Evelyn stood up slowly while holding the small gold locket in her right hand.
The young girl took a step back while wiping her wet eyes with her sleeve.
Guests in the distance were still talking happily near the formal dining tables.
Nobody else in the room had noticed the quiet drama unfolding near the hallway entrance.
Evelyn pressed her fingernail against the tiny side clasp of the antique golden piece.
The delicate cover clicked open instantly with a soft metallic sound under her touch.
Inside sat a small black-and-white photograph preserved carefully under clear glass.
The photo showed a young Evelyn holding a tiny baby girl in her arms.
Both mother and child were smiling happily in front of a sunny garden wall.
Evelyn gasped loudly as tears instantly filled her eyes and blurred her vision.
She recognized the photograph because she held the matching photo in her desk drawer.
Evelyn: Oh my sweet lord... Sarah was your mother?
Maya: Yes, ma'am, she was my mom.
Evelyn: Where is Sarah right now?
Maya: She passed away in the hospital three weeks ago.
Evelyn: No... that cannot be true!
Maya: She was very sick for a really long time.
Evelyn covered her mouth with her trembling hand to quiet her sudden sob.
She looked at the young girl's dark eyes and recognized her own daughter's face.
The same soft eyebrow shape and small chin belonged to Sarah as a young child.
Fifteen years ago, Sarah had left the family mansion after a terrible arguments about money.
Evelyn's brother Richard had convinced everyone that Sarah was lying about the family trust fund.
Richard had stated that Sarah wanted to take all the money and leave forever.
Evelyn had allowed her pride to stop her from searching for her only daughter.
Now she realized that her stubborn pride had cost her precious lost years.
She fell to her knees right on the cold floor before the little child.
Evelyn: What is your name, sweet child?
Maya: My name is Maya, ma'am.
Evelyn: You are my biological granddaughter, Maya.
Maya: Mom said you would remember the blue gemstone locket.
Evelyn: I am so sorry for treating you so unkindly just now.
Maya: Mom told me that you had a very good heart inside.
Evelyn wrapped her arms around Maya and pulled the child into a warm hug.
She did not care that Maya's jacket was wet and dirty from the road.
Tears rolled down Evelyn's face and dropped onto her green silk dress frame.
The pain of losing Sarah was mixed with the sudden miracle of finding Maya.
She promised herself in that quiet moment that she would protect this small child.
She held Maya tight as the soft music played across the large party hall.