Page 5 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
As she’d hurtled down that slope in the path of the avalanche, screaming in terror, she hadn’t been alone. A shadowy figure had been alongside, urging her on.
‘Faster, faster. Remember, remember…’
Remember what? Despondently, Nanette replayed the nightmare in her mind, trying to come up with some positive memory from the episode, but her brain refused to co-operate.
Wearily, she slipped under the duvet and reached out to turn off the bedside light. Hopefully the rest of the night would pass peacefully. Now the decision was made and she was going to return to Monaco, she would need all her strength to get through the memories the coming weeks and months were sure to throw at her. She could only pray that she was making the right decision for her, but, in truth, what else could she do?
4
Returning to Vanessa’s with the twins after their weekend stay at Blackberry Farm, Nanette caught up with the usual chores that were involved with looking after Pierre and Olivia. Vanessa and Ralph returned late the same day, with Vanessa shooting an anxious, enquiring look at Nanette. Nanette smiled at her and nodded before saying, ‘We need to talk about it.’ But it wasn’t until the evening of the following day that she had the opportunity to talk properly to both Vanessa and Ralph.
The three of them were having a late supper around the kitchen table and Vanessa was saying how much she’d enjoyed their weekend on Burgh Island.
‘The hotel was wonderful. So luxurious. And its spa treatment room, sheer bliss,’ Vanessa sighed happily. ‘I haven’t ever been spoilt in quite the same way, even in Monaco. Something I could get used to, I warn you.’ Vanessa smiled at Ralph, who gave her an amused glance.
‘I think the Amazon jungle will soon bring you back down to earth,’ Ralph said.
‘Ah,’ Nanette said, pushing her supper plate away and picking up her still half-full glass of red wine. ‘About that.’ She took a mouthful before placing the glass back down on the table and looking at Vanessa. ‘First, are you still certain Mathieu and Jean-Claude can’t manage without me being there?’
‘Mathieu is adamant that he’s got too much on over the next few months for him to guarantee being available on a day-to-day basis. Jean-Claude, I know, will step in and help, but he’s busy with his business too. And, honestly, I’d feel so much happier if you were looking after them while we are away. You’re such a constant in their lives already. And I trust you to put them first whatever the circumstances.’
Nanette took a deep breath. ‘For you and the twins, I will go with them to Monaco and look after them. I can’t say I truly relish the idea of returning there but…’ And she gave a resigned shrug.
Vanessa was on her feet and rushed round to hug Nanette. ‘Thank you, thank you – I know it’s been a difficult decision for you. I promise you Jean-Claude will do everything to make your stay as easy as possible, even if Mathieu is away on business a lot,’ Vanessa said. ‘I can’t thank you enough for agreeing.’
‘Neither can I.’ Ralph quietly added his thanks to Vanessa’s. ‘A toast, I think? To Nanette, for Monaco, and to us, for the Amazon.’
Nanette smiled her acknowledgement of the toast as they all clinked glasses. Inwardly, though, she was terrified and fighting an overwhelming urge to shout out – I was joking. I didn’t mean it. I can’t possibly go back to Monaco.
And she definitely didn’t have an answer to the other major, panic-stricken thought going round and round in her mind:What have I done?
* * *
After a couple of weeks of frenzied preparations, Vanessa and Ralph departed for Brazil, leaving Nanette with no option but to fly to France with the twins.
As the plane lost height in preparation for landing at Nice Côte d’Azur airport, Nanette caught a glimpse of the famous giant pyramids complex on the Baie des Anges, in Villeneuve-Loubet. Built to resemble waves, standing seventy metres high above sea level, the apartment blocks overlooked a marina and the Mediterranean Sea. A sight that so many times in the past she’d been happy to see as she’d returned to Monaco after being away working. Today though, she didn’t feel the happiness, just a flood of unwelcome memories.
By the time the plane touched down some minutes later and taxied along the landing strip that ran alongside the edge of the sea, Nanette had taken several deep breaths. For better for worse, she was back in the South of France.
The Mediterranean sparkled under a warm March sun and she remembered how in the past returning had felt like coming home, and she’d always felt content to be back. Not today though. Today she was a bundle of apprehension, wondering what she would be forced to confront in the coming days and weeks. Whatever the next few months had in store for her, she prayed that the turbulence of her past wouldn’t intrude into the future.
She undid her seatbelt and began to gather their things. The twins were already on their feet, excited at the prospect of the next part of the journey. Normally transfer to Monaco for them was via tram from the airport and then a train from Nice, but as a special treat, Vanessa had arranged a helicopter flight for the three of them.
Walking through the arrivals hall, Nanette put on her large sunglasses. She knew from experience that there was always the odd photographer, or even a group of paparazzi, lurking around the airport in the hope of snapping someone famous on their way out to the helicopter pad for transfer to Monaco. She knew she was unlikely to be of any interest, but hiding her eyes and obscuring her face behind the dark glasses made her feel better.
It wasn’t the paparazzi who greeted her, though, as she walked towards the helicopter check-in desk: it was a large billboard advertising the Monaco Grand Prix in May.
But it was the smaller poster featuring a film-star-style close-up of the man regarded as the local hero, with the words ‘Is this Zac’s year?’ emblazoned over it that took her breath away. Seeing Zac’s familiar face smiling out at her made Nanette want to do the impossible: run and catch the next flight back to the UK and safety. Impossible though; she’d given Vanessa and Ralph her word. She just had to spend one summer in Monte Carlo, as she’d agreed, and then she need never return again.
Turning her back on the poster and trying to shut the images and the memories it invoked out of her mind, Nanette handed over the flight reservation tickets to the desk clerk.
‘Great,’ Pierre said excitedly. ‘We’ll be here for the Grand Prix. Do you think Dad will be able to get us some passes for the pit lane?’
‘I shouldn’t be surprised,’ Nanette said, with a sinking feeling. She’d totally forgotten their time in Monaco would clash with the race. That a certain person would obviously be in town. Pierre, being a typical boy, would naturally be fascinated by the racing cars and their drivers and would want to go out and about at race weekend to see as much as possible.
‘Well, I don’t want a pass,’ Olivia said. ‘I hate the noise those cars make. It hurts my ears.’
Inwardly, Nanette agreed with Olivia. Not because of the noise, but the last thing she wanted too, was a ticket to anything that involved contact with Zachary Ewart. Maybe Mathieu would be around at Grand Prix time and would take Pierre down to the pit lane while she and Olivia stayed well away.
