Promises to Keep (20 page)

When the dishes were cleared, Adorée looked at Kat and grinned. “Get ready for it:
les treize desserts
—the thirteen desserts. They’re supposed to symbolize Christ and the twelve apostles, and you must have a bite of each. That’s the rule.”

Henri stood and, in a ringing voice, announced the arrival of “
Les Treize!
” The children applauded and cheered.

Katherine was anticipating rich pastries, so she was relieved to see they were quite simple offerings. Philippe and Joy explained their meaning as the dishes were passed around. “
Pompe à l’huile
is like a brioche, and we must tear it, not cut it; white-and-black nougat, which some say represent good and evil; dates, whose oval shape is purportedly the symbol of Christ; the four beggars—dry figs, raisins, almonds and hazelnuts—representing the religious orders of the Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and Augustinians; fresh oranges, representing wealth in the new year;
verdau
—green winter melon preserved on straw; candied citron; dried plums; green and white grapes, which were stored hanging at the back of a cool cellar after
les vendanges
.”

The last dessert to be brought to the table was a large platter of winter pears and apples, after the highlight
calissons
, the local almond-paste candy from Aix, and
pain d’épices
, which Katherine called French gingerbread.

Once the table was cleared, a final course of coffee and
digestifs
was served.

François announced he was off to bed. “There was a day when this meal did not exhaust me but that is long gone. Pray for me at La Messe de Minuit, and I will see you in the morning.”

Everyone stood to bid him goodnight, and the youngest children were rounded up for bed as well, after placing their shoes in front of the fireplace.

“Père Noël will fill them tonight,” they assured Katherine, anticipation lighting their eyes. The older children began placing bright paper decorations and wrapped sweets on the
sapin de Noël
as part of the next morning’s surprise.

Some of the men started loading into their cars the boxes of food and clothing they had all brought to donate at the church. Joy suggested to the others that they might like a stroll before La Messe at the church in Sainte-Mathilde.

“I’ve got to walk off some of that meal,” Kat said.

“Imagine that we used to come back after Mass and start in with Le Réveillon, which is an even bigger meal. Now we save that for tomorrow,” Philippe said.

“Thank goodness,” Katherine murmured. “Thank goodness.”

The sound of excited children’s laughter woke Kat and Philippe early, and they smiled at each other through sleepy eyes. They folded into each other under the cozy duvet, and Philippe whispered, “
Joyeux Noël,
Minou. I am so happy to celebrate this special time here with you. You are giving meaning to all these moments for me again.”

“Merry Christmas,
mon chou
, and
Joyeux Noël
. You know I feel the same. Happiness is the gift you continue to give me.”

Kissing, they lay comfortably in an embrace. Philippe lightly ran his fingers across her belly and down. Kat closed her eyes and moaned softly.

They had drifted back to sleep when a light tap on the door and a cheery voice told them that a breakfast buffet would soon be served.

Kat emerged from the en suite shower to discover an envelope taped to the mirror, with her name on it in Philippe’s distinctive handwriting.

“What’s this?” she asked, taking it into the bedroom.

“It’s just a little extra something,” Philippe said with a wide grin.

Kat opened the envelope and took out a photo of a young puppy, bright-eyed and fluffy, that looked like pictures she had seen of the young Picasso. “Is it Pico as a pup?”

“No. It’s your new pup.”

Kat looked at him, excited and confused. “Wha-a-a . . . ?
”

“Well, it represents your new pup, I should say. A litter was born a few weeks ago, at Picasso’s breeder, and one pup is reserved for you. We will go at the end of January so you can pick him or her out yourself.”

Kat leaped on Philippe and they both fell back on the bed. “I can’t believe it! What an amazing surprise. You weren’t supposed to give me a big gift for Christmas.”

“I couldn’t resist. This is for all the love and patience you have shown in dealing with my problem. I couldn’t think of anything you would like more.”

Kat sat on the bed and cried. Happy tears covered her face for several minutes before she was able to speak. Each time she attempted to say something, more tears appeared. When she looked at the adorable pup in the photo, more tears appeared. Philippe sat beside her, handing her tissues, his throat tight with emotion and his eyes sparkling at her reaction, damp as it was.

“This is so wonderful,” she finally managed to say. “So absolutely wonderful—and so sweet of you. How exciting! We will pick him out together. I can’t wait.”

She bounced around the room and hugged him several more times as he reveled in her joy.

Her excitement echoed throughout the house as Kat shared the surprise of Philippe’s gift with everyone, including Pico.

The rest of the morning passed quietly. Kat decided everyone was still recovering from the exuberance of the night before and resting in preparation for what was to come. The adults exchanged small, thoughtful gifts while the children unwrapped new toys and games.

