Season Four: French Kissing, Book 4
Page 27
“I know you’re a very busy woman.” Margot sighed. “You know I’m not a talker. But it means a lot that you’re here.”
“I wasn’t going to recommend you go see my shrink, you know.” Steph ran a hand through her hair. For some reason, it made Margot think of the very first time they’d met and Steph had hit on her in the elevator of Nadia and Juliette’s building. Margot had been quick to dismiss Steph at the time. She’d had no way of knowing Steph would become one of her dearest friends—and Margot was the kind of person who could count her good friends on the fingers of one hand.
“Are you still seeing the shrink?” Margot asked.
“Not often. Dominique and I have found a sort of balance. We’ve found our way more in our new roles.”
“Regardless of what everyone else wants, what would you prefer Dominique decide?” Margot gazed into Steph’s clear, blue eyes.
Steph pursed her lips. “It’s a tough one. I didn’t even know it was an option. Not for one single second have I ever thought that Dominique wouldn’t run again. Instead of blood, she has politics running through her veins, if you know what I mean. She’s a politician through and through and she can’t go any higher after the presidency. This is it. That she would even consider not running again has really thrown me.”
“Is she afraid of the competition?” Margot asked. Most of the people in her own life had much more left-wing inclinations than her—and were riveted that someone as capable and charismatic as Anne Rivière was stepping up for the moderate left.
“No way. That would never be the reason.”
“So, it’s personal.”
Steph nodded. “Every day, I witness first-hand what being president does to a person. The amount of sacrifice it requires. I just hope I’m not the reason she’s reconsidering. I couldn’t live with that. Not after everything we went through to get her to where she is.”
“The world changes all the time. Our brains have a hard time keeping up. This is true for someone even with the least demanding job. Imagine having to deal with all of that and run the country.”
“I think it’s mainly about the children. Sometimes, I can just see on her face how the guilt of not spending enough time with them is ripping her to pieces. She’s their mother, yet she has to prioritise different matters and people every single day.”
“I don’t have children, but I do understand.” This made Margot think of the sacrifice her birth mother had made. Was she still alive? Did she think about the children she’d given birth to and had given away? Had it happened under duress? There were so many questions Margot wanted answers to.
Margot’s cell phone started ringing.
“Sorry, I have to take this.”
“Of course,” Steph said.
On the phone, Margot was told her presence was urgently needed in the emergency room. As was usual for most days, she hadn’t even touched her lunch.
“Duty calls.” She rose. “Thanks so much for stopping by. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.” She walked from behind her desk and whereas prior to the death of her parents Margot would have said her goodbyes with a quick peck on the cheek, she now drew her friend in for a hug.
* * *
Find out what happens next in French Kissing: Season Five
A Note from Harper
Dear Reader,
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If you’ve enjoyed this book, you can make a big difference. Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. Being an author who writes for a niche market (lesbian fiction), I don’t have the financial muscle of a big New York publisher behind me when it comes to marketing. I can’t take out full page newspaper ads and put posters in the subway.
But I do have something much more powerful and effective than that, and it’s something those publishers would kill to get heir hands on: a committed and loyal group of readers. (You!)
Honest reviews of my books bring them to the attention of other readers (and encourage the Amazon algorithm to promote my books in 'Also Boughts' and search results on the website.)
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Thank you,
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Harper xo
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Harper Bliss is the author of the Pink Bean series, the High Rise series, the French Kissing serial and many other lesbian romance titles. She is the co-founder of Ladylit Publishing and My LesFic weekly newsletter.
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Copyright © 2018 by Harper Bliss
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Published by Ladylit Publishing - Hong Kong
ISBN: 978-988-78014-0-5