Page 25 of A French Country Escape
Penny shrugged. ‘A few weeks? No idea really. I’ve got my flat in Bristol to sort out at some point, and I’ve got some serious thinking to do about the future. Where’s Dad anyway?’ Penny said, deciding that a change of subject was needed.
‘I think he and Freddie are doing some maintenance work on the old chapel this afternoon,’ Ingrid said. ‘Why don’t you wander down there and surprise your dad?’
‘I’ll do that, and then I’ll come back and organise dinner for us all.’
Ingrid sent up a silent prayer of thanks as Penny left. She was finally home in surprisingly good spirits, and here for an indefinite period. Hopefully the serious thinking she’d mentioned would lead her to the decision Ingrid and Peter were hoping she’d make. But only time would tell on that.
Sasha was sitting at the kitchen table putting the final touches to the sketch she’d done of Starlight when Ingrid rang to tell her the good news about Penny being home, and to thank Sasha again for all her help. Sasha sighed as the call ended. Of course she was happy for Ingrid that her daughter was home, but she’d enjoyed helping out at the château, it was such a beautiful place to spend time. She’d miss the excuse to visit, to chat with Ingrid, but the truth was, she should be concentrating on getting her own life in France sorted.
Apart from painting a few walls, she’d barely started on the renovations she wanted to do in the cottage, like upgrading the kitchen and getting her workroom organised; this had come to a grinding halt because of her inability to source some furniture. There was also the garden to sort; and training and playing with Mimi and Mitzi took up more time than she’d truly anticipated. As for improving her schoolgirl French, she’d done nothing about that either, despite downloading a ‘Learn French Quickly’ app, as well as an up-to-date translation dictionary. She wanted to be able to talk to Jean-Paul – and other people obviously – but she sensed he knew a lot about training dogs from the way Viking behaved, and she hoped he’d advise her soon about the pups.
Sasha picked up the finished sketch of Starlight and carefully slotted it into a cardboard photo frame. She’d walk Mimi and Mitzi down to the stables later and give it to Colette.
A gentle knock at the front door, followed by, ‘Hello, anyone there?’ had the puppies racing from the kitchen where they’d been happily play-fighting each other, barking excitedly.
‘Gosh, aren’t you two adorable.’
‘Mimi. Mitzi.Assis– sit,’ Sasha said as sternly as she could. ‘If you can ignore them and come through to the kitchen, they’ll follow and I can shut them in the garden,’ Sasha said desperately.
A few minutes later, calm was restored indoors as the dogs cavorted outside.
‘I’m guessing you must be Ingrid’s daughter, Penny? It’s lovely to meet you,’ Sasha said. ‘Sorry about the puppy shambles.’
‘No worries. They’re adorable. I’ve just been talking to Dad and your brother in the old chapel. He suggested I come over and introduce myself.’
‘I haven’t seen inside the old chapel yet,’ Sasha confessed. ‘Freddie has said it’s lovely inside.’
‘Oh, you must go and take a look. He and Dad are doing a great job. I know Mum is hoping to hold the occasional wedding ceremony there.’
‘Ingrid is so pleased to have you home,’ Sasha said. ‘Are you staying long?’
Penny shrugged. ‘Not sure, but definitely for a couple of weeks. That’s lovely,’ Penny said, looking at the picture of Starlight on the table. ‘Did you draw that?’
Sasha nodded. ‘Yes. I was about to walk the puppies down to the stables to give it to Colette if she’s there.’
‘I’ll wander down with you. I’ve met Colette before but not seen her horse yet.’
Sasha quickly put the sketch in a paper bag to protect it before calling the pups in and attaching their leads.
‘Shall I take one?’ Penny offered. ‘It must be difficult managing two.’
‘Thanks. If you could take Mitzi, she’s a little calmer than Mimi most of the time. Jean-Paul has offered to help train them but so far, we haven’t managed to get together.’
As they walked through the grounds towards the stables, Penny looked around her. ‘It’s so beautiful here, I can see why Mum and Dad fell in love with the château.’
‘Freddie and I did the same when we found the cottages. It’s such a special place. Life here is a million miles away from my old life in the UK,’ Sasha said. ‘I do worry a bit in case things like earning money and learning the language don’t work out as planned and I have to leave. Freddie will always be able to pick up work, but me…’ Sasha shrugged. ‘I’m hoping my Etsy shop will be enough. It’s my language skills – or rather the lack of them – that bother me. Your mum’s French is very good. Do you speak French well?’
‘It’s very rusty,’ Penny admitted. ‘But hopefully a few weeks here will resurrect it.’ She glanced mischievously at Sasha. ‘You know what they say: if you want to learn French, take a lover.’
Sasha laughed. ‘Now that’s an idea. I’ll bear it in mind.’
Colette had just finished grooming Starlight when they arrived, and she came out to greet them. ‘Hi, Sasha. Penny, it’s great to see you here again. Alice told me you travelled over together.’
Sasha held out the paper bag. ‘This is for you. I hope you like it.’
Colette carefully opened the bag, took the sketch out and squealed with delight. ‘That is so good of Starlight. You’ve totally captured her. Thank you so much. This is going to take pride of place at home.’
Sasha smiled and gave an inward sigh of relief. Watching people’s reactions to her sketches and paintings was always difficult; she much preferred not being there when they were viewed for the first time, in case their disappointment showed on their face.
