Page 58 of The Riviera House Swap

Nina smiled now. ‘Well, I think your brothers should be jealous of you,’ she said.

Sabine smiled widely. ‘That is very kind to say.’

They were silent for a moment, then Sabine said. ‘So, let’s find you the perfect outfit, yes? Then before I go, I can know that you have your dream.’

31

THEN

The next day, as they waited for the coach, Brigitte’s parents assumed that Nina was crying at the prospect of leaving their daughter. ‘It has been a pleasure to have you, Nina,’ her mother said. ‘I am sure that Brigitte will miss you very much too.’

Nina hadn’t the heart to correct them. It was just that she’d hoped more than anything that Pierre would come to say goodbye. But of course, he couldn’t. He was in lessons – only the French exchange students had been allowed a reprieve to wave their English counterparts off on their journey.

‘Come on,’ Bess said, giving her a nudge as they were called to the coach. ‘I bagsy the window seat.’

Nina nodded. She hadn’t told Bess everything that had happened – they’d barely seen each other since the night of the disco. She didn’t know exactly what Nina was leaving behind.

Then, just as she began to step up into the coach, there he was, running and red-faced and glancing behind him as if he knew he shouldn’t be there.

Pierre! She hoped for a moment that he might sweep her up and kiss her last night, but of course that wasn’t possible. Whathe did do was slip a letter into her hand, smile briefly, then run back towards the classroom block.

32

NOW

Nina

Guess who I’ve got a date with?! PIERRE!

Bess

You’re kidding!

Sal

Really? No!!

Nina

The very one. He remembered me!

Bess

Blimey.

Sal

French guys are SO romantic.

Nina

Here’s hoping. I’m just so glad I found the confidence to bump into him!

Bess

The confidence you found frolicking half-naked in the sea at some ghastly hour of the morning?

Nina

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