Page 47 of A French Affair
‘I had a car like this once,’ Belinda said quietly. ‘The year we left France, Dad was teaching me to drive.’ She didn’t tell him that it had been another four years before she finally learnt to drive.
‘You like to drive?’
‘I do now, yes. Especially here in Brittany where the roads are quieter.’
The rest of the short journey to the auberge passed in silence.
Anouk and Scott were out in the garden when Fern let them in. Alain handed her the bottle of wine they’d stopped to buy in the village shop.
‘Thank you. You really didn’t have to. Come on through and meet Anouk and Scott.’
Introductions were made quickly and Scott poured everyone their wine of choice before disappearing to help Fern with something in the kitchen.
Anouk looked at Alain. ‘How are your parents? Fern tells me you’re running their old campsite now. I remember some good times there years ago, before they owned it of course. I’m talking about back in the sixties.’
Belinda glanced at her. The late sixties were when her father had brought her and her mum to France to live. Maybe Anouk would be able to tell her something about her parents after all. As Scott returned, Belinda excused herself and went to talk to Fern in the kitchen.
‘The smells coming from this kitchen are, as always, delicious,’ Belinda said. ‘How are you really about Scott leaving?’
Fern, concentrating on pouring a sauce into a jug, pulled a face. ‘I’m fine. It’s not as if we’re in the throes of a mad passionate relationship. We haven’t passed more than the friendship stage really.’ She turned to face Belinda. ‘I’ve always known he would have to return to his life in New York. I’ve always known too that long-distance relationships rarely survive.’ Fern hesitated. ‘Which is why I’ve struggled to keep things on a friendship basis, even though I really like him.’
‘My mum had a favourite song from her teenage years, she was always humming it or singing the words out loud. It used to irritate me like hell,’ Belinda said. ‘But now I understand her need to keep saying it. Que sera sera. What will be will be.’
Fern nodded. ‘I remember that song too. And you’re right… it is an irritating phrase.’
Belinda gave Fern a quick hug. ‘I know it doesn’t change anything, but it’s true. You have to hang on to that thought. If Scott wants a proper relationship with you, he will find a way. If not, you will be happy that you met him even for a short time and carry on with your life here.’ She moved away from Fern and picked up a stray cube of cheese from the work surface. ‘Listen to me, don’t I sound all grown-up and philosophical about things? When I’m truly not. If I was, I’d know what to do about Chloe’s recent bombshell.’
‘Which is?’
‘Max has a new job at a marina in the Vendée. Brilliant promotion for him, from what they say, and Chloe is desperate for me to go with them. Give up my job and my flat. I’m not sure.’ It was her turn to grimace at Fern. ‘Que sera sera.’ Belinda picked up a dish of olives and cashews. ‘Enough. Shall I take these through and we can get the show on the road?’
‘Good idea. You and Alain look very comfortable together by the way. I’m guessing you no longer want to shoot him?’
‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Belinda smiled. ‘He has his moments. But he’s definitely growing on me,’ she added quietly.
* * *
Conversation between the five of them flowed from subject to subject. As they all made appreciative noises and tucked into the maigret de canard with caramelised onions and sauté potatoes that Fern placed in front of them, Belinda remembered something she wanted to ask Fern that had been floating around in her mind for days now. Something that she should really run past Alain before putting it out there, but she decided she’d risk upsetting him.
‘We’re looking to employ a couple of people to run the café for us this season,’ she said. ‘And I know you don’t want a full-time job like that, but would you be interested in providing the cakes, desserts and possibly a couple of main meals like lasagna.’ Without looking at him, Belinda sensed that Alain was staring at her.
‘What about the village bakery?’ Fern asked. ‘Won’t that be stepping on their toes?’
‘They’re already providing croissettes, bread and a few cakes to the shop and, of course, we’ll sell some of their stuff too in the café, but it would be nice to have a bit of variety.’ She looked at Fern hopefully. ‘You’re such a brilliant cook. And it would keep you out of mischief for the next few weeks.’
‘It’s a big commitment, but I’ll definitely think about it,’ Fern said.
After that, the conversation turned to other things and it wasn’t until Belinda and Alain started to say their thank yous prior to leaving that Anouk spoke directly to Belinda.
‘Fern tells me that you’d like to talk to me about your French family?’ She raised her eyebrows as she looked at Belinda, who managed a surprised shaky nod. ‘Scott is taking Fern out for dinner Saturday night, so why don’t you come and spend the evening with me? We can talk then and I can tell you what I know about the Belrose scandal.’
‘Thank you. I’ll see you then.’ A stunned Belinda followed Alain out to the car. Anouk did know about the past. Saturday evening she would finally, hopefully, learn the truth about what had really torn her family apart. Why had the locals back then dubbed it the Belrose scandal? Why did those three words strike fear into her heart?
32
Fern took extra time and care getting ready for her dinner date with Scott. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress him, simply that she wanted him to remember her looking as good as possible on what could turn out to be their last date. A last date that in reality was their first one. Yes, they’d spent a lot of time in each other’s company since Easter. Walking Lady, gardening, preparing meals together. None of which constituted a date, like going out for dinner did. Her hand trembled as she started to apply her favourite lipstick. Fern wanted him to remember her tonight as someone he would like to date again when he was a thousand miles away across the Atlantic Ocean. Someone he would return to when he’d dealt with the problems that had called him back.
She took one last look in the mirror and decided that she looked good. Not sure where Scott planned on taking her, she’d opted for her favourite red dress with a scooped neckline, long sleeves and a flared skirt. Because the evenings could still be chilly, she teamed it with a cream jacket with pale silk raised embroidery.
