Hand On Heart: Sequel to Head Over Heels

by Downing, Sara

  ‘So, what do you think?’ Grace asked, draping her arm over her friend’s shoulder.

  ‘Utterly amazing, I don’t know what to say, how to thank you all.’

  ‘Well, we can’t take any of the credit, seeing that James kept Tom and me totally in the dark.’ She scowled at James, but her eyes were smiling.

  ‘Yeah, sorry about that, Grace. I know you thought I was up to something bad, but I really couldn’t say a word about it. Much as I trust you both, one little slip and the whole thing would have been ruined, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘You’re right, but we really were starting to think you were mixed up in something dodgy. All that sneaking around in the night, unpacking boxes, making suspicious phone calls. I was on the verge of telling Evie about it. What a relief I didn’t.’

  James laughed. ‘Yeah, it was getting a bit touch and go at times. I didn’t like having to tell white lies to you two, but, hey, it’s all worked out and here we are. And my wife seems to like it.’ Evie hadn’t stopped grinning since she arrived back.

  ‘I love it, thank you so much everyone. Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this party started!’

  ‘One thing missing, my love,’ James said, casting his wife an up-and-down glance. ‘Hadn’t you better go and slip into that lovely dress you left hanging on the wardrobe this morning?’

  ‘Oh, yeah, come on Grace, let’s go and make ourselves gorgeous.’

  The two women disappeared off, arm in arm, towards the chateau. Immy and Ana excused themselves from their current tasks to go, too. Both had good reason to look their best this evening.

  ‘Dad, this is great. You’re great,’ said Immy, giving her father a huge hug as she passed.

  Due to popular demand the band were about to launch into their second rendition of ‘La Vie en Rose’. Everyone was up and swaying on the dance floor. Evie had gone to sit down for five minutes, just to get her breath back and watch the goings on. She wanted to make sure she committed every moment of this wonderful party to memory forever, and the only way to do that was to take a step back and observe all their friends, their families, having a wonderful time. It had been an amazing afternoon and evening, and she still couldn’t quite get her head around the fact that James had organised all of this without her getting wind of it. He was incredible.

  There was Henri with his wife, Bernadette. The pair of them were quite the elegant dancers, something to do with their generation, she supposed. This was probably the kind of music they had grown up with.

  ‘Great party, ma chérie,’ he shouted as they scooted past.

  Hugo left his wife, Eloise on the dance floor to come and sit with Evie.

  ‘Thank you for coming, Hugo,’ she said. ‘And I hear you had more than a little to do with the planning for all this?’

  ‘Um, yes, guilty as charged,’ he replied. ‘Xavier works for me and I put him on the case. But I believe you two have already met?’ He laughed, knowing that Evie had been introduced properly, earlier on in the evening, to the young man who had kissed her so audaciously at the service station. Just at that moment Xavier whizzed past them on the dance floor. He paused in front of Evie and kissed her hand.

  ‘Mademoiselle, the beautiful English woman,’ he said, smiling.

  ‘Yes, we met quite early on in the holiday,’ Evie joked. ‘Although of course at that time I had no idea who he was or what role he was going to be playing in all this.’

  ‘He was following you down, although I didn’t think it would be quite as closely as it was,’ Hugo explained. ‘He’d been up to Paris with me but needed to get back down here to help James with the planning, so I sent him back. He actually comes from the village. He’d met James briefly before, when he was over in the UK, but you have to believe me, it was pure coincidence that he was at that service station at the same time as you. He’d have seen you with James, of course, known who you were. Little devil, he’s a rakish sort, but a lovely chap, really.’

  ‘So James had met him before then, knew who he was?’

  ‘Oh yes. Bet he didn’t like him kissing you, did he?’

  ‘No, he made a fuss, but it must have been hard for him, knowing who the guy was, and that he couldn’t say anything.’

  Hugo laughed. ‘It all worked out well in the end, didn’t it? James has thrown you a fantastic party.’

