A Year Like No Other

by Pauline Lawless

  “That’ll keep,” she said, smiling sexily at him. “This is more important.”

  Once again he thought he was the luckiest man in the world.

  The following night Jazz was having her hen-night and Brandon his stag-night. Yves had been let out of prison the previous Tuesday and had spent the past few days relaxing with Sophie and Pierre. He was very grateful to Brandon for securing the new job for him and rang to thank him. Brandon insisted that he join them for his stag party. Yves was very reluctant to do so but, as Sophie was going to Jazz’s hen party, she persuaded him to go.

  The girls went to a lovely little bistro on the Place du Tertre in Montmartre while the boys went to the Irish pub, Kitty O’Shea’s.

  “Typical,” Ashling pronounced. “No doubt Kieran’s idea.”

  At about eleven Brandon rang Jazz and said he missed her so much and wondered if the girls would consider joining the guys in Kitty’s. They happily obliged and the hen and stag parties merged. They had a brilliant time together and everyone was happy to see Yves free again. Even Jazz hugged him warmly. She felt it was time to let bygones be bygones now that she was so very happy with Brandon. This time next week they would be husband and wife.

  Sophie clung on to Yves’s arm as if her life depended on it. He seemed very happy to have her do so and was very amorous towards her. They seemed to have found each other again. Everyone was happy for them.

  Taylor arrived back at Marilyn’s apartment, still furious at the bombshell Brandon had dropped. Marilyn was equally flabbergasted at the news. Bloody hell, she thought, why didn’t I try harder with him? If I could have gotten him into my bed, he’d have been mine by now. She felt no sympathy for Taylor, who’d had him and thrown him away.

  She listened to Taylor ranting and raving as she knocked back martini after martini. At one stage she even asked Marilyn whether she had any Vicodin or coke. Marilyn knew better than to give her any. Louis had warned her that under no circumstances was she to give Taylor any drugs. He didn’t want that problem under his roof.

  “Hey, honey, give over, give it a break,” Marilyn said. She was fed up with Taylor’s rantings. “Just accept it. It’s not gonna happen with him any more. Brandon is finito. Look, why don’t I give Christophe a call. He has the hots for you. He’s always askin’ for you.”

  “He is?” Taylor was surprised. She remembered Louis’s friend who, Marilyn had told her, was filthy rich. Well, why not? If Brandon could get married again so quickly, then so could she. “Yeah, sure, give Christophe a call.”

  56

  The project wound up the following Wednesday and they all felt a little sad as they cleared out their offices but at least they had the wedding to look forward to. It was all systems go now for Jazz and Brandon. They were at the airport early Thursday morning to meet the guests who were arriving from the States. Mia and Mike were staying in Brandon’s apartment with their partners Doug and Star. Sabine had block-booked rooms in the Ritz for the others and for Jazz’s friends and family, who arrived that afternoon from Germany.

  Jazz and Brandon had dinner with them all that night in their favourite local restaurant, Au Sergent Recruteur, quite close to their apartments on the Île Saint-Louis. It was wonderful to be surrounded by those they loved and Brandon’s kids got on great with Jazz’s friends. Brandon’s father, Chase, and Jazz’s mother agreed it was a very happy occasion for both of them, seeing as how their two children were so obviously in love.

  Sabine had arranged for a fleet of limousines for Friday, to take the visitors on a tour of Paris and that evening all of the guests met in the Ritz for a pre-wedding dinner.

  “Congratulations!” Mia said as she hugged Ashling. “Dad told me you were expecting another baby. When is it due?” she asked, patting Ashling’s tummy gently.

  “Six more weeks. Not long now,” Ashling replied, smiling at the young girl’s enthusiasm.

  “That’s fantastic and how are the girls? I’m dying to see them again.”

  “They’re so excited about tomorrow that I doubt they’ll get a wink of sleep tonight. It’s going to be a wonderful wedding,” she sighed. “Do you like your dress?”

  “I lovvve it – and the girls’ dresses too. I’m dying to see Jazz’s dress. She’s keeping it a secret till tomorrow. I can’t wait!”

  They had a wonderful evening and it was almost midnight when Jazz and Brandon said goodnight.

  The morning of the wedding dawned bright and sunny. Jazz and Brandon shared a last shower and breakfast together before they became man and wife.

  Mia and Mike arrived at the apartment just as they finished and all four of them went to the Hôtel de Ville, where the official ceremony – a necessity in France – was to take place. Brandon’s father and Jazz’s mother were there waiting for them. Thirty minutes later, they were officially married but what they all considered the real wedding would take place that afternoon in the château.

