Epilogue
Nine months later a letter arrived addressed to the LaFemme sisters. Marie read it excitedly. She ran to tell the gang about it. She found them in the tavern.
"Girls, there you are. Guess what I have. Hello, everyone," she nodded to the group.
"Yes? What is it? Tell us," Monique told her sister.
"It's the latest letter from Rosie!"
"Rosie? Oh, how are she and Ian doing?" Michèle asked her sister.
"If that letter contains anything about that loser she married, I don't want to hear it," Beau said. He was back to his old self and still somewhat sore about Rosie. The rest of the group glared at him. They shushed him, wanting to hear what Rosie had to say.
"I'll let the letter tell you what she wrote." She then began to read Rosie's letter.
"'Bonjour, Marie, Michèle, and Monique. Thank you for the letter. I really appreciate hearing what you are all doing. It keeps me up to date with everyone in the village. I send my love to everyone, yes, even to Beau, and hope everything is going well. I'm writing to you because I have a couple of pieces of wonderful news to share with you Where to start? I will be coming back to the village this summer. I'm afraid it's just going to be me. Ian won't be able to accompany me this time, as…'"
"Rosie? Back here? By herself? Well, well, well! Heh-heh-heh," Beau snickered, rubbing his hands together.
"Beau, will you just stop that for a moment and listen to what Rosie has to say," Marie told him. "The letter goes on to say '…I will be coming to France with some students and parents from the school I teach at. We will tour France for a few weeks. It will be great to see everyone, if only for a few days. I can hardly wait.
"'Now for the second piece of glad tidings. Even now, I can hardly believe it myself! Well, here it is. Ian and I are expecting…'"
Marie was interrupted with exclamations of joy and applause. There was an impromptu congratulatory toast for Rosie, Ian, and their child. When it was over, she finished the letter.
"' The baby is due sometime in late February or early March, I believe. Blame it on my birthday! Ian is just beside himself and proud as a peacock right now. I don't think I've ever seen him behave like this! To see him is actually quite funny because he's usually so low key. Our families and friends are ecstatic about our news, needless to say. Well, since I will be seeing you in about a month, I'll sign off and end this letter before you get tired of my ramblings. Say hello to every one for me. All my love and friendship, Rosie.'"
"Oh, isn't this wonderful news? They sound so excited. I'm so happy for both of them. Do you suppose we'll see them after this?" Marie asked.
"Yes, I think so, knowing Rosie. They'll be back. There's something about this village that always draws Rosie back here. It's in her blood just like it's in ours," Louis stated.
Unbeknownst to the group gathered around Marie, two others were listening. They nodded in agreement with Louis. They too were pleased to hear about Rosie's joyful news. The ghosts of the 18th century Belle and Gaston had sensed that something was about to happen when Marie had received the letter. They appeared in the bistro and listened eagerly when Marie read the letter. They too rejoiced when Rosie revealed that she was pregnant because the healing process had been finally completed. When she was finished, they smiled and as quietly as they had come, they vanished into the air without anyone noticing. The circle had been completed and all wounds were healed, as a new generation would soon appear with both of their bloodlines.