Page 15 of Summer at the Château
Gwen was already in the kitchen when Pixie went downstairs half an hour later, coffee on the go and bread in the toaster. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said, handing Pixie a cup of coffee.
‘Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind about summer?’ Pixie looked at her mother anxiously.
‘No, I’m really looking forward to another French adventure.’
‘There’s a but coming, I can feel it.’
‘I’ll need to go home for a short visit in June. It’s my yearly hospital check-up.’
‘Can you bring it forward to next week? Or postpone it until the autumn?’
‘Doubt it, you know how busy these hospital departments are.’
‘We’ll worry about it after we get back tomorrow,’ Pixie said, smothering a sigh. ‘Let’s make the most of our last day here.’
* * *
It was mid-morning when Pixie drove out through the village en route for Carhaix, having stopped off at the auberge to tell Fern their summer plans. Fern couldn’t have been happier to hear the news.
‘Supper here the first Saturday you’re back, yes? I can’t tell you how pleased I am you’ve decided to live in the château, even if it is only for a short time.’
Once in town, Pixie headed for a central car park. ’I’ve just got time to see Jean-Yves before we have lunch. Do you want to come with me or wait here?’
Gwen shook her head. ‘I’m going to find the chocolate shop and buy a couple of presents for the neighbours – bribery in advance for the summer.’
‘That’s on my way to the notaire’s so I’ll leave you there. I shouldn’t be long, so wait there for me. I could do with buying some in-advance chocolate presents too.’
Jean-Yves was showing a client out as Pixie arrived at his office. ‘Madame Sampson, how can I help you today?’
‘I wanted to tell you that whilst the château will definitely be going on the market in the autumn, my mother and I have decided to spend the summer here.’
‘I am pleased you will at least get to enjoy some time at the château.’ Jean-Yves smiled at her. ‘Will the tenant in the cottage also be staying?’
Pixie shrugged. ‘She hasn’t returned, so I haven’t met her yet. I’ll have that pleasure when we get back at the end of the month. Unless, of course, she appears between now and tomorrow morning when we leave.’
‘If you wanted, I could send her an official letter?’
‘Maybe after I’ve met her I’ll ask you to do that – put it in writing that she has to leave.’
Jean-Yves nodded and held out his hand. ‘Let me know. We’ll say au revoir for the moment then. Enjoy your summer ‘ere in Brittany.’
Pixie’s hand was taken in a firm grip for two or three seconds before Jean-Yves let go and turned back into his office.
‘Oh, there is one thing, can you tell me the tenant’s name please?’
Jean-Yves stopped, looked back at Pixie. ‘Her name is Justine Martin. That is all I can tell you.’
‘Thank you.’
Walking back to the chocolate shop to rejoin Gwen, Pixie tossed the name around in her mind, trying to see if it rang any bells. Had she ever met anyone with the surname Martin? Nobody sprang instantly to mind and by the time she reached Gwen, she’d decided it was a pointless exercise.
* * *
After treating themselves to lunch at a smart restaurant in the countryside outside Carhaix, Pixie drove them back to the château and they spent the rest of the day and evening pottering around.
That night, in bed listening to the owls calling through the trees to each other and watching the moon move slowly across the night sky, Pixie realised she couldn’t wait to return and spend more time in this special place. Easter here had been good, a portent of what the summer would be like, she hoped. She knew she’d already made a new friend in Fern, and Gwen and Anouk seemed to get on too.
Of course, there was still the disturbing knowledge that Frank hadn’t told her the truth about the château being theirs – or about installing this mysterious woman in the cottage. Pixie had this gut-wrenching desire to know everything about this woman, starting with how long she’d known Frank. However hurtful the truth turned out to be, she had to know who she was, why she’d become part of Frank’s life, and importantly, what their plans had been before he died.
