Page 58 of A French Affair
‘Yes. I qualified in hotel management and I work for a chain of three hotels in Devon, but that is about to change. At the moment, I’m helping to renovate Camping dans Le Fôret, a campsite not a million miles from where we lived.’ She smiled at her father. ‘I have to admit being back in Brittany feels like coming home.’
‘That’s good to hear. I never stopped loving you or your mum, you know. I so wish things could have been different for all of us,’ Enzo said, his eyes glistening. ‘But Helena…’ He stopped and shrugged shoulders that Belinda could see were painfully thin under his pyjama top.
‘Don’t, Dad,’ Belinda said. ‘I know we’d both change things if we could, but we can’t and now is not the time for recriminations. Now is the time to forgive.’
Enzo nodded and closed his eyes and Belinda realised her visit had tired him out and he’d drifted into sleep. Carefully, she stood up and kissed his forehead.
‘I promise I’ll come again and bring Chloe to see you if I can. Love you.’
The nurse came in as she turned to leave.
‘He’s fallen asleep,’ Belinda whispered. ‘I hope my visit hasn’t been too much for him.’
The nurse shook her head. ‘No, the drugs he’s on caused that. Was it a good visit for you both?’
Belinda nodded. ‘Yes it was. I’m glad I came and ended our estrangement.’ She looked at the nurse. ‘I did tell him that if the doctor agrees, I’ll come back with his granddaughter. Will that be possible?’
‘I’ll have a word with the doctor. Telephone me later and I’ll tell you what he says.’
‘Thank you.’ Belinda paused. ‘Does my father’s wife come at set times to see him?’
‘She comes in the afternoon and spends the evening with him,’ the nurse said. ‘I understand there is something of a family rift, so perhaps it’s best if you come late morning, say?’ she looked at Belinda.
‘I’ll ring before I come. Thank you for your understanding.’ Belinda looked at the nurse as they walked back to the foyer together. ‘How long do you think my father has?’ she asked quietly. It was the question she needed to ask but in truth, she didn’t want to hear the answer voiced.
‘One never can tell, but I doubt it will be long.’
Belinda nodded sadly at the nurse’s words. ‘If I give you my number,’ she said, scrabbling in her bag for a piece of paper and a pencil, ‘will you let me know when…’
‘Of course I will,’ the nurse answered, accepting the piece of paper from Belinda.
‘Ah, here is your husband waiting for you. Goodbye.’
Belinda went to protest that Alain wasn’t her husband, but the nurse had already turned away.
‘Are you all right?’ Alain looked at her anxiously.
Belinda nodded and smiled through the tears that were now coursing freely down her cheeks. ‘He called me Blindy. The worse part was I had to tell him Mum was dead. He was so upset. Oh, Alain, what a dreadful waste the last thirty-five years have been.’
When Alain pulled her into a fierce hug and held her tight, she didn’t protest. She simply gave herself up to the feeling that everything would be all right if only Alain could be around in her life to hug her whenever she needed a hug. Even as she stood in the shelter of his arms Belinda caught her breath at the unexpected thought. Where had that come from? It was just the emotion of the day getting to her – wasn’t it?
39
Back at the campsite, Alain said he’d go and check on Marie and collect the lasagna he’d ordered from Fern for their supper while Belinda walked down to Bernie’s cabin to collect BB.
Walking through the campsite, thoughts about the visit to her dad were still swirling around in her brain. As she’d said to the nurse, she was happy the estrangement was over, but in reality the visit was too late to talk in-depth about the whys and the wherefores of what had happened to their family all those years ago. So many questions would remain unanswered forever because of Enzo’s illness, but she’d be forever glad that she’d kept her promise to her mum. Her dad had always loved her.
Bernie was working in the small garden he’d created in the small strip of land down the side of his cabin. BB was lying on the path watching him and jumped up wagging his tail when Belinda appeared.
Bernie straightened up and smiled at her. ‘Ça va?’ he said slowly.
Belinda nodded. ‘Merci. BB bon?’
Bernie smiled and nodded.
Belinda didn’t have the energy to search her brain for Breton words to have a stilted conversation with Bernie, so she simply smiled when he held out BB’s lead and said, ‘Merci. À demain,’ and hoped he’d understand and forgive her for not staying.
She started to walk away but felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Bernie, with a smile on his face, was holding out three large Marguerite daisies for her. Daisies he’d clearly just picked from the large plant growing at the front of the cabin. Touched, she took them before leaning in towards him and kissing his cheek. ‘Merci, Bernie.’
