Desperate Times
Her family had owned the jewelry for centuries. She clutched it tightly, dreading what she would do next.
She needed the money to be able to take care of her daughters. She had no choice but to hand the appraiser the jewelry. What happened next was unbelievable.
Smart Spending
Sarah Winchester was a smart woman. She was used to growing up with nice things and she made sure to spend her money wisely. She wanted to be able to provide for her family.
During the pandemic the previous year, her retail business suffered immensely. It did not initially affect Sarah and her family that much, but she knew there was a storm coming.
Troubles
After some time passed, she unfortunately lost her business. Sarah needed to survive, so she used all of her savings. Times were tough for Sarah.
After a few months Sarah was drowning in debt. Sarah pushed some things around and she realized that she barely had enough money to stay afloat for six months. She thought her troubles were done until another tragic event occurred.
Bad News
Sarah was greeted with a horrible notice stuck on her door. The bank was threatening to take her home into their possession. She could not believe her family would be homeless during a pandemic.
The following night, Sarah sat down with her two daughters. Thinking about how she could keep them from becoming homeless, Sarah pondered on her options. As soon as an idea came to her, she dashed to her room.
Options
Sarah inspected her bags, in search of something important. She was searching all over her room. She knew she needed to find a way to take care of her children.
There she saw it. A beautiful antique necklace given to her by her late mother. She had no idea what it was worth, but it might help her with something at least.
Appraisal
Sarah had worked in retail and knew an appraiser. Sara was in retail and knew an appraiser, so she immediately called her and scheduled a meeting.
Two days later Emma showed up on her doorstep. Sarah shared what difficult times she had been going through and Emma offered to look at the piece. However, what Emma said when she saw the necklace stunned Sarah...
Stunned
“Am I dreaming? Am I still asleep?” Emma said. She couldn't stand still for a second. “What, why?” Sarah asked, scared that the piece of jewelry was fake.
"Where did you get this?" Emma asked excitedly. Sarah responded, “My great-grandma, she lived between 1864 and 1926. They were quite wealthy at the time, I believe. They came from England–Why are you stepping back, Emma?”
Strange Reaction
Emma looked stunned. “Emma,” Sarah said cautiously, puzzled by her reaction. “Is everything okay?”
“Could you please come with me to my office?” Emma asked. “I know it sounds crazy, but please, you might want to see this." Sarah did not know why Emma was acting so strange.
Valuable
They arrived at Emma's office. Sarah's necklace was a rare Tiffany item, Emma revealed after flipping through a catalog of jewels from the 1910s.
The necklace is adorned with black opals and green garnets, indicating it is a very valuable piece. That's not all, however.
Good News
Additionally, the jewelry was a Louis Comfort Tiffany creation, making it even more unique. If they sold it at an auction, they could get at least $30,000 for it.
Sarah could not believe what she was hearing. She could feel her cheeks getting redder by the second. This was a lot to take in. This money would be able to help her get her back on her feet. However, there was still one issue.
A Massive Issue
There were no initials on the necklace that validated it as Louis Comfort Tiffany jewelry. Emma suggested contacting the Tiffany archives to authenticate the piece.
A few days later, Emma called Sarah with news from the archives. She insisted on meeting Sarah in person. What she learned from the archives would blow Sarah’s mind.
Unbelievable News
Sarah found Emma in a meeting, but the appraiser insisted Sarah join them. She introduced her associate as Claire, who immediately got up and stared at Sarah. Her eyes beaded with tears.
“I knew I had a lost relative somewhere in America,” Claire said in a British accent. “To meet her is short of divine.” Sarah raised a brow, to which Claire said, “Ever been to England? To a castle, maybe? Because there is one with your name on it!”
Being Skeptical
Sarah took a step back, but Claire eased to her. “Absurd, I know. But we share a common royal ancestry, you and I. This was our great nan’s,” she offered the necklace. “She left it and several other things to your side of the family.”
Sarah shifted uneasily, unsure of what to say. But Claire fished a photo out of her bag that made Sarah’s jaw drop.
My Family
A young Sarah’s mom was standing next to another girl in the picture. Above them was Sarah’s grandma, and to her side, her great-grandma.
“This is my mom, that’s yours. They were cousins,” Claire said, and Sarah’s heart swelled. She believed she had no family and was on the verge of losing her home. And now she had a relative who had come all this way to meet her.
Your Highness
Sarah and her daughters boarded the first flight to England when travel restrictions eased down. With them was Emma, who had become Sarah’s close friend in the last few months.
They found Claire waiting for them at the airport. A private car picked them up, and as they drove down endless rolling hills, Sarah’s eyes caught a glimpse of her new home on the horizon.