Epilogue
Allegra’s life in Cannes had been a very happy one but the last year with Nico and Maggie had been one of the best of her life. She hadn’t been sure what they would make of her proposal at first, but as soon as she’d found out about the old Domaine and the vineyard that went with it she knew it was meant to be.
Selling the Rodin had been easy; she had enough old friends in the business to help her make a quick, not to mention discreet, sale. The sale on the house went through without too much difficulty; money talked.
The hardest part was convincing Nico and Maggie. At first, they’d said they couldn’t possibly accept. When Allegra explained that she was doing it for selfish reasons – namely, it would make her very happy – they agreed to think about it. It was everything they wanted, and she would benefit from having them living not too far away. A win-win situation, surely.
Barely a month after Maggie had left, she was back in Cannes and in the process of letting her flat out in London, her and Nico rarely apart. But the real turning point as far as the Domaine was concerned had come when they’d all gone to visit the property together. As soon as Nico clapped eyes on those gnarly old vines, Allegra knew she had him onside. It was so long since it had been farmed, the soil was perfect. Plus, they found they had some rare varieties planted including Tibouren, impossible for Nico to resist. Maggie was still unsure, saying she couldn’t possibly accept such a generous gift. After the tour of the house and vineyards, the three of them sat under the old oak tree and discussed it over a glass of wine. Rosé, naturally.
‘Can I please just say one more thing?’ said Allegra. ‘I have no children of my own and more money than I know what to do with, despite giving most of it away. There was a time when it might have been me living here,’ she said, looking at Nico. ‘But that didn’t happen, for whatever reason, and I’m fine with that, I really am. Life took me elsewhere. But I would very much like to give you both, two people I love so much, the opportunity to make this place your home and to make it wonderful again. Together.’
Maggie and Nico had looked at each other, and with a nod of their heads, had made Allegra almost cry with delight. They raised their glasses, pale wine glinting in the sunlight, and made a toast to happiness.
Returning home after the wedding, with her guests fast asleep on the floor below, Allegra stood in front of a framed black and white photograph of a young couple, kissing on a bench in Paris. A stolen moment. It now hung on the wall in place of the Rodin. She climbed into bed as the bells in the clocktower rang out twelve times and closed her eyes, Etienne waiting for her as ever in the shadows of her mind.
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