Summary

Chapter 46 resumes in 2017. Nono arrives with a newspaper article that says Philippe has been identified. Violette wonders if she should tell the police Philippe was at her house just before his wreck. Violette keeps the cemetery open late that evening for the family of a man who died. She feels this was one of the most beautiful funerals she has ever attended.

Chapter 47 drops back to 1996, four months after Violette received the funerary plaque. She instructs Philippe to tend the crossing gate, borrows Stephanie's car, and drives to Brancion-en-Chalon. Violette wanders around until she finds Leonine's grave. She stays so long that the cemetery gates are locked. She meets Sasha at the cemetery keeper's cottage. He makes her a soy milk drink. Though Violette thought she had used up all the tears, she finds herself crying. Sasha massages her back. Violette later learns...