Page 38 of A French Affair
Belinda hugged her back but didn’t answer her daughter.
On the way home, her thoughts went round and round in circles. Why was she surprised at this turn of events? Max was ambitious and determined to give his family a good life. She should have anticipated the possibility of Max and Chloe moving away. She’d missed the twins so much the last few weeks while she’d been in France – how was she going to cope with longer separations? Missing milestones in their lives. Not birthdays and Christmas because she’d definitely join them for those important dates. No, it was things like their first day at nursery, visits from the tooth fairy, learning to ride a bike, teaching them to bake biscuits. Everyday things she would still be part of if she went with them. She wanted to be a part of their young lives like Mami had been in hers and her own mum had been with Chloe.
Belinda brushed the tears away as she climbed the stairs to her flat. Talk about being at a major crossroads in her life with NO idea which way to turn. Embrace yet another new beginning like Chloe wanted and go with them? Or stay put and… and what?
26
Tuesday afternoon and Anouk’s move to the auberge was underway. After a week of toing and froing, her possessions were installed in the large downstairs bedroom at the back overlooking the countryside that she’d chosen, rather than an upstairs room. Fern had done her best to make it more than just a bedroom. She wanted Anouk to feel it was her own space with some of her own things around her. The cane chair, the three-drawer modern chest, the bedside tables and the small dressing table had all been removed. Fern knew she was indebted to Scott for his help in carrying them out into the garage for storage. Not an ideal place, but it would do for now until she could find somewhere else.
Anouk had been of the opinion that Fabian could jolly well help as he was benefiting from the arrangement. When she’d told him that she was moving to the auberge and that he could move into the Huelgoat house, she’d insisted that he would be her removal man. Accordingly, he’d hired a small van, coerced a friend into helping him and loaded the few things Anouk had decided she wanted and driven them over to the auberge.
A chintz-covered armchair by the window replaced the cane one, a bedside table and lamp was placed on one side of the bed, a small bookcase on the other. An antique dressing table with several drawers went against a side wall and a cream deep-pile rug was placed on the floor. Once the pieces of furniture were in place, Fabian brought in a couple of boxes containing Anouk’s personal bits and pieces and the two suitcases with her clothes.
‘Shall I give you a hand hanging everything in the wardrobe?’ Fern asked.
Anouk shook her head. ‘Non merci. I’ll do some this evening before bed and finish it tomorrow.’
Together they unpacked the box of books and photographs, placing the books on the small bookcase and standing the photos on various surfaces. The silver framed formal black-and-white photo of Anouk and Jean-Marc on their long ago wedding day went on the bedside table along with the well-worn black leather bible. Taking a framed colour photo of herself and Laurent out of the box, Fern smiled remembering the day it had been taken.
‘I’d forgotten we gave you a copy of this,’ she said. ‘Our last holiday.’ They’d taken the train from Antibes along the coast to Monaco and spent a day indulging themselves with impossible daydreams: which super yacht moored in the harbour they’d buy; which prestigious apartment block contained ‘their’ home; which luxury car parked outside the Casino belonged to them. The photo, taken outside the Monaco Yacht Club by a passing stranger who’d stopped and asked if they’d like him to take a photo of them, had been an unexpected bonus. ‘We were so happy that day,’ Fern murmured, standing the photo on the small table before turning to face Anouk. Thankfully they’d had no suspicion of how any future happiness would shortly be so brutally shattered.
‘If there’s anything you’ve forgotten, we can fetch it next week. I hope you’re happy with the room once you’ve settled in,’ Fern said, glancing around the room. Somehow, now that the room contained Anouk’s things, including mementoes of Laurent, she felt reassured that inviting her mother-in-law to live at the auberge had been the right thing to do. Not only for the two of them but she knew Laurent would have approved of the arrangement too.
‘It’s going to be good having you here. I’m going to go and give Fabian and his friend a cup of tea and a slice of cake before they leave. Would you like one too?’
‘Please,’ Anouk answered. ‘I’ll come with you,’ and the two of them made their way to the kitchen together.
‘Where’s Scott today?’ Anouk asked.
‘Taken himself off to Roscoff for an hour or two of sea air. He didn’t want to get in the way. Promised he’d be back in time for your welcome dinner though,’ Fern said.
Fabian was placing a large flower arrangement on the kitchen table, alongside a box of chocolates and a bottle of champagne when they walked in.
‘Carole sent these for you both. She is so grateful to the two of you. As I am of course, Mami,’ and he gave Anouk a hug before turning to Fern and hugging her too. ‘I have to return the van this evening. If there is nothing else for me to carry, I will go.’
Anouk beckoned him to her, and gave him a long hug. ‘I hope you and Carole are as happy in the house as your grand-père and I were.’
Fabian returned the hug. ‘I ’ope so too. I already have the ’appy memories of the two of you living there.’
As Fabian left, Anouk looked at Fern. ‘He’s a good lad. More like Laurent than he realises sometimes.’
27
In Devon, Belinda was beginning to feel as though her life had been put on hold. Routine hotel work was not enough to keep her mind wandering back and forth over her problems. It was another three days before Nigel phoned and said Molly was much better and they would both love to see her. And she was to stay for lunch this time, Nigel insisted. At least she’d had time to think things through and make a sort of plan to put to them.
They both greeted Belinda warmly when she arrived and she sat chatting to Molly while Nigel made coffee.
‘Good to see you looking better, Molly,’ Belinda said. ‘You had me worried for a while.’
‘Happy to say I’m feeling a lot more like my old self,’ Molly answered. ‘How’s Chloe and the family? I expect the twins are growing.’
‘Yes they are,’ Belinda said. She opened her phone and showed Molly the photos she’d taken over Easter.
‘Oh, doesn’t Aimee take after you and your mum,’ Molly exclaimed. ‘So pretty. You are lucky to have little ones in your life.’
‘Would you like me to bring them to see you when you’re better?’ Belinda offered, knowing how much Molly loved children.
‘Would you?’
