After dinner Renee and Philippe had joined Paul and Suzanne in the parlor of the big house for coffee and conversation. Most of the rooms had become offices or drafting rooms, but Paul had chosen to keep the front parlor pretty much as it was while he was growing up. His parents had also mixed old with new, so it was both a comfortable and historically attractive room.

Paul enjoyed telling stories about his family, but the most important subject of the evening had to do with Paul's father and Aunt Sophie.

Aunt Sophie had accompanied Renee on that first visit to San Francisco since Philippe was unable to get away. From the first time she and Henry met, it was obvious that they were strongly attracted to each other. Not long after Renee and Sophie had returned to France, Henry arrived in Provence. It seemed that when a former law partner of Henry's had moved to Provence with his wife, after retirement, Henry thought it a perfect time to pay them and Sophie a visit. Sophie was delighted and within a short time, the two were already making plans to be married.

These were the thoughts going through Renee's mind as she sat quietly looking out the bay window. Henry and Sofie had discussed whether the wedding should be in San Francisco or Provence. In the end they decided to have two ceremonies. There would be a small ceremony here in San Francisco, to be performed in the historic parlor of the big house with a judge presiding, and then after a few weeks of California touring they would have a second ceremony in Provence. It would be in Sophie's home church, a happy affair with all of Sophie's friends and family in attendance.

For Renee, the happiest part of the wedding plans was that Henry and Sophie would go to the little island where she and Philippe had honeymooned and would stay in La Cage de I'Ile, the little Island Hideaway that had been the beginning of all their exciting architectural adventures.