I Promise You This (Love in Provence Book 3) (30 page)

Standing to one side, Delphine waved shyly. She was looking after the dogs for the day. Rocco and Coco sat on command, each wearing a pale-blue bow on their collar. Katherine swallowed hard as she realized Delphine held one more leash. Dear, dear Pico was standing next to them, also wearing a bow and wagging his tail as he looked straight at her. He was so much a part of her love story. She chuckled as Philippe commented the bows wouldn’t last long.

Then, as if on cue, the group parted in the middle, and from behind them appeared Andrea and Terence with their three children, as well as Lucy and Laura, and Dr. H. and Susan Henderson.

Now Kat was overcome. There was no controlling it. She burst into tears.

She found it difficult to speak, and simply walked around hugging, grinning, and shaking her head in delight. Every time she tried to say something, she could feel tears well up and her voice catch. She waved her hands in front of her eyes and whispered that she would come back to each person she greeted.

Trays filled with flutes of champagne appeared from the bistro across the street, and everyone spread out in the empty market area to chat and congratulate the newlyweds.

Nick had transported the Canadian contingent in a private plane. He had booked every room in the small hotel where Tony had stayed, Le Relais du Postillon, for them to spend the weekend. They had arrived the morning before and told Kat how Nick had organized a van to take them on a tour of the coast and up into the hills for that afternoon. They were all abuzz with excitement and so thrilled to be there.

Katherine recovered her composure, and her glee was contagious. Spirits were high. Philippe was beside himself with pleasure at how everything had worked out. Kat kept going back to kiss and hug him and say how she could never imagine anything more wonderful. Nick received his share of hugs and thanks as well.

After an hour of mingling and sipping champagne, Nick announced that everyone should follow him to a place outside the ancient town walls, just a few minutes down the street by the port. There, limos would pick up the group for the next stage of the afternoon. Kat gave Philippe a questioning look; he simply grinned.

Bernadette opened the door of the Rolls and, with a flourish, invited the bride and groom to climb in.
“Félicitations, Madame et Monsieur Dufours! Meilleurs voeux pour votre mariage. Je vous souhaites tout le bonheur du monde!”

All the happiness in the world,
Katherine thought.
Yes, I would agree that we couldn’t be off to a better beginning.

The stately vehicle did a small tour of the town’s wider streets, horn honking, as the French loved to do. Then, to Kat’s surprise, they turned up the road to the Cap. She wondered where Bernadette was taking them on such a circuitous route. “She probably wants to show off this fantastic car to everyone,” she commented to Philippe. He smiled and nodded.
“Bien sûr!”

To Kat’s surprise, Bernadette headed toward their property. The gates were wide open and festooned with floral ropes and lavish wreaths. This was almost more than Katherine could handle, “You mean those tapes this morning . . . your story about floor tiles . . . none of it was true?”

Philippe’s eyes crinkled with delight. “
Attends, mon amour
. Just wait.”

Time stood still for Kat. She found herself lost in Philippe’s gaze. Every nerve tingled with delight, assuring her she had never felt so loved or been so in love before. Her fingers lingered on his cheek. The familiar touch of the light stubble on his face excited her, and she suddenly was reminded that she would wake up beside this beautiful man every day for the rest of her life.

Philippe took her hand, slowly kissing each fingertip before their lips pressed hotly together. Kat gasped as his fingers curled into her hair and he pulled her to him. Her arms went around him. She could feel his muscles, hard and strong, as their bodies melted into each other. Katherine felt intoxicated as their lips continued a delicious dance of ecstasy. Slowly, they pulled away from each other and leaned back against the seat.

Katherine rested her head on Philippe’s shoulder, catching her breath.

“Je t’aime, je t’aime . . .”
Philippe whispered, his lips brushing her hair. Katherine repeated his words, and they sat in luscious silence.

As the car slowly came to a stop at the front entrance, Katherine fixed her hair and straightened her dress. Philippe brushed a few strands from her face as she straightened his jacket and tie. They could not stop smiling.

Bernadette announced that they had arrived.
“Alors, nous sommes chez vous!”

Kat could see the villa had been transformed since that morning. Enormous urns, overflowing with flowers and vines, lined the entrance. A long, beautifully painted banner reading “
Villa des Violettes ~ Amour Vit Ici
/Love Lives Here” hung across the double doors.

Standing on the front terrace were Didier and his
équipe
: Auguste, Alphonse, and Alesander, all spruced up in ironed jeans and dress shirts. All wearing new berets.

Didier proudly attended to the car door, while Auguste rolled out a carpet over the tiles. With a grand sweep of their arms, the brothers threw open the doors to the villa.

A loud “Surprise!” in both French and English rang through the air as Kat and Philippe walked into the entrance hall and main salon. The limos had obviously gone straight to the property and dropped everyone there.

The space had been transformed into a magical forest of trees and plants. The theme had been painted in
trompe l’oeil
over the walls.

The party was on.

André wandered through the crowd, taking photos. Adorée’s friends were circulating with trays of appetizers and drinks. Emile waved from behind a table where crostini,
tapenades
, and
foie gras
were being served.

Philippe whispered to Katherine, “This is where Adorée and her friends were all night. Some of them came here during the week and worked with Didier and the guys. I had no idea what they were up to with all these decorations. Véronique oversaw everything, and Simone even came over to help with some painting ideas.
C’est fantastique!
”

“So that’s why Molly and Tony insisted I go on the road trip to Avignon with them this week. You were all plotting behind my back.”

