Page 36 of A French Adventure
Thierry caught hold of her hand. ‘Maxie, just write to her. You need the chance to tell her the truth.’
Maxine sniffed. ‘Sorry. I cried myself dry over Leonie years ago, I didn’t think I had any tears left. Every birthday, every Christmas, is clouded by thoughts of her. Is she well? Happy? Perhaps she is even married? The thought of seeing her again is wonderful, but terrifying at the same time.’
‘I can understand that,’ Thierry said, standing up. ‘Fancy a takeaway pizza for supper? I’ll go and ring for one while you fetch your laptop and start to think about what you’re going to put in your email to Leonie.’
Half an hour later, the two of them were tucking into the pizza.
‘So, tell me about your day,’ Maxine said.
‘Today was interesting. We both love Tourrettes-sur-Loup, we both like the house, the activity business appeals to me, but – and it’s a big but – Olivia isn’t keen on the violet farm for various reasons.’
‘It sounds like you were hoping she would be?’
Thierry gave a rueful nod. ‘I was. And if you breathe a word of this conversation to Felicity, I shall have to kill you,’ he said, pulling a mock-threatening face.
‘Thierry, you know me better than that,’ Maxine said. ‘You’re very fond of Olivia, aren’t you?’
Thierry nodded. ‘Today I suggested we became business partners. I thought having an excuse to see more of each other officially would help us get closer. She didn’t exactly jump at the offer, so I don’t think it will happen,’ he shrugged.
‘But I think you want more than a business partnership with Olivia,n’est pas?’ Maxine said.
Thierry nodded. ‘Much more. Meanwhile, she insists we’re friends.’
‘Then forget suggesting a business arrangement and go for what you truly want. Tell her how you feel.’
Ruefully, Thierry shook his head. ‘It’s not that easy with Felicity hovering in the background intent on pushing us together, and Olivia determined to keep her mother away from her love life.’
‘I’m sure between us we can do something about that,’ Maxine said, as Thierry gave her a look. ‘Do not look at me like that. Trust me. I would not dream of interfering like Felicity.’
‘Good. Now, have you thought about what to say to Leonie?’
Maxine nodded. ‘I drafted the email while we waited for the pizza.’ She pulled her laptop towards her and opened her mail programme. ‘I’ll read it to you and you can tell me what you think.’
Dear Leonie,
Your father’s solicitors, on his instructions, have been in touch with me with your contact details after your father’s untimely death. I would very much like us to meet as there is so much I want to explain to you face to face, rather than put it in this email. Perhaps you would consider coming to Antibes for a few days and we could talk and get to know each other. Or I would be happy to come to Paris if you would prefer? My home address is at the bottom. I look forward so much to hearing from you and to finally seeing you again after so many years. Your father disappearing with you all those years ago left me heartbroken and there hasn’t been a day since when I haven’t longed to hold you in my arms and tell you how much I have always loved you.
Your loving mother,
Maxine.
As she finished reading the letter out loud, Maxine looked at Thierry, her eyes glistening. ‘Is that all right? I did think about calling it a sad death, but that would have been hypocritical of me because I’m not sad about it and I’m determined to be honest with Leonie from the beginning about everything.’
‘I don’t think you could have put it any better,’ Thierry said. ‘Now you just need to send it.’
Maxine moved the letter out of the drafts folder, read it through again and pressed send. There, it was done. She’d reached out and could only hope and pray that Leonie would at least answer and want to meet her. And give her the chance totell her that she’d thought about and missed her every single day since Daiva had so cruelly snatched her away.
25
The morning after spending the day with Thierry, Olivia was up early to drive to the flower market for some stock. As she drove along the A8 in the early-morning sunshine, her thoughts were all about Thierry. It was his birthday soon and she wanted to get him something really special. Having her old friend back in her life was wonderful. She was only now beginning to realise just how much he meant to her.
After spending most of yesterday with him, she’d actually missed him when he’d left to get back to Maxine. Had even been tempted to ask him to stay, but she knew he was worried about Maxine. Thinking about how comfortable she felt with him, how she loved his sense of humour, the way he protected her, Olivia realised something with a shock. Yes, he was a boy – a man these days – who was a friend, but he wasn’t her boyfriend in the way people interpreted the word, and never had been. But, albeit unconsciously, she’d measured all her boyfriends – not that there had been that many – against him – and found them all lacking. Thierry, it turned out, was the reason why none of her relationships had lasted. He’d spoilt her. Which gave her a major problem – one that she had no idea how to deal with. Wasthere any chance he felt the same way? He’d said asking her to be his business partner was the best and the right solution for both of them. Did he realise how complicated their lives could become if they grew too close – was it too much to hope that that was what he wanted to happen?
Becoming his business partner and running the violet farm with him and seeing what happened between them was so tempting. After all, she’d learnt and passed exams in floristry – she could do the same in horticulture surely? And she’d get to live in that lovely house.
No. She wouldn’t move in with him. That would be tempting providence. She could already see it fulfilling his dream of a family home, meals in the kitchen, children running around, numerous cats and dogs, a pony in the paddock.
As she pulled into the car park of the flower market, a smile crept across her face. Suddenly she knew exactly the present she was going to give him. Hopefully, there would be time to organise things before his birthday.
