I Promise You This (Love in Provence Book 3) (31 page)

“The surprises never stop!” Katherine exclaimed, beaming. Philippe took her hand to stand with him, and they fed a few pieces to each other—to more cheers—before the dessert was served to the rest of the celebrants.

Nick invited anyone who wished to give a speech to do so. “However, I’ll warn you that a three-minute time limit will be seriously monitored by Mademoiselle Molly Malone. We all know you don’t mess with Molly!” he finished with a wide grin as Molly stood and flexed her muscles.

There were memories, good wishes, and toasts shared by many, in both languages and sometimes with hilarious translation. Tissues were passed around to wipe tears that alternated between laughter and the warmest of sentiments. Katherine was filled with bliss. She and Philippe could barely look at each other, their emotions were so charged.

The simple act of having their arms around each other or holding hands transferred ecstasy between them beyond any words.

Finally, it was their turn.

“We thank each and every one of you for being here with us today. Your presence and your friendship have made this the most special day.” Katherine’s heart swelled with gratitude. Her face glowed. She had a sense of floating above the magical setting, as if in a dream. She paused to collect herself and contain the elation flooding through her. “I had no inkling my extraordinary husband,
mon mari extraordinaire
, had planned this unforgettable surprise. Thank you to everyone who transformed our construction site into this enchanting experience. Being here with all of you and marrying this man I adore is the best and most meaningful time of my life.” She finished with two sentences in her new language, thanking their French friends and family for welcoming her into their hearts.

As they stood arm in arm, Philippe spoke next. His eyes sparkled as he eloquently expressed the elation he was feeling, alternating in French and English. “There’s a Provençal saying, ‘
Au mois de mai, fais ce qu’il te plait.
In the month of May, do what pleases you.’
I promise you this: nothing will ever please me more than marrying this most special woman today. She is beautiful both inside and out. We will never forget these moments we are celebrating with you now. Thank you for sharing our joy.”

Taking Kat’s hand, he led her to the terrace, near where a small jazz combo had set up. Molly walked over to the band and picked up a microphone. The first notes of “Have I Told You Lately” began, then Molly’s mellifluous voice resonated across the garden. A perfect cicada chorus provided quintessential Provençal harmony.

After a few moments, everyone was invited to join in on the dance floor.

For Philippe to have chosen this song, the moment could not have been more exquisite for Kat. No other words could have captured her feelings.

As the newlyweds danced cheek to cheek, Katherine’s eyes flickered across the terrace.

Beyond the swaying couples twirling around them, filling this moment with such love, she envisioned gossamer illusions of her mother and father dancing sweetly together. Elisabeth’s eyes met Kat’s as a smile lit her face and her head nodded in approval.

Katherine tried not to blink. She didn’t want to lose the scene her imagination was creating. She felt her parents’ presence.

Her heart was full. She felt calm, strong, and eager.

Music floated through the air and down to the sea as a brilliant pink sunset foretold the perfect ending to this day. Dawn would herald the promise of all her tomorrows.

She was home.

EPILOGUE

Her breathing became labored. “No pain, no gain,” she repeated from time to time.

Katherine could feel her muscles straining as she left the route along the coast and cycled higher into the hills above Cannes.

She and Philippe had gotten back into a regular riding schedule in the month since their wedding. Every week he pushed her to make the ride more challenging, and she was beginning to see results. She had to admit there had been times she struggled.

After the excitement of their wedding and the departure of their houseguests, life was settling into a comfortable rhythm. Kat and Philippe agreed they missed having Molly and Tony around, but they were also reveling in the privacy and quiet of their own routines.

The work on the property on the Cap was proceeding well, in spite of inevitable glitches. Kat’s photography was on permanent exhibit in André’s gallery. She and Philippe were getting closer to launching their website. For the moment, everything and everyone in her world seemed to be on a very even keel.

Today she was heading for a spot they called their “secret,” on a wild piece of vacant property tucked into a fairly built-up residential area. Vehicle traffic was minimal on the steep, narrow streets, and the view was stunning—definitely worth the effort to get there. They had yet to encounter anyone else on the land.

Kat didn’t often cycle out this way on her own, but Philippe was busy with meetings all afternoon, and she knew he might be too tired when he got home. The urge had been too strong for her to resist the ride today. Something was telling her to go.

Dripping with sweat, she reached the viewpoint and took a long swig from the water tube of her hydration pack. After peeling off her gloves and removing her helmet, she pushed her sunglasses back on her head and sprayed water on her face. It would soon be too hot for midday rides.

She took an apple and a chunk of cheese from her pack. Then she unfolded a small towel, laid it on the ground and sat on it. Alternating bites of apple and cheese, Kat felt hypnotized by the view and the contentment she felt.

From the first day she Kat arrived in the South of France, the Mediterranean had captivated her. As she often did, she allowed herself to feel like she was floating over the red-tile rooftops below her that cascaded down to the coast.

