Page 56 of A Riviera Retreat
Chelsea shook her head. ‘No.’
‘In that case, I’m going to have to swear you to secrecy. Promise not to mention to anyone, particularly not Amy, what I’m about to tell you.’
‘I promise.’ Chelsea stared at him, wondering what on earth he was about to say.
‘I’ve stayed at Belle Vue before. Francois, Tasha’s husband, was a business associate for several years,’ Simon said quietly. ‘We became good friends and he and Tasha invited Mum and me to stay here several times. Sadly, when he died, I was in the States and couldn’t make it back for his funeral. I didn’t know about Tasha’s death.’
Chelsea stared at him. ‘It doesn’t explain how you knew I was here.’
‘The photographs you sent me? One taken down here by the pool showing off your new haircut. I recognised the pool and the garden in the background instantly. And then you sent the selfie in the Antibes restaurant with the four of you. I recognised Amy, which confirmed even more that you were staying in Belle Vue.’
‘So you have met Amy before?’
Simon nodded. ‘Very briefly.’
‘Okay, so you put two and two together and came up with Belle Vue, but what I don’t understand is why it has to be such a big secret that you’ve been here in the past. Especially as Amy senses she’s met you before and clearly likes you.’ Chelsea looked at her father, exasperated.
‘You think?’ Simon said, smiling, before falling silent for a few seconds. ‘I will of course tell her we've met before - and where. I'm just hoping she'll remember the occasion too.' He hesitated for a couple of seconds before continuing.
'You asked me recently if I wanted to meet someone else. After five years, I think I’m finally at the point of being able to move on. This morning when I saw Amy I had a real heart stopping moment – a coup de Coeur, the French would call it.’
Simon glanced at Chelsea. ‘I just need time to get to know her.’
24
Lola was sitting on Matilda’s lap as Pierre drove her to the villa late that afternoon. As Pierre turned the van into the impasse, Matilda, absently caressing the dog, sighed with happiness.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually going to buy one of these villas. It’s like I’m dreaming,’ she said. ‘Oh, that villa has a name. Does mine?’ She scanned the gatepost as Pierre parked. ‘I can’t see one.’
‘Non, my cousin, he never named the house,’ Pierre said. ‘Will you?’
‘You know, I just might,’ Matilda said. ‘It deserves to be known by a nice name rather than a bland number eight, don’t you think?’ As she got out of the van she pointed to the garden opposite. ‘I wonder if my front garden will ever be as beautiful as this one.’
‘C’est tout possible,’ Pierre said. ‘Especially if I ’elp you. My cousin, he never bother much with the garden, although I did my best to encourage him and planted things I thought he would like.’
‘Well, I’ll gratefully accept your help,’ Matilda said, smiling at him.
‘I brought the key so you can take some photos inside too, if you want,’ Pierre said.
‘Brilliant. I’ll start indoors then and do the garden afterwards.’
‘I need to sort the aperitifs,’ Pierre said, handing her the key. ‘You have a wander around on your own and I’ll see you in a bit,’ and he turned to pick up a basket from the back of the van.
Matilda felt a thrill of anticipation as she inserted the key in the lock, slowly turning it and opening the front door to let herself into the villa that would be her new home. She stood for a few seconds in the hallway with her eyes closed, soaking up the feel of the house and imagining what it was going to be like living here. The next few months were going to be busy, stressful ones, full of paperwork, no doubt, but living in this wonderful villa with a new life ahead of her would be the reward. She was longing to talk to Josh and share her excitement about the future with him. To know that she had his support in the big step she was taking was essential. Smothering a sigh, Matilda opened her eyes and launched the camera app on her iPad. She could at least send him some photographs.
Ten minutes later, when she went down to the kitchen, Matilda was surprised to find it empty. No evidence of the aperitifs Pierre had said he needed to organise and no sign of either him or Lola. The back garden was empty too. Pierre’s van was still parked out front in the impasse, so he and the dog had to be around somewhere.
Matilda took a general view of the garden before wandering around and snapping a couple of the individual borders with their different shrubs and trees. She stopped in front of the white rose that Pierre had told her he’d planted. Like the one in Belle Vue, it was looking spectacular in full bloom and she took a photo of it in all its glory before taking a close-up of a single flower. The perfume was wonderful and Matilda sniffed, wishing she could capture the fragrance on camera too.
‘Your favourite rose,’ Pierre said, walking down the path towards her, Lola trotting at his side. ‘You have enough photos?’
‘Far more than I need, really,’ Matilda said.
‘Bon. We lock up now and leave.’
Matilda looked at him, surprised, as she handed him the key. ‘I thought we’d be having aperitifs here.’
Pierre shook his head. ‘Non. It is time for you to officially visit the maison of one of your new neighbours. Come on.’
