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“Nice and warm in the house, but bitter cold outside, Merde! Now I have to write a second one. Setting it at Christmas. Pond freezing over- love to go out and skate but typing away by the fire. Actually really nice.”
As people arrived food was taken to the familiar kitchen and too many casseroles and pies were stuffed into the oven. Bowls overflowing with candied ginger and chocolate-covered cherries and sugar-encrusted fruit sat on the sideboard beside puddings and cakes and cookies. Little Rose Lévesque stared up at the bûche de Noël, the traditional Christmas log, made of rich cake and coated with the thickest of icing, her tiny, chubby fingers curling over the tablecloth embroidered with Santa Claus and reindeer and Christmas trees. In the living room Ruth and Peter made drinks, Ruth pouring her Scotch into what Peter knew to be a vase.
The lights on the tree glowed and the Vachon children sat beside it reading the tags on the mountain of brightly wrapped presents, looking for theirs. The fire was lit, as were a few of the guests. In the dining room the gate-legged table was open full and groaning with casseroles and tortières, homemade molasses-baked beans and maple-cured ham. A turkey sat at the head of the table like a Victorian gentleman. The center of the table was saved every year for one of Myrna’s rich and vibrant flower arrangements. This year splays of Scotch pine surrounded a magnificent red amaryllis. Nestled into the pine forest was a music box softly
playing the Huron Christmas Carol and resting on a bed of mandarin oranges, cranberries and chocolates.
Olivier carried the whole poached salmon to the table. A punchwas made for the children, who, unsupervised, stuffed themselves with candy. Thus did Émilie Longpré hold her réveillon, the party that spanned Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, an old Québecois tradition, just as her mother and grandmère had done in this very same home on this very same night. Spotting Em turning in circles Clara wound her arm round the tiny waist.
133 replies on “Postcards from Three Pines: A Fatal Grace”
Thank you for your beautifully crafted stories that are full of richly developed characters who I want to know.
I love your postcards from my favorite village, Three Pines. Also the excerpts from the story reminds me the luscious description of food.
Are the postcards available for sale? I may have missed something on the website. I wait anxiously each year for the new book and because we are usually is Colorado when it is released I start reading it immediately as it is only 10 PM here when the electronic version arrives. I love the characters and feel like I know them. I have told my husband that we are retiring in Three Pines and he just gives me a strange look and returns to whatever he is doing.
Have read all your books. Wish there were more to read! I come back to them when I need to remember that this world is a great place with many brave men and women. I have also read the epilogues with much pleasure and sometimes sadness where you have written about your family and friends, specially your husband. The two of you have a great love❤️
Have reread 3 times, while awaiting the next,Plus shared with 2 daughters
So far north Hatley is most like three pines
Always such beautiful writing Louise…. makes me want to go back to each one and start reading them all over again… third times the lucky charm, right? No! The charmed me from the first
Love these postcards!
Merci beaucoup, Louise, for your lovely peek into Three Pines (which all of your readers have come to know and love,) and also for the snippet from your next book – eagerly awaited.
Just lovely. And, now I want to re-read Fatal Grace. Louise and Gamache are such blessings to me. I feel like I know both as I would best friends.
Idyllic Christmas scene. The excerpt reminds me that I could easily start from the beginning and reread all the Three Pines books,enjoying them just as much as the first time.
I love Three Pines!
Thank you for the postcard- have started dreaming of Christmas. And thank you for creating a safe hidden place and perfectly imperfect friends for us all to visit when the world becomes too harsh.
Will the postcards ever be available to purchase? Love them!
Louise, thank you for a lovely “dose” of Three Pines. Such a treat and I feel like I’m there.
So wonderful to be able to see and hear you at the Washington DC Book Festival. A highlight of my life.
Having discovered your beautiful stories in the past year , they quickly have become favorites. I have given the 1st book to several friends , spreading my love of your writing. These postcards are such a fun peek into the characters and you . Thank you!
Thank you, dear Louise, for these postcards. I want to start reading Three Pines anew. You make me hungry, sad, happy, scared, loved and, always, always wanting more. Love you!
Just reading this book right now! Special thrill – thank you.
Loved this postcard from such a cool place on a hot sticky day in Ottawa. I want to visit Three Pines. Actually, I want to live there.
I have just found you. I am loving your books in the audio form whilst stitching or driving long distances. Thank you.