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“But nothing happened in the dream,” I said. “I didn’t find anything.”
“Me neither. Maybe that was the point. To make us curious.”
We took the bus to Chelsea. It was Ambri’s first excursion on public transit, an experience he declared “dodgy at best.” We approached what was left of his building. Police tape was strung up to keep people away, and a bobby was on duty, marching back and forth.
I clutched Ambri’s arm. “Is that…Jerome?”
The bobby turned and gave us a stern look. “What are you doing here? Can’t you see the tape? No one’s allowed in.”
Ambri and I exchanged glances, and then he put on his most winning smile. “Might you make an exception for us, old chap? For old time’s sake?”
Jerome frowned but then nodded, once. “Make it quick.”
“Thanks, Jerome.”
He tapped his nightstick to his helmet. It might’ve been my imagination, but I could’ve sworn he winked.
“This is getting weirder and weirder,” I said as we picked our way through the rubble. Four stories had collapsed, but the only items we found came from Ambri’s flat. His furniture, books, the couch…all charred or destroyed completely.
“I’m sorry, Ambri,” I said. “I came to feel like this place was my home, too. This must be so hard for you.”
“On the contrary. Last night I was laid spectacularly by the man I love.Thrice. I’m cracking.”
I grinned. “When you put it that way…”
He bent down suddenly and picked up a small iron box. “I don’t recognize this. Yours?”
“Not mine,” I said and touched a finger to the fleur-de-lis engraved on the lid.
“Still warm.” Ambri opened the box. Inside was a small black velvet bag with a note tied in the drawstring like a little scroll.
Ambri and I exchanged a glance. He undid the drawstring and dumped an enormous square-cut diamond into my palm. Seven or eight carats, at least.
“Holy shit. That’s a big effin diamond.”
“M-A…” Ambri murmured, thinking. Then his eyes widened. “Oh, bloody hell, that’s impossible. It can’t be…Marie Antoinette?”
I stared. “Get the fuck out.”
“It is. I can feel it in my bones.” He picked up the diamond from my palm. “This is from the Affair of the Necklace. But why? I helped ruin her.”
“I’m no expert on angels, but it seems like forgiveness might be one of their superpowers. The biggest.”
“The blue fairy,” Ambri whispered to himself, then shook his head, disbelieving. “All this time, she’s been the voice in my head.”
“Mine too,” I said. “I’ve been hearing her for months.”
“She was always telling me to not give up hope and to just love you,” Ambri said softly. “And to let you love me.”
“She told me not to give up on you. Not that I ever could.” I smiled. “But she saidmein Schatza lot. Antoinette was the Queen of France, right? That sounds German.”
“Bloody hell, Marie Antoinette was born in Austria. German would have been her native language.” Ambri shook his head with a smile. “Well played, darling.”
“What does that even mean, mein Schatz?” I pulled out my phone and Googled it. Then my heart dropped. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Ambri asked. “It meanslittle shit, doesn’t it? I knew it…”
“It meansmy treasure.Holy crap.” I read the letter again. “M-A…Margaret-Anne.” I looked to Ambri. “My grandmother.”
