Christmas in Paris
Page 25
“I hope the menu makes up for it.” Alec ran his hands through his hair. “I thought a soup course and fish or poultry would be sufficient. But the chef convinced us our guests needed buckwheat pancakes and Dublin bay prawns with warm mayonnaise and some kind of black pudding.” He squeezed Isabel’s hand. “We’re only going to do this once. I told him to serve whatever he wants.”
Isabel looked up and saw Claudia admiring a gilt frame. “You stay here and talk to my parents,” she whispered to Alec. “I want to say hello to your mother.”
“It’s lovely to see you,” Isabel said to Claudia. “Is that a Dior gown? It’s stunning.”
Claudia kissed Isabel on the cheek. Her dress was pale blue chiffon, and she wore an emerald necklace and silver pumps.
“It was the first dress I ever bought at the Dior store. I thought Alain would have a heart attack when he saw the price tag,” she said and smiled. “I hid it in my closet and every day I thought I’d return it. One evening I came home and Alain was waiting in the salon with a box wrapped in tissue paper.
“It was my birthday and he bought me a present. I tore it open and discovered the same dress! He said the minute he saw the dress at Dior, he knew it was perfect.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I never told him about the other dress, I returned it the next morning.”
“I’m glad you had so many happy years together,” Isabel said softly. “I love your son very much.”
“I know you do and he loves you.” Claudia reached into her purse and took out a velvet jewelry case. “I have something for you.”
Isabel opened the black case and discovered a strand of pearls with an antique clasp.
“I know Alec is getting my mother’s diamond-and-sapphire ring reset, but I wanted you to have this necklace,” Claudia explained. “Alain and I put it aside years ago for the woman Alec was going to marry.”
“Why didn’t Alec give it to Celine?” Isabel wondered.
“I didn’t tell him about it.” Claudia paused. “Let’s just say I wanted to make sure the engagement would last.”
Isabel looked up and saw a couple standing in the doorway. The woman had a smooth pageboy and wore a red dress and long white gloves. Her lips were coated with shimmering red lipstick and she carried a satin clutch.
“I think I better go and see Alec,” Isabel murmured.
“Don’t worry about Alec and Bettina.” Claudia followed Isabel’s gaze. “They’re adults, they’ll work it out.”
“Bettina and Édouard,” Isabel greeted them, “I’m so glad you came, we were afraid you had other plans.”
“One of Édouard’s patients is an Arabian prince and is hosting a private party at the George Cinq,” Bettina began. “Ten pounds of osetra caviar and sautéed escargot and a performance by Sting at midnight. But I told Édouard we had to come to the Crillon, nothing is more important than family.”
“Are you sure you weren’t worried we were really getting married?” Alec said, joining them. Isabel noticed his tie was slightly crooked and his cheeks were flushed. “After all it is before January fourth.”
“It did cross my mind,” Bettina admitted. “Isabel seems very intelligent, it would be the smart thing to do.”
“Isabel wants to have a spring wedding and I agree.” Alec put his arm around her. “You can grab a glass of Dom Pérignon to go if you like. We won’t stop you from hobnobbing with royalty.”
“I think we’ll stay. I’ve never been able to eat escargot. It reminds me of the snails you collected in the garden when we were children.” Bettina took off her silk gloves. “We have our own announcement. Édouard and I are engaged.”
“That’s wonderful, what a gorgeous ring,” Isabel gasped, admiring the emerald-cut diamond on a platinum band. “When is the wedding?”
“We don’t have a date yet, Édouard wants a long engagement.” Bettina hesitated. “I quite agree, it will take months to pick out my dress. I already set up showings in Milan and New York.”
“We are happy for you.” Alec shook Édouard’s hand. “We’ll have to open a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild from our father’s cellar to celebrate.”
A couple walked over to them, and Isabel recognized Mathieu’s light brown hair and angular nose. His wife wore a black dress over her rounded stomach and a diamond bracelet.
“This is a scene that would warm the heart of any estate attorney,” Mathieu said. “Marriages and births do bring families together.”
“We weren’t sure if you could make it.” Alec clapped Mathieu on the shoulder. “It’s an impossible night to get a taxi and I didn’t think Helene would take the metro in her condition.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Mathieu laughed. “Next year we’ll be spending New Year’s Eve surrounded by baby bottles and those jumpy things you attach to the doorway.” He sipped his champagne. “I tried to install it yesterday and almost brought down the plaster ceiling.”
Isabel saw the maître d’ motioning to her and smiled. “I think we should be seated. Chef Jean-Paul is very particular. He won’t be pleased if we let his spinach gnocchi get cold.”
The guests sat on embroidered high-backed chairs and waiters served green asparagus soup topped with sour cream. There were platters of milk-fed lamb and risotto with chanterelle mushrooms. Isabel ate breast of duckling with black currants and thought she had never tasted anything so delicious.
