Page 55 of A French Affair
‘Nigel phoned,’ Belinda said between mouthfuls. ‘Did he tell you he’s sold the other two hotels and probably this place?’
Alain nodded.
‘Apparently the new owners will keep me on in Riverside until the end of the year, if I want to stay. What about here? Are you going to stay and work for the new owners if this place sells?’
‘Definitely.’
Belinda looked at him. ‘Aren’t you worried about them? Don’t expect them to be as easy-going as Nigel has been over everything here,’ Belinda said darkly. ‘And what about Bernie. You’ll have to warn him. Where will he end up if he has to move?’
‘I make sure Bernie will be okay and the village will rally around to ’elp. Don’t worry. Everything will work out,’ Alain said. ‘More pizza?’
Belinda stared at him, puzzled. How could he be so laid-back about this latest turn of events? What if the new owners insisted on major changes like, heaven forbid, Alain’s dreaded pods being installed. No, she figured, Alain hadn’t yet thought it through properly. It was nothing to do with her, she didn’t even live here, but she felt sick at the thought of the possible changes that the new owners would want to make to the campsite. There were sure to be unforeseen effects spreading out like ripples on the river.
37
The next morning, Belinda phoned Chloe and told her about the hotels being sold as well as, probably, the campsite. ‘If I don’t agree to stay on until the end of the year, my job and home will disappear in a few weeks.’
‘Oh, Mum. What are you going to do?’
‘Right this moment, I have no idea.’ Belinda sighed wearily. ‘I hadn’t planned on changing my job or losing my home this year.’
‘If you decide not to stay with the new owners you can come and live here until we move or you could find a new place.’ The hesitation was clear in Chloe’s voice as she added, ‘It would mean you’d be free to come to the Vendée with us without worrying.’
‘I might need to take you up on the offer of moving in with you for a few weeks, so thanks for that,’ Belinda said. ‘But as far as the Vendée is concerned, I’m still not sure about moving there permanently, although I might come for a couple of weeks and help you settle in.’ Belinda paused. ‘Chloe? You are still coming to stay with the twins at the campsite, aren’t you?’
‘Of course. Looking forward to it. Why, is there a problem?’
‘No, not a problem for you as such. It’s just that something important has happened recently here in Brittany.’
‘You’re not ill, are you?’ Chloe said.
‘No, I’m not ill. It’s just something I need to talk to you about when I see you.’
‘Can’t you tell me now?’
Belinda hesitated. ‘I’d rather wait and tell you face to face. Explain things properly.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ll try not to worry about what it is.’
Belinda immediately began feeling guilty for worrying Chloe. ‘It’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about. It’s… it’s just some family history that has surfaced.’
Finishing the call with Chloe, Belinda phoned Jane. As usual, Jane was bright and breezy when she answered the phone.
‘Hi. How you doing over there with the Serge Gainsbourg lookalike? Can’t wait to meet him.’
‘You need to visit fairly soon if that’s going to happen,’ Belinda said flatly, and gave her the news about Nigel selling up and retiring. Jane was suitably horrified for her friend when Belinda gave her the details.
‘What are you going to do?’
‘The answer to that question is floating in the air somewhere and I have yet to catch it,’ Belinda said. ‘I’ve got a few weeks to sort something out. Anyway, right now I’d better go and do some work. Ring me when you’ve worked some dates out.’
Working around the campsite for the rest of the day, Belinda struggled to concentrate on the various jobs she’d earmarked to do. By the time she’d finished work for the day though, she’d made one of three important decisions. She’d tell Nigel she’d decided she didn’t want to work with the new owners and would therefore resign. Apart from the fact that working for somebody other than Nigel and Molly in what for her would always be their hotels didn’t appeal, Belinda was starting to think that all her current problems were a sign. A sign that it was time she moved on with her life. The next two decisions would follow on from that one. She’d go home at the end of the month, pack the flat up and move in temporarily with Chloe. If she hadn’t found a new job and a place to live when they moved, she’d go with them for a few weeks and, after that, who knew? The Vendée might be the place for her too, although if she was going to live in France, she realised she’d prefer to live in Brittany. She just had to trust that she’d make the right decision when the time came.
She was relieved too that Chloe knew she needed to talk to her when she came. As well as talking, she’d give her a guided tour of the places she’d known when growing up. It wasn’t fair to keep Chloe in ignorance about her grandparents; their history was part of hers and she had a right to know.
Belinda sighed. Life was being a bit of a bitch right now, but at least she was making plans to sort things out. Besides, no one could ever predict what the future might hold, could they?
* * *
