Midnight in Brussels (31 page)

Frenchie dabbed the corners of her mouth with a lace napkin. “It is lovely. I’m so happy we were invited to come.”

Drake wiped his mouth with his napkin and answered, “Us too. This is surreal, isn’t it?” He sipped his coffee. “And Richard was telling me that the garden stretches back for acres. There are paths and benches and atriums out there, too. And a bunch of ponds and statues. We’ll have to go check it out after breakfast, Paula.”

The bride and groom floated into the room, giving the impression that they were one person, with wide grins and exuberance in their synchronized steps. “Good morning,” they both greeted in unison, and then kissed and laughed at each other’s timing.

Richard led Amanda to one of the two chairs at the head of the table near the rest of the group. “Are we too late to join you for breakfast?”

“We just got started,” Paula replied. “This is some pretty fantastic food, Richard. Have you had crepes before, Amanda? And the sausages, you got to try the sausages.”

“Yes, I have. They serve them at the Metropole and at The Roy. Aren’t they good?”

Frenchie looked up from her plate. “So good that I’m going to add them and the sausages to the menu at the restaurant when I get back. Martha, I need you to show me how to make them.”

Martha nodded and left to alert the staff that Amanda and Richard were ready for their service. She returned almost instantly with the servers and food for the newly married couple. But first she placed a small green and red striped box with a gold ribbon on a plate in front of Amanda. “This is for you, Madam.”

“What? What is it?” She looked at everyone around the table and then at Richard. “Richard, did you do this?”

“Well, it is Christmas, you know.” He leaned over and kissed her lips.

“Open it, Amanda,” Paula said with a mouthful of crepe and jam.

Amanda untied the ribbon and lifted the lid from the box. She pushed the tissue paper aside and stared into it without saying a word.

“So what is it? C’mon, show us!” Paula was as eager as a child on Christmas morning.

“Here, let me help you.” Richard stood behind her and waited, his hands resting on her shoulders.

Amanda whispered, “It’s the most beautiful gold locket I’ve ever seen.” She pulled it from the box, its glittering gold chain spilling from her hand. A floral design was etched on the front. “Oh, it’s a camellia, isn’t it?’

“Yes, it is. It’s an antique. Open it, darling.”

She slipped her fingernail into the crevice and it opened, revealing two photos imbedded in the tiny frames, one of her and one of Richard. “This is so beautiful. Thank you so much, Richard.” She stood and hugged him. “I love you.” Then she looked around at her guests. “I just want you all to know, I am so very happy.” Tears of joy were forming in her eyes.

Richard whispered in her ear, “We can give it to our daughter on her wedding day.”

“I heard that! Does that mean y’all are pregnant?” Paula’s excited expression was as bold as her voice.

Amanda laughed as she sat down. “Heaven’s no. We’re not pregnant. Of course not. We just got married yesterday.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t be pregnant.”

“Oh yes, it does,” Richard said with gleaming eyes and a broad smile as he fastened the locket at the back of Amanda’s neck. “It certainly does.”

Rachel saw the blush begin to creep up into Amanda’s cheeks and changed the subject by asking what the plan was for the week and added that she had some final editing to do, but would get with them as often as she could, and of course would spend New Year’s Eve with them. They’d all decided to go to the Grand Place for New Year’s Eve.

Janet added that she was going to go to Switzerland for a quick visit with Shellie and Adrian, and that she was thinking of going home to Paris for New Year’s. She was missing Bob.

Paula said she wanted to at least spend one day during the week in Antwerp so that Drake could buy her a new diamond. (Drake grimaced). She said she also wanted to go to Bruges and see where Amanda learned how to make lace.

Frenchie squeezed Lance’s hand and chimed in with gratitude. She said she was thrilled to be there with them all and was having the time of her life and that this was the first holiday season she’d been away from KC’s and she was loving it. Said they were going to Paris for a couple of days to see relatives, but they would be back for New Year’s Eve.

After breakfast they all moved into the garden room to have mimosas.

When they finally settled into the plush floral sofas and chairs and were served their champagne and orange juice, Amanda said, “By the way … Richard and I have a little something for each of you for Christmas. Can we do it now, hon?” She was excited and elated.

“Richard grinned. “All right. I’ll get them.” He left the room.

“We said no Christmas gifts!” Paula exclaimed.

“I know, but because I knew you all would give us such beautiful wedding gifts, I just had to do this. It’s just something little, something to help you remember the happiest day of my life and happy that you were here to share it with me.”

“And the happiest day of
my
life,” Richard added as he returned carrying a red gift bag. “Would you like to do the honors, darling?”

Amanda shook her head. “No, you can do it.”

He read the tags on the little boxes and cheerfully handed a gift to each person.

“Where’s A.G.?” Frenchie asked. She’d just realized he was missing.

“Oh, he’s off playing in that fancy playroom with Martha’s grandchildren, Amanda explained. “He’s happy. That was so nice to have all those presents for the kids to open when they got up this morning, Richard.”

Richard nodded. “We didn’t want A.G. to miss out on Christmas, so we invited the other children to make it even more fun for him. Martha did all the planning for the kids’ breakfast and their little Christmas party,” he said as he kissed the top of Amanda’s head. “Of course, Amanda bought all the presents and wrapped them. I brought out all the gifts from Brussels yesterday while she was busy getting ready, so she wouldn’t know about it. She thought we were going to be at the hotel today for the Christmas party.”

Amanda grinned at him. “Yes, you really got me on this one. So go ahead, everybody, it’s your turn now. Open your presents.”

They untied the ribbons on their boxes. The women found gold bracelets with
Christmas in Brussels
and the date inscribed on the inside surface, while Drake and Lance had been given gold cufflinks and matching tie clips, with the same inscription on the back of the clip.

