“Oh, hi there. I didn’t know you were back from the city,” Celeste said brightly.

“You were asleep when I got to the house,” Elodie said, sitting on the bench across from her. Celeste told her final preparations for the wedding were exhausting.

“I know Jack wants to get married on his birthday. But planning a wedding during our busiest month of the year probably wasn’t the best idea.”

Elodie cleared her throat. This was her opening. “Celeste, I want to give you your wedding present. I was thinking maybe you’d like to wear it on the big day. Something from the family.”

“Aha,” Celeste said. “Something old . . .”

“Exactly,” Elodie said, her hand shaking slightly as she pulled the ring box out of her handbag. “I know you don’t usually wear jewelry, but this is a piece of Pavlin history.”

No, she hadn’t intended on telling her sister the true origin of the diamonds. But now the secret was out.

“Elodie, this is thoughtful but really not necessary,” Celeste said, holding the box in one hand.

“I had this made for myself. I thought I’d wear it on my own wedding day, but that day never came. I’m happy to pass it on to you.”

“It seems like you could have a wedding in your future,” Celeste said with a wink.

“Who knows. But if I do, it’s because I came here to see you. And because you welcomed me into your home so I could stay here long enough to find out. So . . . thank you.”

Celeste opened the box and gingerly removed the ring, placing it on the ring finger of her left hand.

“It’s stunning, Elodie.” She looked up. “It’s so extravagant, though. I can’t accept this.”

“Please! I have enough jewelry for two lifetimes. I’d love to see you wear this on Thursday.”

Elodie could tell that even though Celeste considered herself immune to the charms of precious gems, the stones dazzled her. She wished she could just leave it at that, but she forced herself to press on. “I do have one more thing to tell you,” she said slowly. Celeste was busy holding up her hand and examining the ring at different angles. “I told you that I sold the Electric Rose years ago. But that’s not the entire story.”

That got her attention.

“But you did sell it, right?”

“Yes. Just . . . not all at once.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I had it broken up into pieces and made a collection out of the smaller stones.”

Celeste’s expression turned blank, then her eyes widened. She looked almost . . . afraid.

“Don’t tell me . . .” she said, her voice low.