  The girls then went to the hair salon where the stylists made a big fuss of Jazz. Odette opened a bottle of champagne and they all toasted the bride who was overwhelmed by all this kindness.

  Her mother and Mia helped Jazz get dressed in her wedding gown and when Mami saw how radiant her daughter was, she couldn’t help but shed a tear.

  “Please, Mami, don’t make me cry. I’ll ruin my make-up,” Jazz said, as she hugged her mother.

  “You look so beautiful,” Mia whispered, hugging her tight as they made their way down to the waiting limousine.

  It was a glorious warm sunny day, with not a cloud in the sky and the château looked spectacular as they drove up the drive. Sabine had done a wonderful job and the whole setting was magnificent, with beautiful flowers everywhere.

  Ashling and Sophie were waiting at the entrance and the children looked adorable. The ceremony was to be held at four in the gardens, where Brandon was waiting with the guests.

  As the music started, he looked around and caught his first glimpse of his gorgeous bride. Her beauty took his breath away and his heart overflowed with love for her. She had eyes only for him as she made her way up the red carpet. Orna and Ciara were strewing rose petals before her and Pierre carried the rings on a cushion. They made a very pretty picture. Mia walked behind Jazz, smiling broadly at everyone. As Brandon reached for Jazz’s hand there were very few dry eyes in the audience. Their happiness was there for all to see.

  After the ceremony, which went without a hitch, there was a champagne reception in the beautiful gardens. Everyone hugged and kissed them as they congratulated them and Brandon never let go of Jazz’s hand for even a moment.

  The dinner was held outdoors on the terrace and it was absolute perfection. Jazz had never felt such happiness as she looked around the table at her guests. As the sun set, candles were lit and it was magical. A quartet played at the other end of the terrace and under the moonlight, Jazz and Brandon had their first dance.

  The party went on until the wee small hours when the happy guests were ferried back to Paris by a fleet of limousines. Everyone agreed that it was the best wedding they’d ever attended. Jazz and Brandon stayed in the château that night, in a candlelit, four-poster boudoir, strewn with rose petals. It was as romantic and enchanting as any lovers could ever have wished for.

  The following evening they all met for dinner again, this time at El Mamounia, the famous Moroccan restaurant where they ate outdoors again, on the candlelit veranda. After the wonderful meal, Jazz and Brandon said goodbye to everyone as they were flying out on their honeymoon the following morning. Jazz still had no idea where they were going but had been told to pack bikinis and beach clothes, so presumed it was somewhere hot.

  The first surprise was that Brandon had hired a private jet to take them there, so it wasn’t until they landed in Nice that she realised the French Riviera was their destination. A chauffeured limousine met them and they were whisked down to the port where they boarded a private yacht that was theirs for three whole weeks.

  “I could get us
ed to this style of living,” Jazz told him as they lay in each other’s arms that night.

  “I certainly hope so,” he replied, nuzzling her ear, “because I intend to treat you like this for the rest of our lives, Mrs Hartford.”

  “I like the sound of that,” she grinned, snuggling down in his arms.

  Ashling had felt a terrible wrench when saying goodbye to Jazz. They’d become so close over the past year but now they had to go their separate ways. She had spent the week before the wedding packing up and now it was time to say goodbye to Paris. It had been such a wonderful year and so much had happened to them all. They were all going home changed women. If it wasn’t for the fact that her baby was almost here, she would have been totally miserable leaving.

  Corey took them to the airport and he hugged them with the promise that he would come to Dublin for her book launch on the 1st of December. That was another exciting thing that would be happening for her. Fiona and Hugh would be living in Ireland by that time so they would be there for the launch too.

  Sophie had also promised to come and said she would bring Pierre with her. They had already agreed that the children should visit each other every year to keep up their languages and their friendship. It was more difficult for Sophie as she was the one staying and they were all leaving. However, she and Yves were experiencing what was almost a second honeymoon and he had indeed changed, as he’d promised he would.

  Felicity was leaving Paris with a heavy heart too but she had her exciting new catering business to get stuck into and of course she’d see more of her daughters too, which was a good thing. She had improved her relationship with her mother, who could no longer intimidate her. She planned on keeping up her French as they would more than likely holiday in France every year from now on. Max was even talking of perhaps buying an apartment in the south of France for their retirement. How wonderful would that be!

  Taylor had accepted the inevitable, i.e. Brandon was gone forever. She’d heard from Mia about the wonderful wedding he and Jazz had had. Bitch! she’d thought, with envy. She was living with Christophe now but he was getting a bit tiresome about her drinking. It was almost enough to make her go back on drugs! She regularly saw Marilyn who was still with Louis but as usual always on the lookout for someone even wealthier. Plus ça change!

