epilogue

Three months later, Nicole arrived home one Friday at Santa Rosa, tired after a busy week at work. With Christmas just around the corner, there had been numerous events to be covered for her news programme. At least it was the weekend and she could relax, with two whole days to enjoy chilling out with Ben. The thought brought a smile to her face as she skipped upstairs to shower and change.

She was chopping vegetables for their supper when Ben’s key turned in the lock. Calling out, ‘I’m in the kitchen,’ she poured a glass of wine ready for him.

‘Hi, darling. How was your day?’ Ben asked, planting a kiss on her proffered cheek.

‘Fine. Did you hear what happened at White Rock today?’ Nicole filled him in with the latest news while Ben, loosening his tie, sat on a bar stool and sipped his wine.

They had slipped effortlessly into a relaxed, easy relationship, as if they’d known each other years instead of months. Nicole still couldn’t believe her luck in being with someone whom she loved to bits, and who made it clear how much he loved her in return. She’d never felt happier and, judging by Ben’s Cheshire Cat smile these past months, he was also pretty happy. Her decree absolute had come through in October and her bank account now looked incredibly healthy. Any regrets she might have had about the end of her marriage to Tom never came into being. She knew that, whatever happened between her and Ben, Tom was history. And the icing on the cake was the imminent sale of La Folie, at the asking price of four million pounds. The only fly in the ointment was Ben’s continued refusal to let Nicole use her money on the house.

‘So, what’s for dinner tonight? I’m hungry!’ Ben smiled, his head on one side.

‘Well, would Sir be happy with the finest rump steak, accompanied with mushrooms, being chopped as we speak, tomatoes and potatoes dauphinoise, already in the oven?’

He grinned. ‘You know, you’re turning into quite a good cook. You just needed a good teacher.’ She threw a tea towel at him. Ben had been teaching her, but she’d always known how to cook, just hadn’t had much time in her previous life. Taking on board Hélène’s advice, she’d even started baking, much to Ben’s surprise and delight.

Later that evening they sat curled up on the sofa, replete after the delicious meal. Nicole mentioned that she planned to visit Jeanne over the weekend.

‘How is she? And the baby?’

‘They’re both fine. Jeanne’s very tired, but sounded so happy on the phone. She says she just wants to curl up with baby Harry on the sofa all day. Nick’s gone back to work but became a dab hand at nappy changing and feeding while he was at home. By the sound of it, Jeanne misses his help. I might offer to take Harry out for a walk to give her a break; would you like to come?’

‘Okay, if I’ve finished painting that bedroom door.’ He twisted his body so that he faced her. ‘Um, there’s something I’d like to ask you. In fact I’ve been thinking about it for a while.’

‘Oh? Sounds ominous!’ She looked at his serious looking face.

He moved quickly and, before she could register what was happening, knelt down on one knee and grabbed her hand.

‘Would you do me the indescribable honour of becoming my wife, my darling, darling Nicole?’

She giggled. ‘Oh! Of course I will! Although the honour’s…’ She was silenced by a long, lingering kiss.

‘Good. That’s a relief! Can I get up now?’ Ben grinned as he threw himself back on the sofa. ‘I know it’s the family tradition to use the ring Eve left you, but if you prefer I could buy you a new one.’

‘The family ring would be perfect. I’ll fetch it, hang on.’

She returned moments later and handed Ben the velvet box. He took out the ring and slowly slipped it onto her ring finger. The emerald and diamonds glittered under the lights. Nicole’s heart hammered in her chest, as if it would burst with happiness. Flinging her arms around Ben she ensured that he knew exactly how happy she was.

 

The next morning, after a round of phone calls to all the parents – two sets for her and one for him – the newly engaged couple sat down to breakfast with huge grins on their faces. Nicole had got on well with Ben’s parents from the first moment they met, just after moving in with him, and Ben now passed on their congratulations.

‘We’ve been invited round for dinner tomorrow, if that’s okay with you? Mum’s also keen to know if we’ve set the date, but I told her we haven’t discussed it yet.’

‘Hélène and Mum asked me too. There’s no hurry, I’ve only been divorced a month! But I’ve always liked the idea of a spring wedding, my last was in winter and everyone was freezing.’ Nicole nibbled on her toast, picturing herself in a slinky strapless bridal grown. ‘Will we be able to marry in church as I’m divorced?’

Ben, putting down his coffee, said, ‘I think some of the clergy here are okay with it. I’ll check. Would you mind if it was a register office wedding?’

Nicole shook her head.

‘No, anywhere would be fine with me, as long as we’re married.’ She reached for his hand. ‘There is one condition, though.’

‘Oh? And what’s that?’

‘I want you to let me hire professionals to finish the house. So that you don’t have to spend precious free time on DIY. And so that, if and when we start a family, we’ll have a nursery all ready for our mini Tostevin. Agreed?’ Nicole tilted her head, smiling broadly.

Ben sighed an exaggerated sigh.

‘All right. Agreed.’