Ilona's lips parted in surprise, and she stared up at her mother.
"H-He's here? But why?"
"I already told you, my girl. He'll explain everything."
"But..."
"Here," Anja said, stepping back to her, "take this."
Ilona watched in confusion as her mother lifted something from around her neck. When she held it out to Ilona, the younger woman saw it was a gold chain with a deep blue gemstone hanging from it that seemed to change shades as it turned. Anja smiled and slipped it over her daughter's head, settling it into place.
"There," she said, "Your father gave this to me a long time ago. He said the stone looked like the sea, which has always been his heart. He said as long as I wore it, I would have his heart. Today... Today I think he would want you to have it with you."