  57

  Three Months Later

  Ashling was in a tizzy as she got the girls dressed for her book launch. She was quivering with excitement and as nervous as hell. When she had finished brushing their hair she lifted baby Corey from his pram to feed him. He was the sweetest-natured baby in the world and Orna and Ciara were crazy about him. He was, however, a hungry baby and as she was breastfeeding him, he kept her fairly busy.

  She had called him after her great friend Corey who, as always, had been extremely supportive. He had come to Dublin the previous week and every TV show, radio programme and newspaper had been clamouring for interviews from him. It wasn’t every day that a world-famous author came to town. He mentioned Ashling’s book in every interview and as a result she’d been invited on a few shows herself and was getting lots of free publicity. He was such a pet!

  He was very moved that she had called her little son after him and was looking forward to the christening the following day when he would be the baby’s godfather. But first there was the book launch to enjoy.

  Ashling had been terrified that no one would turn up but she needn’t have worried. There was hardly breathing space in the hotel room she’d booked and every journalist in Dublin was there, as well as some from further afield. It was a huge success and once Ashling saw that, she relaxed and started to enjoy herself.

  She was thrilled that all her friends from Paris had come as they’d promised and she was looking forward to catching up with their news later at dinner.

  Jazz was looking sensational and still sported the tan that she’d got on her wonderful honeymoon. She was loving New York and it was obvious that she and Brandon were still madly in love. She had sent Ashling the biggest bouquet she’d ever seen, on the birth of Corey, and was thrilled that she was going to be his godmother. She’d also sent a complete layette of Ralph Lauren baby clothes and had set up a bank account for him in which she and Brandon had lodged a substantial sum. Ashling knew that she’d chosen great god-parents for her son.

  Felicity and Max came over from London and Sophie and Pierre came from Paris. Yves, unfortunately, could not get off work.

  They’d booked into the Unicorn that night for dinner and it was a happy group who caught up on all their news. Ashling presented all of them with a signed copy of her book. She’d thought long and hard about what to say on each one and everyone was delighted to have it.

  “Imagine, I know two famous authors now,” Felicity exclaimed. “Corey and Ashling. None of my friend’s know even one!”

  “Hang on, I’m not famous yet,” Ashling laughed.

  “You will be, you will be,” Corey said calmly. “Mark my words.”

  All the women loved him.

  After the Irish coffees were served, Jazz said she had some news to share. They all looked at her expectantly and Ashling, looking at Brandon’s beaming face, guessed what was coming.

  “Brandon and I are expecting a baby . . . in May,” she said shyly, smiling around the table.

  Ashling jumped up to hug her and Felicity and Sophie followed suit.

  “Congratulations! How wonderful!” they all exclaimed.

  “I know, I have to pinch myself every now and then to make sure I’m not dreaming.” She was radiant with joy.

  Max, Kieran and Corey were busy clapping Brandon on the back before they came to kiss Jazz and offer her their congratulations.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Ashling whispered to Jazz as she sat down.

  “Thanks, we’re both over the moon about it.”

  Baby Corey was as good as gold the next afternoon as he slept in Jazz’s arms. He never even cried when they poured the water on his head. Pierre was fascinated with him and jealous that he didn’t have a baby brother too.

  “Maman, can’t we have a baby too?” he asked Sophie as they left the church.

  “Yes, maybe. Papa and I would like that too,” she replied, causing the other women to look at her enquiringly.

  “Actually, I’ve just discovered I’m pregnant,” she confided in the other women, when Pierre was out of earshot. “I didn’t like to say anything last night so as not to spoil Jazz’s good news. And of course it’s much too soon to tell Pierre yet. But Yves and I are both thrilled,” she said, glowing with pride.

  “Fantastic!” Jazz hugged her and the others did likewise.

  “So I hope that means that you’ll all come to Paris next September for a re-union and the christening.” She looked from one to the other hopefully.

  “But of course we’ll come. Who could resist an invitation to Paris, the wonderful city of love?” Jazz said raising her glass.

  “To Paris, the most beautiful city in the world!” Ashling toasted.

  “To Paris, the city where true friends are made!” Felicity added, as they all clinked glasses and smiled happily at each other.

  “To Paris and a year like no other!” Sophie said.

  “Hear, hear! To Paris and a year like no other!” the four women chorused, smiling at each other as they raised their glasses once more.

  THE END.