Page 3 of A French Adventure
‘I take the scenic route along the bord de mer,’ Maxine said. ‘You see the sights.’
Vivienne shrugged. ‘Whatever,’ and she turned to stare out of the window.
As Maxine drove, she pointed out various landmarks and places of interest, but Vivienne didn’t respond to anything. In the end, Maxine fell silent and, after giving Vivienne a quick glance, pressed the radio button and let Riviera Radio fill the silence.
Thankfully, rush hour was almost over and traffic wasn’t too bad and it was a mere twenty-five minutes before she was pulling up on the coast road on the outskirts of Antibes Juan-les-Pins outside a pretty villa converted into two apartments.
‘Voilà,’ she said. ‘Your home for the next eight weeks. Just two apartments in the villa and you have the top one with its wonderful views.’
‘Will there be a refund if I have to leave early?’ Vivienne asked quietly, turning finally to look at her.
‘Perhaps,’ Maxine said. ‘We talk about it if it happens.Bien, we get you indoors and settled.’
Maxine had just unlocked the front door of the villa and the two of them walked into the hallway and were about to go up the stairs, when a young woman opened the door of the ground-floor apartment.
‘Hi, Olivia,’ Maxine said. ‘This is Madame Wilson, your neighbour for the next eight weeks. Olivia lives down here full-time,’ she added, turning to Vivienne, who gave Olivia a brief smile. ‘And is the proud owner of the pink flower taxi, which I’m sure you will see around town.’
‘I’ll look out for it,’ Vivienne said. ‘I’m up here I take it,’ and she turned and began dragging her suitcase up the stairs.
Maxine shot Olivia an apologetic look and whispered, ‘I see you on my way out,’ before quickly following Vivienne.
On the next landing, she unlocked the apartment door and ushered Vivienne in.
‘Cuisine, salle de bain, sitting room and twochambres,’ Maxine said before pointing to the wooden spiral staircase in the far corner of the sitting room. ‘That leads to your roof terrace. And here’s your key.’ She placed the key on one of the kitchen work surfaces alongside the welcome basket of Provençal goodies and a bottle of rosé wine that was always left for new guests. ‘There’s also a welcome brochure with lots of information and here’s my card. If you have problems, you give me a call and I do my best to sort things out for you. Sarah, thefemme de ménage, usually comes on a Saturday at ten o’clock to change the bed linen, towels and to clean through. As you have come midweek, there is no need for her to come so soon. Unless you like for me to send her in two days.’
Vivienne shook her head. ‘No, Saturday week will be fine. Thank you.’
‘Is there anything else I can do for you today?’ Maxine asked quietly, trying to hide the anxiety she was feeling about this woman.
‘No, thank you. I have everything I need. You have been very kind.’
‘Right. I leave you. Enjoy your stay,’ and Maxine made her way thoughtfully downstairs to Olivia’s.
‘Coffee?’ Olivia said. ‘Please don’t tell me I’ve got some weird woman living above me for the next two months.’
Maxine sighed. ‘Non, I don’t think she’s weird-weird, but I feel she’s definitely hurting inside, as if something terrible has happened in her life recently. She already ask if there will be a refund if she leaves early.’
Olivia pulled a face at that. ‘She’s booked a long stay. Maybe her marriage is in trouble? Was her husband supposed to come with her? If she even has one.’
‘Non, the booking was made in her name and for one person.’ Maxine took a sip of the coffee Olivia had handed her. ‘I know I generally step back once I’ve seen the guests in, but I think I call by in a couple of days and check on her.’
‘You haven’t told her about me? That I’m effectively her landlady.’
‘Bien sûr que non. You ask me not to tell any of the guests and I understand.Maisif you see her, you will be friendly, won’t you?’
‘Of course. I’m out this evening, but tomorrow I’ll be around in case of problems. Tonight I’m having dinner with my parents.’ Olivia grimaced.
‘James as well?’ Maxine asked with a smile.
‘No. Just me and the parents.’ Olivia raised her eyebrows in despair. ‘So we all know what the main topic of conversation is likely to be this evening, don’t we?’
‘Do give them both my regards. I’ve not seen them for far too long. I must catch up with Felicity soon. No sign of her softening towards James then?’
Olivia shook her head. ‘Non. You know how stubborn my mother is. Once she decides on something…’ she shrugged. ‘But she forgets I have inherited not only her stubborn streak but also Papa’s determination.’
Maxine laughed. ‘Peut-êtreshe meet her match in her own daughter then.’
Olivia gave Maxine a rueful look. ‘But I’m beginning to suspect that she might be right about James not being the man for me – not that I’m going to tell her that any time soon.’
