That was the first time Hilda had ever touched the secret of her own origins.
But reality didn't leave room for dwelling on it. The little locket became numbers in a bank account, carrying her through high school and then through college.
She didn't know when her father had come in. He picked up the photograph of her and Grandma Nora from the table and studied it for a long time.
"I searched for you for over twenty years."
His eyes were rimmed with red. "After your mother passed, I was a wreck for a long time. I neglected you, and that's how they got the chance to take you."
Hilda looked at the silver threading through his hair. After a long silence, she asked, "How come you never remarried?"
This enormous house was so empty. The housekeeper only came on Sundays. Every other day, her father lived here alone.
He blinked, then smiled. "I was waiting for you."
"I was afraid a stepmother wouldn't treat you right, so I stayed single. And then after you went missing, I had even less heart for it. All I could think about was finding you and bringing you home."
Hilda's nose stung.