Looking forward to her dinner with the man in her life, Marco, a handsome Italian ready-to-wear salesman. Alycia was decked out in her finest finery. A sexy but not vulgar dress, loose hair and passion red lipstick. Marco had to tell her some important news... Alycia pondered what the news might be, perhaps an official request? She took an Uber to the restaurant where they'd met. When she arrived at the reception desk, she was escorted to the table where Marco was waiting, looking very elegant for the occasion. Gallantly, he rose to pull out the chair for her. Alycia's eyes were full of stars. The serious Marco had already ordered their favorite meal, accompanied by a velvety Burgundy wine to suit their menu. The conversation began in a rather mundane fashion, with a few words about their day, their health and their respective families. They didn't live together. Marco found being apart more romantic, to Alycia's disappointment. They had been dating for almost 3 years. She would have liked to make their relationship a reality. Perhaps the time had come? Dessert arrived, a chocolate fondant spiked with sliced strawberries and gold leaf. Alycia couldn't help but dig into the cake with her spoon. Marco, astonished, asked her why she was butchering a dessert that had done nothing for her.  But there was no ring inside.

The waiter approached to bring them a bottle of vintage champagne. As it turned out, they were the restaurant's thousandth customers. But Alycia didn't know that, so she thought he would finally make his announcement. As Marco took her hand, his face suddenly darkened. Instead of a revelation of love, he was announcing a break-up! Alycia immediately removed her hand from his. Her eyes filled with tears, she was stunned, she didn't understand. But she wanted to know his reasons. He explained that he had to go back to Italy, for an indefinite period of time, and that He didn't want to stop her from finding love. Alycia was overcome with emotion, staring into space, unable to speak. Seeing the young woman's condition, Marco offered to take her home and spend the night with her. Alycia preferred to go home alone.

Two weeks later, as Alycia was leaving a travel agency, her eyes on her ticket to Reunion, she was jostled. When she looked up, she saw Marco on the arm of a beautiful bimbo. She realized that Marco's reason for being here was just a charade. Angry at having been taken for a fool, Alycia hoped her trip to her grandparents' would bring her some comfort.

Alycia had indulged herself by taking a first-class seat, for greater comfort. Eleven hours of flying was hard work. Once settled, Alycia put the mask over her eyes, thinking she'd take a nap to kill time, but she was almost immediately awakened by the steward, who offered her a drink. Alycia was annoyed, but when she saw this charming young man with emerald-green eyes, she softened. She accepted a non-alcoholic, exotic fruit cocktail to get her into the vacation mood. He was very considerate and polite, which did not leave Alycia indifferent. Later that night, the steward, Nicolas, took the time to chat with Alycia during his break. Seeing her mixed race, he asked her if she was from Reunion. Indeed, she was born on Reunion Island and moved to France at a young age to follow her military father, who was posted to the south of France, with her mother.

He was quite talkative, for a man, Alycia thought. What's more, he also had a great sense of humor. Alycia found the encounter refreshing. With each passing conversation and wink Nicolas sent her, Alycia began to feel something other than friendship. She pulled herself together, telling herself she shouldn't fall under his spell. At the risk of another disappointment. But the young man also seemed to be attracted to Alycia. These glances were increasingly insistent and implicit. The journey was coming to an end. The goodbyes were strange and a little sad. Both Alycia and Nicolas regretted not having exchanged contact details.

At the airport, Alycia was delighted to see her grandparents waiting for her. The reunion lasted a while, with lots of hugs and kisses. Alycia was sad in the car. The scenery of glistening seas and lush vegetation flashed by, but Alycia wasn't enjoying it, she was daydreaming. She was thinking about Nicolas and his bewitching eyes. As she entered the house, the memories, and all the smells that accompanied them, resurfaced. Alycia took a deep breath, to smell all the intoxicating scents of her grandmother's wonderful garden.

Her grandfather, a devotee of wood-fired Creole cooking, was preparing a guinea fowl curry with combava. The smells filled the air. Alycia was setting the table on the terrace when the doorbell rang. Her grandmother asked her to open the door, as she was in the process of preparing all the accompaniments for the meal. Alycia wondered who could have come to disturb them at lunchtime. But her surprise was immense... Nicolas was standing there, a wheeled suitcase in his hand. Alycia was a little disturbed to see him. Before opening the door, she asked him what he was doing there. His grandmother joined them, asking Alycia not to keep the young man waiting outside. And before Nicolas could answer Alycia's question, his grandmother introduced him to her best friend's grandson, who was in Reunion for a few days and didn't want to spend his stay at the hotel. He had known the family since he was a child, shortly after Alycia left Réunion with her parents. Over dinner, Alycia learned that Nicolas lived in the South of France. Was this the destiny that would allow Alycia to begin a new love story?