It was a happy Christmas morning at the Miller’s Camellia Gardens estate.

Chapter 60

It seemed like fireworks and firecrackers were being set off at every intersection in Brussels. Police on foot, in cars with their sirens blaring, along with celebrating young pedestrians, were adding to the noise and excitement of New Year’s Eve.

Richard was driving through the streets to find a parking place that would put them as close to the Grand Place as they could get.

“There’s one,” Paula pointed from the back seat.

Drake grabbed her finger. “He knows what he’s doing, Paula, so don’t be trying to drive from the backseat.”

Rachel laughed. All week the two of them had kept her in stitches. They were born entertainers, she had told them.

Baby A.G. was at home with the house staff, and was most likely asleep already in his makeshift nursery. Amanda and Paula had created a space in an alcove in Paula and Drake’s bedroom suite, fit for a baby prince. Amanda had decided that that part of the house would be their own personal quarters every time they came to visit, and was hoping it would be at least twice a year.

“Here we go.” Richard pulled in right after another car pulled out.

“This is perfect,” said Amanda. “Only two blocks from the square. We are dang lucky. I hope Frenchie and Lance found the place okay.”

They grabbed their coats from the trunk of the car, donned their hats and gloves, and meandered up the lane, looking in shop windows as they sauntered along. Most of the shops were still open for business, especially the chocolate boutiques and food stores. Two lace shops and a tapestry studio were filled with patrons, and the tourist souvenir shops’ doors were wide open. All the cafes and taverns were crowded with late-night patrons.

Near the giant tree left over from Christmas in the square, artists had set up partitions and were selling their oils and watercolors. A small band was playing music and a few people were dancing. Other than that, people were just milling about, going in and out of the cafes surrounding the Grand Place.

Frenchie and Lance were already sitting in a large circular booth at The Roy, where they were to meet. Rachel scooted in next to them, Amanda and Paula sat at opposite ends, their two husbands sitting beside their ladies.

The waiter brought two bottles of the finest champagne and poured for the seven celebrants.

“A toast!” Richard lifted his glass. “First, may all your wishes come true, my lovely Amanda, and know that I love you with all my heart. Second, to your loving family and bewitching friends, may you all feel and find the same love in your lives as Amanda and I share.”

“That’s the most beautiful toast I’ve ever heard, Richard,” Paula said. “Isn’t it, Drake? We’ll drink to that, won’t we?”

Drake lifted his glass. “You bet your bottom dollar, we will. And I want to add something to it. Here’s to my wife, Paula, who brought our little A.G. into the world, and to the love that I have for both of them. May you all be as happy as I am right at this moment.”

“Oh Drake, honey, that was a good one.” Paula leaned and gave Drake a hug and a kiss. “You did good, baby. You did good.”

“To all of us: may this be the best New Year’s Eve celebration ever!” Rachel added as she lifted her glass.

“A votre sante!” Frenchie added as she joined by lifting her glass.

They all gaily clinked the glasses over the table and then continued to work on the second bottle as the midnight hour drew near.

“You know, the fireworks are at the Mont des Arts instead of the Grand Place,” Amanda commented. “I hope y’all don’t mind that we decided to come here instead. I just love this place, and it’s more romantic to us here at The Roy; not so many people to deal with.”

Rachel took a deep breath. “Well, honey, like I’ve told you already, I’ve been on a quest these past few years because I promised my father on his deathbed … don’t mean to be morbid here … but I promised him that I would live out his dream of going to major New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world. But it’s not only his dream; it’s become my dream now. So if you don’t mind, I may go over to the fireworks at midnight. I’ve done the Eiffel in Paris, Trafalgar Square in London─”

“Then by all means you should go to the Mont des Arts, Rachel. We can meet back here or at the Metropole.” Richard patted her hand that was resting on the table. “But not in the café, the lounge has a combo tonight.”

Amanda placed her hand on Rachel’s arm. “And you’re not being morbid, that’s a nice thing to do for your daddy. Nothing wrong with that. If my mama would have asked me to promise something while she was on her deathbed, I certainly would have done it. Of course she didn’t know nothin’ about cities around the world. She never even went to Little Rock. When did your daddy die, Rachel?”

“It’s been a few years now,” Rachel replied looking down at her glass to hide the emotion that was suddenly surfacing.

“An exciting quest indeed, Rachel,” Richard said in hopes of lifting her spirits. “We could all walk with you to the Mont Des Arts, if you want. It’s just a little east of here. Not far.”

“No, no, no. You don’t need to do that.” She blinked back the tears and gulped champagne. “Please, do as you planned. The crowd will be ridiculous. If this one is like the usual ones I’ve seen, it’d be crazy for all of us to try and squeeze through. Really. I’ll go for the midnight countdown and come right back. Just want to do it for my daddy … and for me … ” Her voice trailed off as she quickly lifted her glass again and drained it.

Richard spoke up. “Well, then, that’s settled. We’ll either wait for you here inside or out in the square, or at the Metropole.”

Rachel nodded. “At the Metropole, will be fine. Excuse me, I should get going,” she said as she put her purse over her shoulder.

Amanda leaned over and whispered to Rachel, “Are you all right?”

Rachel hugged her and whispered back, “I’m just feeling lonely. I’ll be okay, sweetie.”

The slight uphill walk to Mont Des Arts was intriguing with its rows of cafes and upscale shops along the way. Rachel hadn’t visited that part of Brussels before. It was absolutely wonderful, escalating in affluence and prestige, she noticed. She would definitely tell Amanda about it. It might be a good idea to open a Mandy Malone Designs in that part of town, too.