Settling In
As I placed the roast chicken in front of them, I felt a nervous knot in my stomach. “Ethan, help me with the potatoes,” I said, my gaze flickering to Nora. She was scanning the table, her fingers brushing over the edge of the vintage plate. I could hardly focus on the meal.
“Mom, we found this at a vintage market,” Ethan said, turning to Nora, excitement lacing his voice. “You should’ve seen her face when she saw that necklace.” My heart stopped at the mention of the necklace. I clenched my jaw, willing my mind to stay present.
Nora smiled softly, the pendant glinting in the warm light, a haunting reminder of the past I had buried. “It just spoke to me,” she said, her fingers now curling around the chain like a talisman. I fought the urge to ask questions right then and there. I needed to keep my composure.
“What kind of vintage market?” I asked, forcing sincerity into my tone. “Was it in town?”
“No, it was out of state—an old church sale,” Ethan replied, spooning potatoes onto his plate while glancing at Nora. She looked lost in thought now, the smile fading slightly. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more beneath the surface.
As they chatted about their day, I caught snippets of their laughter. But even as I joined in, my mind kept drifting back to that necklace, my mother’s last wish echoing in my thoughts. What if Nora was connected to my family in a way I couldn’t begin to comprehend?
