Desire and a Bottle of Merlot: (Like Sisters Series Book 5) Chick Lit: A Romantic Comedy (24 page)

“How long have your parents owned the chateau, and what is it called?” Mia asked, giddy at the thought of a honeymoon this cool with one of her dearest friends. She couldn’t believe her luck and imagined the beautiful photographs she would return home with.

“It’s called Chateau de Renaud, and it’s been in my dad’s family for 150 years. We’re only a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea, between Toulon and Marseilles. It’s so beautiful there, Mia. You’re going to be in heaven. We can even drive to Monaco and spend the day checking out the casino, window-shopping, or just hanging out at the beach.”

Sasha was interrupted by Mary, the receptionist, calling for Martha Destiny.

“Hi, here I am.” Sasha was in good spirits since she had already used the ladies’ room. “Can my friend come along?”

“Of course, follow me. Joan will be with you in a minute. Just relax.”

“Who’s Joan?” Mia asked.

“She’s the PA. I’ve got everything memorized now as far as their procedures go. I have to sit still for five minutes, then Joan will take my blood pressure. After that, she’ll weigh me, then Doctor Adams will come in and scold me for gaining too much weight. Oh, I hear someone coming down the hall. I bet it’s her.”

First a knock sounded, then the door opened gradually. Joan entered, wearing a brightly colored geometric scrub top and aqua pants. Sasha’s blood pressure was normal, but her weight was still more than it should have been at twenty-two weeks pregnant. Dr. Adams entered and Sasha introduced Mia to him as her best friend. The doctor sat on the roller stool next to the computer and pulled up Sasha’s chart. He looked at her and frowned. The scold was coming.

“Sasha, what on earth have you been eating? You’re supposed to be on a healthy diet and watching your caloric intake.”

“I know,” she whined, “but I just got married a few days ago. We’ve had a lot of company, and there’s always food sitting around. There’s way too much temptation for the likes of me. I can’t resist.”

“I can vouch for her. Everything she said is true.”

Sasha took Mia’s hand. “Thank you, Mia, for defending me.”

“Sasha,” he said sternly, “you don’t need to be defended. You need to cut back on the food. You’ve gained twenty pounds already. Here’s what’s going to happen if you continue down the path you’re taking. First, the babies are going to grow too fast—”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” she interrupted. “Everyone loves big, chubby babies.” Sasha smiled, making it impossible for the doctor not to smile back.

“Don’t start with me. I’m serious right now. If the babies grow too fast, it will make it difficult for you to breathe properly. That isn’t good for you or the babies. Also, if there isn’t enough room in your uterus because the babies are too big, you’ll deliver early and most likely have a C-section. Everything you do from this point forward will either help you or cause more complications. It’s your choice.”

Sasha stared at Mia, then at the doctor, pensively. “Well, now I’m afraid to even tell you we’re leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow. How am I going to enjoy myself in France if I can’t eat? Obviously, you don’t know how much I like croissants, escargot, and crème brulée.”

“France? You’re leaving for France tomorrow? Do you have any idea how much your legs are going to swell sitting on a plane for that long? You’re leaving from JFK with no layovers anywhere—a nonstop flight?”

“Yes,” she answered meekly.

“That’s not happening.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I won’t give you permission to fly unless you go first class with a seat that pushes out into a flat bed.”

“What the hell is that?” Sasha sniped, beginning to get angry.

“Look, Sasha, you have two babies that are depending on you to take good care of them. This is about the babies, not you. You have to lie flat when you need to relax and have plenty of room in the airplane to walk when you want to. Show me your first-class ticket, and I’ll approve your flight. If it’s not first class, you’re grounded.”

“Are you serious right now?” She huffed.

“As serious as they come. Take it or leave it. I’ll be waiting for you to email me a picture of the ticket. When I get that, I’ll release your medical permission to fly. You better get busy.” Doctor Adams got up, gave Sasha a pat on the back, and left the exam room.

“I don’t believe this shit!” Sasha yelled. “We all have seats next to each other. Now what are we supposed to do?”

“You’re going to have to change your ticket. Aaron and I can’t afford to fly to France first class, but you can. Just do it. We’ll come up and visit you, or you can walk back and visit us. The doctor said you should walk on the plane anyway. Now, let’s go get your ticket changed.”

