Page 30 of A Riviera Retreat
As she turned to leave Amy sent a quiet, ‘Good luck,’ in her direction. Vicky didn’t answer but acknowledged the comment with a smile and a wave of her hand as she left the kitchen.
‘Must be very difficult for her being so far away,’ Matilda said, sighing.
‘I forgot to mention it earlier, but I’ve suggested she ask her husband to join her for the last few days of the holiday. I assured her neither of you would object,’ Amy said, looking at both of them.
‘D’you think he’ll accept?’ Chelsea asked.
Amy gave a short shrug. ‘We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe Vicky will be able to tell us at dinner this evening.’
* * *
Vicky sat on the terrace outside her room with her laptop and Skype open, ready and waiting for Anthony’s call. She stopped herself from surfing the news sites looking for any further developments that might have happened in the last few hours. Anthony would no doubt give her the latest updates.
When the laptop buzzed with the incoming call, she pressed the button and waited for Anthony’s face to appear as the connection was made. Tired and dishevelled, he looked unlike his normal self. Vicky was about to pre-empt him with, what on earth did you think you were doing with the mace, but said instead, ‘Are you okay?’
Anthony nodded. ‘Tired, but okay.’
‘I’ve seen the news,’ Vicky said quietly.
‘I was hoping to tell you before you saw it, but…’ Anthony’s voice trailed away.
‘Why did you do it? Were you drunk or something? You know the rules of parliament as far as the mace is concerned.’
‘To be honest, I had a bit of a red mist come down when it was clear the way that the government wanted to go was in direct opposition to what is needed in my constituency. At least I didn’t drop the mace like Ron Brown did thirty years ago. I did manage to put it back down safely.’
‘Was it over the hospital merger?’ Vicky said, knowing how passionate Anthony felt about that particular subject.
‘Yes. My job is to tell the truth and represent my constituents. Today I felt no one was listening. Until I swore at them,’ he added with a rueful smile. ‘That earned me another day of suspension for unparliamentary language.’
‘Is that on top of the ten days I saw in the news?’
‘No, it’s included in that. Tom and Suzie have both texted me – they don’t seem to blame me. Seem to think it’s a bit of a hoot their dad being in trouble. Mum, of course, is torn between being totally supportive and proud of me and embarrassed by the publicity.’
‘Do you want me to come home?’
‘No. I miss having you around, but there’s nothing you can do. Stay and enjoy your holiday. How’s it going anyway?’
‘It’s fine,’ Vicky paused. ‘Amy has suggested you might like to come and spend some time here with me. Would you like to? It would take the pressure of you and give you a brief rest.’
‘How d’you feel about it?’ Anthony asked. ‘I know you wanted time away from everything, me included, to think and—’
‘I think it’s a good idea,’ Vicky interrupted. ‘We could at least talk about things in a neutral environment. Might even be able to fit in a trip to Monaco for you – once we’ve talked. Because we do need to talk about the future.’
‘Well, if you’re sure, I think it’s a brilliant idea. Please tell Amy I accept, but I insist on paying my way. I’ll check out flights this evening and let you know when I’ll arrive. I think I’m allowed to leave the country!’
Vicky smiled at the thought of Anthony coming to Belle Vue Villa. They could be plain old Mr and Mrs Pinehill for a couple of days, enjoying a brief respite in the South of France.
‘I’ll ring you again as soon as I have more news,’ Anthony said.
‘Okay. Love you,’ and Vicky closed down her laptop.
The others were all sipping a before dinner rosé aperitif and enjoying some slices of baguette spread with tapenade when Vicky joined them on the terrace.
‘How is your husband?’ Amy asked anxiously.
‘Unrepentant about today’s events,’ Vicky said, accepting a glass of wine. ‘And he’d like to accept your offer of coming to stay for a few days. If that’s all right with everybody?’ She turned to look at Chelsea and Matilda, who both nodded their agreement. ‘I suspect he’s checking out flights even as we speak.’
‘As long as he doesn’t plan to arrive tomorrow. I was thinking tomorrow might be a good day for our outing to Antibes,’ Amy said.
