Page 68 of Rendez-Vous in Cannes
‘Next time you’re definitely coming with me,’ Nat had said.
It was the middle of July before Nat returned, by which time Daisy had settled into the cottage, got into a working routine – although Poppy had a way of disrupting that some days — and was enjoying her life in the south of France. Nat coming home was the last ingredient to complete her happiness. While Nat worked on his second script, Daisy wrote the commissions she was successful in pitching for, and gradually her freelance career was gaining ground. Life was good.
‘Can I help you, Mademoiselle?’ The assistant’s voice jolted her out of her day-dreaming.
‘No thanks. I’ll leave it for now,’ and Daisy took a final sniff of the tester bottle before replacing it on the counter and turning to face Nat who had joined her. She looked at her watch.
‘Think it’s nearly time to board,’ she said, smiling at him. Nat nodded.
‘We’ve got a few moments. That’s your favourite perfume, isn’t it?’
Daisy nodded. ‘I’ve still got some left. When I land a really big feature commission I’ll treat myself to another bottle.’
Nat smiled at the assistant watching them. ‘Please.’ He took out his credit card after pointing to a bottle of perfume and held it out. ‘My treat.’
Daisy leant in and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thank you.’
A couple of minutes later they were making their way to the aircraft with Daisy holding Nat’s hand and clutching her duty free bag in the other. She glanced at him before saying quietly. ‘Just think, a day after Anna and Leo’s wedding we’ll be at Heathrow catching a plane for the US – together,’ she said. ‘Who’d have thought it all those weeks ago at the Cannes Film Festival?’
* * *
12thSeptember
Standing in the front bedroom of Leo’s cottage, Anna saw Daisy and Nat, hand in hand, making their way under the lychgate and along the path leading to St Nicholas in the Field Church, where, in half an hour’s time, she would become Mrs Leo Hunter.
Five minutes earlier, she’d seen Leo’s pregnant daughter, Alison, and her husband tread the same path, and now Poppy, Dan and Tom were being welcomed by one of the ushers. Bernard and his son were the next to disappear into the church.
Anna smiled to herself. It was almost unbelievable how things had fallen into place over the past few months, just as Leo had insisted they would.
‘It’s because it’s meant to be,’ Leo had teased her twenty-four hours before, when he’d moved out to a room in the village pub so they could follow the tradition of not seeing each other the night before their wedding. His son, Luke, who was his best man, had flown in yesterday evening from Dubai and the two of them had spent the time together.
It wasn’t just the wedding arrangements that had slotted almost seamlessly into place over the last four months. Everything, even if it hadn’t exactly gone like clockwork, had been relatively easy to organise. Things like selling her house, moving in with Leo, sorting out her work schedule for the new film, even shopping for a wedding dress had been relatively stress free thanks to Alison, who had insisted it was her duty as a soon-to-be stepdaughter to be allowed to help choose the dress.
She and Leo had even managed a couple of weekends away, but for Anna the best weekend had been the one when Cindy came to stay. Then there were the family visits to Teddy and Verity, visiting Alison and her growing bump, with Leo. The last few months had been some of the busiest and happiest in Anna’s life.
And then there was the phone call to Teddy’s parents. Anna had been apprehensive when Teddy had dialled the number, spoken to his mum and said, ‘Mum, I’ve got someone here I’d like you to say hello to,’ before handing the phone to Anna.
But she needn’t have worried. Eliane was kindness itself and her gentle lilting Welsh accent had smoothed away Anna’s fears. There hadn’t been time to get to Carmarthenshire to meet them in person before the wedding. That would happen next month, once she and Leo got back from their short honeymoon.
Downstairs, a door banged, jolting Anna out of her reverie. Thirty seconds later, Cindy burst into the bedroom.
‘Lolly, Lolly, we’re here. Can I put my dress on?’
‘Not until you’ve given me a cuddle, young lady,’ Anna said, holding out her arms for Cindy to run into.
‘I’m sorry we’re late,’ Verity said, following Cindy into the room. ‘Traffic. Honestly, you’d think we lived fifty miles away not fifteen.’
‘No problem. We’ve got plenty of time. You’re looking very glamorous. I love your hat,’ Anna said. ‘Where’s Teddy?’
‘He dropped us and walked down to the pub to check on Leo and Luke. Make sure they’ve got everything – like the rings! He’ll be back here soon.’
‘Come on then, Cindy, let’s get you dressed,’ Anna said. ‘Then you and Mummy can walk to the church and wait for me.’
A few minutes later, Anna said, ‘Cindy, you are the most beautiful flower girl I’ve ever seen. I’m so proud you’re mine.’ Placing the halo of silk daisy flowers on to Cindy’s head, she gently clipped it into place, before dropping a gentle kiss on the little girl’s head. ‘Go and have a look in the mirror – see how beautiful you look.’
‘Is your dress pink too?’ Cindy asked as she twirled in front of the dressing table mirror.
‘No. I did think about a pale pink one but decided it was really your colour,’ Anna said, crossing to the large wardrobe and taking her own wedding ensemble out.
