Page 66 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
Verity shook her head. ‘No. But I’m so happy for both of you. It will work out, you’ll see.’
‘I looked him up on Wikipedia and on a couple of film sites, a few days after I knew Teddy was definitely my son, but it was all about his professional life. I know now he’s made some well-known films but nothing about him personally. Like where he grew up, when he went to America, how long he’s been married,’ Anna stopped. ‘How long have you been married?’
‘Eight years this year. I’m his second wife,’ Verity said quietly. ‘His first died of a brain aneurism just after they were married.’
Anna looked at her, stunned into silence for several seconds. ‘I wasn’t expecting that. Poor Teddy.’
‘You both have a lot to learn about each other, but Teddy won’t hold back now he’s determined to do the right thing by everyone.’
‘I was wondering why you were inspired to write to the Cambones this particular year and not before?’ Anna asked quietly.
‘Ah, now I think I’ll leave that for Teddy to tell you,’ Verity said.
‘Okay,’ Anna said, not wishing to probe. She already knew more about her long-lost son than she’d ever expected to learn. There was plenty of time to learn more. ‘Are your parents still alive?’
Verity shook her head. ‘Sadly no. They both died in a car crash three years ago. They adored Cindy, but she was so young when it happened that I doubt she’ll remember them.’
‘You must miss them,’ Anna said softly.
Verity nodded. ‘One of the reasons I’m so family orientated these days. You never know how long you’ve got them for.’
‘Shall we start to carry things out to the terrace?’ Anna picked up plates and cutlery and handed them to Verity. ‘If you take these, I’ll ferry some of the food out and come back for the rest and the glasses.’
Once everything was out on the table and Leo had opened a couple of bottles of white and rosé wine, Verity called Cindy out of the pool, dried her and helped her to put on shorts and a T-shirt. Cindy insisted on sitting next to Anna because, ‘Anna’s my friend and we’re leaving soon and I don’t know when I’ll ever see her again,’ and heaved a dramatic sigh, which made everyone laugh.
‘Sorry folks.’ Verity shook her head. ‘Can’t think where she gets her diva-like attitude from.’
‘We have something important to tell you about Anna,’ Teddy said. ‘Something that means from now on Anna will be part of your life.’
Cindy gazed at him round eyed.
‘You know Granny and Granddad adopted me when I was a tiny baby because my real mother couldn’t take care of me and she wanted me to have a better life, well…’ Teddy took a deep breath. ‘Turns out that Anna is my real mother and your granny.’
‘Anna’s my granny like Granny Eliane already is? I’ll have two grannies? I don’t have to give Granny Eliane back, do I? ’Cause I love her too.’
Teddy burst out laughing. ‘No. You get to keep both. You do have to decide what you are going to call Anna though – and Leo – because when they get married soon he’ll be your granddad.’
Cindy put a hand to her head and groaned. ‘Two grannies and two granddads, we’re going to get in a muddle.’
‘That’s why you have to decide on different names,’ Teddy said patiently.
‘My daughter Alison is making me a granddad at the end of the year,’ Leo spoke quietly. ‘She’s suggesting they call me Pops and that Anna might like to have the nickname Lolly. Have to admit I’m getting used to Pops, but I’m not sure whether Anna is keen on Lolly, especially when you say the two together – Lollypops.’ He glanced across at Anna, who was trying to keep a straight face.
Cindy jumped up and down on her chair with excitement. ‘Lolly and Pops, Pops and Lolly, Lollypops.’
‘Okay, well that’s a definite hit,’ Teddy said. ‘You all right with the name Lolly, Anna? Or would you prefer something a bit more traditional?’
Anna smiled. ‘Yes, I’m fine with Lolly. Pour some wine, Pops, and we can toast our new names.’ No way was she going to admit to anyone that she would have preferred Cindy to call her something that really indicated their relationship. Something like Nana or even Grandma. But it was only a name in the end, it was nurturing their new friendship into a proper relationship that counted.
Lunchtime passed in a buzz of conversation and lots of laughter. Anna had to keep mentally pinching herself that she was sitting at the same table as her son. Lots of information would slowly seep out in the future, filling in the gaps in their knowledge of each other, but right now she was content to just ask the odd question or two and learn about him.
‘Why the name Teddy? Is it a nickname that’s stuck? Or were you christened Teddy – if you are christened.’ Something else she needed to learn about her son.
‘I was christened Edmund Matthew Philip,’ Teddy answered. ‘Edmund for me, Matthew for my dad and the English version of Philippe because…’ he shrugged. ‘Dad and Mum thought it was the right thing to do.’
‘Philippe would have been thrilled to hear that,’ Anna said quietly.
‘Teddy is a diminutive of Edmund and also because…’ Teddy continued, grinning at her. ‘Because apparently I was plump and cuddly like a teddy bear!’ Teddy glanced down at himself ruefully. ‘Which is something I don’t seem to have grown out of.’