“Mia, will you call the airlines for me? You’re far nicer than I can be right now. I’m too mad to speak on the phone.”

“Sure, hon.” Mia sat on the deck with Sasha and her parents and called the phone number on the reservation sheet. She explained the situation and waited. “They’re checking to see how many first-class seats are left.”

“Well, I can’t sit up there alone. Josh has to be with me.”

“Let’s just see what they say. This is last-minute. You might have to take whatever you can get.”

Alina patted Sasha’s hand, got up, and went into the kitchen. She returned with a frothy glass of milk for her anxious daughter.

“Thank you, Mama.”

Mia sat upright, with a pencil at the ready as the reservationist on the other end began. “Yes, uh huh. I understand, of course. One moment, please. Sasha, they have one seat left in first class. Do you want it or not? I need to know right now.”

“Fine! Doctor Adams is trying to ruin my honeymoon already, damn him. Just book the stupid seat, and tell them to email me a new ticket.” Sasha checked her email and found the new confirmation. She forwarded the email to Doctor Adams, and within five minutes, she had a medical permission-to-fly document along with a note to eat salads every day and lay off the decadent French food while she was gone.

They were as giddy as schoolkids when they said good-bye to everyone and left on the train for JFK. Of course, Tina was in charge of dog sitting Kismet and Reggie. Both dogs were staying with her, making it easier than running back and forth between houses. The flight to Marseilles would leave New York at five o’clock in the evening and arrive in France at seven the next morning. Sasha made sure to hit the ladies’ room three times before they boarded the airplane. Josh carried Sasha’s bag and placed it in the compartment above her seat. He kissed her and made sure she was comfortable in seat 3A before he moved on to his own. “We’re only five rows back, honey. I can even wave to you if I lean out into the aisle. As soon as the flight levels off, I’ll come up and talk to you, okay? For now you just have to relax. I’ll see you in a half hour.”

“Okay. Kiss my mom and dad for me, Mia and Aaron, too.”

Josh laughed at Sasha’s typical nonsense and took his seat. Mia and Aaron were across the aisle to Josh’s left, with Gerard and Alina one row behind them. Mia had a pretty good visual of Sasha, who was already chatting away with her seat partner in first class, apparently forgetting how upset she’d originally been. Sasha walked the aisle a few times at the beginning of the trip, saying hello to most of the passengers, and finally fell asleep at ten o’clock.

A tap on the intercom woke everyone as the pilot announced they would be arriving in Marseilles in one hour. The flight attendants looked chipper, as if they never needed sleep, and pushed a cart through the aisle in first class, offering a full breakfast to the passengers. Sasha took everything that was listed on the menu except a mimosa. She asked for two glasses of orange juice and decaf coffee instead. She snuggled under her fluffy blanket as she sipped the delicious brew, waiting for breakfast to arrive.

Sasha looked back and waved at Mia as she ate her breakfast. She could only walk forward since the cart was in the way behind her. Luckily, there was a restroom two rows ahead on the left. The sudden sound of the landing gear groaning told them they were near. All passengers had to return to their seats and put on their seatbelts, stow their carry-on luggage, and return their seatbacks to the upright position. A car would be waiting for them at the airport to whisk them off to Chateau de Renaud.

An hour in line at customs was the norm. The six of them stood waiting with grumbling, tired passengers who just wanted to get going. They finally pushed through the outer glass doors, inhaling the fresh sea air and enjoying the abundant sunshine. A limo waited at the curb with the trunk and back doors open. A suited man stood, one hand behind his back and the other holding a sign with a single word written across the white, glossy board: Renaud. Sasha and Mia giggled at the thought of being in the south of France with their new husbands and climbing into a limo on their way to a beautiful chateau. Of course, Sasha had been brought up in the chateau, and it was her second home, but now everything felt different. She had a husband, and babies on the way, and her dearest friend was there to enjoy France with her. The men loaded the limo, and they were off, a twenty-mile drive along the Cote d’Azur, otherwise known as the French Riviera.

The limo slowed at a set of large iron gates surrounded by two-hundred-year-old stone walls, eight feet tall.

