Page 41 of A French Adventure
‘Who’s this then?’ Thierry asked as Olivia opened the door to him when he arrived for his birthday lunch and a collie dog cautiously edged forward to greet him as well. ‘You looking after her for a friend?’
‘Sort of. She’s called Topsy,’ Olivia said.
‘You’re a lovely girl, Topsy,’ Thierry said, bending down stroke her. ‘She’s gorgeous. I’ve always fancied having a collie.’
‘I’m glad you like her because she’s my birthday present to you,’ Olivia said in a rush. ‘Happy Birthday.’
The silence that greeted her words was loud, before Thierry straightened up and looked at her. ‘You’re not serious?’
‘Yes. I’ve made sure she comes with everything you need – a month’s supply of food, a new bed, a harness for the car, a lead, poo bags and a cage with a blanket for her safe place, which Jilly told me is really an essential requirement for every dog, especially at the beginning.’
‘Who’s Jilly?’
‘She’s a friend of my maman’s who runs a babysitting service for dogs when their owners go away. She takes them in, they live in the villa with her like her family dog would, no kennels.’
‘So how come she sold you Topsy?’
‘Would you believe her owners went away for Easter, paid a fortnight’s babysitting fees and never returned. When Jilly tried to contact them, their French number no longer worked. She went to the address they’d given her and the neighbour told her they’d sold up and moved away. Jilly was happy to find a good forever home for her because she needs to babysit six paying dogs at a time for her income and Topsy has basically had a free holiday for the last few weeks.’
Absently, Thierry stroked Topsy’s head and the dog edged closer to him until her head was leaning against his leg.
‘Look, she likes you,’ Olivia said. ‘I collected her yesterday and she’s been really good. I needn’t have bothered with a new bed for her, she much prefers the settee – and she slept on my bed last night.’
‘But…’
‘But what?’ Olivia asked anxiously, Thierry’s reaction was not what she’d been expecting.
‘I’ve got so much going on at present, I won’t be able to give her the attention she needs for a start. And I’m not sure how Maxine will feel about me having a dog at L’Abri.’
‘I know you’re busy, so any time you can’t take her with you, I can have her. If Maxine doesn’t want her at L’Abri, she can stay here. She’ll be your dog, but we can look after her together if you like until you’ve bought the farm. She’ll love it up there when you move in.’
Thierry looked at her, a grin slowly spreading across his face. ‘So she’s my dog, but if Maxine would rather not have her at L’Abri, she’s going to live with you full time and we’re going to look after her together.’
‘Yes,’ Olivia said, not sure that having Topsy full-time had been quite her plan, but she was happy to agree. It would at least mean she would see Thierry on a regular basis.
‘It sounds very much to me, Ms Olivia Murray, that you wanted to buy her for yourself.’
‘No. It was you who gave me the idea when you said you eventually wanted a family home with pets around. I’ve just helped you set that plan in motion. I’ll get you a pony for Christmas if you like.’
‘You have indeed set the plan in motion,’ Thierry agreed, a glint in his eye, and he leant forward and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Thank you. But please, no ponies.’
Over lunch, he told her he’d made an official offer for the complete business in Tourrettes-sur-Loup. ‘It’s mainly the activity centre I want but…’ he shrugged. ‘Something or someone will turn up to help with the violet farm eventually.’
Olivia took a deep breath. ‘I’ve been thinking about that. I would quite like to be your business partner.’
Thierry looked at her and waited.
‘If I’m going to be involved though, I’ll need to do a horticultural course to make sure I have some idea of what I’m doing. I can keep the flower taxi business going, do all my deliveries on one, maybe two days a week, and the rest of the time I can spend at the farm. What do you think?’
‘I think it’s brilliant news,’ Thierry said.
‘You and Topsy can live in the farmhouse and I’ll stay down here, so you’ll have the complete run of the place,’ Olivia said, smiling at him. But the moment those words had left her lips, contrarily she found herself wishing she was going to live with them both as soon as Thierry moved in.
After lunch, Thierry suggested they took Topsy for a walk out to Cap d’Antibes woods. As they walked, Thierry talked about his plans for the business and Olivia told him about the courses she’d started to research for learning about violets. Topsy behaved impeccably on the lead and was friendly with the other dogs they met, including a large mastiff that Olivia was secretlyterrified of, but who, the owner assured them, was as gentle as a lamb. Topsy certainly wasn’t intimidated by his size either.
The afternoon flew by and it was nearly six o’clock when they returned to Olivia’s. Thierry, under Olivia’s instruction, fed Topsy before it was time for him to leave and return to L’Abri and get ready for the party.
He turned at the door. ‘Thanks for today, Olivia. It’s been a lovely birthday and thanks for Topsy too. I’m sorry I was mean about her at first. I adore her, thank you.’ And once again he leant in and brushed Olivia’s cheek with a kiss before the door closed behind him.
