She walked slowly toward the foot of his bed.
“Hi,” she said.
Richard tried to answer, but no words came out.
His eyes filled with tears.
Ellie glanced at me.
“Grandma, is he crying?”
I touched her shoulder.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Richard finally managed to speak.
“Hello, Ellie.”
She stepped a little closer.
“Are you my grandpa?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
She studied his face.
“Did you know my mommy?”
Richard’s expression crumpled.
“I did. I knew her very well.”
“Was she nice?”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
“She was wonderful.”
Ellie smiled.
“Grandma says that too.”
I looked away, trying to control my tears.
After a while, Richard picked up the little velvet pouch.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was the enormous diamond ring.
Ellie’s eyes widened.
“The treasure!”
Richard gave a trembling smile.
“Yes. The treasure.”
He explained that it had belonged to her great-grandmother.
“She wanted you to have it someday,” he said.
