Page 12 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
Zazz gave her a half smile. ‘Mother’s prerogative I guess,’ she said before taking another sip of champagne. ‘About a year ago I came to Le Suquet and introduced myself to my grandfather.’
Francine was the first to break the silence that descended after her words. ‘You came here on your own to meet Oscar?’
Zazz nodded.
‘Did you just turn up without warning?’
‘Yes. Oscar was happy to finally meet me, we got on, and I liked him.’ Zazz looked at her mother and grandmother defiantly.
‘Why didn’t you tell us before?’ Francine said.
‘Because I knew what your reaction was likely to be.’
‘If he hadn’t died, did you plan on keeping in contact? Make regular visits to see him?’ Agnes asked quietly. ‘Or was it a one-off visit to satisfy your curiosity?’
‘I’ve been over a couple of times and,’ Zazz hesitated, ‘and I planned on further, longer visits.’ Judging from their reactions now was not the time to admit she’d already been over a total of three times. As for her master plan, now was definitely not the moment to tell her mother about that. Inwardly she prayed that Theo would stay silent about that for now too.
Agnes turned to Theo. ‘You knew about these visits, didn’t you?’ Theo gave her a brief nod.
‘Why didn’t you say something?’
‘Zazz thought she should be the one to tell you and I agreed. She promised me she would – when the time was right.’
‘My meeting with Oscar doesn’t make any difference to you now anyway. He’s dead.’ Zazz finished her champagne and placed the glass on the table.
‘You should have told us. I can’t understand why you found it necessary to be so unbelievably deceitful,’ Francine said.
‘I’m sorry. But I knew you both would disagree with me meeting him and would try to stop me. As far as both of you are concerned, you’d fallen out with Oscar and therefore I couldn’t have any contact either. But you’ve never explained why or what had happened in the past. You would never bring me to meet my grandfather so I took matters into my own hands. I’m glad I did before it was too late. But I’m sorry it’s upset you.’
‘Did Oscar explain his version of events to you?’ Agnes asked quietly.
The waiter arrived at that instant, handing them menus and clearing the debris of aperitifs away. Zazz focused her attention on the menu, glad that the moment to answer her grandmother had been pushed aside.
Once they’d all chosen and given their orders to the waiter who collected the menus and departed, an uneasy silence descended around the table. Zazz bit her lip thoughtfully. Was it the right time to tell them about her plans for the future? Probably best to leave it for now. She could tell how hurt they were by her first announcement, goodness only knows how they would react to her real news.
Francine looked at Zazz thoughtfully. ‘So that’s why Cerise was all over you earlier – she clearly remembered you.’
‘Probably.’ Zazz turned to Theo. ‘I’ve forgotten when the notaire’s meeting is.’
‘Tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock,’ Theo said. ‘I was thinking that perhaps I go to collect Oscar’s ashes in the morning. If you like to come with me?’ he asked, glancing around. ‘Non?D’accordI collect alone but we need to decide what to do with him when I have him.’
The evening failed to recover from the bewilderment of Zazz’s announcement, despite the good food and the wine that accompanied it. Theo did his best to lighten the atmosphere with some stories of events in Cannes that he and his friends had attended recently. A play in the Palais des Festivals, an art exhibition in one of the grand hotels on the Croisette and a vintage car display.
‘I hope we can fit in some outings whilst you are all here,’ he said. ‘Make some new happy memories for you.’
But both Agnes and Francine struggled to respond with genuine enthusiasm. Zazz, uncomfortably aware that she was responsible for spoiling the evening, decided she was better off keeping quiet in case she added even more to the unhappy atmosphere that now existed between Francine, Agnes and herself.
Nobody appeared to want to linger after their meal was eaten and once Theo had paid the bill they made their way outside. After making an arrangement to meet up in the morning to explore Cannes a little and to maybe have lunch they said goodnight. Francine and Zazz set off to walk silently back up to higher Le Suquet whilst Theo and Agnes turned in the opposite direction and went down towards the old harbour.
Once they were back in Oscar’s house Zazz waited while Francine locked the front door before leaning in and kissing her on the cheek.
‘Night, Mum. I’ve got a couple of e-mails to answer so I think I’ll go straight up. I’m planning on going for a run in the morning – I’ll pick up some croissants on my way back for breakfast so I’ll see you then,’ and before Francine could say anything, Zazz was running up the stairs to the attic.
‘Goodnight,’ Francine echoed. Obviously no mother – daughter chat happening tonight then, but had she really expected one?
14
The crowds on the street had thinned somewhat as they left the restaurant and when Theo tucked Agnes’s arm under his own she didn’t object and they were able to walk as a couple down towards the old harbour without being jostled. It was still light and as they waited to cross the road by the Gare du Bus Theo saw that Agnes was staring at the mural on the bus station wall.
