“Yes,” she said. She held the ring gingerly. Normally, she didn’t feel the slightest bit self-conscious engaging in spiritual business. But she knew Gemma and Elodie were skeptics at best, making it all the more touching that they’d gone out of their way to help her in this way. “I want Jack to forgive me, and to trust me again. And to come back to me. I want to be able to get married tomorrow like we planned. But I don’t know if it’s too late.”

It was one thing to ask the universe to vanquish bad energy. But human emotions were another thing; she knew Jack was deeply hurt. Because of her choices. Maud was right.

Jack wouldn’t understand why she was afraid of getting married if she never really told him, and so he wouldn’t understand how she let go of that fear. She’d just have to hope that somehow, talking to him tomorrow, he might not understand her but he’d at least believe her. If not, it wouldn’t be because of the curse. She’d have only herself to blame.

Celeste passed the ring to Elodie, who hesitated a few seconds before taking it in her hand. She gazed at the ring, turning it between her thumb and forefinger in a way that caught the moonlight. When she spoke, it was so quietly that it was hard to hear over the rush of the waves.

“Our family fortune was built on the words ‘A Diamond Says Love.’ But it’s obvious now how flawed that is. A diamond doesn’t say love. Moments like this say love. Family says love. Forgiveness says love.”

Celeste reached out to put her arm around her sister. And then Elodie passed the ring to her niece.

Gemma looked out at the sea. From her position in the Intention Circle, she had the best view of the water, liquid silver in the moonlight.

She held the remains of her mother’s diamond in her palm, her fingers wrapped tightly around it. She had to resist the urge to slip it onto her finger one last time.

“Speak when you’re ready,” Maud nudged.

It was her turn to declare what she wanted to bring into her life. At the beginning of the summer, that would have been simple. She’d wanted to grow her company. She wanted her name to be synonymous with modern jewelry. She wanted the Pavlins to realize the mistake they’d made in casting her aside. And she wanted the Electric Rose, the symbol of all she’d lost—and been denied.

“I have . . . a lot I need to figure out,” she said slowly.