I hadn’t taken three steps inside the shop when the happy voice of Mama rang out heartily. “Bonjour, Mr. Jim! What brings you to Mama on this beautiful morning?”

Feeling a bit sheepish, I reached for the necklace and lifted it up above my shirt as I said, “It’s about this!”

Cackling, she said, “Oh, imagine that, Mr. Jim, imagine that!” A burst of laughter followed and then with a wry smile she continued, “I don’t have many customers this time of day. Sit down, sit down and I’ll make us some tea.”

Sitting there as the morning sun streamed in through the tall glass storefront, I wondered what on earth was about to happen next.

Appearing with the tea, Mama announced, “You only been wearin’ Mama’s necklace for less than a day and you got some love workin’ on ya! Tell me all about it, child!”

“Well, Mama, something really strange has happened. Right before Layla was born, I was taking a walk and I dropped in to visit the Cathedral of Saint Francis, and while I was there I saw what appeared to be this very precocious little girl, around eight or nine years old, and she was wandering around in the back of the church near where I was seated. She walked by me several times and even smiled and giggled at me once.”