Tina strolled around the merry-go-round and stopped in front of the jewelry store. Peaking through the window she spotted a garnet, not as beautiful as the one she owned, but close, she thought. Hers was simple, clean, set in an antique art deco setting; and though she lamented every time she wore it, it was her most valued possession.

It was the day of her father’s funeral, and everyone had just gotten back to the house. People she didn’t even know where walking around as her mother, wearing that famous Mary Kennard smile, played hostess. She always admired her mother’s strength, especially in times such as these.

She climbed the stairs to her room, carefully making sure she wasn’t followed. Walking over to the window, she pulled the curtain back and stared at the tire swing in the empty yard below. Tears began to well in her eyes as the reality of the day began to sink in.

“Hello,” came a voice from the doorway. Tina looked over her shoulder at Lillian Porter and quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Hi. Do you need the bathroom? It’s right over there,” Tina said. “No…I just saw you standing here and thought I’d see how you were holding up.” Lillian approached the window and looked out into the yard. “What a great tire swing. Do you still use it?”

Tina shook her head, “Not since I was a little girl. My father put it up for me when we moved here. I think it broke his heart to see me outgrow it.”

“Your father was a very kind man, Tina. If nothing else, I hope you always remember that about him.” Lillian slid the garnet off and reaching for Tina’s hand, said, “Now, if you should ever feel like you’re alone, and believe me, this world has a way of doing that to a person every now and then; I want you to look at this ring, and know that you are anything but.”

Tina became startled by the hand on her shoulder and jumped as Alice said, “Hey, you’re Tina Kennard. Look Dana, it’s Tina Kennard.”