“Our family has always exchanged gifts on New Year’s Day,” Joy told Kat. “Christmas is more about family and food and less about gift giving. Still, we give the children something small they can play with.”

François invited Katherine to a game of bridge with two others at a table set by the fire in the library. Children were settled in various places working on puzzles, reading, or making up their own games. Philippe and Joy sat together in a quiet corner of the room, chatting and laughing as they enjoyed the scene unfolding around them.

“Life as it should be,” Joy commented, while a relieved Philippe admitted he had wondered for a while in the previous month if that would ever happen.

The aromas floating down the hall from the kitchen had most of the group salivating by the time the dinner bell was rung, and Le Réveillon started at 1:00 p.m. The atmosphere in the house livened immediately.

The feast began with smoked salmon, followed by oysters, assorted filets of fish in a variety of sauces, baked fish, and—brought in with great fanfare and majestically presented—lobster, crab legs, shrimp, and the family’s favorite scallop dish, Coquilles Saint-Jacques.

“You warned me this was a decadent, luxurious meal, and you were right,” Kat whispered to Adorée.

Turkey stuffed with chestnuts and beef
tournedos
topped with
foie gras
were the main courses, accompanied by classic Lyonnaise potatoes and roasted root vegetables.

Katherine soon realized that the extended meal was a splendid example of the art of having a meaningful conversation while savoring fine food. Whether it was simply a fresh baguette and cheese or a feast, food in France was always savored and discussed, not simply eaten.

After the dishes were cleared and small dessert plates passed around, a fresh fruit platter arrived along with trays of the cheeses that Philippe had brought. There were exclamations of appreciation around the table, and more than one person rose to toast the entire meal.

In due course, Henri sounded a trumpet-like fanfare while the others stood and rhythmically clapped. Hélène and Antoine appeared with beaming smiles, carrying between them a long board with what looked to Katherine like a large chocolate-covered cake roll.

The children squealed,
“La bûche de Noël!”

“The Christmas yule log,” Philippe explained. “The lightest, most delicious vanilla Genoise sponge cake with the richest homemade chocolate buttercream
glaçage
. I have never tasted one better than the one baked in this kitchen.”

Adorée leaned in and added, “You can’t possibly resist this, Kat. See how the children have decorated it with holly and mushrooms. The mushrooms aren’t real, although they look it. They’re made from meringue. Only the holly is real. I was in the kitchen helping with it.”

Not one serving was refused.

Later in the afternoon, tired and happy, people began leaving for home. Adorée had asked if they could get back to Antibes that evening so that she could spend the next day with friends before returning to London on December 27.

“This has been wonderful,” Kat said to Joy as they hugged. “I am always so happy to have a chance to really hug someone when I am with you. Thank goodness you did not give up that part of your English heritage.”

Joy laughed. “It’s one of the many reasons I am always thrilled to see you too. Thank you for sharing this holiday with us and making it even more special.”

“It was an incredible experience, Joy. I thank you—and all the family—for making me so welcome. I loved the traditions and the camaraderie—and the food. Oh, the food!”

They hugged again and Joy whispered into her ear, “Philippe has assured me the problems have all been resolved. I am so happy for you both.”

Kat’s smile lit up her face. “It is such a relief. Everything seemed to happen very quickly, and now we can get on with our plans for the future.”

François was next in line. He kissed her hand and held it between his while he told her what pleasure it had given him to have her there. “And your bridge playing is
magnifique
!”

When she protested, he shushed her and made her promise to return soon so he could arrange another game.

Philippe and Adorée took just as long to say their good-byes, but finally they all settled into the car and headed south.

23

Adorée returned to London on the 27th. Their good-byes were quite emotional.

“This was the best Christmas since Maman passed away,” she said, her voice almost steady. “It felt like I truly was home again.”

Philippe stumbled in his response, and his daughter put her arms around him.

“Papa, you forget I am all grown up now. Time has passed, and it makes me happy to see you finally move on with your life.”

Turning to Kat, she held her hand with both of hers. “Kat, you are just the woman I hoped Papa would find.”

Kat would have liked to hug her, but restrained herself to a
bise
and thanked her for making the holiday complete. “Come home again soon.”

Later, as they sat reading in the salon, Kat looked up from her book. “The apartment feels empty without her. It was so lovely to have her with us.”

“
C’est vrai.
” Philippe said. “It felt right, and thanks in no small part to you.”

“It was a happy time,” Kat agreed, then she sneezed loudly. “After all the rich food we ate this week, shall I make us poached eggs on toast for dinner?”

“Yes, please. I feel the need for comfort food too—with no wine!” Philippe said. “And an early bedtime. I have a big order arriving before dawn tomorrow.”

