Page 48 of Summer at the Château
‘Did your mother tell Frank she was pregnant?’
‘No.’
‘All the time you were growing up there was no contact between you and Frank or your mother and Frank?’
Justine shook her head. ‘Never.’
‘So when did you feel the need to contact him and why?’
‘About four years ago. As for why,’ Justine shrugged. ‘I wanted to meet him, see if I’d inherited any characteristics of his and ask if he had any regrets. Then when I became pregnant with Ferdie, I also wanted to know his medical history in case there were any nasties lurking in it for the future. You know, diabetes or heart problems. Mum was totally against me making contact from the beginning. Tried to forbid me from doing it. She said other people were involved and could get hurt.’ Justine gave Pixie a defiant look. ‘I’m sorry about that, but I’d do it again. I loved having Frank in my life. I think he was happy to have me in his too, despite all the complications.’
Pixie nodded thoughtfully. ‘I’m sure he was.’ She hesitated. ‘And you. How did you end up a single mum? It must be hard.’
Justine, registering a softer tone in Pixie’s voice, nodded. ‘I’d been in a relationship for about eighteen months and I thought Patrice and I were good together. I was wrong. The moment I told him I was pregnant he virtually ran out of the door.’
‘Did Frank see Ferdie many times? Did they bond?’
‘After we came to live here, a few times. He and Ferdie got on really well.’ Justine hesitated. ‘He saw him as well when he came to St Malo.’
Pixie stiffened. ‘He met up with your mum again?’
‘The two of them talked. Frank was cross that he hadn’t known about me, told Mum that he would have helped, especially in the early days when she was alone. He thanked William for looking after me – and then the two of them went off to the local bar. They got on well.’
‘Why did he offer you the cottage?’
‘I was renting a grotty flat outside St Malo and was looking for somewhere to live and to run my business from. Mum and William had suggested I moved back in with them, but I didn’t think it fair. Frank thought the cottage would be ideal. He was right, it has been perfect and both Ferdie and I love it here.’ Justine sighed. ‘I know you want me to leave and I will as soon as I can find somewhere.’
‘We’ll have to talk more about that later, but for now, please stay. I’d like a chance to get to know you both better. I think Frank would want that too.’ Pixie smiled at Justine.
‘I know he would. He was longing for the day, for the time to be right, when he could bring you here and we could meet. He was convinced we would like each other.’
‘I wish he had done that in the very beginning,’ Pixie said. ‘Keeping you and Ferdie a secret for so long after you came into his life was cruel all round. I do find it hard to forgive him for that alone.’
32
Later that evening, Pixie was on the terrace talking to Gwen and Charlie, secretly hoping that she’d see Justine and Ferdie before Jean-Yves arrived to take her for the promised supper date. Charlie had fired up the pizza oven earlier and two pizzas were ready to go. She wondered how Jean-Yves would react if she suggested they stayed here for supper. No, she couldn’t do that, it would be beyond rude.
‘Do you know where you’re going this evening?’ Gwen asked.
Pixie shook her head. ‘No idea.’ She glanced across towards the cottage, but there was no sign of Justine or Ferdie. ‘I was hoping to say goodnight to Ferdie before I left.’
‘You’re looking nice tonight,’ Gwen said. ‘Don’t see you in a dress very often.’
‘I wasn’t sure what to wear, to be honest. Hopefully this and my pashmina will be smart enough for somewhere posh and not too OTT for anywhere else.’
‘Jean-Yves is just coming up the drive,’ Charlie said, carrying a bottle of wine and some glasses out to the table. ‘Off you go and have a good evening.’
Pixie went through the château and out of the main entrance as Jean-Yves brought the 4x4 to a stop. She quickly opened the passenger door and got in. To her relief, Jean-Yves didn’t appear to be dressed overly smartly – cream chinos and a pale blue shirt, a cashmere sweater waiting on the back seat.
‘I thought we’d go for a stroll by the Lac Guerlédan before supper at my favourite restaurant in Saint-Aignan.’
‘Sounds good. I haven’t been there for years. Lots of boats as I remember.’
‘I used to keep a boat there years ago. Do you sail?’ Jean-Yves asked.
‘I did back in the day. Gus was keen as a teenager and I went along with him for lessons, most of which I’ve probably forgotten by now. It was fun, but somehow it was one of those hobbies that vanished out of my life after university and real life began.’
‘It happens. Maybe one day I can tempt you out on the water again?’
