WildMeiLing, you're a lucky girl, dear!

Marjorie... What a birthday gift!
This is beautiful! Moving! Intense!

Uau! Magnific!

Thank you so much, dear

Maria

This is lovely. Philippe has a lot out on him and his choices affect others as well. I hope you continue.

Beautiful story; sad but beautiful...

No, definitely not merry. But it's absolutely beautiful. And I feel a little like Clarisse does at the end: disapproving of Philippe's choice (I, too, had hopes for him and Emma), but sad for him, too, with his layers of complicated feelings and loyalties. Meanwhile, Mia has no idea. Really, she never fully does. So there is even a future sadness - the one where Philippe never gets to introduce Mia to Genovia.

And your writing is, as always, lovely, and you've spun a story that's delicate and fine and poignant, yet capable of holding heavy emotions and strong personalities.

I couldn't wish for a better birthday present. (Why would I even want to?) Thank you so much.