Page 66 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
It was two days later, sitting companionably under the shade of the horse chestnut tree that dominated the hidden farmhouse garden, sipping cold lemonade, with Dylan asleep in his pram beside them, before Nanette talked to Patsy about her worries for the future.
‘I’ve got to decide what I want to do. Vanessa’s come back fired up with enthusiasm for starting a Fruits of the Forest cooperative in Brazil. The twins are growing up and don’t need a nanny twenty-four hours a day now, so she’s offering me the job of helping her organise it – getting sponsorship, outlets, all the legal bits and pieces, you know the sort of thing.’
‘Sounds like something you’d enjoy,’ Patsy said. ‘I’d guess there would be a few trips to Brazil and the Amazon too.’
‘The thing is, the whole business would probably be based in the UK and…’ Nanette sighed.
‘Jean-Claude is in Monaco,’ Patsy finished the sentence for her. ‘Is it serious between you two?’
‘On Jean-Claude’s part for several weeks,’ Nanette admitted. ‘Now that my memory’s returned and the whole Zac Ewart business has been finished with, I feel free to return his love. You don’t think the age difference – fourteen years – is too much?’ she asked her sister anxiously.
Before Patsy could answer, Dylan stirred in his pram and Nanette got up to check on her nephew. Picking him up and cradling him in her arms, she sat back down in the shade.
‘Lots of people marry with that age gap between them. From what I’ve seen of the two of you, you’re perfect together. He adores you and, no, of course he’s not too old,’ Patsy said. ‘Might be wise to check with him how he feels about babies, if you’re thinking of having a family with him. He might think, been there, done that and just want you to himself.’
Nanette nodded thoughtfully. Patsy could be right, but she was rather hoping that Jean-Claude would happily embrace the idea of them having a baby together. From the way he’d spoken about Mathieu and Amelia, she suspected he would be. But it was a question only he could answer.
42
Nanette picked up a magazine and a paper from the newsagent in the departure lounge on Monday afternoon and settled down to wait for her flight back to Nice.
She’d enjoyed her few days with Patsy and baby Dylan but had missed Jean-Claude desperately. She smiled happily to herself – a few more hours and they would be together, with no responsibilities to worry about, just time to enjoy each other’s company.
The newspaper was full of Zac’s performance in the Austrian Grand Prix the previous day. He’d driven a faultless race and won convincingly, according to the reporter. His nearest rival for the championship had only managed ninth place, thus increasing Zac’s lead substantially.
Nanette stared dispassionately at the photograph of Zac standing jubilantly on the podium, before turning to the women’s pages. Zac Ewart was no longer a part of her life. She wouldn’t waste her time reading about him.
Three hours later, she stretched her legs as the captain’s voice crackled through the intercom of the 737.
‘Welcome to the French Riviera. The temperature in Nice and along the Côte d’Azure is thirty-three degrees and the forecast is good for next few days.’
Collecting her suitcase from the carousel, Nanette looked through the glass windows towards the arrivals hall. As he’d promised, Jean-Claude was there waiting for her. She smiled happily and waved. Exiting the door from the final customs checkpoint, she walked towards him, looking forward to his welcoming kiss.
Surrendering herself to his arms, oblivious to the milling crowds, she sensed a tension in his body.
‘Is something wrong? Has something happened to Mathieu?’
‘Non, it’s not Mathieu. Let’s have a coffee before we drive home,’ Jean-Claude said, taking her suitcase and leading her to the escalator to go to the fourth floor.
Seated at a window table of La Badiane lounge with its view out over the runways, Jean-Claude ordered two coffees before gently taking both of Nanette’s hands in his.
‘Zac drove home after winning the Austrian Grand Prix via his friends the Oliviers, breaking his journey and staying overnight with them. They have a farm up in the hills – do you remember them?’
Nanette nodded. ‘They live near Entrevaux. We used to visit them a lot. Mathieu took the twins there fairly recently.’
‘I have some bad news,ma chérie. Zac left there early this morning and got involved in an incident on one of the isolated mountain roads.’
‘What sort of incident?’
‘A car had overturned on a hairpin bend. A mother and baby were trapped inside. When Zac came on the scene, the only thing stopping it from tumbling down the gorge was a tree. Zac managed to pull the woman out before going back for the child.’ Jean-Claude was silent for a moment. ‘As he was struggling to undo the baby seat, the car burst into flames.’
Nanette gave an involuntary gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Did he get the baby out?’
‘Yes, wrapped in a blanket. But Zac himself suffered third-degree burns. The doctors are very non-committal about his chances.’
Nanette turned and stared unseeingly as a plane landed and taxied down the runway, her thoughts in such turmoil, she barely registered Jean-Claude’s next words.
‘The thing is,ma chérie, I know things are over between the two of you, but in his delirious state, he’s been crying out for you. Can you bear the thought of holding a vigil at his bedside?’