  ‘It’s brilliant. I don’t want it to end, Hugo. Thank you so much for all your help.’

  Evie was in full hostess mode. She mightn’t have known until a few hours earlier that she was going to be hosting a party for eighty close friends and family, but she had no trouble slipping into the role. She was in her element, she loved parties like this, flitting from one person to the next, making sure she spoke to everyone.

  ‘Lydia, oh darling, I’ve missed you so much. I’m so glad you could come.’ Evie hugged her younger sister tightly. It was a while since they had seen one another. She was so pleased that Lydia had managed to get some time off from work, during their busiest period, to come over with her husband, Vincenzo. The pair of them lived in Florence. Lydia was a curator at the Uffizi gallery and had married the tutor she met when she went to the city to study. ‘How’s that niece or nephew of mine enjoying the party?’

  Lydia was expecting their first child, due around Christmas time. ‘Making him or herself felt,’ she laughed. ‘I think this is going to be a musical baby, it won’t stop dancing.’ Vincenzo came over and put his arm protectively around his wife.

  ‘Isn’t she, how do you say, blossoming?’ he said to Evie.

  Evie laughed. ‘We call it ‘blooming’. Same thing really, I suppose. Can we come and see you in the Christmas holidays, you two?’ Evie asked. ‘Hopefully by then you’ll have a gorgeous little bundle to show off to us. Auntie Evie will need lots of cuddles. Especially now her own two babies hardly need her anymore.’ She glanced wistfully at Immy and Ana, who were busy on the dance floor with their respective love interests.

  She moved on to Alex and Mark, who were sitting at the side, watching their own offspring on the dance floor. Archie was doing some cool, teenage dance, which required very little movement, it seemed, and for some reason only known to himself, Bertie was Cossack dancing across the floor. His big brother was keeping his distance, in case anyone might draw the conclusion that they were related. She joined them at their table.

  ‘Amazing party, Evie,’ Alex said. ‘We managed not to tell you, but it was soooo hard! There was one day, just before you left, when I almost blurted it out and said ‘See you in France!’’

  ‘I don’t know how you did it, all of you. I’d have been rubbish. What an enormous secret to have to keep.’

  ‘We have another secret, too,’ Alex went on, glancing at Mark. ‘We’re having another baby!’

  ‘Oh, my God! Wow, that’s fantastic news!’ Evie hugged her friend hard. ‘I’m so pleased for you, it’s lovely news, really it is.’

  ‘It’s very early days still, but I think it’s time to get Mark ‘done’ now, don’t you, book him in for a little op? Five kids is enough for anyone, I think!’ Mark looked slightly embarrassed at having the two women quite blatantly discussing his fecundity for all the world to hear. He got up to go and replenish their drinks.

  The two women laughed. ‘Look at that, we’ve scared him away,’ said Alex.

  ‘It’s great, Alex. You’re going to be busy again, just as Bertie starts school.’

  ‘Yeah, it’ll be fab, I can’t wait. But after that I really am done. No more babies after this one.’

  ‘Good for you,’ said Evie.

  ‘How’s it going, Grace?’ Evie asked her friend, who was sitting on a stool and propping up the bar, chatting away to the bar tender. ‘Where’s Tom?’

  ‘Oh, he’s over there dancing with Lily, look at the pair of them.’

  Tom was holding Lily in his arms, but she had her legs around his waist, so that their top halves looked like proper ballroom dancers, but with just one set of feet on the ground. />
  ‘She’s loving this, isn’t she?’

  ‘Yep, she’s the proper little grown up thing, now. My babies are getting big, Evie. But no more for us, we’ve decided. Lovely news about Alex and Mark, but we’re all done with babies now, I think. I know it’s never too late to say never, but our little family unit is complete, you know? Four is a good number, isn’t it, you know that. I love them to bits, but I’m really enjoying getting my life back now. That might sound selfish, but I need something else important in my life outside the family, or it would all be too much for me.’