Kat woke early the next morning, with cold shivers, a fever, and stuffed sinuses.

“I thought you were Superwoman,” Philippe teased. “I will pick up some medicines on my way home, and you are to stay in bed. It’s very early, so try to go back to sleep.”

It turned out to be a nasty flu bug, and by the next day Philippe had fallen victim to it as well. For the first time in a long while, he took two days away from the market because of illness.

“It’s been years,” he told her. “Thank goodness for Gilles.”

For that time they stayed buried under their duvet, reading, sleeping, and talking excitedly about their new pup.

“I can’t wait until the end of the month,” Kat pretended to moan. “Can’t we get him now?” Philippe proposed they each make a list of names to see if they included a match.

“But, you know, Minou, we won’t be able to decide until we see him. He will let us know which of these names should be his.”

“It sounds like we’ve decided it will be a male. Like our Pico. I’m going to circle a date on our calendar right now and begin a countdown!”

Between conversations and naps, they took turns making lemon tea with honey. On La Saint-Sylvestre, New Year’s Eve Day, they started to feel close to normal again. Philippe returned to the stall, and Kat joined him in the afternoon to help set up the market hall for the traditional feast and
soirée dansante
. Space was cleared for dancing and dining, heaters were set up and
le gui
—mistletoe—was hung.

“At least we don’t have to get up too early tomorrow for the
bain du jour de l’an
at the beach in Salis.”

“A New Year’s Day swim? In the Med? Are you serious?”

“
Oui.
Don’t worry, we don’t take the plunge until eleven thirty. It’s a tradition for all of us to have this dip in La Grande Bleue on the first day of the new year.”

Kat looked at him in shock until she caught the twinkle in his eye.

“Ha! Let’s just try to make the fireworks tomorrow evening at the beach in Juan-les-Pins,” she said, and they agreed that might well be something they could manage.

Late in the afternoon, they decided to take a nap before heading out to the festivities, and Philippe wakened to his cell phone ringing at 11:15 p.m. André was calling to see why they had not shown up yet.

Philippe looked over at Kat, who was snoring lightly in a way he found quite sweet, and thought about waking her. Then he reconsidered and told André they would be staying home. He soon fell back to sleep himself.

When they woke up early the next morning, they shared a laugh at how their first New Year’s Eve had not turned out as planned.

“
C’est la vie, mon amour.
I’m glad you didn’t wake me up.” Kat said as they wished each other
bon jour de l’an
with a long list of good things they hoped for, each item followed by a kiss.

“Let’s take our time this morning and then go watch the crazy
nageurs
at the beach. I told André we would meet them there.”

They spent much of the day hanging out with friends, first at Salis beach, then at lunch at a nearby bistro known for its delicious
croque monsieurs
. Kat had developed a serious liking for the toasted ham sandwich with Emmental cheese grilled on top.

In the afternoon, they phoned Andrea and Terrence to give them their best wishes for the new year.

“Happy New Year to you too, darling Kat and Philippe. We’re sorry the kids are all out doing their own thing, but we will pass along your good wishes. We miss you.”

Next they called Molly, who sounded very happy and not alone, although she admitted nothing. “We hope this is a wonderful year for you, Moll, in every way. A new beginning.”

“And for you two lovebirds as well,” Molly said. “I miss you, Katski. We have to make some plans. Bring Philippe to Toronto for a visit.”

“You never know,” Philippe said. “I would like to do that.”

When they hung up, Kat and Philippe commented at the same time that Molly had not dropped one f-bomb during the conversation.

“That counseling is really working.”

“Maybe she made it a New Year’s resolution too.”

After dark that evening they met Annette and her husband, along with Gilles and his cousins who were visiting, and a few other friends
on the beach in Juan-les-Pin for the fireworks display.

“Every time we watch fireworks, I think I will never see a more spectacular display, and the next time they simply outdo the show,” Kat remarked as they climbed into bed.

Philippe agreed and held Kat tightly. “Thank you for making the holidays so much fun and full of meaning again. You even made getting the flu feel special.”

Kat missed seeing Simone. They had last talked on La Saint-Sylvestre, when Kat called to wish her well and explain that she would come to see her when she was over the flu.

“The last thing I want to do is expose you to this nasty germ, Simone. You would not thank me for that.”

Simone’s response was quick and sure. “Getting sick last month was all the illness I needed for a very long time.”

Then she surprised Katherine by saying she would be having some company for a few days.

“Every year at the first of January, an art dealer from Paris and his wife come to visit and do business. They are old friends of Jean-Luc’s and getting on themselves, but he is well established and still very active. I will tell you all about it when I see you next. They will stay until Epiphany, so come after that,
chérie
.”