Page 46 of A Riviera Retreat
‘No, I don’t think so. The cost will be split three ways,’ Matilda said. ‘So we just need to find something decent from the three of us. Chelsea, is that all right with you?’
Chelsea nodded absently, her attention down on the drive. ‘Somebody is arriving. The electronic gates have been opened. Oooh, nice car. Amy’s come out onto the terrace.’
‘That’s a luxury car,’ Vicky said. ‘It’s earlier than the eta Anthony gave me, so I doubt – and sincerely hope – that he didn’t get an earlier flight and splurge out on a top-of-the-range hire car.’
The three of them fell silent and watched as a man got out and Amy went forward to meet him.
‘Definitely not Anthony,’ Vicky said with a sigh of relief. ‘I wonder who he is?’
Chelsea let out a strangulated shriek as she jumped up. ‘I know exactly who he is. What I don’t know is what the hell he’s doing here?’ And she sprinted off down the path towards the house, leaving Vicky and Matilda looking at each other.
* * *
Amy was doing some stretching exercises at the barre in her bedroom when she’d heard the gate buzzer go. She froze and prayed. ‘Please not Kevin again.’ Quickly running through to the hall where the main intercom was placed, she pressed the button. ‘Bonjour?’
‘Hi. Parlez-vous Anglais s’il-vous plait?’
‘Yes.’
‘I do apologise for turning up unannounced, but I’m here to see one of your guests. Could you let me in please?’
Amy, relieved it wasn’t Kevin, pressed the entry button before belatedly realising she hadn’t asked his name, or who he had come to see, and she’d just let a complete stranger into the grounds. A well-spoken stranger whom she could only hope was not going to be an unwelcome visitor.
Standing on the driveway watching the man climb out from behind the wheel of the expensive 4 x 4, she felt her heart lurch unexpectedly. He was in his late forties and definitely on his way to being a very attractive silver fox. Amy sighed. She was wearing her normal exercise gear of leggings and a sweatshirt. She could forget any idea of making a good first impression as the owner of Belle Vue.
‘You must be Amy Martin,’ the man said, holding out his hand and taking hers in a firm grip when she responded.
‘Yes, I’m Amy – who are you?’
‘I’m Simon Newman, Chelsea’s father.’
Before he could say any more, Chelsea herself ran onto the terrace and cannoned into the man, flinging her arms around him. ‘Dad. What are you doing here?’
‘Long story, Sunshine. I need to talk to you.’
‘I’ll be home in two days. Couldn’t it wait until then?’
Simon shook his head. ‘Sorry, no.’
Chelsea frowned. ‘Has something horrid happened?’
Simon looked from Chelsea to Amy. ‘I really need to talk to my daughter in private, but I could murder a decent coffee?’ He looked at Amy hopefully.
‘Dad! You’re are freaking me out. Just tell me.’
‘Chelsea, why don’t you take your father to your room and I’ll bring you a cafètiere along, okay?’ Amy said quietly.
‘Thank you, Amy. Lead on, Chelsea,’ and Simon put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders. He threw Amy a grateful smile, but she caught a glimpse of a worried expression on his face as he turned back to Chelsea.
‘It’s this way,’ Chelsea said and the two of them left the terrace.
Amy made her way to the kitchen. She hoped whatever it was that had prompted Simon Newman to turn up here unannounced, wasn’t going to be too upsetting for Chelsea. She’d already had enough tragedy in her young life without the universe throwing more problems at her. Spooning coffee into the cafètiere, Amy thought about Simon. Her first impression of him was definitely a positive one. There was also something familiar about him niggling at her brain. Could she have met him before somewhere? Chelsea saying he always travelled by private plane and the expensive hire car he’d arrived in indicated that he was a seriously wealthy man. In which case he’d move in circles way beyond her reach, so it was unlikely they would have met socially. Amy resolved to ask him if they’d ever met before if she got the chance later before he left.
* * *
Chelsea’s first thought when she’d realised it was her father getting out of the car was one of delight. Then, as she ran down the path towards him, fear gripped her. Something must be wrong for him to turn up unannounced. Something so bad he needed to tell her face to face, which would explain why he hadn’t answered his phone last night.
‘Why are you here, Dad?’ she demanded as soon as they reached her room. ‘Why didn’t you warn me you were coming? Are you ill?’
