Page 67 of A Riviera Retreat
‘Who’s Kevin anyway?’
‘Amy’s horrid, estranged, soon to be ex, husband.’ Not wanting to gossip about Amy, Chelsea changed the subject quickly. ‘When Tilly told us she had a son, I imagined you’d be much older.’
‘And when Mum told me about this other guest called Chelsea, I imagined a sophisticated career woman in at least her late thirties,’ Josh quipped back. ‘Although calling you a real water baby should have warned me you were younger.’
‘Not really a water baby any more,’ Chelsea said. ‘That was a whole different life. Now I just swim for pleasure, not competitively.’ Seeing Josh look at her speculatively, she added, ‘I swam for both the county and the national teams and at one stage I was even being considered for the Olympic team.’
‘Mum told me your mum died in an accident – is that when you stopped?’ Josh asked gently.
Chelsea nodded. ‘Swimming stopped being all important.’
‘I’m sorry about your mum,’ Josh said.
‘Thanks. It’s five years ago now, but I still miss her.’ She glanced at Josh. ‘Tilly still misses your dad – I expect you do too. It’s hard, isn’t it?’
Josh nodded. ‘I feel bad about working away so much now that Mum is on her own but…’ he shrugged. ‘I’m glad she’s starting to make new friends,’ he added, smiling at her.
Chelsea took a deep breath. ‘Right, I’d better go and have a shower and start thinking about getting ready for the party. I’ll see you later.’
‘Ciao,’ Josh said.
‘Ciao,’ Chelsea echoed.
As she walked back to her room, she couldn’t help but wonder what else Tilly had told Josh about her?
29
Amy, waiting in the kitchen for Kevin to appear, wished a) she hadn’t been so quick to agree to see him – what was the point after all? – and b) that she’d asked Chelsea to stay for moral support. Briefly, she wondered too, if Pierre was around and had seen Kevin arrive this time.
She instinctively clenched her hand around her phone as the door opened and Kevin appeared. For several seconds, they regarded each other silently. It was Amy who broke the silence.
‘What do you want to talk about?’
‘Us. The future.’
‘You seem to have forgotten, there is no us any more,’ Amy said. ‘We don’t have a future.’
‘We could have. We were good together once. We could be again.’
‘You want me to let you back in my life?’ Amy let out a bitter laugh. ‘After everything that happened between us? No way is that going to happen. Our divorce will soon be in its final stages and I hope never to have to see you again after that.’
Kevin’s face grew hard as he stared at her. ‘Placed on the market, this villa must be worth a few million euros. I could build a good future on that. If we don’t get back together, I’d quite like my share.’
‘Your share? Are you serious?’
Kevin nodded. ‘Oh yes. Of course, you could always keep the villa and just buy me out. Maybe Aunt Tasha left you some capital? I’d settle for… oh, let’s say a million euros would come in handy right now. Get me back on my feet.’ Kevin threw her a look of spite and his voice hardened. ‘After all, we’re still married and I reckon you owe me now you own this place.’
‘I owe you?’ Amy almost chocked on the words. ‘You’re in financial trouble, aren’t you? You really are a despicable piece of work, Kevin, d’you know that? To think I was once stupid enough to believe you were worth my love. You used and lied to me from the first day I met you.’ Amy took a deep breath. ‘Even if I had the kind of money you want, I wouldn’t give it to you. But I don’t. Belle Vue is not for sale and there is absolutely no way you are entitled to a share of it.’
‘Not what my lawyer says.’
‘He should talk to my notaire.’ Amy stared at him before saying slowly. ‘Under French law, inherited funds, either before or during your marriage, are your sole and separate property and are not subject to any claim by your spouse. And as we’ve been separated anyway for five years…’ Amy allowed the sentence to die away before adding quietly, ‘I’d like you to leave now before I phone the gendarmes and have you arrested for harassment.’
‘What if I don’t want to go?’ Kevin said belligerently, taking a step towards her. ‘You going to make me?’
‘No, but I will,’ and Simon walked into the kitchen from the terrace, stood next to Amy and put his arm around her shoulders. ‘I suggest you do as Amy asks and leave now before I make you wish you’d never seen me.’
‘Who the hell are you?’ Kevin demanded, stepping back.
