Scent of Triumph (53 page)

Her legs weakened as she drew closer, jostling past a jumble of hats and coats and umbrellas. She tore off her sunglasses and squinted, wedging through the crowd, with Jon trailing behind her. She caught her breath and blinked.
That monkey!
Now she was sure of it. Her throat constricted and she grew light-headed.

Nicky?

Her pulse quickened. The boy who held the monkey was small and slight. Could he be ten years old? He had black hair, as bluish black as a raven’s wing. Could Nicky’s hair be so dark now?

She reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder.

The boy turned, clearly startled, and looked up.

And then her heart sank. He had the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. “Where did you get this monkey?” she demanded.

The boy shrank back. From the other side of their little gathering, Libby and the nun turned around.

Danielle knelt to his level. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “My little boy once had one like it. May I see it? I’ll give it back.”

Shyly, he let her take it.

“What a nice monkey.” She studied the stuffed animal, brought it to her face and buried her nose in it. Her heart leapt.
I know the smell of this fabric, the stuffing.
But it had been more than six years ago. How many other mothers had made monkeys from the same pattern, the same materials? She looked closer. The buttons were different, mismatched. Her eyes misted. What did it matter anyway? This boy was not her Nicky. And yet,
that
feeling
.... She shook her head.

“Thank you for letting me look at it.” She handed the stuffed animal back to the boy and stood.

Jon arrived at her side. She looked up at him and shook her head. “Ah, Danielle,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. “I won’t say that it’s all right, because it isn’t, or that I can ever fully understand, because I’ll never know the depth of your pain. But I love you, and I’ll always be here for you, whenever you need me.”

The boy stood watching Danielle and Jon. He mimicked them, hugging his monkey. In halting English, he said, “I love monkey.”

Jon reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Does your monkey have a name, son?”

“Maurice.” The boy kissed the stuffed animal’s cheek. “My brother was Maurice.”

Danielle glanced at Jon. “We’d better return to the ship.”

The little boy went on. “But Maurice got sick.”

“I’m so sorry. I hope you have a good trip.” Danielle smiled at him and started to leave.

“He died,” the boy said. “That’s when I got monkey.”

Danielle stopped, tilted her head. “Who gave you the monkey?”

“My friend. I was sad, he wanted happy for me.”

She raised her hand, shielding her eyes against the sun. Behind the little boy, another boy walked toward them.

Her vision greyed, prickling against her eyelids.

“Look, there he is.”

As the boy approached them, she felt blood rush in her ears, and she gripped Jon’s arm.
That boy walks like Max!
What was it about the shape of his head, his sandy hair? A cloud crossed over the sun and the boy’s face came into full view.
And those eyes...they’re Bretancourt green!

Nicky?
The name caught in her throat and she dropped to her knees.
Could it be?
She choked out his name, “Nicky?”

The sandy-haired boy stopped a few feet from her.

“Nikolov von Hoffman?”

He cocked his head. “That’s my real name. How did you know it?”

Mon Dieu, that voice!
Danielle flung her arms open and tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, Nicky, my dear Nicky, it’s you!”

“Maman?” he said hesitantly.

“Yes, it’s me, Nicky. It’s me, your mother.”

His eyes widened. “
Maman!
” Nicky ran to her and flung himself into her arms with a force that nearly knocked her over.

Danielle squeezed him to her, hardly daring to believe it was him. “Oh, Nicky, my dear, sweet Nicky, how I’ve searched for you.” She was laughing now, through her tears, nuzzling her nose against his neck, reveling in his touch and the familiar sweet, little-boy smell of his skin that she had missed all these years.
Yes, oh yes, my son lived! Oh, grâce à Dieu, I always knew it!

Nicky hugged her neck tightly, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks. “I’d always hoped you’d find me, Maman.”

Jon knelt and put his arms around both of them. “Thank God,” he said in a thick voice, ruffling Nicky’s hair.

Danielle smiled at Jon through her joyful laughter and tears. She looked up and saw Abigail smiling at the rail, her hands clasped over her heart. Marie was beside her, waving and throwing kisses. Liliana called to Nicky, and Jasmin stood beside her, quiet for once, her mouth agape in astonishment.

The nun and Libby stood near them, beaming. Libby said, “I can guess who this is.”

Jon stood and gave her an enthusiastic hug. “Isn’t it wonderful?” He brushed his eyes and embraced the nun, too, to her surprise. “We’ll take care of the details, Libby, but we’ve got to get back on board. The captain waits for no one, not even a Newell-Grey. Well,” he added with a wink to Nicky, “hardly anyone, but he’ll wait for you. In fact, we’ve all been waiting for you, for a long, long time.”

