Page 61 of A Riviera Retreat
‘I think it makes you look eighteen again. You were wearing a coat like this when we met.’ Anthony took her in his arms. ‘We’ve had a good life together so far, haven’t we?’
Vicky smiled and nodded. ‘We have. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.’
‘Neither would I. Whatever the future brings, together we can face it.’ Anthony pulled her close and gave her a gentle kiss. ‘Come on, the taxi will be here any minute.’
Now, sitting opposite Anthony as the TGV swished along the coast towards Monaco, Vicky realised she didn’t want to wait until they were home before starting the discussion regarding their future. At home, it would be all too easy to slip back into her old habit of allowing Anthony to take the lead in all the major decisions without any real input from her. Whereas here in France, she felt more positive and alive, more in control – and more inclined to push her own point of view in telling him what she would like from life from now on. As they exited the train in Monaco and joined the crowds on the moving walkway that would take them from the station into town, Vicky hoped Anthony would be in the mood to listen.
But it wasn’t until they were seated in a restaurant with a view out over the harbour having lunch a couple of hours later that Vicky started, in a roundabout fashion, to lead their conversation to plans for the future.
‘So, how d’you like Monaco?’ she asked. ‘I think I’ve shown you all the important bits – the palace, the cathedral, the casino. It’s a shame we don’t have time to visit the Oceanographic Museum or the Car Museum, but maybe we can do those another time.’
‘It’s very hilly and spread out, isn’t it? Been a long time since I’ve done so much walking,’ Anthony said. ‘But yes, next time for the museums. It is a fascinating place. Those boats,’ he gestured in the direction of the luxury yachts, ‘are something else.’
‘Maybe we can come for the Grand Prix next year,’ Vicky said. ‘If you’re not working.’ Her last words stalled the conversation for several seconds before Anthony answered.
‘If I’m not working, we won’t have the money for trips like that.’
‘True.’ Vicky picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
‘Not that we’ll be broke exactly, but holidays in exotic locations will have to be postponed,’ Anthony said, looking at her. ‘Until we’re – I’m back on my feet again.’
Vicky watched and saw him bite his bottom lip, a sure sign that he was nervous. Did he already have something in mind? She raised her eyebrows at him, ‘So, these vague ideas you mentioned? Want to tell me about them? The one about selling up and running away to sea like you suggested the other day is, I guess, one of them?’
‘Well, that would be my favourite course of action, I have to admit,’ Anthony said. He looked at her and took a deep breath before adding, ‘I’m actually wondering about working for myself. Setting up a freelance consultancy. What d’you think?’
‘Depends.’ Vicky said, trying not to show her surprise.
‘On what?’
‘Lots of things. What sort of consultancy you have in mind. Start-up costs. Where you’d base yourself.’
‘I was thinking of something to do with the environment. Green issues. Sustainability. Helping to make the world a greener place. Businessmen, even when they want to help, in the main, have little or no idea of where to begin.’
‘Sounds interesting. Do you know enough about it all though?’
‘Of course I do. And I have the contacts. I haven’t been involved with all those green and climate change government subcommittees for years without learning a lot.’
‘Start-up costs?’
‘Minimal. Office space. Upgrade the computer maybe.’ Anthony topped up both their wine glasses. ‘Now the children have left home, we could downsize if we wanted, move out of London even, release some funds to keep us through the first year. You could join me – keep me organised, do the books.’ He looked at her hopefully.
Vicky shook her head. ‘Sorry, no. Well, not officially anyway. You know I’ll back you and help with whatever you decide to do, but I have my own plans for a change of career – or rather, being a late starter and getting an actual career.’ Vicky took a thoughtful drink of her wine. ‘I agree we could downsize though. Well, not necessarily downsize because the children must always have somewhere to come, but we could definitely move somewhere cheaper, but not too far from London. A little cushion of money in the bank would be good,’ she took a deep breath. ‘While I’m studying for my MA.’
Anthony looked startled. ‘You want to go back and do another degree?’
‘Yes, in Creative Writing. I feel if I don’t do it now…’ Vicky shrugged. ‘I’ve written almost fifteen thousand words this week and when I get home, I fully intend to write for a couple of hours every day.’ She looked at him. ‘It’s what I really want to do and I feel it’s now or never, but I hadn’t anticipated you giving up politics. As for starting a consultancy,’ Vicky sighed. ‘It seems we both want to change direction in our lives.’
‘Only in our working lives, I hope,’ Anthony said, reaching out and taking her by the hand. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been a bit distant over the last few months, trying to keep things to myself and not worry you.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘You and me – we’re still okay though, aren’t we? We can work through things together.’
Vicky smiled at him. ‘Of course we can. With the children leaving home, it’ll be like we were in the beginning. I remember we hated being apart even for a few hours. We talked non-stop then about our plans and dreams for the future.’ She squeezed his hand in return. ‘Some of those plans worked out, others were forgotten as family life took on its own momentum. As for the dreams we had back then, perhaps some were unattainable, foolish even, and maybe there are a couple still there under the surface but they’ve also been joined by different dreams. Dreams that are rooted in the reality of our life now.’
‘Things are going to take time to sort out,’ Anthony said. ‘But after I stop being an MP and before we both get started on our new ventures we’ll make time for a holiday – a second honeymoon.’
Vicky nodded. ‘Already looking forward to it.’ She smiled happily at Anthony. They were back on track with each other. Their lives would change over the next few months, but at least they were talking and planning together. All was not as lost as she’d begun to fear, after all.
* * *
After Amy had welcomed Josh in and shown him to his room, apologising as she did so for it being on the small side, she went back down to the kitchen and found Simon clearing away their breakfast things.