Then the hypnotic effect of the colors of the Med took hold. There was never anything ho-hum about it. The rich, vibrant azure hues ranged from the shimmering gemlike turquoise near the shore to deep cobalt as far as the eye could see. Kat was certain this feeling of wonder at the beauty she lived with daily would never fade.

She was filled with a sense of being blessed. Validation for all the decisions she had made in the preceding year and a half. From those crushing first days of shock and despair when she felt alone and confused to this blissful time of love and renewal, a metamorphosis had been achieved.

She had opened herself to opportunities that fate presented to her, and as a result, her life had changed.

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,” her mother had taught her. But she had never truly appreciated those words until James left her and she had to search for her inner strength.

“Take a chance. Make a choice to change your life,” Andrea and Terrence had said to her when they encouraged her to go on her first home exchange. And so she did.

During the hours of talks shared as she recuperated from her accident, Molly repeatedly said, “Every day is a frickin’ gift, Katski. We need to wake up every morning with that thought. Your mother told us that too.” And Kat saw that as a wake-up call.

And recently Simone—dear Simone—grasping Kat’s hand as they parted after a chat over tea, had said, “Once you choose to do what you really want to do, you will begin living a different kind of life. It will be the life you are meant to be living in that moment of time. That is what truly matters. I learned that lesson when I first chose to be in the Resistance, and it has driven my life ever since.” So Kat committed to live the life that she felt truly mattered.

Fear, insecurity, and doubt had plagued her at times. It had taken hard work to conquer them, but she had learned how—and knew she could do it again.

Katherine’s choices were made. She had discovered she was strong. She had discovered how to take chances. No one would ever take that away from her.

The love and respect she and Philippe gave to each other were the finishing touches to all this change.

The sun warmed her face. Her thoughts warmed her heart.

As Kat finished her apple and prepared for the thrilling descent, she smiled to herself and gave thanks for her good fortune. She had been given a second chance and was eager to embrace the possibilities that lay ahead.

Life was moving forward.

The first guests to stay at the Villa des Violettes would be arriving in August. New adventures were waiting to unfold.

Kat was ready.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

I Promise You This
is the last book in the Love In Provence trilogy. I’ve loved writing each of these novels and I’m delighted that you have become so engaged with Katherine’s story. It’s most satisfying to hear people say they felt they were right there in France with her. The particular part of the world, with its beauty, culture, and history has become a character in its own right.

I’m excited to continue writing about the characters and the settings, and I’m full of ideas for what happens next. Sometimes I feel I’m simply a bystander who has been invited along on an ongoing adventure. The stories will continue until they . . . or you . . . let me know they are over.

Thank you to every single person who has written to me through the years or messaged me on social media. I’m also grateful to the many reviewers and bloggers who have taken the time to read my novels and write about them. I value your thoughts and opinion, so please continue to share them with me at
[email protected]
.

Have you signed up for my newsletter? It goes out once a month with all sorts of contests and information about what’s coming next. Just click on “subscribe” at my website
http://patriciasandsauthor.com
.

Any time you have a moment to write a review, please know your efforts are appreciated. Comments from readers are helpful and inspiring to me. You are the reason I write and your words encourage others to read my books.
Merci mille fois!
Thanks a million!

And now . . . on to the next book . . .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It takes a village, as the saying goes. In order to reach that exciting point where a manuscript is finally ready to publish, a great deal of support and assistance is essential. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed in his or her own personal way to bringing
I Promise You This
to readers. The Love In Provence series will always hold a special place in my heart.

Friends and family are my rocks. My husband’s patient support, encouragement, and eager first look at my words means everything to me. I feel so fortunate to have advance readers who offer honest, helpful comments and read all my rewrites without losing their sense of humor. In particular, I owe big bouquets of gratitude to Gail Johnston, Pat MacDonald, May Anis and Susan Baldwin Mayfield. Ida Young-Bondi, my friend and French instructor from Nice, applies her expertise where needed and knows how much it is appreciated.
Merci mille fois,
Ida!

My invitation from Amazon Publishing to join their Lake Union imprint continues to be an exciting and fulfilling opportunity. The support, experience, and enthusiasm offered by my developmental editor, Amara Holstein and senior editors, Danielle Marshall and Miriam Juskowicz, and the entire Lake Union team is priceless. 

Thanks once again to Amy Cooper and Barb Drozdowich (my tech angel), for their dedication, wise advice, and active involvement in all I do. Bravo to Scott Collie for another original watercolor book cover.

None of this would happen without the amazing community of authors and readers, bloggers and reviewers who make me proud, happy and inspired to keep writing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2015 Carmen Blike

Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, but her heart’s other home is the South of France. An avid traveler, she spends part of each year on the Côte d’Azur and occasionally leads groups of women on tours of the Riviera and Provence. Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, 
The Bridge Club
, is a book-group favorite, and 
The Promise of Provence
, which launched her three-part Love in Provence series, was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance. Sands also contributes to such Francophile websites as The Good Life France and Perfectly Provence and appears as a public speaker for women’s groups. Celebrating the power of friendship and the courage to embrace change, her writings draw personal responses from male and female readers alike. Visit her online at
www.patriciasandsauthor.com
.