“It’s proper etiquette for the groom to make a toast at the engagement dinner,” Alec said when the main courses had been replaced by sponge cake and chocolate tarts and slices of Emmental cheese. Demitasses held Turkish coffee, and there were silver bowls of licorice ice cream.
“The last time I spoke at a dinner party, I embarrassed everyone by thanking an imaginary dog. I swore I’d never put myself in the same position, but then I met Isabel. Somehow it’s not as frightening to stand up here tonight.” He glanced at Claudia. “Though I might still be afraid of a few things, like parasailing on a Spanish island. I don’t want to leave the people I love a moment too soon.
“Many of you know Isabel, but those who don’t are in for a treat. She’s the most beautiful and genuine woman I ever met and I can’t believe she said yes.” He paused. “Now I’m going to do the intelligent thing and turn the evening over to my fiancée. She can express our gratitude better than I can.”
Isabel stood up and brushed a tear from her eye. She glanced at the candles flickering in the gold candelabra and took a deep breath.
“A short time ago I sat in my mother’s kitchen and said I thought I’d never find the man to marry. She replied this wasn’t the nineteenth century and I’m not Jane Austen. You only get married if you discover the person you can’t live without.” She looked at Alec. “When I met Alec, I finally understood what she meant. He’s warm and kind and I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” She paused. “We can’t thank you enough for coming. Being happy is wonderful, but sharing your happiness with the people you love is the best thing in life.” She fiddled with her earrings. “And I have to thank Gus. He may be imaginary, but he’s brought joy and hope to children all over the world.” Her face broke into a smile. “I can’t wait to read his next adventure.”
Alec kissed her and everyone clapped. Isabel heard a clock chime midnight and inhaled the scent of French perfume and dark chocolate. She gazed out the window at a light snow falling on the Place de la Concorde and wondered how anyone could be so happy. She kissed him back and knew she was exactly where she belonged.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Melissa Flashman, my agent, and Lauren Jablonski, my editor, for being the best two people I could hope to work with. Thank you to my publicist, Staci Burt, for tirelessly getting my books into the world. And thank you to the whole team at St. Martin’s Press: Karen Masnica and Laura Clark in marketing, Danielle Fiorella for her wonderful cover, and always to Jennifer Enderlin and Jennifer Weis.
This book is a little magical, so I want to thank the people who add magic to my life, my
family: my husband, Thomas; my children, Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, and Thomas; and my daughter-in-law, Lisa.
Discussion Questions
1. Isabel calls off her wedding to Neil three days before the ceremony because they can’t agree on anything. Do you think she is doing the right thing or should she have tried to work things out?
2. Isabel is pragmatic in her career, but entrusts her romantic future to a fortune-teller. Have you ever done something that seems to be the opposite of who you are? If so, how did it turn out?
3. Alec doesn’t tell Isabel about his mother’s situation because he doesn’t want to air the family’s dirty laundry. Do you agree with his decision or should he have confided in Isabel?
4. What are your thoughts on Bettina? Does she deserve sympathy because her mother abandoned her or is her behavior unforgivable?
5. Isabel has been dreaming of going to Paris on her honeymoon since she was a girl. What is your dream honeymoon destination and why?
6. Paris is almost another character in the novel. Can you imagine the story being set anywhere else? If so, where?
7. Isabel meets Rory when she is very young and is instantly attracted to him. Do you think that colored her actions and have you ever had a relationship based on physical attraction?
8. Alec is somewhat insecure even though he is good-looking and charming. What do you think is the cause? Bettina or his unique career or something else?
9. Alec and Celine had a fraught relationship. Do you think they would have gotten married if Celine hadn’t left in the beginning?
10. Describe the role that fate plays in the story. Do you believe that “things happen for a reason”?
St. Martin’s Griffin
ALSO BY ANITA HUGHES
Santorini Sunsets
Island in the Sea
Rome in Love
French Coast
Lake Como
Market Street
Monarch Beach
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Hughes is the author of Christmas in Paris, Santorini Sunsets, Island in the Sea, Rome in Love, French Coast, Lake Como, Market Street, and Monarch Beach. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program and lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit www.anitahughesbooks.com for more information. Or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Acknowledgments
Discussion Questions
About the Author
Also by Anita Hughes
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
CHRISTMAS IN PARIS. Copyright © 2016 by Anita Hughes. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Danielle Fiorella
Cover photographs: Christmas wreath © Photastic / Shutterstock; Eiffel Tower in Paris © Ilona Ignatova / Shutterstock; window in Paris © Radius Images / Offset
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-10550-9 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-10551-6 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781250105516
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First Edition: October 2016