“Tell me what you want, Emma.”
“Because of you, I’m filled with so much joy that I just want to share it.”
She falls into my arms, and I hold her close, kissing the top of her hair.“When do you want to start trying?”
“What time is it?”
I laugh and hug her to me as she laughs too.
My phone rings.“Ah, perfect timing.I have to take this, baby.”I click on the video call and hold the phone so that Emma can see.
“Bonsoir, chef,” I say.
Emma’s face freezes in shock.Then her eyes snap up to my face.Then back to the phone screen.
“So nice to see you, Mr.MacLaine.”
“Pierre, this is my fiancée, Emma Clark, soon to be Emma MacLaine.Are we still on to give her some cooking pointers?”
“That’s Pierre La Croix!”Emma points to the phone, her face frozen in shock.
“Hello, Emma!”
“You’re my favorite chef!You’ve taught me so much!You’re the most famous chef in the world!”
“Mais biensur,” he says, chuckling.“Famous for a reason.And I’d like you to be my guest in Paris for some cooking classes.Your husband-to-be suggested perhaps we might do this as part of your honeymoon trip?How does that sound?”
“What?”she squeals, her voice an octave higher than normal.“Yes!Yes!Yes!I’m going to Paris!”
CHAPTER 88
Emma
We host a short celebration back at our house, giving everyone a chance to ooh and ahh over the restaurant news, the Paris honeymoon plans, and the ring.I can’t get used to it—every time it catches the light, it takes me a second to remember where I am and who I am.
I’m Emma Clark, ex-housekeeper.I live at Yosemite Ranch.I am going to marry Finn MacLaine and be the best mother I can be to Jasmine.And some day, I’ll have a bunch of my own babies.
In honor of my engagement, I refuse to cook.Declan and Summer pick up pizza from town.
When Jasmine is asleep, Finn asks me to join him in his office.He holds up a large manilla envelope.
“This arrived today,” he tells me.
“What is it?”
“I think it’s the answer to all of Aunt Phyllis’s questions.”
“You’re being awfully mysterious,” I tell him.“You’re making me nervous.What were the questions?”
He cups my cheek and kisses me lightly on the lips.“Let’s talk about it with Phyllis.Something tells me we need to have this conversation with her.You might be angry at the questions, but you can take it out on me.”
“Whoa.Now that’s really mysterious.You’re beginning to scare me.”
“Let’s take a walk to see Aunt Phyllis.”
Finn sets the alarm on his watch that monitors Jasmine’s bedroom door, and we take a walk to his dad’s place.
Outside, the sun has gone down, but the dry heat saps the fluids from my body, and by the time we arrive, I’m dehydrated and dying for a lemonade or an iced tea.
