Page 55 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
‘Heated arguments in the main. Apparently Teddy came face to face with Anna the other evening at some party or other and walked out on her. Verity has spent the last two days trying to persuade him to make contact and learn the truth.’
‘Does…’ Daisy indicated her head at Cindy, ‘know what’s going on?’
‘No.’ Nat said. ‘She knows Teddy is upset over something but has no idea what it is. One of the arguments was over Teddy insisting that Cindy had to return her necklace, but Verity told him that was a definite no-no for Cindy’s sake. She hasn’t taken it off once yet, she loves it. She simply wouldn’t understand why she couldn’t keep it. Oh, look, the show is about to begin – here come the whales.’
Hours later when they’d seen not only the whales, but dolphins and sea lions performing, watched the baby penguins being fed and Nat had treated them all to lunch, they began to make their way to the exit.
Passing a souvenir shop, Cindy said, ‘Can we go in there? I want to buy Anna a present.’
Daisy and Nat looked at each other, startled, before Nat said, ‘Sure, why not? Let’s go.’
Once inside the shop, Cindy, with Tom’s help, decided that Anna would love a whale in a snow scene globe and happily stood in the queue with Daisy to pay for it.
‘I love my necklace Anna gave me and will never, ever, ever, forget her,’ Cindy said, looking up at Daisy. ‘D’you think she’ll remember me for always and always?’
‘Oh, Cindy love, I’m sure Anna will always remember you. Every time she shakes the globe, she’ll think about you,’ Daisy said, touched by the little girl’s obvious sincerity and wondering whether Nat was right when he said Cindy had no idea what her parents were arguing about.
* * *
Poppy was in the kitchen when they got back to the cottage later that afternoon. ‘Hi guys. How were the whales?’
‘They were brilliant, Mum,’ Tom said. ‘I bought a poster for my room and a pot of sweets for you. Look, there’s a picture of a whale on it too.’
‘Thank you,’ Poppy said.
‘Can I go and see Anna, please?’ Cindy said. ‘I want to give her the present I’ve got her.’
‘Oh Cindy, she’s not in,’ Poppy said. ‘Perhaps she’ll be back before you leave. If not, you can always leave the present here and I’ll give it to her for you.’
Cindy shook her head vigorously. ‘No thank you. I want to give it to her myself.’
‘Tom, why don’t you and Cindy help yourselves to a couple of biscuits and go watch a DVD while I get you something to eat. You will stay for tea, won’t you?’ Poppy said, turning to Nat.
Nat glanced at his watch. ‘Can’t stay too long. Verity and Teddy are expecting us back. Looking at the black clouds that have followed us home, I think it might rain soon and we haven’t got rain coats with us.’
As the children disappeared to watch a movie, Daisy smiled at Nat. ‘I think as birthday treats go, today was a good one for Cindy.’
Nat’s mobile buzzed before he could answer. ‘Hi Teddy. No, we’re at Tom’s about to have tea.’ He was quiet as he listened to Teddy. ‘She’s not here anyway,’ he said, before falling silent again. ‘Okay. Twenty minutes then.’ He closed the phone before saying, ‘Poppy, I’m really sorry, but we have to go. Teddy is furious. Apparently he told Verity to make sure Cindy stayed away from here – something she forgot to mention to me. He doesn’t want Cindy having any more contact with Anna before we all leave on Monday.’
‘How unkind,’ Daisy said. ‘Cindy adores Anna. They seem to have forged a bond without even knowing about the special relationship they share.’
‘I know,’ Nat sighed. ‘But Teddy is adamant that their friendship is to stop. I’ll just go and get Cindy.’
Daisy and Poppy looked at each other. ‘Poor Anna,’ they said simultaneously.
‘Poor Cindy not being allowed to know her own grandmother,’ Daisy added.
‘I’m still astonished at that turn of events,’ Poppy said.
‘Where are the children watching the DVD?’ Nat asked, returning to the kitchen. ‘They’re not in the sitting room. The bedroom?’
Poppy shook her head. ‘No. He doesn’t have a TV up there.’ She went out into the hallway. ‘Tom! Cindy!’ she called. ‘Where are you?’ A clap of thunder was the only response.
Daisy ran upstairs to look.
‘No sign of them up there,’ she said. ‘Tom! I’m getting cross. Wherever you’re hiding, please come out, NOW. Nat and Cindy have to go home,’ Poppy shouted.
‘Could they have gone across to the villa without us seeing?’ Nat asked. ‘Hoping that Anna was in after all?’