“This is it?” Josh asked, trying to peer out the black-tinted windows, his hands cupping his face against the glass.

The limo driver opened his window and pushed the button on the intercom, stating that the Renaud party of six had arrived. A woman’s voice on the other end greeted them and opened the gates.

“That was Mariana.” Sasha giggled. “She’s the housekeeper and the main person in charge when nobody is around.”

“This is amazing. I can’t believe we’re here.” Mia gasped as they drove up the long ascending gravel driveway, and they approached the chateau.

The driver finally stopped the car in front of the enormous doors leading to the courtyard of Chateau de Renaud.

“This belongs to us now?” Josh asked. “How is that even possible? It’s going to take a while before I can wrap my head around that.”

“Well, don’t worry, honey. We aren’t going to move here, but it’s going to be the coolest second home anyone could ever dream of, thanks to my mom and dad. You guys are still going to come here whenever you want, aren’t you?” Sasha asked her parents. “I mean, you’re still going to operate the vineyards, right Papa?”

“Yes, of course, darling. We just won’t be spending all of our time here anymore. Mariana and Andre, the vineyard foreman, will be in charge most of the time.”

They walked through the courtyard, past the enormous fountain toward the heavy oak double doors. Mariana pulled the doors open, greeting the family and giving Sasha an extra-long hug. She spoke to her in French, laughing and rubbing Sasha’s expanding belly as they walked in together, hand in hand. Gerard made the introductions as they entered a grand foyer with marble floors. Two cats ran by, escaping into the courtyard, looking for an unsuspecting mouse to chase. All of the luggage was taken to the guest quarters by Andrew, the manservant, and a small meal waited outside on the terrace overlooking the vineyard and, in the far distance, the French Riviera.

“Ten days here just doesn’t seem like enough,” Aaron commented. “I could get used to this. And this is where you grew up, Sasha?”

“
Oui
.” A smile broke out on Sasha’s face as she announced her ideas for the honeymoons. “Today will be a day of relaxation and checking out the chateau and grounds. We can go to Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes, or anywhere you guys want to go over the next week. The Picasso museum is in Antibes, and Eze Village is one of the most beautiful places on earth.” Sasha glowed with happiness to be home in France with her family and friends.

Mariana came to the table and announced that all the rooms had been prepared for the guests, and lunch would be at one o’clock.

“Who wants the nickel tour?” Alina asked while sipping her mimosa.

“I sure do,” Mia called out, followed by everyone agreeing.

For the next hour, they toured the chateau with Mariana acting as a guide. She explained the history of the estate, what famous people had slept there in the past, and who the original landowners were. They walked from room to room, admiring each one with oohs and aahs. After everyone freshened up, they met again in the foyer and were introduced to Andre. He led the group outside, showed them the vineyards from a good vantage point, and took them to the wine cellars, explaining the winemaking process.

“Do you actually sell wine commercially?” Josh looked at the enormous operation, clearly impressed.

“Of course. Renaud Vineyards is well known locally and has a sterling reputation for producing exceptional wine, sir. Our own wines are served here with lunch and dinner. I’m sure you will find them wonderful.”

“Do you need to rest, darling? You look somewhat pale. The long trip and time change have likely worn you down a bit. You don’t want to overdo it. Today is a day for rest anyway, and you do want to be fresh and revived before touring the Cote d’Azur, no?” Alina brushed the bangs out of Sasha’s eyes and kissed her cheeks.

“You’re right, Mama. I’m just excited to be here. Do you guys mind if I take a nap until lunch?”

“Of course not, honey. I’ll walk with you to the room,” Josh said. “I’ll be right back, guys.”

Josh and Sasha sat on the tufted bench at the foot of the heavy four-poster bed. Handwoven, ornate floral rugs sat beneath their feet, and gold-painted plaster trim lined the ceiling. A Murano glass chandelier hung from the center of the room.

“We don’t have to do everything on this trip, honey. Don’t forget you’re pregnant
and
carrying twins. You’re going to wear yourself out. There will be plenty of vacations here—I can see that already. This chateau and the grounds are unbelievably beautiful, and your parents are more than generous. Let’s just tour the few places along the coast you mentioned. I know Mia and Aaron will be fine with that.”