  ‘Yeah, I do understand,’ Evie said. ‘It’s taken me longer to feel I’m at that point, but I’m so looking forward to getting properly started on my book when the girls go back to school. I think James understands that a bit more now. I’ve devoted the last sixteen years to him and the girls and now it’s time for me to do something I really want to do. It might not come to anything, but hey, you could be looking at the next Sunday Times bestselling author, for all we know. I’ve got to do it, now, or I think I’ll regret it forever.’

  ‘You have to, Evie. It’s your time now. You’ll be a great writer. I’ll buy your books!’

  ‘Oh thank you, loyal friend! I’m guaranteed to sell at least one copy, then,’ she joked.

  ‘Oh!’ gasped Grace before she could help herself, spotting Immy on the dance floor. Pascal was holding her very close and it looked from here as though the pair of them were kissing. Evie would see them any second and then there’d be trouble.

  ‘Don’t worry, Grace, I’ve seen them,’ Evie said, putting a calming hand on Grace’s arm. ‘I’m trying really hard be grown up about this. I remember what it was like, don’t you?’ She smiled at the pair of them. ‘I remember my parents being a complete nightmare every time a boy came near me. I’d like to hope I’m wise enough to give the girls their freedom, let them make their own choices. As long as they’re sensible ones, of course.’

  ‘They do look sweet together,’ Grace said. ‘Ahh, young love, isn’t it gorgeous? I remember all that heart pounding, knee-knocking stuff.’

  ‘What, you mean you don’t still go weak at the knees every time you set eyes on Tom?’ Evie asked. The pair of them laughed.

  ‘Only when I’ve had too much wine!’ said Grace.

  ‘So what about Ana? I see that young man from the restaurant is here too.’ Ana had invited the boy she met when they all went out for dinner together. He had come with his older sister, who had clearly been sent to keep an eye on him, but at the moment was propping up the bar and chatting up one of the bartenders, who looked at least fifteen years too old for her.

  Ana and the boy, Julien, were sitting in the café area, demurely holding hands.

  ‘Two teenage girls and two holiday romances all in the space of a fortnight,’ said Evie. ‘How’s a mother supposed to cope with that? And just how much moping are we going to get next week, when they’ve had to leave these boys behind?’

  ‘Awww, they’re so sweet,’ Grace said. ‘But even so, I’m not looking forward to when my two start dating. Can you imagine it? Jack will most likely want a girlfriend who can climb trees and crawl commando style through a pond, but Lily’s so exacting, she won’t want any boy turning up to take her out unless he’s dressed in a smart suit and she’s inspected his fingernails first.’

  ‘She’s so funny. Isn’t it weird to think of them all grown up? Life is so much easier, in a way, when they’re all small. When you know where they are at night, who their friends are, what they’re up to for most of the day? It feels like the girls have another whole life outside our family, now, that I’ll never know anything about.’

  ‘That’s life. You do your bit, bring them up as best you can and then you have to let go, Evie. It’s hard. But your girls are lovely, though. They’re growing up into kind, loving young women. I don’t think you’ve gone too far wrong, have you?’ Grace said.

  Evie looked across at her eldest, who was holding hands with Pascal as they danced.

  ‘No, I think you’re right.’

  ‘Come and dance with me,’ Grace said, grabbing Tom by the arm. He had put Lily down and she was now dancing with Archie, who had been happy to team up with a little person, provided they weren’t one of his siblings. At least if they did something embarrassing, he wasn’t related to them. Lily was trying to copy Archie’s cool-dude dancing, with hilarious consequences. Jack had found Bertie, and the pair of them were sitting at the bar, getting the bartender to make them up strange fruit juice and fizzy drink cocktails.

  ‘I just hope they’re not sick later, the little monkeys,’ Tom said, laughing at his son’s antics. ‘Come on then, my lovely wife.’

