a long pause, “He’s never asked about his birth mother… but he’s been wondering about that necklace lately. He seemed to be surprised that a woman who owned it could find the heart to give him away. But it all makes sense now.”