Page 47 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
‘Your appointment with the lawyer is for eleven,’ Leo answered.
‘I want to get Cindy a birthday present,’ Anna said. ‘A proper present from her unknown grandmother.’
A short silence followed her words before Leo sighed. ‘Oh, Anna darling. You don’t think you’re leaping to conclusions too soon here? You haven’t got one hundred per cent confirmation yet that Teddy Wickham is going to turn out to be your Jean-Philippe.’
‘I know, I know, but the more I think about it, the more certain I am that he is my Jean-Philippe. Anyway, I’m going to buy Cindy something special for her birthday,’ Anna said stubbornly. ‘From a friend. She did offer me her pink balloon for the party. It’s the least I can do.’
‘What about Teddy and Verity? Are you going to meet them now? Discuss the possibility of your relationship? Tell them who you were, rather than who you are now?’
Anna shook her head. ‘Tell them I was Harriet Ann Carstairs in another life? No. If Teddy is really going to give up searching for his mother, there is no point at the moment. I shall keep in touch with Verity and Cindy though – as me, Anna Carson.’ She looked at Leo, anticipating his reaction. ‘Did you know they are planning to move to England? To Gloucestershire. We’ll virtually be neighbours when we’re married. We can meet up with them as Mr and Mrs Hunter.’
‘Let me get this straight. You’re planning to become friends with Verity and her family without telling them the truth about your relationship to Teddy and Cindy? Why?’
‘Because if Teddy hates his mother that much for giving him away and he learns my true identity, he could stop Verity and Cindy from seeing me,’ Anna said. ‘I’ll become a good friend to them all before I think about telling them the truth.’
‘Oh, so you do plan to tell them someday?’
‘Yes, when Teddy knows and trusts me.’
‘He’d never trust you again, if you do this, believe me.’ Leo ran his hands through his hair. ‘Anna, this is so not a good thing to do. Please think about it.’
‘I can’t stop thinking about it, Leo,’ Anna said. ‘How else can I stay in touch with Cindy? Watch her grow up?’
‘I don’t know,’ Leo said. ‘But I do know that by getting the truth out into the open and not compounding past mistakes with silence, you stand a far better chance of living happily in the future.’
Anna slumped down into her chair. ‘Leo, I’m frightened telling the truth will make everything go wrong again and I’ll never get to know Teddy or Cindy – my grandchild – properly.’
Leo took her left hand in his and squeezed it. ‘Anna, even if you’re terrified about the outcome, I really urge you to tell Verity and Teddy who you are. You could write a letter if you don’t want to tell them face to face, but I feel having come this far, you need to see things through to the truthful end.’
Anna bit her lip as Leo continued.
‘Think about it, Anna. You didn’t come to Cannes this year looking for your long-lost son. You came simply hoping to finally tell Philippe the truth. To tell him that somewhere in the world was a son he’d never met. The fact that Philippe died before you could make your confession has just complicated things.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Instead of telling Philippe about his son, you have to tell the son about his father.’ Thoughtfully, Leo brushed her face with a finger. ‘Teddy deserves to know the truth about his birth and adoption, and about how much you loved his father. Meet Verity, tell her your story, please. She can at least talk to Teddy and he can then decide whether he wants to acknowledge you or not.’ His lips touched hers gently before he spoke again. ‘I suppose what I’m really saying, Anna, is this: you’ve lived all your adult life without either Philippe or your son. You know you can survive with neither of them in your life, but the truth still needs to be told. Then you and I can get on with the rest of our lives together.’ There was a serious look in his eyes as he said, ‘Promise me you’ll think seriously about whether to meet Verity or not.’
Before she could answer, Anna’s mobile phone rang and Leo watched as she quickly snatched it up.
‘Oh, hello.’ Anna listened for a moment. ‘I’ll mention it to Leo, but I doubt we’ll come, Bernard. I think I’ve had enough of parties for a while. Thanks for calling. Speak later,’ and she ended the call. ‘Another Cannes party,’ Anna said. ‘Boat ride over to the islands and then a party on the beach on Sainte-Marguerite.’
‘Sounds fun,’ Leo said. ‘When is it?’
‘Thursday evening. I didn’t really take in the details as I didn’t think we’d be going,’ Anna said.
‘I’d quite like to see one, if not both, of the islands,’ Leo said.
‘Oh Leo, I’m sorry, I should have asked you first, not just assumed we wouldn’t be going.’ Anna looked at Leo aghast as a sudden thought struck her. ‘Do you think Bernard already knows who Felicity really is? Has done more than speak to her on the telephone? Surely he would have told me if he had?’
‘You’ll have to ask him,’ Leo said. ‘He did arrive with Verity and Nat last night, but I think that was coincidence. I’m sure he’d have told you immediately if he knew her true identity. He seems very fond and protective of you. Anna, about what we were discussing?’
‘Okay, I promise I’ll think about whether a meeting with Verity is a good idea, and decide before the end of the festival,’ Anna said. ‘Now, can we go down early to Cannes? I think I know the present I’d like to get Cindy, but I might have to try a few shops.’
‘Go and shower. I’ll book a taxi for an hour’s time,’ Leo said. ‘That should give us plenty of time to go shopping before your lawyer’s appointment. But, Anna, promise me you’ll do more than just think about meeting Verity. The time for secrets has long gone. If you do decide to meet her, you have to tell her the truth.’
27
Anna tried very hard to concentrate on what the lawyer was saying, but her gaze kept straying to the small carrier bag she was holding on her lap. She’d found the perfect present in only the second shop they’d tried. A delicate gold rope necklace with gold letters hanging from it spelling out the name Cindy. Now gift wrapped and secure in the bag, Anna was trying to decide how to get it to Cindy. She really wanted to give it to her today, her actual birthday, but that would mean calling in at the villa where the Wickhams were staying. What if Verity – or even Teddy – was there?
