Page 51 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
Evie was waiting for her in the stern and Nanette quickly called out ‘Goodbye’ to Phil, who was busy adjusting fenders near the bow, before following Evie down the gangway and back on to the quay.
‘Shall we have coffee at the apartment?’ Nanette suggested. ‘Then I can introduce you to my sister, Patsy. Tell me, why is Luc your ex-boss?’
Evie sighed and glanced around before saying quietly, ‘I think his business is in trouble. He’s talking of restructuring, or he may give up altogether. Anyway, he’s given me two months’ pay in lieu of notice and told me he doesn’t need me any more. He has promised to help me find another job if I want to stay in Monaco. Which I do.’
‘Have you heard of any jobs going?’
‘No. I’ve got an interview with an agency tomorrow, so I’m hoping they’ll come up with something,’ Evie said. ‘Even if it’s only temporary.’
Nanette glanced at Evie as a sudden thought struck her. Should she tell her about Zac needing someone for Vacances au Soleil? Though how could she possibly recommend a job with Zac when she suspected he was involved in something illegal?
She couldn’t, she decided. So instead she said. ‘I’ll have a word with Jean-Claude if you like, he may know of something.’
‘Thanks,’ Evie said. ‘I’m hoping something does turn up. I really like it down here and would hate to have to leave.’
As they walked back to the apartment, Nanette waited for the inevitable questions from Evie.
‘Phil, the captain, told me you lived in Monaco before and were once engaged to Zac. Is that true?’
‘Yes. It’s not as if it’s a big secret. Just something I rarely talk about to strangers. Every time I thought I’d mention it to you, the conversation veered off in a different direction before I’d plucked up the courage to raise the subject. I guessed that somebody was bound to tell you eventually,’ Nanette said. ‘Three years ago, my reputation was in tatters when I left and I had a hard time coming to terms with what happened. Telling someone new about the accident has always been difficult. Easier to keep quiet.’
‘I can understand that,’ Evie said.
‘So, d’you still want to come up for coffee and meet Patsy?’ Nanette asked as they reached the apartment block.
‘Of course. Why shouldn’t I? We’ve all got some sort of skeleton in our cupboards, haven’t we?’
Nanette laughed. ‘Come on up then and tell me and Patsy about your skeletons.’
* * *
The consultant at the clinic where Nanette had made an appointment for Patsy was thorough in his examination – and definite in his opinion.
‘Everything seems fine now. I suggest you fly home as soon as possible in case the bleeding starts again. Leave it too late and perhaps the airline will refuse to let you fly. I think you will possibly deliver early.’
Leaving the clinic, the sisters decided to walk back to the apartment. As they strolled slowly along the embankment enjoying the sunshine and dodging the tourists, Nanette said, ‘I’ll ring the airline and change your ticket to an earlier flight. As much as I want you to stay, I think the consultant is right.’
Patsy nodded. ‘Another twenty-four hours will be OK though, won’t it? I really want to see the twins’ school play tonight.’
‘First available flight after this evening then,’ Nanette said. ‘Now, are you up for some retail therapy in Rue Princess Caroline before lunch?’
‘Silly question, of course,’ Patsy answered. ‘I’ve got to make the most of my time here – besides, I must find a present for Bryan.’
‘Good, but then you must get some rest before we go to the play. It’s my afternoon to work for Jean-Claude, so I won’t be around for a couple of hours. If you don’t want to stay in the apartment alone, you can always come up to the villa with me.’
Patsy shook her head. ‘I’ll be fine. I’ll probably sit on the balcony and snooze for a couple of hours. Shopping always tires me out even when I’m not pregnant!’
* * *
Once back at the apartment, Patsy went to sit on the balcony while Nanette telephoned the airline to change her flight. To her dismay, she was told the only flight with seats available was just eight hours before the one Patsy was already booked on – hardly worth the cost of changing.
Nanette glanced at her sister dozing happily in one of the wicker chairs on the balcony and decided to simply abandon the idea of getting Patsy home early. She still had at least two months to go and Nanette began to pray that the consultant’s possible early delivery prediction fears wouldn’t be proved true in the next few days.
Bryan, she knew, would be devastated if he wasn’t with Patsy when she gave birth to their first child. How she was going to keep her own promise to be with her sister if the baby did come early after she went home was something she’d worry about later.
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Leaving Patsy with strict instructions to rest until she returned, Nanette made her way up to Jean-Claude’s villa that afternoon.