Kat hugged Philippe with all of her might as every emotion she could imagine swirled through her. “For the lack of surprises in my life before you, you have more than made up for them. I can never thank you enough.
Je t’adore . . . tu es l’amour de ma vie.
”

“You’ve thanked me for everything by becoming my wife. Madame Katherine Dufours,
pour toujours et à jamais
, forever and always.” They lingered in an embrace before mingling with their guests.

Katherine, Andrea, and Molly found a quiet corner to share hugs. Holding their hands, Kat said, “There are moments when I have to remind myself I’m not dreaming. I can’t believe the three of us are here, living this day together.”

Molly was struggling to control her emotions as Andrea replied, “When I think back to this time last year, I’m reminded that we never know where life is going to lead us. I couldn’t be more thrilled for you, Kat. I feel your true destiny is just beginning. This kind of happiness was a long time coming.”

Katherine kissed her cousin’s cheek before the three friends squeezed each other tightly. Then she turned to Molly, who was still fighting back tears. “Molly! No more tears. I’ve been the crybaby lately, not you!”

Molly bit her lower lip and nodded vigorously before she spoke. “Right, Katski. I haven’t cried these kind of happy tears in all my life. It’s just all been so fu . . . so frickin’ beautiful.”

Andrea took tissues from her purse and passed them around. Katherine murmured, “I’ve learned so much from both of you this past year. You helped me to believe in life again, to believe in myself, and to take chances. True friends—that’s what you are. I’m so lucky to have you in my life, and that’s never going to change.”

“Never,” they all said in unison.

“I love you guys,” Kat said, her voice quivering.

“Me more,” Andrea insisted with a grin.

“Fuckin’ A!” was Molly’s response, through her tears. They all laughed uproariously as she explained, “I just said that for effect; one last f-bomb, for old times’ sake.”

Molly wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and continued, “Remember when you were so conflicted about making your home here?”

Katherine nodded.

“Well, I’ve watched you for the last two months, and may I just say this. Your. Home. Is. Here. No question! And it’s a home with more affection, tenderness, joy, and fun—more
amour
—than I’ve ever seen. I love it . . . and I love you and I love Philippe and I love that at this stage in our lives we can begin again.”

Now Kat and Molly hugged each other and rocked back and forth before they pulled Andrea into their arms.

“It’s a hell of a story, Katski. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

After an hour or so, the sound of a soft gong interrupted the festivities. Giving it one more tap as he stood in the middle of the room, Didier announced,
“Le repas de noce.”

The painted papers that covered the doors to the back gardens were taken down by assorted guests obviously in the know, and the shutters were opened.

A fairy-tale setting greeted Kat’s eyes. On the lawn, three long tables were covered in white linen and set for a meal with colorful Provençal dishes and rainbow-hued glassware from Biot. Stunning floral arrangements overflowed from pots and containers on the ground as well as hanging from hooked holders.

White fabric-covered chairs, trimmed with blue ribbon, lined the tables. Some chairs were also scattered in groupings about the garden to create intimate spaces. On one corner of the terrace, Katherine and Philippe’s bicycles were looped together and festooned with ribbons and flowers. Not a detail had been missed.

Kat could not stop gasping as she and Philippe stood arm in arm. “This is my simple
mariage à la mairie
?”

“
Oui, mon amour
, Minou, Madame Dufours . . .
c’est ça!
” His smile expressed his joy.

The air was scented with the sweet fragrance of lilacs, peonies, and gardenias from the garden combined with the vases of
les muguets
—lily of the valley—decorating the tables.

Nick invited everyone to search for their place cards. Seating had been carefully arranged so that the guests were placed both with someone they knew and with someone they didn’t. He wanted them to mix, and so far that had been very successful.

Mouthwatering aromas drifted from large grills set up on a far section of the lawn and Katherine gasped as Antoine and Hélène waved to her, obviously busy supervising cooking staff.

When people had discovered their chairs and the laughter eased, Adorée welcomed them all and introduced Nick as the master of ceremonies. Nick gave a brief introduction of how he, Katherine, and Philippe all became friends. As usual, he had everyone laughing in no time. Then they all cheered as he invited them to toast the newlyweds one more time. Next, he introduced Tony and asked him to give thanks for this day and for the meal.

Platters of food arrived at each table. The service was family style, which only increased the level of conversation and laughter. Gasps of delight could be heard throughout the garden as delectable offerings arrived. Artistic presentations tempted the eye, and irresistible aromas wafted through the air.

Grilled fish, chicken, and lamb were accompanied by roasted vegetables and an assortment of green salads. Baguette, olive oil, and olives were within easy reach of every diner. Umbrellas provided shade for those who wished it, and the late-afternoon sun warmed the bucolic scene. Conversation and laughter filled the air, and Kat and Philippe took turns sitting in chairs left empty for them at each table.

As the sun began to set, candlelight created an even more romantic mood, and heaters kept the temperature comfortable. Mother Nature appeared to be an invited guest, as conditions were faultless.

The cheese course was served on olivewood boards and accompanied by bravos of admiration. Philippe had outdone himself and proudly stood to take a few bows.

Soon after, the fading light was suddenly ablaze with sparklers and on cue, a chant arose.
“Le gâteau! Le gâteau! Le gâteau!”

Bearing a large silver tray on each of their shoulders, Auguste, Alfonso, and Alesander paraded around the tables with this spectacular traditional finale to the wedding feast. Antoine and Hélène modestly waved from the terrace as everyone recognized their artistry.

The guests cheered and applauded the three elaborate, towering
croquembouche
, dripping in caramelized spun sugar. Small fireworks shot up from the trays, and sparklers were set in between the
crème
-filled puff pastries. A tray was set on each table as the fireworks slowly fizzled.