CHAPTER 91: THE FAMILY HEIRLOOMFive years later I was cleaning out the attic when I found it.The box was tucked behind old Christmas decorations and photo albums, covered in dust thick enough to write my name in. I almost threw it out with the other junk until I saw my mother's handwriting on the side."For Kate, when she's ready."My hands shook as I opened it. Inside was a locket I'd seen my mother wear a thousand times but thought was buried with her. Gold and delicate, with tiny flowers etched into the surface.I opened it carefully. On one side was a photo of my parents on their wedding day, young and impossibly happy. On the other side was a photo of me as a baby, no more than a few months old.A note fell out when I lifted the locket."My darling Kate, if you're reading this then I'm gone and you've survived everything we feared might happen. This locket belonged to your grandmother and her mother before that. Four generations of Jones women who loved fiercely and fought for
Last Updated : 2025-10-14 Read more