Page 64 of A French Affair
The next morning when Belinda collected a bag of croissants from the shop and walked down to the cabin, the twins were already outside playing ball with Bernie, while Chloe watched. Belinda called out her usual Breton greeting to Bernie and he waved at her.
‘I tried my schoolgirl French out, but I’m not sure he totally understood me,’ Chloe said. ‘He seems a lovely man.’
‘He is, but he only speaks Breton, although I know he does understand some basic French.’
Five minutes later, coffee had been made and the croissants distributed, with a happy Bernie accepting one and sitting down at his own table in the next garden, where the twins and BB promptly joined him.
‘Anything special you want to do today?’ Belinda asked.
Chloe shook her head. ‘I think a quiet day here ambling around. Maybe a picnic lunch down by the river on that bit of sandy beach? I’ve brought several of their favourite toys, so the twins will be happy playing here in the cabin’s garden. I’ll go for a walk with them later, find those tree swings again. I just want to relax really while I’m here. Do nothing for a few days.’
‘Are you sure? I had lots of places lined up for a visit,’ Belinda said.
‘Quite sure. It’s lovely here and, to be honest, the thought of dragging the twins around to see the sights…’ Chloe gave a mock shudder.
‘I suppose they are a bit young to do the touristy thing. But we must have one day out at least,’ Belinda said. ‘If only to go to one of the local markets.’
‘Yes, I’d like that. Otherwise I’d rather spend some time here all together, although I would like to see where you grew up and visit the hospice, but right now I’m happy just to relax here with you.’
And so, for the next few days, they stayed on the campsite playing with the twins and having some mother and daughter bonding time. Thoughts of her father were never far away from Belinda’s mind and she wondered about visiting again, taking Chloe with her. She rang the hospice every day when the nurse merely told her there was no real change and yes, his wife was there often. When the twins had their afternoon naps, Belinda caught up with office work. Alain joined them for meals and both he and Bernie played ball with them. Fern and Anouk came for lunch one day. On the fourth day, the hospice rang.
Belinda took the call when they were down by the river with a picnic tea. As soon as she realised who was calling, she wandered a little away upriver for some privacy, in case it was bad news. After the call ended, Belinda walked slowly back to the others.
Chloe looked at her anxiously. ‘Granddad?’
Belinda nodded. ‘The nurse rang to say if you hoped to see him while he’s well enough to receive visitors we should try and visit within the next twenty-four hours. I said we’d go tomorrow morning.’ She tried to not let Chloe see how emotional she felt at the thought of what would probably be the last visit.
Alain, when she told him about the phone call later, immediately said he’d take them. ‘The twins also. I look after them.’
‘I was going to ask Fern if she and Anouk would mind babysitting them,’ Belinda said.
Alain shook his head. ‘It will be a short visit, I think. I look after them. We take my car and leave at nine o’clock. D’accord?’
‘Thank you,’ Belinda said.
* * *
The next day, once the twins’ safety seats, as well as their buggy, had been transferred to Alain’s 4 x 4 and BB had been handed over to Bernie, they left for the hospice. Chloe, in the back with the twins, quietly reading them their favourite story. Belinda, sitting in the front next to Alain, wondered whether Enzo would be compos mentis enough to know they were there, or whether the drugs would have dulled his mind too much.
Less than an hour later, she was surprised when Alain turned into the hospice grounds. The quiet journey had passed quicker than she’d expected.
Alain parked and turned the engine off. ‘Right. You two, go. The twins and I will walk while we wait.’ He touched Belinda’s arm gently. ‘I hope it is not too difficult for you.’
Belinda gave him a wan smile before she and Chloe got out of the car and walked towards the hospice. Belinda, relieved to see the nurse she knew in the foyer, went straight over to her.
‘Ah, Mrs Marshall, and your daughter. Enzo is more disorientated today than the day you saw him. I think perhaps one person at a time standing by his bedside. If you come first to see him, I’ll fetch her afterwards.’
Belinda nodded and followed her as Chloe went to sit on one of the chairs in the waiting area.
The nurse stayed at the back of the room as Belinda went to stand by the side of her father’s bed and gently took his hand in hers. ‘Dad, it’s me Belinda.’
At her words, his eyes opened briefly and she felt a slight squeeze of her hand before his eyes closed again and he drifted away. Belinda bit her lip as she looked at him. He was definitely weaker today.
The nurse touched her arm. ‘I’ll fetch your daughter.’
Belinda glanced at her and nodded. She sensed that her father was struggling to cope with any interaction. She didn’t want to tire him out. Better to cut her time with him short so that he could meet Chloe.
‘Dad, Chloe, your granddaughter, has come with me today. The nurse will bring her to you.’ She bent and kissed him gently on the forehead. ‘Bye, Dad. God bless.’ Instinct told her she was unlikely to see him again.
