by Glynis Astie
Kate beamed. “She’s going to be a great big sister.”
At that moment, Luc and his entourage returned. After Kate fussed over her new nephew, she excused herself, citing urgent Sam business. It was clear from the look she gave me that she needed to find her husband tout de suite. She wouldn’t be able to keep the news from my mother for very long and she wanted to share the news with Nick before any more slip-ups took place. We know how unreliable pregnant women can be, don’t we?
I gratefully accepted my swaddled baby boy from his proud papa. He reminded me of a tiny blue burrito—almost good enough to eat! As I gazed into his angelic face, I thought about the impending Bennett family expansion. My poor, unsuspecting parents! I knew how much they loved their grandchildren, but I doubted they had planned on having this many in such close succession.
My mother was going to have a hell of a time splitting her attention between four kids in two different time zones! I guess it was lucky for her that she only lived close enough to one of them to visit on a regular basis. If Kate and I had still lived in New York, she would have had to close the shop in order to have enough time to spend with all her wee ones. And I’m sure it would have thrilled her to do so.
Louis kissed Luc softly on the head. “Not bad, Syd. Not bad at all.”
I tore my attention from my newborn and met my husband’s eyes. “You’re pretty psyched the pregnancy is over, aren’t you?” I winked to show that I was teasing.
He exhaled loudly. “You have no idea.”
Little did he know, we already had another pregnant woman in our midst. Granted, the heavy lifting would be done by Nick this time, but we would still have a front row seat for the process. Kate was fairly rational the last time, but it has become very clear to me over the past two years that life can be rather unpredictable. You never know exactly what the world has in store for you.
A gorgeous and charming Frenchman, perhaps? One who not only sweeps you off your feet, but also saves you from the life of spinsterhood you thought you were facing? A man who teaches you the importance of loving yourself and gives you the final push to be the confident woman you always knew you could be? A man who is your best friend, your partner and the father of your children? Anything is possible. If there is only one thing you take away from my story, let it be this: Hold on to your sunshine and sparkle with all your might. Your most cherished wish could be right around the corner. And he just may have an amazing accent.
Epilogue
Two years have passed and my precious Luc is now a toddler. We have been on a fantastic roller-coaster ride of trepidation, terror, triumph and euphoria. There were definitely times when I thought I wasn’t going to make it. There were sleepless nights, numerous, um, bodily expulsions and endless loads of laundry. I worried over every cough, every fever and every little scratch he had, but we both made it through relatively unscathed.
Louis has been an amazing father. He has given Luc bottles, baths and diaper changes without complaint. He relishes getting down on his knees to play everything from horsey to puzzles and reads books to his enraptured son complete with silly voices and hand gestures. In short, Louis has been in heaven.
He has even purchased a toy motorcycle for Luc so he can follow in his daddy’s footsteps. This purchase, of course, was met with a severe lecture from his adoring wife, reminding him that Luc can make the decision of whether or not to ride on such a contraption when he turns eighteen years old and not a moment before. (I’m sure he will make the right decision by then. And by right, I mean the decision to live.)
I have spent many hours staring into Luc’s beautiful blue eyes, which are every bit as gorgeous as his father’s. (although Louis insists that his are nothing compared to Luc’s). I can already see my future in his inquisitive eyes—a lifetime of both loving and worrying about him. At the top of my worry list is the identity of the woman he will marry.
In fact, it isn’t uncommon for me to tell my darling son, “Mommy is the most important woman in your life, Luc, and when you get married, I will be JUST as important to you as your wife.” Louis always smirks in response to my declaration, since he is all too aware of my complete sincerity. Every woman has the challenge of developing a good relationship with her mother-in-law; I’m certainly a testament to how difficult a task it can be. I will say this: My future daughter-in-law and I will have no problem whatsoever, as long as she understands one very important thing. He was mine first.
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading French Fry! If Sydney wormed her way into your heart, or perhaps tickled your funny bone just a little, I would be grateful if you took a few moments to write a review of your reading experience. Amazon or Goodreads; take your pick! Your time, effort and thoughtful words are greatly appreciated! Who knows? You may even wrangle a few unsuspecting folks into giving Sydney’s brand of humor a try!
Acknowledgments
I can’t believe Sydney’s journey has come to an end! She has made the last two years of my life a truly unforgettable experience. I wouldn’t have been able to tell her story without the love and support of an amazing group of people.
To my incredible husband, Sebastien, for being my biggest champion and for loving me unconditionally. (Now that you’ve read the entire French Twist series, you know how difficult this might be!) Thank you for continuing to inspire and encourage me and most importantly, for making me smile when I feel like crying.
To my beautiful boys, Ryan and Xander, for making my heart feel more love than I ever thought possible. Having the privilege of watching you grow and learning from you is the greatest gift I could hope to receive.
To my sister, Megan, for believing in me every step of the way. Sydney’s story never would have been written had it not been for your unwavering support. Thank you for once again unleashing your expert editing skills, for designing the most gorgeous book covers in existence, for pushing me to work even harder and for insisting I have great talent. You mean the world to me.
