by Anita Hughes
“I don’t know what you mean.” Serena’s voice was tight.
“I mean”—Zoe grabbed her paper sack and slung her Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder—“you sound just like Chase. I’m going to Skype Ian, I’ll see you later.”
Serena sucked in her breath as if she’d been punched. She stared at the blue Mediterranean, trying to stop her heart from racing. She watched wooden fishing boats row to shore and silver speedboats fly over the waves. Finally she stood up and walked to the dining-room table. She picked up her phone and dialed Chelsea’s number.
* * *
Serena left her suitcases with the concierge and ran through the revolving glass doors. She glanced at her watch and strode quickly down the Boulevard de la Croisette. The car taking her to the airport would arrive in fifty minutes. She clutched her soft leather purse and walked faster.
She climbed the narrow cobblestones to Nick’s building and rang the doorbell. She treaded a small circle on the sidewalk, waiting for Nick to let her in. She slipped in the entrance behind an old woman and ran up the three flights of stairs. She knocked on the door and listened for Nick’s footsteps. Finally she gave up and ran into the street.
She thought of asking Isabel at Le Maurice where Nick was, but it was late afternoon and the restaurant was closed. She stood at the top of the alley and gazed at the glittering ocean. She saw the wide yachts lining the dock and the seagulls clustered on the shore. She took off her sandals and ran down the hill to the sand. She ran faster, scouring the small fishing boats and sleek catamarans.
“What are you doing here?” Serena asked.
Nick sat on the dock with his legs dangling into the water. He wore rolled-up khakis and a navy T-shirt. His hair stuck to his shoulders and he had light stubble on his chin.
“I’m thinking of buying a boat; it might be rushing things to join the Oracle team,” Nick said slowly. “I should stay in Cannes and be close to Chantal and Veronique.”
“That’s a shame,” Serena said as she sat next to Nick and swung her legs over the dock. She wore a floral Pucci dress and silver leather sandals. Her ponytail was tied with a yellow ribbon and she wore diamond studs in her ears. “You’ll miss the wedding of the year in San Francisco. The ceremony is going to be at Saints Peter and Paul Church, the San Francisco Boys Chorus is going to sing ‘Ave Maria.’ The reception will be held in a tent at the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Stanlee Gatti is providing the flowers and Michael Mina is doing the catering: Morro Bay abalone and Liberty Farms duck breast and king crab tortellini. The Fundamentals are going to perform and Sam Godfrey is baking a six-tier chocolate mousse wedding cake.”
“Who’s getting married?” Nick asked.
Serena took a deep breath. Her arms shook and her mouth trembled. “We are, if the offer you made earlier is still available.”
“What are you saying?” Nick’s voice was low.
Serena stood up and smoothed her skirt. She shielded her eyes against the sun and glanced down at Nick.
“Ask me again,” she whispered.
Nick kneeled on the dock and took Serena’s hand. He reached into his pocket and took out a red leather jewelry box with CARTIER printed in gold letters. He opened the box and displayed a solitaire diamond ring in a white gold setting.
“Serena, will you marry me?” Nick asked.
“Where did you get that ring?” Serena gasped.
“I thought if by some wonderful stroke of luck I got to ask the question again, I should have a new ring.” Nick smiled. “One without any history.”
Serena felt the air rush from her lungs. Nick hadn’t given up. Even when she turned him down he believed in them enough to buy a new ring.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” Serena nodded.
Nick slipped the ring on her finger and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her slowly, tasting of mint toothpaste. He held her tightly, running his hands through her hair. He finally released her, gripping her hand as if he were afraid she’d disappear.
“I love you,” Nick said, and tucked a blond hair behind her ear. “It might not be easy, but together we can accomplish anything. We’re a team.”
“There’s someone I need to call.” Serena fished her phone out of her purse and scrolled down the screen. She found the number and pressed call.
“Serena! How wonderful to hear your voice. We were about to check out and leave for the airport; I bought you the most fabulous sarong hand sewn by African villagers,” Kate’s voice came over the line.
“I’m glad I caught you,” Serena replied, gazing at the shimmering coastline.
“Is anything wrong? Charles told me you’re arriving on Saturday,” Kate replied. “I can’t wait to see you, I’m going to book us facials at Joseph Cozza on Maiden Lane. Africa is fascinating, but it’s so humid; my skin feels like paper.”
“Everything is perfect.” Serena paused. “I’m in love, I’m getting married.”
“Getting married!” Kate exclaimed. “That’s very sudden. The Côte d’Azur can be so seductive, are you sure it’s not a holiday romance?”
“He’s everything I wished for. He’s handsome and smart and kind and he makes me happy.” Serena felt the warm sun on her back and her shoulders relaxed. She took a deep breath and squeezed Nick’s hand. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
acknowledgments
First and always, thanks to my wonderful agent, Melissa Flashman, and my brilliant editor, Hilary Rubin Teeman. A thank-you to Hilary’s terrific assistant, Alicia Clancy; my amazing publicist, Katie Bassel; and the great team at St. Martin’s Press: Jennifer Weis, Jennifer Enderlin, Lauren Jablonski, Elsie Lyons, and Bethany Reis.
Thanks to the wonderful blogger Andrea Peskind Katz for the support and friendship, and a special thank-you to Jane Hanauer and the staff at Laguna Beach Books. And a big thank-you to my family—my husband, Thomas; my children, Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, and Thomas; and my daughter-in-law, Lisa—for bringing me so much joy.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think Serena should have taken the assignment in Cannes right after Chase proposed, or should she have stayed in San Francisco to help Chase with his mayoral campaign and plan the wedding? Would their relationship have turned out differently if she didn’t take the assignment?
2. Zoe lied to Serena at the beginning of their friendship. Serena forgave her and agreed to continue the friendship. If you were Serena would you have done the same thing, or do you expect honesty from your friends at all times?
3. Describe Kate’s relationship with Charles. How do you perceive Kate as a woman? Do you respect the decisions she made or disagree with them?
4. Of all the relationships in the novel, which one resonates the most with you and why?
5. Do you think Serena was correct in keeping what she learned about their past from Nick? Would you have done the same thing, and if not, what would you have done instead?
6. At one point, Bertrand says to Yvette, “If only I had been a better man or you had been a lesser woman, we could have made it work.” What did he mean, and how do you feel about his words?
7. Yvette and Kate have similar views on love. What are they, and do you agree with them?
8. What are your thoughts on Chantal? Do you have any sympathy for her either when she was very young or now that she is dying?
9. Do you think Zoe put too much time and effort into keeping her parents together when she should have been pursuing her own life? Why or why not?
10. Location plays a big part in the story. Cannes seems idyllic—the food, the hotels, the beaches. What is your favorite holiday destination and why?
St. Martin’s Griffin
About the Author
Anita Hughes is the author of Lake Como, Monarch Beach, and Market Street. She attended the University of California, Berkeley’s, masters of creative writing program. Hughes lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit her Web site at anitahughesbooks.com or
sign up for email updates here.
Also by Anita Hughes
Monarch Beach
Market Street
Lake Como
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
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.
FRENCH COAST. Copyright © 2015 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 Elsie Lyons
Cover photographs: woman © soft_light/Shutterstock.com; umbrellas © Christian Musat/Shutterstock.com
eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-05251-3 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-06610-7 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-6842-7 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466868427
First Edition: April 2015
