“You think she’s old enough now?” I asked.

“No, she’s not, but you are.”

Stunned, I didn’t know what to say.

“Why would I wear it, Mama? I mean, that’s not how it’s worked in the past,” I said.

“‘Cause you are more than who you think you are, Mr. Jim. You’re Layla’s daddy, but you’re much more.”

Silence filled the room and I had no idea what to say as Mama handed me the medallion and clasped her hands around mine.

“Mr. Jim, it’s yours to wear until Layla is ready, and it’s my work to help Layla get ready for why she came to this earth.

Put it on and wear it ‘cause when the time comes it’s your love that will be in the medallion that’ll be protectin’ Layla along with all those who wore it before you. It’s an ancient medallion—some say it came from thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece—and it was made to protect the travelers who come from heaven to protect and heal us.”

I knew that my roll to protect and love Layla would be easy, but I was finding the rest of this a bit hard to take in. I hesitated to put the necklace on.