Page 27 of A French Affair
‘Just because the man that linked us together via marriage is no longer with us, doesn’t mean that I don’t still regard you as my mother-in-law, a part of my family,’ Fern answered quietly. ‘And I promise you, I’ll never stop caring about and for you.’ She took a drink of coffee. ‘As for you going doolally – I don’t see that happening for a long time, if ever.’
Anouk nodded thoughtfully. ‘D’accord. I too ’ave been thinking about Fabian wanting to move one of us out of our homes. The reasons you want to stay in the auberge are as valid as Fabian’s are for wanting you to move out. We will spend the weekend together and talk it through properly. Mais.’ She looked at Fern with a glint in her eye. ‘We ’ave no need to mention this to Fabian. He is away and we will decide without the pressure. It is for the best. D’accord?’
‘D’accord,’ Fern agreed.
18
When Belinda arrived back at the auberge that evening, she listened as a happy Fern told her about the conversation with Anouk and her weekend plans. ‘I’ll pick her up Saturday morning and by the time she leaves sometime on Tuesday she promises to have made a decision.’
Fern looked at Belinda. ‘I did think about what you said about putting my life on hold, but I think having Anouk here will do the opposite in reality. Life since Laurent died has been lonely and inconsequential. Having someone relying on me will make me do things again. I wish you could meet her before you leave.’
‘From what you’ve told me about Anouk, I think if she does come here, it sounds as though it will benefit you both,’ Belinda replied. ‘Hopefully I’ll be back to help finalise things for the opening of the campsite. I can meet her then.’
‘At least you’ll be able to see your daughter and the twins,’ Fern said.
‘That’s what I’m looking forward to the most,’ Belinda answered. ‘What about your girls? Are you likely to see them over the holiday?’
Fern shook her head. ‘No, sadly. They both have their own busy lives. I expect they’ll be over later in the summer though.’
After supper, Belinda apologised to Fern and went upstairs to finish sorting her things out. Once she’d packed and prepared everything for the morning, she stood in front of the bedroom window, looking out over the dark countryside. An almost full moon was illuminating the fields and owls were tooting in the copse at the far side of the field.
Belinda sighed. She’d felt so at home here in Brittany for the past few weeks, she’d be sad to leave tomorrow. The time here had woken something inside her that had been buried for far too long.
The next morning at work, she made sure everything on her to-do list was as up to date as she could make it, and the booking page on the website was properly loaded and working. She hoped that Maria was as computer-literate as she said and would soon get the hang of things. If not, Belinda could only hope that Alain would be more helpful to Maria than he had been with her. Afterwards, she wandered around outside for a while, taking some photos on her phone to show everyone back home. So much had changed in such a short time and the place was really starting to look good. She even managed to snap an unsuspecting Alain as he chainsawed some branches into logs. Putting her phone away, she headed over to him and waited until he saw her and silenced the chainsaw.
‘I’ll be off in about ten minutes,’ Belinda said. ‘I’ll leave my keys in the office desk drawer. Hopefully I’ll see you at the end of the month.’
‘Okay. ’Ave a safe journey. See you when you get back,’ and Alain opened up the chainsaw again, making further conversation impossible.
Once BB was settled in his travelling cushion in the back of the car, Belinda started the engine and drove away. Driving slowly down the potholed lane, she remembered that first day when she’d driven equally slowly in the opposite direction, not wanting to be there, her mind full of unhappy memories. This time, though, it was a feeling of not wanting to leave that kept her speed down in an effort not to reach the end and turn onto the road and make for the ferry at Roscoff. She was surprised to realise that she’d made a number of happy memories during the last few weeks. New memories that were slowly replacing old sad ones.
19
The first morning back in her flat at the top of the Riverside hotel, Belinda struggled to remember where she was when the alarm went off and woke her. She lay there for a few minutes listening to the early-morning sounds of people and traffic down on the quayside. Sounds that felt alien to her after the silence of the Brittany countryside for the past few weeks.
After showering, Belinda moved across to the wardrobe. Jeans and a sweatshirt, her normal workday attire for the campsite, wouldn’t do here. Businesslike and professional was the look she needed. Reluctantly, she pulled out one of her navy work suits that she teamed with a white shirt. She caught her light brown hair up in a neat ballerina-type bun at the back of her head, instead of simply brushing it and leaving it loose. There, back in proper work mode, so why didn’t she feel excited at the prospect of spending her days once again working in a job that had always given her a sense of purpose, of being needed? Smothering a sigh, Belinda picked up her work bag and laptop.
‘Come on then, BB, back in the old routine.’ The little dog gave a quick bark and followed her out of the door.
Downstairs in the hotel’s dining room, she helped herself to a mug of coffee from the machine on the buffet table and stood looking around, making sure everything was up to standard before heading for reception.
Donna, the senior receptionist, was on duty and welcomed Belinda back with a smile. ‘Nigel will be pleased to see you.’
‘I’m heading over to Torquay this morning to see him and Molly,’ Belinda said. ‘Everything ticking along here? Anything I need to know about?’
Donna shook her head. ‘All good. We’re full for the Easter weekend. Housekeeper is on top of everything for that.’ She hesitated. ‘There is one thing, but that’s up to Nigel to tell you.’
Belinda raised her eyebrows and looked at her, but Donna shook her head.
‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.’
‘Okay. I’ll see you later,’ Belinda said, feeling unsettled and wondering what Nigel needed to tell her.
‘Give my love to Molly,’ Donna said.
‘Will do.’
Half an hour later and Belinda was driving along the Torquay ring road approaching the turning to take for the coastal road where the hotel was situated. Traffic was heavy and Belinda found herself thinking wistfully of the quieter Brittany roads. Once in the hotel grounds, she quickly parked and, taking the pot of tulips she’d bought at the garden centre en route, made her way through the hotel to Nigel and Molly’s cottage hidden away in the grounds. The door was on the latch and she pushed it open.