Danielle laughed and hugged Nicky, rocking him in her arms. “Everything will be all right now. My darling Nicky, my brave Nikolov. We’re going home!”

Danielle stood at the bedroom window gazing over moonlit fields of flowers, their sweet scents mingling in the early pre-dawn air. Jon stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her, nuzzling her neck.
This is a perfect moment,
she thought, resting her head against his chest and breathing in the beloved summer aromas of the Grasse countryside.

Their late afternoon wedding on the lush grounds of her family’s chateau had been intimate, with a small number of friends and family in attendance, but the dining and dancing and revelry had lasted until midnight.

And now, everyone else at the Bretancourt family chateau was asleep: Marie, Liliana, Jasmin, Nicky, Philippe, Jon’s parents, the Leibowitzes, and Abigail and Lou and the triplets.

Danielle’s nose was tingling with the scents of dewy flowers and the musky warmth from their night of lovemaking. An idea for a new parfum danced in her mind.

Jon smoothed a wisp of hair from her forehead. “What are you thinking, my beautiful wife?”

Danielle smiled up at him. “That I want to capture this moment forever.”

Chapter 1. The Prime Minister’s radio address is a transcript of British Prime Minister Chamberlain’s radio address, September 3, 1939. To hear the real speech, visit YouTube.com and search for: British Declaration of War Radio Broadcast, September 3, 1939.

The Perfumes:

The fictional perfume, Chimère, is based on a perfume I created with perfumer Marvel Fields, then of Mane USA. It was called Fabulous by Jan Moran Beverly Hills, and was sold in boutiques. It exists today only in my private reserve.

Other perfumes are based on an artisan perfume line I developed. The Joie de Bretancourt, Jour de Bretancourt and Nuit de Bretancourt perfumes are entirely fictional.

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My deep appreciation and love goes to my mother, Jeanne Hollenbeck, who contributed her memories of life during World War II.

Great love and appreciation to my husband, Steven Fish, who is my partner in business and in life. Thank you for believing in me, and for your marketing genius, which was the breath of life for Scentsa.

Thanks to our children: my son, Eric Moran, who has spent countless hours helping grow the Scentsa business. And to his wife and my beautiful daughter-in-law, Ginna Moran, who proof read this manuscript and is a wonderful writer in her own right. And to Daniel Fish, Brian Fish, and Eric Fish, for brightening moments with humor and laughter.

Appreciation to those on the ScentsaBeauty team who also offered insights: Jazmin Garcia, Caitlin MacBeth, Caroline Refalo, and Felicia Roberts. Many thanks to everyone in the world of Scentsa; I enjoy working with every one of you.

Kudos to graphic designer Sherri Yu for such a beautiful, compelling cover design. Warm appreciation to Aly Spencer, Vana Margolese, Francesca Daniels, Heidi Powers, and Sandy Williams for their enduring friendship. A special thanks to Josette Banzet and her daughter Danielle Spandau, after whom Danielle Bretancourt is named. And sending heartfelt gratitude to literary agent Deborah Ritchken for her insightful comments.

A sincere thank you to our beloved readers, bloggers, and media partners. Without you, I would have no reason to dream life into fleeting ideas.

Finally, my deepest gratitude to our Scentsa business partners at Sephora and other retailers. Great appreciation goes to Jessica Hanson for her support of Scentsa. And a very special thanks to Karen Marin for her belief in Scentsa from the beginning.

1. In the beginning of the story, Danielle is constrained by societal values, but as the story progresses, she shuns convention. Why do you think her beliefs and behavior changed?
   
2. Women’s career roles in history underwent seismic shifts during World War II. Do you think that Danielle’s motivation for business was external, internal, or both? Why?
   
3. How would today’s modern communications of mobile phones, email, and satellite media have changed this story? The relationship between Danielle and Jon? The war itself?
   
4. Danielle experienced many scenes through her sense of smell. What are your favorite olfactory observations in this story?
   
5. How does Danielle’s keen sense of smell add to setting and characterization?
   
6. Danielle and Max make the distinction between Germany and the Nazi party. How does this conflict affect their relationship? How do politics affect other relationships in the families?
   
7. When Danielle is launching her perfume line at Bullock’s Wilshire in Los Angles, she realizes she feels like an American. What do you think she meant by that? Do you have any stories of immigration in your own family?
   
8. Do you know what year women in your country gained the right to vote? The right to own property? Can you imagine how having new access to these rights might have motivated women? Why or why not?
   
9. Danielle never gives up hope of finding her son, and senses that he still lives. Do you think parents have a sixth sense about the well-being of their children?
   
10. As an entrepreneur, what were Danielle’s challenges and keys to success? Do you have any entrepreneurial ambitions, or have you ever started a new venture? Do you know where might you find business advice in your community or network?
    

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