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Two months later, Colette married Daniel in a small ceremony in her backyard in Quincy, in the shade of a row of hazel trees wrapped in honeysuckle, which Colette had planted many years before because they were the symbol of Tristan and Isolde and their love.

Liliane, Aviva, and Millie were her bridesmaids, and Marty and Lucas served as Daniel’s groomsmen. They were family now, all of them, united by blood and so much more.

Colette wore her half of the butterfly bracelet, and Liliane wore hers.

Daniel had, true to his word, returned the bracelets to the Marceau sisters, insisting that his mother would have wanted them to have the pieces of jewelry that had brought them back to each other.

It was Liliane who walked Colette down the aisle, holding her hand until she had delivered her sister safely to Daniel.

The ring Daniel slipped onto Colette’s finger after they’d said their vows was the emerald-and-diamond one that had once belonged to his mother, the one that had helped fund the Holocaust education center that had brought them all together.

Marty had returned it to Colette a month earlier, grudgingly giving her his blessing along with it, and she, in turn, had given the ring to Daniel, who kept it a surprise until their wedding day that he’d always planned for her to wear it.

“My mother would be so happy,” Daniel whispered after the officiant had pronounced them husband and wife. “I wish she and your mother could have been here.”

Colette looked at the ring glittering on her finger, then at the bracelet sparkling on her wrist. “I think they are, Daniel. In fact, I’m certain of it.”

After the wedding ceremony, there was a small dinner prepared by a private chef among the hazels in Colette’s backyard, and before the meal was served, Colette took a moment to pull Aviva aside.

“You’ve been like a daughter to me, Aviva,” she said, taking the girl’s hands. “I know I could never take the place of your mother, nor would I try to, but it’s important to me that you know how much I love you, and how for many years now, I’ve considered you my own.”

Aviva’s eyes filled. “I love you, too, Colette. And I feel the same. You’re my family.”

“Good.” Colette smiled. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I’ve made a decision. When I die one day, my half of the bracelet will go to you.”

“Colette, I couldn’t possibly—” she began, but Colette held up a hand to cut her off.

“No arguments. I’ve already discussed it with Daniel, and with Liliane.

We are all in agreement. Daniel’s parents always hoped that the pieces would stay in the Rosman family, and now, in a way, they will.

Liliane will give her half to Millie when the time comes, and the bracelets will connect the two of you forever, though I have a suspicion that there will be something bigger than jewelry bringing you together.

” She cast a pointed look at Lucas, who was nursing a glass of wine across the yard, his eyes on Aviva.

It was clear as day that the two had fallen for each other.

Aviva looked as if she might try to protest, but after a few seconds, she shook her head and smiled. “Then I would be honored to keep the bracelet when the time comes. But let’s hope that day is a very long time from now.”

Colette smiled. “Indeed. I’d like at least a little time to experience life as Mrs. Daniel Rosman.”

Later, as the chef was putting the meals on the long wooden table that had been set up to accommodate the whole group, Daniel put an arm around Colette’s waist and drew her aside. “Did you tell Aviva about the bracelet?” he asked.

“Yes, and Liliane has told Millie,” Colette said. “What was it your father always said?”

Daniel smiled. “Diamonds have witnessed the past, and they will witness a future we can’t begin to imagine.”

Colette tilted her chin up. “I never could have imagined this, my love.”

He touched his lips gently to hers. “Au contraire, my love. Tristan was always meant to find his way back to Isolde.”

“Against all the odds,” she said softly.

“It was written in the stars.”

She smiled and looked down at the constellation that sparkled on her wrist. The bracelet had bound them together all these years, a bit of magic from her mother and his, which had led them here, to this moment, in the shade of the hazel trees, the sweet scent of honeysuckle heavy in the air.

Long after she and Daniel were gone, long after Liliane and Aviva and Millie were gone, the bracelets would live on.

Diamonds always do.