French Coast (31 page)

“What did you say?” Yvette asked.

Serena stood at the French doors and gazed at the harbor. It was midmorning and the Mediterranean was like a sheet of glass. White clouds drifted across the sky and pink and white villas climbed the hillside like icing on a cake.

“I'm taking a position at
Vogue
in New York.” Serena turned around. “Long-distance relationships never work.”

“I see.” Yvette looked at Serena quizzically. “Chantal told me Nick joined the Oracle America's Cup team in San Francisco; he must really love you.”

“Chelsea offered me a wonderful opportunity in New York.” Serena bit her lip. “I couldn't pass it up.”

“I remember when Bertrand left for Hollywood,” Yvette mused. “He said everyone gets over love affairs, but I didn't believe him.” Yvette walked to the sideboard and filled a plate with cantaloupe and honeydew and wheat toast. She added a strip of bacon and a pot of strawberry jam and sat at the dining-room table.

“Now I think he was right. I can hardly remember the way my heart used to pound when I smelled Bertrand's cologne. He always smelled of aftershave and cigarettes, I used to think it was the sexiest scent in the world.” Yvette sighed. “For years whenever I saw a man wearing a white straw hat, I couldn't catch my breath. If I heard Bertrand's name in conversation, I felt a throbbing between my legs. But time heals most things; it's been almost thirty years and I'm learning how to be happy.” She ate a bite of melon and looked at Serena carefully. “The fruit is delicious, please help yourself.”

*   *   *

“Look what I have!” Zoe exclaimed, entering the living room of the Cary Grant Suite. She wore a red Marc Jacobs shirtdress with a wide leather belt. She carried a Louis Vuitton overnight bag and clutched a brown paper sack.

“How was the wedding breakfast?” Serena asked, moving around the living room collecting her books and magazines. Her flight left in four hours and she was almost packed. Her Coach suitcase stood at the entry and her laptop and notepads were stacked on the dining-room table.

“I just saw my parents off on the yacht, they were like a couple of teenagers,” Zoe said as she drew a round object out of the paper sack. “It's Bono's egg timer. He's staying at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and he sat next to us at breakfast. I asked for his autograph but he didn't have a pen. He gave me his egg timer; he eats the same breakfast every day: a four-minute egg, porridge, and an orange. Isn't that the sexiest thing you ever heard?”

“I wonder if Ian would think so.” Serena laughed.

“Ian thinks Bono is one step below God. We're taking a walking tour of Bono's favorite Irish pubs next summer.” Zoe scooped up a handful of macadamia nuts from the silver tray on the coffee table. “How's Nick? The last time I saw you, you and Nick were slow dancing to ‘Candle in the Wind.'”

Serena dropped a copy of French
Elle
on the side table. “Nick told me you went to see him at his apartment. You shouldn't have done that.”

“Someone had to, you two were like Romeo and Juliet.” Zoe ate a cluster of raisins. “I hated that play. I always wanted to shake Romeo and say don't drink the hemlock, Juliet's only sleeping.”

“Nick is joining the Oracle America's Cup team and moving to San Francisco.” Serena sat on the royal-blue velvet sofa. “He asked me to marry him.”

“What did you say?” Zoe demanded.

“He gave me a yellow diamond in a green Shreve jewelry box. It was part of Chantal's jewelry collection.” Serena twisted her ponytail. “Nick didn't realize the ring was a present from my father. Shreve is San Francisco's most renowned jewelry store; my father shops there all the time.”

Zoe's eyes grew wide and she fiddled with her silver charm bracelet. “If you don't like the ring, tell him you want to pick one out yourself. I was just at Van Cleef and Arpels drooling over the two-carat diamond solitaires.”

“My parents survived the affair by pretending it never happened. Can you imagine how hurt my mother would be if I wore Chantal's ring?” Serena frowned. “Situations like that would arise all the time. Nick and I would be a walking reminder of my father's secret family.

“Nick worshipped Charles when he was a boy,” Serena continued. “How will Nick feel if Dad refuses to acknowledge his existence? Chase and I used to have dinner with them twice a week; can you imagine Nick and my parents sharing a Napa Valley chardonnay and Bolinas Farms oysters?”

Zoe stood up and walked to the sideboard. She gazed at the platters of cucumber sandwiches and deviled eggs and puff pastries. She turned and glared at Serena.

“You're treating your parents like newborns in the neonatal ward. When your mother decided to stay with your father she knew it wasn't going to be easy. The affair ended fifteen years ago! If Kate hasn't forgiven him, they'll never last,” Zoe raged. “And Nick can take care of himself. He's faced thirty-foot waves in the Tasman Sea; he can survive your father's cold shoulder.” Zoe strode back to the sofa. “Stop thinking you're protecting everyone else and admit you can't handle it. If you want to run away, go ahead, but don't blame anyone else.”

“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?

 

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