Before we hung up, he told me that settling the apartment account was just the beginning. He is flying into town next month, and he wants to take Chloe and me out to the nicest dinner in the city.

People often say that the world is a dark and selfish place, and sometimes, looking at the news, it’s hard to disagree.

But sitting here today, watching my granddaughter happily pack boxes for her new apartment, I know better. Kindness is never wasted. Sometimes, you throw a stone into a dark pond, and it takes twenty-four years for the ripples to finally reach the shore, bringing back a miracle exactly when you need it most.