Page 39 of Summer at the Château
Pixie, although not as involved with the cooking of the meals, or as busy as Charlie, kept on top of all the washing up, with Gwen’s help. Never had a dishwasher been missed so much and she was sorely tempted to go and buy one. Sarah and Annabelle helped too, of course, but Pixie didn’t think it fair to ask them to do too much. It was meant to be a holiday and Annabelle, in particular, looked as if she could do with a rest.
The days they went out on trips, Gwen went with them. Once down to Quimper, another to the west coast and one to Lac de Guerlédan, which gave Pixie and Charlie a much-needed breather.
Mid-afternoon usually found Ferdie racing across to see Charlie and play with Mimi. At first, Justine tried to keep him back at the cottage, not wanting him to intrude or to be a nuisance. Both Pixie and Charlie reassured her that he wasn’t intruding or getting in the way and everyone was grateful that Mimi had a playmate. With the children spending so much time together, it was inevitable that Justine became more involved with the family as the days went by. Pixie became used to seeing her around the place.
Justine always took Ferdie home when Annabelle said it was bedtime for Mimi, so that the adults could enjoy the rest of the evening child-free. Several times it was suggested that once Ferdie was asleep she could slip back and join them, but she always refused, despite the cottage being so close.
Pixie was happy with the opportunity of seeing a lot more of Ferdie and getting to know him better. Every time she saw him, she studied him surreptitiously, trying to find any likeness to Frank she could. Pixie welcomed Sarah’s unexpected suggestion that perhaps Mimi and Ferdie could have a sleepover one night so that Justine could spend the evening with them. But for some reason or other Justine always said no.
Two days before the end of the holiday, the six of them were sitting around on the terrace after dinner, relaxed and reminiscing about previous family holidays as the end of the current one approached, when Pixie had a sudden thought.
‘Jean-Yves was telling me that years ago this place hosted a lot of parties. Why don’t we follow in their footsteps? We could have one for your last night here? I don’t know many people, but I could invite the few I do know. Nothing too complicated – maybe a champagne and pizza party? Barbecue food is a bit messy, isn’t it? Pizzas are easy enough aren’t they, Charlie? Not too much work for you? What d’you all think? A family party to remember from our summer at the château.’
‘A champagne and pizza party sounds fun,’ Charlie said. ‘But I insist on making some desserts as well.’
‘That’s settled then. I’m going to organise a party for your last evening.’
26
Justine was in the cottage Thursday evening writing up her accounts after a couple of busy market days in Châteauneuf-du-Faou yesterday and Huelgoat today. Ferdie was in bed exhausted. After school, she’d taken him and Mimi down to the lake for a picnic and some pretend fishing with bamboo rods and chunks of bread. The two of them had squealed with delight when they’d seen a frog jump from lily pad to lily pad. Completely made up for the fact they didn’t catch any fish. Not that Justine had expected them to. She was pretty sure frogs and newts were the only inhabitants of the lake. Ferdie was going to miss Mimi so much when they left this weekend.
If Justine were honest, she would miss her too. Not only Mimi but the whole family. They’d welcomed and included Ferdie and her so naturally into much of their holiday, she felt comfortable in their presence. Even Pixie had seemed relaxed and friendlier towards her.
A gentle tap on the door startled her. Charlie was standing there when she partly opened it holding two containers and with a bottle of wine tucked under his arm.
‘I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet? Fancy joining me for a home-cooked takeaway?’ He looked at her, a hopeful smile on his face.
‘Yes please.’ Justine smiled as she opened the door fully and let Charlie in.
While Charlie sorted the food onto plates and opened the wine, Justine cleared the table of her books, straightened the throw on the settee and plumped the cushions, fetched cutlery and glasses and flicked the switch on the orange salt lights on the mantlepiece.
‘Did you not eat with the family tonight?’ she asked as Charlie placed two plates of risotto on the table before pouring them both a glass of wine.
‘No. I wanted to have supper with you, so I left Pixie in charge of serving up. Cheers,’ and he handed her a glass.
‘Cheers,’ Justine said.
‘Eat your risotto while it’s hot,’ Charlie instructed. ‘No dessert until you’ve finished it.’
For several moments they both ate without speaking, although Justine did make several appreciative noises, before saying, ‘This is delicious.’
‘I do have a couple of ulterior motives though for feeding you tonight,’ Charlie said.
Justine looked at him and waited.
‘First, Pixie is organising a party for the last night of the holiday and you and Ferdie are invited – on one condition.’ Charlie looked at her. ‘Ferdie has a sleepover with Mimi so that you can’t disappear like Cinderella halfway through the evening.’
‘I’m not sure,’ Justine started before Charlie interrupted her.
‘Why won’t you let him sleep in the château? He does want to.’
‘It’s hard to explain. Since the day he was born, there hasn’t been a night when I haven’t been there for him if he called out in the middle of a bad dream or something. If he woke up in a strange place and I wasn’t there, he wouldn’t know what to do, who to go to. And the château is so big.’ Justine knew her fears were unfounded, and she was being irrational. Ferdie slept very deeply and rarely woke up, but the thought of him wanting her and not finding her scared her.
‘Okay. How about this. When he and Mimi are tired, we put them both to bed in the château. Knowing my niece, she’ll jabber away and keep them both awake. You or Annabelle can pop up to check on them, but you’ll at least be able to join the party on the terrace. When you’re ready to come home, I’ll pick a sleeping Ferdie up and carry him over and place him in his own bed. Sound a good plan?’
Justine gave in and nodded. ‘Have to warn you, Ferdie is no light weight.’
Charlie stretched his arms out and flexed his muscles, which, Justine had to admit to herself, were seriously impressive. ‘Not a problem. Right, that’s sorted. You’re coming to the party. More wine?’
