Page 23 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
‘Sounds delicious – I’ll have the same,’ Anna said.
‘In which case I’ll order us a bottle of white wine,’ Bernard said and smiled at her.
As the wine waiter uncorked Bernard’s choice and offered it for his inspection, Anna studied the man sitting opposite her. Was he really the person she’d known as Brian? Watching him as he lifted the glass to his lips to taste the wine, she noticed the middle finger of his left hand was a deformed stump. That was all the confirmation she needed. Years ago that deformed hand had been a huge source of embarrassment to Philippe’s friend.
Bernard nodded at the wine waiter and waited as he poured two glasses before raising his and saying softly, ‘Here’s to Philippe. Rest in peace.’
Silently Anna held her glass aloft in acknowledgement and took a sip, before saying quietly, ‘You were Brian, weren’t you?’
He smiled and nodded.
‘So you know who I am?’ she said, putting her glass on the table.
‘Yes. The love of Philippe’s life.’
Anna caught her breath at his words before managing to answer. ‘I’m surprised you recognised me after all these years.’
‘I didn’t totally at first,’ Bernard said. ‘There was just something about your face that seemed hauntingly familiar. It wasn’t until a photographer friend told me last evening that he’d photographed you leaving a flower in tribute to Philippe, that I knew the impossible had finally happened. Albeit too late for Philippe to know.’ He glanced at her. ‘I’d seen your message with the flower. “One Life. One Love. Farewell.” Philippe’s mantra for the rest of his life after he met – and lost – you. To know you were somewhere in Cannes, that you’d finally returned—’ He regarded her over the rim of his glass and took a sip before saying, ‘But then you ran away again before I could talk to you.’
Bernard took another photo out of his wallet.
‘You and Philippe only had eyes for each other back then, but this is one of the three of us,’ and he handed Anna the photograph.
‘Oh, I remember the day this was taken,’ Anna exclaimed. ‘You had a questionable taste in fluorescent pink socks and trainers in those days,’ she laughed.
‘Guilty as charged.’ Bernard stuck an elegantly shod foot out for her inspection. ‘The name and the socks went a long time ago. Look, my taste is all grown-up sophistication now.’
Anna laughed. ‘I can see that.’ She took a sip of her own wine before asking. ‘Did you ever marry?’
‘I was married for a year or two, and I have a son. Philippe is— was, Justin’s godfather. Sadly my marriage didn’t work.’ Bernard took a mouthful of wine before sighing. ‘I like to believe that it wasn’t entirely my fault it failed as my ex-wife is currently on her third husband.’
‘You’ve never met anyone else?’
‘No. Once bitten twice shy as the old saying goes. Enough about me. Today we need to talk about you and Philippe.’
The waiter arrived at that moment with their starters, and Bernard was silent until he’d gone.
‘Philippe’s love for you didn’t disappear over the years. He was a man who once his word was given, never changed his mind,’ Bernard said, a serious look on his face. ‘He always loved you and wanted you in his life. You broke his heart, you know,’ he added, looking at her.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ Anna said softly, ‘Mine was also fractured irreparably.’
‘Why didn’t you return later that summer like you said you would?’
Anna bit her lip. ‘I wrote Philippe a letter explaining, but he never replied to it, so I assumed he’d changed his mind.’
‘Wrong,’ Bernard said. ‘He did answer it. I know because I posted it for him. But it was returned, marked “unknown at this address”, a week or two later. He went to England looking for you that year too,’ Bernard continued quietly. ‘Didn’t your parents tell you he visited, pleading with them to tell him where you were? He wanted to marry you. Take care of you.’
‘I never saw that letter.’ Anna gazed at him, appalled and fighting back the tears that threatened at the knowledge that Philippe had come for her and her parents had sent him away. ‘My parents, especially my father, were very controlling. Always acting in my best interest, according to them. I was never told about the letter,’ her voice trembled. ‘Or that Philippe came looking.’
‘I can believe that. They were apparently less than friendly to Philippe.’
‘I’m afraid I was a big disappointment to them,’ Anna said. ‘They expected me to marry well – a doctor or a lawyer would have been ideal – although in reality no one would have been good enough.’ She shook her head. ‘The fact that I was arty and wanted to work in the film industry – well, they simply couldn’t get their heads around that.’ She smothered a sigh. ‘They virtually disowned me in the end.’
‘Philippe would never have disowned you. He never forgot you. Oh, he had relationships down the years – he was only human. But nothing serious. No one ever got as close to him as you. He tried to find you for years. I can’t believe you both worked in the film business and your paths never crossed again,’ Bernard said, shaking his head in disbelief.
‘That was a deliberate ploy on my part,’ Anna said softly. ‘I knew Philippe’s work took him to the States more and more, so I made sure I stayed very firmly this side of the pond, in a part of the industry far removed from his, and…’ Anna hesitated before looking at Bernard and saying, ‘Let’s just say I took a couple of extra precautions to make sure I remained incognito. And out of sight of the man who I thought had rejected me.’
‘Did you ever marry? Have a family? Meet another special person?’ Bernard asked gently.
