The Vineyard in Alsace

by Julie Stock

  The first songs were all catchy numbers, designed to get everyone up on the dance floor as tradition dictated, but we were all a bit jaded after so much food and wine. Once the music got going, though, and the bottles of Crémant d’Alsace were served, people’s spirits seemed to pick up and many of our friends and family started to dance. My mum’s companion, Frédéric, asked her to dance and they walked hand in hand to the dance floor, looking for all the world as though they were meant to be together. This was the first time she had been bold enough to ask him to come to a public event with her, despite me encouraging her to do so for many months now.

  ‘I just don’t want you to think I have forgotten your father,’ she said when she told me she wanted to ask Frédéric to come with her to the Fête du Nouveau Vin.

  ‘I know that will never happen,’ I reassured her. ‘All I want is for you to be happy and if Frédéric makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.’

  ‘Let’s dance, Fran,’ I said, standing up and reaching out to take her hand as the first slow dance started to play.

  I led her out onto the floor and as we started to dance, everyone else faded away and it was as though the music was playing for the two of us alone. I pulled Fran closer, feeling her head on my shoulder and her soft hair brushing my cheek.

  ‘Have you had a good time this evening?’ I asked.

  She looked up at me, her eyes bright. ‘It’s been a fabulous evening. More than anything, I’ve just enjoyed seeing our friends and family all settled and happy.’ She sighed and my heart beat a little faster.

  ‘And what about you? Are you settled and happy?’

  ‘This is the happiest I have ever been,’ she replied. ‘How about you?’

  ‘There’s only one more thing I need to make me really happy,’ I said. Suddenly, my throat felt dry.

  ‘What’s that?’ Her eyes met mine, filled with concern and my love for her grew even stronger.

  ‘If you would marry me.’ I said it quietly, but I knew she’d heard me because she stopped dancing right in the middle of the dance floor and her hands flew to her mouth. She swayed and I had to catch her to stop her from falling.

  ‘Did you really just say that or did I dream it?’ she whispered. I laughed softly, taking the box from my pocket and opening it to show her the ring. It had been my grandmother’s engagement ring and I’d been into Strasbourg to have it cleaned up earlier in the week.

  ‘I want you to be my wife, Fran, and I want us to be together for always. Please say yes.’

  She was staring at me intently, as if she could see deep into my heart and soul.

  ‘I’d like nothing more than to be your wife, Didier.’

  She threw her arms round my neck and I pulled her in tight for a tender kiss. Suddenly, a great big cheer went up from our family and friends, who must have been waiting with bated breath to find out what Fran’s answer was going to be.

  When we’d finished kissing, I took out the ring and slipped it on to her waiting finger, leading to yet another round of cheering in the background. She studied the gleaming sapphire and diamond ring for a moment.

  ‘This looks really old, it’s beautiful.’

  ‘It belonged to my grandmother. Do you like it?’

  ‘It’s stunning, and a perfect fit too. Thank you.’

  We danced again and again, as the rest of the evening flew by. When we finally left, we were guided along the path by the same wonderful array of shining stars in the dark, moonlit sky.

  ‘I’m so glad we had a second chance at being together,’ Fran told me.

  ‘Me too. I think we’re really ready for it now.’

  ‘Everyone was in such high spirits tonight. It actually felt like a night full of second chances.’

  I smiled at that and drew Fran in tighter to me, knowing I would never let her escape from me again.

  Fran

  A few days later, I was sitting at the table in the cottage with Ellie once again, poring over the latest update to the plans from the builders. Didier was working with Thierry on the new wines every day, so it was just as well I had Ellie to help me with the building projects. Didier had confirmed to me that the new vintage was a great success and that financially the vineyard estate would do very well out of it - well enough to pay for all the building work and more, thank goodness.

  ‘How are things with you and Henri, now you’ve been living together for a while?’ I asked as we broke for a cup of coffee mid-morning.

  ‘Well, it’s taken some adjusting to, living with someone else, I mean. And not just anyone, but a man. A French man, at that!’ She pulled a face and I didn’t know if she was concealing her true feelings.

  ‘Yes, I know what you mean. We’re both quite independent, you and I, and it does take time but I’m sure you’ll get there. You’re not changing your mind about coming here after all, are you?’ I studied her face while she composed her reply.

  ‘No. I am glad I came here. I still like Henri just as much. It’s just that it’s all different, that’s all. I’m so pleased you’re here too, and that we’re working together. I think I might have gone mad if I hadn’t had this to do each day.’

  ‘I wanted to talk to you about that, actually.’ I bit my lip before going on, nervous about how she might take my proposal. She was staring at me with obvious interest.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘You know by now that there’s a lot of work involved in these two projects, the Visitors’ Centre and the château.’ She nodded as I gestured at the paperwork covering the table. ‘And to be honest, I don’t think I can manage it all on my own.’

