They stayed in bed on Sunday until he had to leave for the airport, and she had brought him breakfast on a tray.

“You ruin me for real life, Theo. My breakfast is usually a granola bar on the subway on the way to work.” The reality of his life was very different from hers, she knew it but hadn’t seen it yet. She hoped she would one day.

“Stick around,” she said, smiling at him, “the service is pretty good.” She had made fresh-squeezed orange juice and bacon and eggs the way he liked them. She knew that about him now. And coffee with a tiny splash of milk. “I’m going to have so much to do, getting my stuff out of the château,” she said while he ate, almost cringing as she said it. “And I have to get it all out in the next three weeks.”

“It’s too bad you can’t wait till I’m here over Christmas,” he said thoughtfully. “I could help you pack up.”

“The new owner is planning to come with his wife the day after Christmas, so she can see her new château. I hope she loves it. It would be hard not to.”

“Just be careful who you hire to do the move. Moving companies aren’t always the most respectable, they use a lot of temporary help. Make sure you use a reliable firm.”

He left a few hours later, after they’d made love. They could barely force themselves to get out of bed, savoring every moment.

—

“I’ll be back in a few weeks,” he reminded her and smiled after he kissed her at the airport, lingering for a minute. “Thank you for a beautiful Thanksgiving.”

“Thank you for everything,” she said, and she left the airport after Mike had gone through security and disappeared.

All she could think about was how much she had to do. Now that the château was sold, she wanted to get her things packed up and moved, and Matthieu’s and Axel’s, and turn the page. She was going to be busy every minute of the day while Mike was in New York. Then he’d be back for Christmas and the magic would start again. He had given her back something to live for, which she had thought she would never find again.

Chapter 12

The opening of the pop-up store on the Avenue Montaigne was a huge success, like everything Theo did relating to her business. She had an unfailing eye and instinct. All of fashionable Paris came and crowded into the glamorous space she had created. All dazzling white, it looked like the inside of a giant snowflake. The ice sculptures and bar were fabulous. The press loved it. Lots of movie stars, socialites, and famous people attended.