Aunt Helen shook her head and tucked the pendant into my collar. "I'm just grateful you don't blame me... I didn't mean to hide your background. Before your parents passed away, they made me promise countless times not to tell you, fearing it might put you in danger. I was supposed to keep it all hidden from you, even this pendant. If I wasn't... on my deathbed, I wouldn't have given it to you."

"I understand... I understand everything. How could I blame you?" I poured a glass of warm ...