  ‘That’s why I’m helping you, isn’t it? I don’t mind helping out for as long as you need me, Fran, really.’

  ‘I know that, Ellie, but I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness on that front. This is going to be a long-term job and if you’re going to help me over months, I want you to be paid.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘But you really don’t need to! I have my redundancy money and I’m glad to help.’ She laid her hand on my arm.

  ‘You are such a wonderful friend for saying that but it still wouldn’t be right. Anyway, Didier knows the harvest has been a success now and the vineyard’s finances are secure for the foreseeable future. If we get the Visitors’ Centre finished and the château restored, we can start welcoming more guests and improving our profits even further, so this would be an important investment.’

  ‘Are you offering me a job?’

  ‘I am. I spoke to Didier and explained I’d like to put you in charge of the restoration of the château, and longer term the running of the château as accommodation for paying guests. You’d report to me and we’d continue working together, just like we are now.’

  ‘It sounds great, and I know we’re friends but are you really sure about this?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve given it a lot of thought over the weekend. Eventually, I’m going to need a team of people to help me run both the Visitors’ Centre and the château when we open and you’d be perfect for the château. I’d also really appreciate your help with getting everything up and running beforehand. So, what do you say?’ I blew out a big breath. Ellie jumped up without speaking and flung her arms round me. She sat back down again a few minutes later, her eyes sparkling.

  ‘This is perfect. I just can’t believe my luck!’

  ‘And there’s one other thing you’ll be able to help me with, as well.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Planning the wedding, of course, as my maid of honour!’

  ‘Oh God, this is going to be wonderful.’

  I smiled at her and let my mind wander over the past couple of months as we got back to studying the plans once more. Coming back to Alsace had been a risk but now it felt more like home than ever. I had made the right decision to take the job here. This is where my heart belonged all the time and I was so glad I had been given a second chance to realise it.

  Acknowledgements

  It was a
long journey to publication for my debut novel, From Here to Nashville, and it’s been an equally long one for this second book! In between the two, I have spent a lot of time wondering what it is I want to get out of my writing. In finally deciding to self-publish this book, I realised that at last, I know what that is.

  I would like to thank my writing friends, Kate and Ros, for their unwavering friendship and support over these past few years. I count myself very lucky to be making new friends at this time in my life.

  I have been a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association since January 2014 now and I have been lucky enough to have so much help and support from many RNA writers on my writing and publishing journey. Thank you to all the RNA members I have met and come to know over the past few years for your generosity of spirit. It really is wonderful to be part of such a professional and fabulous organisation.

  Thank you also to everyone who continues to follow me on Twitter, on my Facebook page and on my blog. I ‘meet’ new people all the time and sometimes, I get to meet them in real life too!

  My debut novel, From Here to Nashville, is a country music romance.

  Praise for From Here to Nashville:

  ‘It kept me entertained from beginning to end. All in all, a great début and I look forward to the next book!’ Annie’s Book Corner

  ‘An entertaining contemporary romance with a country-music feel to it and characters easy to connect with right from the first page.’ Reviewed the Book

  ‘From Here to Nashville by Julie Stock is one of the best books I have read in 2015!! She had me smiling from ear to ear throughout the book. I knew I was going to like the book because of my love of country music and romance novels. However, I had no idea how much this book would actually touch my heart. There was even a part in the story that I shed a tear - a happy tear.’ Heidi Simon Book Reviews

  ‘This book gives what we want from a contemporary romance, escapism with… a story that is interesting and which maybe isn’t quite as predictable as you might expect.’

  TheTBRPile.com

  Can Music Really Bring People Together?

  Rachel Hardy dreams of being a successful country music singer in Nashville’s Music City, four thousand miles away from her lonely life in Dorset.

  When Jackson Phillips, an independent record label owner, encourages her band to audition for a nationwide “Open Mic” competition, she decides they have nothing to lose.

  But when she starts to fall in love with Jackson, the stakes suddenly get higher and she finds herself with a great big dilemma on her hands. Should she abandon her dream and take the easy way out or should she leave the life she has always known behind and take a gamble on a man who has personal demons of his own?

  Follow Rachel and Jackson as they learn to trust in love again and to see whether music really can bring them together.

  You can get your copy here.

  About the Author

  I’m an author of contemporary romance novels, novellas and short stories. I’m a proud member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

  I blog regularly on my website, ‘My Writing Life’ www.julie-stock.co.uk and I would love to hear from you. You can also connect with me on Twitter, on Goodreads and via my Facebook Author Page.

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  Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed The Vineyard in Alsace and if you did, I would love it if you could spare a few minutes to leave me a review on Amazon.