Uncle Drew took it, turning it over in his palm. "What's the story here?"
"When I was seven or eight, my mom disappeared for three days. Not the first time, but it was the longest at that point." I traced the star with my finger. "When she came back, she gave me this and told me I was the sheriff of keeping our stuff safe while she was gone. Like it was a game."
I expected pity in their eyes, but instead, Uncle Drew just nodded thoughtfully. "And did you? Keep things safe?"
"I tried." I swallowed hard. "Didn't always work out. But I tried."
"Well, Sheriff," Aunt Elyse said, bumping my shoulder with hers, "you're officially off duty now. Retirement with full benefits."
"Benefits?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Unlimited dog snuggles," Uncle Drew said solemnly, gesturing to Eden, who chose that moment to let out an enormous snore.
"Unlimited hot chocolate," Aunt Elyse added.
"A bathroom you don't have to share with anyone who steals your expensive shampoo," Uncle Drew continued.
"He means me," Elyse stage-whispered.
"I absolutely mean her."
I laughed, the heaviness in my chest lifting. "I guess retirement has its perks."
I reached back into the box and pulled out the small gray rock. "I found this the day I moved in with Grandma and Grandpa this last time. I was so angry and scared, and I kicked at this rock in their driveway. But when I picked it up to throw it, I saw the quartz stripe and... I don't know. It felt like a sign that there might be something beautiful hidden in the hard, awful parts."
Aunt Elyse wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "That's... incredibly profound for a kid to think."
"Or I just liked shiny things," I said with a shrug, deflecting the emotion that threatened to overwhelm me.
"Speaking of shiny things," Uncle Drew said, reaching into his pocket. "We got you something."
He pulled out a small velvet box and handed it to me. Inside was a gold necklace with three interlocking circles—one large and two slightly smaller.
"It's for the three of us," Aunt Elyse explained. "We're connected now. Solid gold official."
I ran my finger over the circles, a lump forming in my throat. "It's perfect," I managed to say.
"There's an inscription on the back," Aunt Elyse said.
I carefully turned the pendant over. Engraved in tiny letters were the words:Family: chosen, cherished, forever.
"I'm not crying," I announced as tears spilled down my cheeks. "It's allergies. Probably Eden."
Eden, hearing her name, raised her head and let out a particularly well-timed sneeze directly into Uncle Drew's face.
"Oh my GOD!" he spluttered, wiping his face with his sleeve while Aunt Elyse and I dissolved into breathless laughter.
"Perfect timing, Eden!" I gasped between giggles, hugging the dog's neck. "You're the real MVP."
"I've been a-gross-inated," Uncle Drew moaned dramatically. "Betrayed by my own dog."
As our laughter subsided, I carefully placed the necklace around my neck, the pendant settling just below my collarbone.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For everything. For taking me in when you didn't have to. For making room in your lives. For..." I gestured to the album, the newly painted walls, the cork board filling with memories. "For giving me a real home."
"Thank you for letting us," Aunt Elyse said, her voice thick with emotion. "For trusting us enough to stay."
"Even if you insist on baking at ungodly hours and using all the hot water," Uncle Drew added with a wink.