To my sister-in-law, Jen, for helping me to persevere through the rough patches. Thank you for your endless kindness and encouragement.
To my brother, Colin, for reminding me to enjoy the little things in life. Thank you for providing much-needed perspective and a lifetime of laughter. You are my hero.
To my brother-in-law, Josh, for his ability to knock me out of a funk, his contagious cackle and his superb marketing prowess. You rock!
To my nieces, Sabrina and Skyler, and my nephew, Jackson, for your unbridled interest in my books. Your enthusiasm is truly intoxicating! I’m so grateful to have you in my life.
To my nephew, Evan, for his joie de vivre. Thank you for your awesome hugs, infectious laughter and bright smiles!
To Cathy, for being a wonderful editor and confidante. Thank you for talking me through my doubts and restoring my faith in writing. I take immense pride in being responsible for your enjoyment of a small dose of Chick Lit.
To Deepa, for understanding me like no other. On the days I wanted to give up, your words of brilliance reeled me in and planted my butt back in the chair to write. Thank you for helping me find my compass. Oh, and thanks for inspiring the character of Maya!
To Dawn, for both your invaluable friendship and your kick-ass medical knowledge. Thank you for giving Sydney’s pregnancy the authenticity it needed. My poor memory has long erased my actual experiences with labor.
To Erica, without whom I would be lost most days. Thank you for being such a stable and compassionate presence in my life. Your friendship is truly priceless. As are your stellar proofreading skills!
To Jenean, for cheering me through this last book. Thank you for your kind words, warm hugs and delicious baking samples. There is nothing like a good friend who lifts your spirits, proofreads AND provides sugar!
To the fabulous Jayne Denker, for her trademarked fabulousness. Thank you for talking me down from the ledge (as only another author can), helping me to flesh out story ideas and reminding
me to find joy in writing. I also owe you a debt of gratitude for making me laugh when no one else could. Squirrels!
To the lovely and talented Tracie Banister for being such an amazing Queen Bee! I cannot imagine what I would have done had you not befriended me through Twitter. Thank you for your undying support, magnificent ideas and witty comments. You have changed my life forever!
To the incomparable Caitlin O’Brient Bauer for holding my hand through my foray into the world of social media. Thank you for making sense out my confusion and for inspiring me to be a better author. It doesn’t hurt that you are both one of the kindest and one of the coolest people I’ve ever met.
And to all of you who have read the French Twist series, for sticking with Sydney through her reign of insanity. I hope you have grown to love her as much as I do! Thank you for your encouragement, the time you have taken to write reviews and for recommending Sydney’s stories to others. Your heartfelt comments make everything worthwhile.
About the Author
Glynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien, in six short months. The end result became her first novel, French Twist. As this was just the beginning of their epic love story, Glynis continued to chronicle their adventures in the sequel, French Toast and the final installment in the series, French Fry.
When Glynis is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity.
Connect with Glynis Astie
Blog:
http://www.glynisastie.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/GlynisAstie
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/glynisastie/
Also by Glynis Astie
French Twist
French Toast
French Twist
Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...
“It was easy to root for Sydney because she was so darn likeable and her insecurities felt authentic…She made me laugh, she made me cringe with embarrassment and her relationships with her family made me cry (in a good way).”
-Meredith Schorr, author of Blogger Girl and How Do You Know?
“Based on real life events, French Twist is a beautiful love story that really makes you believe that love at first sight is possible…I look forward to reading more by this talented author!”
-Hilary Grossman, author of Dangled Carat
“Sydney Bennett is a mix of artlessness and anxieties with layers of zany…It’s light, fun, written with humour and happiness and all of that jumps off the page.”
-Cathy Ryan, Between the Lines Book Blog
“I really found the writing of the author refreshing and lively…I found the book quite entertaining… I cannot wait to start with book two.”
-Lynelle Clark, Aspired Writer Book Blog
“I thought this book was completely charming, fun, and romantic…You will get wrapped up in the story and swept away by the romance of it all.”
Steph, Steph the Bookworm Book Blog
French Toast
Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met?
As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months.
With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast…
“Both French Twist and French Toast are lighthearted fun reads that will keep you in stitches and make you a believer that fairytale romances really do exist ... even when real life puts obstacles in the way!”
-Kathleen Anderson, Jersey Girl Book Reviews
“This novel has a refreshing story line and is a fun, enjoyable read that will make you laugh, and leave you with a feeling of a little exhaustion as Sydney shares the preparations taking place for multiple wedding ceremonies.”
-Edythe Hamilton, Ski-Wee’s Book Corner
“French Toast, the second book of the French Twist series by Glynis Astie, was a delightful book...The mishaps and issues that crop up for this poor couple made me laugh out loud many times...I look forward to reading book three!”
-Heather McCoubrey, author of To Love Twice and Back to December
“This was a terrific sequel to French Twist and I enjoyed it a great deal. Much of it was laugh-out-loud funny, and her characters were appealing and convincing as were her situations.
-Reader