  ‘Been a fab holiday, hasn’t it? Despite the little hiccup in the middle,’ Grace said, as they smooched across the dance floor.

  ‘Yeah, it all worked out OK in the end, didn’t it?’ They hadn’t heard any more from Sophie, and fully expected not to, now that her parents were involved.

  ‘I hope she’ll be alright. I’m sure she will.’ She glanced up at the heavens. The stars here were amazing. They had spent many a night lying on the loungers looking up at the universe and wondering at the mystery of what was out there.

  ‘Look, there’s a really bright one up there,’ Tom said.

  ‘That’s Frannie, looking down on us,’ said Grace, suddenly. She hadn’t been thinking about her friend until that moment, but every so often she popped into her thoughts.

  ‘You miss her, don’t you?’ said Tom.

  ‘Desperately. But it still feels like she’s here, sometimes. She’d have loved this party, seeing all the children, such a happy occasion. I can see her sitting over there in the café, with a huge G and T, quietly observing all the goings on.’

  ‘Come on, let’s dance.’ He pulled his wife onto the dance floor.

  ‘Evie, I’ve got some news.’ James came bounding up to her excitedly, as she was chatting to one of her old university friends. He dragged her to one side, out of earshot. ‘I’ve just had a call from Lucy, back in the office. That client, Max, he’s only gone and signed up with us!’

  ‘Oh, James, that’s fantastic. You clever thing,’ she kissed him on the cheek. Clearly the lunch meeting they had had with them the previous week had paid off. She thought they partly had Lily and Jack to thank for that; the twins had been absolutely charming company, keeping them amused with their hilarious antics. Though of course a lot of it would be down to James’ great business skills, too.

  ‘This is brilliant, love. That’s us sorted now. First really big client to sign since… well. Anyway, it means the business is safe for the next five years, and that’s fabulous.’

  ‘It is, it’s great news, darling.’

  ‘I need to make a toast,’ James said, picking up a fork and banging it on his glass to get everyone’s attention.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if I could just say a few words,’ he began. It took a few seconds for the band to stop playing and for everyone to realise that James was about to speak.

  ‘Thank you all for joining us today,’ he went on. ‘It’s such a privilege to have you all here with us, and thank you for keeping it a secret from my lovely wife. It was a big ask, I know. And spending your time and hard-earned cash to come all this way to share a very special day with us, we really appreciate it. As you all know, it hasn’t been the easiest of years for Evie and me,’ he pulled her close to his side, ‘but we’re back on the right road now, and I can safely say, with my hand on my heart, that our future is bright. Thank you all for standing by us, and in particular for the support you showed to Evie and the girls, when I wasn’t around to be the husband and father I should have been.’ His voice faltered with emotion.

  There was a big cheer from the crowd. Evie dabbed at the tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes.

  ‘I love you, Evie, and our gorgeous girls. Let’s make a toast. To new beginnings.’

  ‘To new beginnings,’ chanted the guests, before
erupting into cheers.

  Author’s Note & Acknowledgements

  Writing a sequel has been a lot of fun. I loved revisiting my old friends and finding out what has happened to them in the six years since they all starred in ‘Head Over Heels’. At the start I had no idea where ‘Hand On Heart’ would take them, but it turns out they’ve all grown up a bit – and not just the children!

  Grace is the character I’d like to think has moved on the most, from her materialistic life with Mark to a happy and fulfilled one with Tom and their children. As the first ever character I created, I have a particular attachment to her, but I’m content now to leave her in her ‘Happily Ever After’.

  The children themselves have been fun to write about, too. As a parent to a teenager and twins, I have had plenty of material to draw upon! I hope my children won’t recognise themselves in Archie, Lily and Jack when they read my books one day!

  Once again I have a lot of people to thank: Alli Neal and Carice Green for being my first readers and editors, and Gemma Lewis for the fabulous cover design. My characters for taking me on a second journey into their lives – I will miss you all. And as always my husband and children for believing in me.

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  Hand On Heart

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