Page 38 of Summer on the French Riviera
‘People actually entrusted their lives to him?’
Colette nodded. ‘He did obtain the right licence and the necessary life jackets and things.’ She paused. ‘The other thing he used the RIB for was taking one or two divers out to dive the wrecks around the coast.’
Gabby looked at Colette and waited. She knew there were several wrecks out in the bay, a couple dating from the eighteenth century, as well as a nineteenth-century steamship. Something in Colette’s voice warned her she wouldn’t like what she was about to hear.
‘Day and night-time dives. I heard that the gendarmes questioned him several times about the divers he took out at night. Evidently, they suggested he stopped taking them out as apparently they were known to be looters of underwater sites. The gendarmes warned him that when the divers were arrested, which they would be, he could be charged with being an accomplice.’
‘Did he stop?’
Colette nodded. ‘Yes. Told the gendarmes he ran a legitimate business. He then told the divers they had to find someone else for all their diving trips, day and night. Which they did. About a month later, they were arrested returning from a night trip. And they did have several ancient artefacts, pottery and suchlike, on board.’
‘Was Hervé ever charged?’
‘Not as far as I know. He got rid of the boat, sold it to someone in Golfe Juan. I think he knew he was dying by then. He certainly didn’t look well.’
Gabby sighed and fiddled with the ring on her finger. ‘So, do you believe him about the divers not bringing looted stuff on board his boat?’
‘You know, I think I do,’ Colette said. ‘When I came back, he’d changed a lot and after your maman died, he seemed to shrink. He kept himself more and more to himself. I think he realised in the past he’d had a few suspect dealings and he didn’t intend to be caught up in anyone else’s dubious activities.’ She reached out and looked at the ring on Gabby’s finger again. ‘I think this was probably one of his better “deals” with one of the antique dealers, especially as there is a provenance. Wear it and enjoy it.’
30
The days dragged on with no decision from Elodie about meeting her father. Harriet became more and more stressed and uptight wondering what, and when, Elodie was going to decide about Jack. Elodie was clearly avoiding her and Jack had begun sending text messages every day demanding to know if she’d talked to Elodie yet and when could they meet. Harriet answered one with a terse, ‘I’ve talked to her. I’ll text you when I have news’ and ignored the others.
For the last two nights, she’d barely slept and was up before the sun. She didn’t need the concerned look Gabby gave her Wednesday morning at breakfast, knowing that she had bags under her eyes and her skin was pale. When Hugo rang asking her to work that day, she agreed quickly, relieved to have something to do to take her mind off things.
The morning in the gallery was busy and before she realised it the two of them were sitting outside eating their lunch.
‘I’m looking forward to introducing you to my friends tonight. I plan on picking you up at eight o’clock,’ Hugo said. ‘Is that okay with you?’
Harriet looked at him blankly.
‘Supper party with Marcus and Freya. I asked you last week.’
Harriet rubbed her face in dismay. ‘It had totally slipped my mind that it was tonight. I’m not sure I’m going to be much company, but yes, I’m looking forward to it too.’ If nothing else, meeting new people would take her mind off her problems.
‘Good. I’m sure you and Freya will have a lot to talk about. Any news on the Jack and Elodie situation?’
‘Elodie is avoiding me and Jack keeps texting for news when there isn’t any. Elodie hasn’t said yes or no to meeting him.’ Harriet sighed. ‘I know it’s only been two days and it will all sort itself eventually, but it’s really stressing me at the moment.’
Hugo reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘It must be incredibly hard for you at the moment but things will settle down eventually. In the meantime we’ll enjoy this evening, okay?’
Harriet blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. ‘Thank you.’
* * *
Elodie and Gazz were sitting on the end of the jetty, their legs dangling in the water, enjoying their lunch. Elodie had got into the habit of bringing a picnic down to the beach most days, saying they were both so busy they’d never see each other otherwise. Today she’d brought salad baguettes and a couple of bottles of orange juice and after they’d eaten, she was hoping there would be time for her to talk to Gazz about her father.
They’d both finished their baguettes when Gazz put his arm around Elodie. ‘I want to ask you something. I’m hoping I’ll have enough money at the end of the season to rent a place of my own. It’s been hard moving back in with my parents after having my own place in Paris. I am obviously extremely grateful to them, but I’m too old to be living at home.’
‘I can understand that,’ Elodie said. ‘I’ve never actually lived on my own, it’s always been Gabby and me. Now there are three of us, it is different and I think Harriet found it difficult too when we first arrived here.’
‘I can’t imagine not having you in my life now, so I was thinking about us living together,’ Gazz said, looking at her anxiously. ‘We would be a proper couple, no more snatched moments, no more saying goodnight and going home to separate beds. No pressure,’ he added quietly. ‘But I’d love that, if you would.’
The unexpected suggestion made Elodie catch her breath. It was something she’d secretly dreamed about happening whenever she and Gazz went their separate ways at the end of any time they spent with each other. Living together would tell the world (and Fiona!) that they were a proper couple, she thought happily. Smiling at Gazz she leant in and kissed him. ‘I would love it too. Gabby has Philippe as well as Harriet in her life now, so I wouldn’t feel guilty moving out of the villa. What sort of place do you want?’
Gazz waved his hand expansively in the direction of the Provençal. ‘I hadn’t really given it much thought, but an apartment there would be good.’
Elodie laughed. ‘Maybe when you’re running the largest beach enterprise on the coast. In the meantime?’
