Page 44 of A Riviera Retreat
Pierre nodded. ‘Congratulations. You’ll soon be the proud owner of this villa and living in France. It is subject to one condition though,’ he added.
As Matilda waited to hear the condition, she felt her heart sink at his words.
‘My cousin, he would like one last holiday here this summer. It is June now, he suggests he comes in August as usual, signs the papers, et cetera, has a holiday and then the first of September it is yours.’
Matilda breathed a huge sigh of relief. ‘That’s fine. It will take me time to organise things when I get home.’
‘Bien. I already told him oui,’ Pierre said, smiling. ‘Storm’s dying away. We should be able to leave soon.’
‘These flash floods are amazing. The clouds are disappearing and the sun is trying to break through,’ Matilda said, looking out of the window. ‘Normal Cote d’Azur weather is already returning. And look, there’s a rainbow forming. How lovely is that?’
Pierre nodded. ‘The bottom of it appears to be growing out of your new garden.’
Matilda couldn’t help grinning at him. ‘I wonder if there’s a pot of gold under it.’
Pot of gold or not, she knew the rainbow with its foot in her new garden was a sign from William, telling her that she was doing the right thing in buying this villa.
* * *
For the first time, dinner that evening at Belle Vue had been eaten at the pine table in the kitchen while the storm raged outside.
‘That pavlova was amazing,’ Amy said, putting her spoon down with a sigh. ‘The whole meal was delicious. Thank you. A fine tribute to your mum.’ She picked up her glass and raised it in Chelsea’s direction. ‘She’d be very proud of you.’
‘Thank you,’ Chelsea said. ‘Today has been hard, but I think being in France made it bearable in so many ways because it was easier to put things to the back of my mind.’ She looked at Amy and Vicky. ‘I don’t mean that in an uncaring kind of way. It’s just that there is nothing here to jolt me into a guilty memory – no photos or memories of Mum here. I didn’t see Dad either, or go to the cemetery, which is always difficult. Going house hunting with Tilly too, was a fun thing to do.’
‘You call Matilda, Tilly?’ Vicky said in surprise.
Chelsea nodded. ‘It slipped out unintentionally and she said she liked it. Anyway, before she gets back, this birthday surprise party for her, are we all going to give her a birthday present? We could club together for something from all of us or we could get individual pressies. What d’you think?’
‘Be nice to give her three presents,’ Vicky said. ‘Make it more of a celebration, having three gifts to unwrap.’
‘Good, that’s settled then,’ Chelsea said. ‘I’ll make her a cake tomorrow.’
They all heard a car door slam and, seconds later, a smiling Matilda walked into the kitchen.
‘My mother would say you look like the cat who’s got the cream,’ Amy said.
‘Pierre took me to look at a wonderful villa – and I’m buying it,’ Matilda replied. ‘It’s just the other side of the village.’
‘If it’s the one that belongs to his Italian cousin, I know it. It’s really lovely,’ Amy said.
Matilda nodded. ‘That’s the one.’
Amy went to the fridge. ‘I think this calls for a celebration,’ and she took out the bottle of champagne. ‘I was saving this for… another occasion, but I can replace it tomorrow. We can celebrate your villa and also have a glass while we’re watching the film.’
‘What film?’ Chelsea asked.
‘Enchanted April,of course,’ Amy said. ‘It’s time you saw it and we’re running out of evenings. Come on, we’ll watch it in the sitting room.’
‘Tilly, I saved you some dinner if you want it?’ Chelsea said.
‘Please. You all go ahead. I’ll eat and join you afterwards,’ Matilda replied. ‘I’ve watched the film so many times, I’m almost word perfect.’
‘I remember the first time I saw it was in the old open air cinema in Monaco under a starlit sky,’ Amy said as she inserted the DVD. ‘Tasha and Francois, her husband, were meeting friends there and insisted I joined them. Such a magical experience.’ Amy smiled as she remembered the occasion. ‘Right, everyone comfortable?’ and she pressed the start button.
When the credits rolled up the screen an hour and a half later, Chelsea was the first to speak. ‘I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy that, but I did. I shall buy a copy when I get home as a reminder of this holiday.’
‘Two more days and we’ll all be on our way home,’ Vicky sighed. ‘It’s been wonderful.’ She glanced around at everyone. ‘Anthony arriving tomorrow will obviously alter things for me, but I just want to say – I feel we’re all friends now and hope we can keep in touch when we leave here.’
