Page 15 of Summer on the French Riviera
‘Different but good,’ Gabby said. ‘It’s funny the things one misses, isn’t it? I’d never heard of hot cross buns when I first went to England, they just don’t make them in France, but I too missed them this year. Next year maybe I’ll try making some – or I’ll ask Philippe to make some,’ she added with a laugh. ‘I’m sure he could easily whip up a dozen hot cross buns.’
‘Mmm, it really is delicious,’ Harriet said, reaching for a second slice.
After breakfast, the three of them spent a leisurely morning all doing their own thing before getting ready for lunch with the Vincents. Walking through Juan down towards the Promenade du Soleil, the town was quiet, but as they approached the Pinède Gould, there were more people about enjoying the sunshine and making for the restaurants and bars.
‘Can we walk a little away along Boulevard Édouard Baudoin before we go up to the Vincents?’ Gabby asked. ‘I’d like to see how far on the renovations of Hôtel le Provençal have progressed since Christmas. I doubt that we’ll be able to see very much.’
The hoarding was still up around the site, deserted today with no one working, but there were definite signs of progress. Everything looked more pristine, with fresh paint around newly inserted windows on several of the floors, and there was a tantalising glimpse of landscaping being started.
‘At least the building is being cared for now,’ Gabby said. ‘It will have a new lease of life rather than being left to rot for another forty years.’ She took one last look at the iconic building still shrouded in tarpaulin and covered with scaffolding and pushed away the memory of how imposing it had once looked before it had been left to decay.
‘Come on,’ Harriet said. ‘We’re going to be late if we aren’t careful. Didn’t Jessica say twelve thirty for one – it’s almost that now.’
* * *
Both Jessica and Mickaël were waiting for them as the lift doors opened for the penthouse and received the Easter eggs and the wine the three of them had brought as a thank you with delight.
‘Philippe’s in charge of the kitchen today and assures me everything is on schedule,’ Jessica glanced at Elodie. ‘Gazz hopes to join us in time for lunch. But first, Mickaël has organised aperitifs out on the balcony.’ As Jessica handed Harriet a glass of sparkling crémant wine, she said, ‘So how did you enjoy working with the delicious Hugo?’
‘It was good,’ Harriet said. ‘It was busy but not too busy to cope with. He’s asked me to become his permanent Saturday girl.’
‘Have you agreed?’
‘I’ve told him I’ll think about it.’ Harriet took a sip of her drink. In truth, she’d done nothing but think about it since he’d suggested it. And still couldn’t decide whether to agree. There had been an almost instant rapport between the two of them and she’d enjoyed working with him. They both had a shared interest in art and he would, she sensed, be a good friend. But would he want it to turn into more than friendship as they got to know each other? Something she wasn’t sure she was ready for yet. She sipped her wine thoughtfully. Perhaps she was reading too much into the connection that seemed to have sprung up effortlessly between them.
Moments later Philippe in the kitchen called out ‘À table’ and Jessica ushered them all in to the dining room. Philippe carried the roast lamb in, placing it on the table and starting to carve it just as Gazz arrived.
‘Apologies, everyone,’ he said as he slipped into the empty seat next to Elodie. ‘I eat and then I leave again. Everybody they want to hire a paddleboard today. Désolé.’
The roast lamb was followed by light individual raspberry soufflés, which had everyone murmuring ooh and mmm as they ate, they were so delicious.
Afterwards, everyone raised their glasses in a toast to Philippe and declared it to be the best Easter lunch ever. As Gazz replaced his glass on the table he leant in towards Elodie. ‘I’m sorry I have to go. Can you come to the beach as you walk home? I need to talk to you about something.’
Elodie gave him a worried look but was reassured by the smile he gave her and the words, ‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious, just something you need to know.’
‘Okay. I’ll see you on the beach later then,’ Elodie promised.
It was late afternoon before the three of them said their goodbyes to the Vincents, thanking them all, especially Philippe, for a wonderful meal and a lovely time. Once they were down on the Promenade du Soleil, Elodie told Gabby and Harriet she’d see them back at the villa later and set off towards the jetty on the beach.
Gazz saw her coming and walked up the beach to greet her with a hug and a kiss. Afterwards Elodie gave him a quizzical look. ‘Come on then, talk to me.’
‘It’s about Fiona,’ Gazz said, after taking a deep breath. Elodie felt her heart sink.
‘What about her?’
‘She was here early this morning inviting me to an Easter party tomorrow evening.’
Elodie stayed silent and waited for Gazz to continue.
‘Of course I turned down the invitation and I tell her again about you and me being together now. She ended up storming off. I needed to tell you in case she,’ he shrugged. ’You know what she’s like.’
‘I do,’ Elodie nodded. ‘Thank you for telling me though.’ And she reached up and gave him a kiss, secure in the knowledge that Fiona was not about to come between them.
15
After Easter, life at Villa de l’Espoir settled back into the routine that had started to establish itself over the previous weeks. The three of them did their own thing most days but usually met up for lunch or dinner. Elodie, ever the practical one, had found a beautiful calendar with glorious photographs of Provence and the Alps Maritime and pinned it up in the kitchen. With the three of them sharing housekeeping duties, she insisted it was essential to have some sort of reminder, even a rota, on the wall. ‘You know, like, rubbish day, food shopping, bathroom, kitchen, feeding Lulu, walking her, cooking dinner. And whose turn it is for each particular chore.’
The kitchen was still a bit of a mishmash, but in pride of place was the dresser that Harriet had worked her artistic magic on. Now cream, with a painted garland of green olive leaves running along the top and down the sides, its shelves were full of crockery and the cupboards at the base were filled with kitchen paraphernalia. Philippe had brought the heavy Hôtel du Provençal ashtray that Gabby had left with him for safekeeping in January, after Elodie had given it to her for her seventieth birthday. It was in pride of place in the centre of the open work surface of the dresser, now filled with keys and the gate remotes.
