Chapter 20
When Chloe first left Paris, if someone had told her she’d be back a few months later, standing in her former in-laws’ guest room preparing for her second spring wedding in France, wearing the close-fitting, cream-colored gown that Vivienne had worn when she married Albert, she’d have laughed. Loud and long. Yet today everything felt right and divine. In some way, wearing this dress, life and love had come full circle. The blush satin and tulle skirt swished as she moved, and in less than an hour, she’d be Sam Hardy’s wife.
His romantic proposal and suggestion to get married in France had bogged them down in wedding details. It turned out two foreigners couldn’t just run down to the courthouse and get married in France. But Vivienne and Albert used their well-earned influence to work some LaRue magic and found a way for Chloe and Sam to avoid the red tape. She and Sam had visited the Deux Jardinsmairie—city hall—yesterday, signed the forms, been issued their family record book, orlivret de famille, and been legally married by the mayor. Today was their real wedding.
“My beautiful girl,” Mom said as she clipped a crystal-and-silver comb behind Chloe’s ear. A silver vine circled around her head and the crystals twinkled in the light streaming through the window. “You’ve found love again.”
“Yes, and you’re next.”
Mom blushed and said, “We’ll see.” Her oncologist had declared her done with treatment, and likely cancer-free. She’d need scans and tests to make it official, but everyone was optimistic. And Chloe determined Mom would have more than a lonely widow’s life.
“Welcome to the family.” Janice hugged her and pressed a handkerchief into her hand. “This was my grandmother’s.”
The tears today were generous and sweet. Once the date was set, Mom, Frank, and Janice had flown over, and they’d spent the past week touring Paris and Deux Jardins, inspecting the café, and talking about the future.
Sam missed his meeting with the Raiders but he didn’t seem at all worried.“I’ll meet with them when I get back.”
Since the café renovations would take time, they decided Chloe would return to Hearts Bend and Haven’s. Sam would decide about Vegas after his visit. Yet more and more he seemed less enthralled with the game that had captured him for over two decades. His knee was healing well and he thought he’d be able to manage a few dances at their two very small receptions.
Sophie, still grieving her breakup with Eric, stepped up to help manage Haven’s while Chloe and Sam were gone.
“If I can run a bookstore, I can run the bakery. It’s no problem, promise. Just give me first dibs on some W4C for my shop.”
Done.
Still, there were some feelings of anticipation. She made Sam promise not to die. For at least fifty years. But he made her promise to let go of fear and trust God. She was nearly a decade older than when she’d married Jean-Marc, so in love, so lost in the fairy tale, believing they’d live happily ever after. Even though Chloe knew no one’s future was guaranteed, she would live each day to the fullest.
“Are you ready?” Albert knocked on the door and then peeked inside. “The driver is here. Oh, Chloe, you aresi beau.”
“Goodness, is it time?” She hugged her mother. “I’m suddenly nervous.”
“Sam is right for you, darling. We’re all here for you.”
Sam waited for her on the steps of the Deux Jardins stone chapel. “Ready?” he said.
“Ready.”
He didn’t say she looked beautiful, but he didn’t have to—she saw it in his glistening eyes.
Vivienne handed her a bouquet before she hurried inside the chapel. “The best of everything, my dear beautiful daughter.”
Daughter. Yes, she’d always be Vivienne and Albert’s daughter.
Deep inside the church, the organist began Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and Sam offered his arm.
“Man, Chloe…” He slapped one hand over his heart. “I’m the most blessed man on the earth today. Thank you for marrying me.”
“Save it, Titan man. See how you feel in a year.”
Sam laughed. “Backatcha, babe.”
“That was one fine day when I walked into Haven’s, looking for a job, and found you. Shall we get married, start our new life?”
“Hardy on three.” Sam stuck out his free hand and Chloe clapped hers over his. “One, two, three… Hardy.”
“Wait.” A week and a half later, Sam stopped Chloe at the threshold of his Nashville loft and scooped her into his arms.
They’d honeymooned on the Riviera for five days—a gift from the LaRues—then worked on the plans for the Deux Jardins café another week. There was lots to be done, which didn’t leave much time for decisions. In the quiet candlelight after making love, they’d talked of their future, of God, and what mattered in life. The children they’d someday write down in theirlivret de famille.
