Page 38 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
‘Of course, I’ll do everything possible to publicise your film,’ Vanessa said, ‘but I wanted to do something, try to make a difference, myself. I still can’t believe that they’ve turned the idea of a cooperative down because of some sleazy guy the head shaman has given his word to.’ She paused. ‘This outsider, as the shaman calls him, clearly thinks he’s on to something sending his henchman from Rio all this way into the forest.’
‘I wonder who he is?’ Ralph added thoughtfully.
Vanessa shrugged and shook her head. ‘We’ll never know. I just wish the villagers could see that the cooperative would have given them so much more control over their own future – and that of the jungle,’ she added.
* * *
For the next couple of weeks, Ralph concentrated on recovering from his accident and getting as much filming done as possible, before they began their long trek back to civilisation and then home. With their day of departure still some time away, Vanessa found herself thinking increasingly about the twins.
Keeping in touch had proved as impossible as she’d known it would from so deep in the jungle and she was looking forward to reaching Manaus on the Amazon in a week or two and being able to telephone them. She’d missed them so much and couldn’t wait to hug them both tight to her.
She didn’t mention the cooperative idea to anyone again and was surprised when late one afternoon, Angela brought the subject up as they prepared bowls of vegetables for the evening meal together.
‘Do you really believe your idea of a cooperative would work for the village?’
‘Of course,’ Vanessa said. ‘It would take a few months to organise and find outlets, but it’s the kind of thing I’m good at doing. The village would be totally self-supporting – nobody could muscle their way in and take the profits like they do now.’
Angela placed a bowl of vine leaves on the table before looking at Vanessa. ‘The villagers are angry with you and Ralph. The man from Rio has failed to come to buy our gold.’ Angela paused. ‘Some of the men think you have put the evil eye on it.’
Vanessa looked at her, horrified.
‘The shaman is insisting that you and Ralph attend a village council meeting this evening. He wants to hear what you have to say before deciding what to do about you.’
25
Sunday morning and Jean-Claude and Nanette were on their way to Antibes for lunch, when Jean-Claude took an unexpected detour before pulling to a stop in a deserted supermarket car park.
‘You need to drive again,’ he said gently. ‘And this place is perfect for a trial run.’
Nanette looked at him. She’d been looking forward to today from the moment Mathieu had said he was taking the twins out for the day.
‘I’ll be away for most of next week,’ he’d said. ‘So I thought I’d treat them to a day’s sailing in Italy.’
Jean-Claude, who was in the apartment at the time, had immediately asked Nanette to spend the day with him, an invitation she was happy to accept.
Apart from the fact that she loved spending time with him, it would also be an ideal opportunity for them to talk. For Nanette to tell him how Mathieu had suggested she took up Zac’s job offer. But now, as Jean-Claude got out of the car and walked round to open the passenger car door for her, she froze.
She shook her head. ‘I can’t do it.’
‘Like a horse – you fall off, you get back on,’ Jean-Claude insisted. ‘Otherwise the fear takes over. That, I think, is what happened with you. Come on, just try for me.’ He held out his hand to help her out of the car. Nanette could feel her legs trembling as she stood and walked round to the driver’s side of the car.
Nanette had to force herself to get into the driver’s seat of the immaculate Jaguar F-type sports car and fastened the seat belt with trembling fingers.
Jean-Claude pointed to the push button start and waited patiently as Nanette steadied her nerves.
Nanette took a deep breath, gripped the steering wheel tightly, and gently pressed the accelerator pedal. As the car began to move forward, she found herself hardly daring to breathe.
‘Relax,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘Nothing is going to happen. Just drive around. Get the feel of driving again.’
Nanette steered the car around the large car park usually filled to bursting with people and cars, but with the supermarket closed on Sundays, it was just a wide, open space.
By the time she’d driven round half a dozen or so times, changing gear, accelerating, braking, she had relaxed and, to her surprise, the enjoyment she’d always taken in driving had returned. She pulled into a parking space and pulled on the handbrake before glancing across at Jean-Claude.
‘I enjoyed that, thank you, JC. It feels good to be behind the wheel again. Thank you for insisting it was time.’
‘Fancy driving along the coast road then?’ Jean-Claude asked quietly.
Nanette hesitated for all of two seconds before saying. ‘Why not?’
