Page 33 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
As they ate breakfast Francine suggested to Edwin that they spent the morning exploring Cannes.
‘I can’t wait to show you around.’
‘Will Zazz come with us?’
‘She’s gone out already,’ Francine said tight-lipped. ‘We’ve fallen out again. Can you believe she lied to us about going to Ibiza. She came here for Oscar’s last birthday.’
Edwin gave her a concerned look before he replied. ‘I know it’s hard but you have to accept Zazz needs to live her own life, decide who she wants in that life. I’m upset she came down behind our backs but I can understand why – look how cross you are after the event.’
‘All these years of protecting her from Oscar pushed aside because she decided we had no right to keep them apart. Stupid, stupid girl.’
Edwin sighed. ‘With hindsight, perhaps it would have been better to have told her the reasons why you and Agnes wanted to keep her away from him. Shutting down the conversation every time she mentioned Oscar, refusing to talk about the man with her, clearly made her more curious.’
‘At the time it felt the right thing to do. It just hurts that she appears to have taken his side against us by lying.’
‘That’s nonsense, she’s not on anyone’s side,’ Edwin said. ‘I think you’re being too hard on Zazz. She never really got to know Oscar before he died. Now is the time to be honest with her. Tell her what you and Agnes went through. She doesn’t have the knowledge you and Agnes have of Oscar’s behaviour. Once you tell her she’ll realise you, we, were trying to protect her.’
‘I am so happy that Oscar died before Zazz moved in here with him. Terrible thing to say but,’ Francine shrugged, ‘I dread to think what could have happened.’
‘The point is nothing had the chance to happen so you need to stop making it a bigger issue than it actually is now for Zazz.’
Francine stared at him but before she could say anything Edwin stood up.
‘I think we need to finish this conversation and get some fresh air. Come on, let’s get exploring. You promised to show me Cannes,’ Edwin said, taking his coffee mug and plate over to the dishwasher. ‘I need to walk along this wonderful Croisette I’ve heard so much about.’
Francine sighed. ‘You’re right. Come on then. First stop Allée des Étoiles du Cinema.’ Edwin looked at her, his eyebrows raised. ‘Wait and see.’
Twenty minutes later, having detoured to show Edwin the bustling Marché Forville, and passed several workmen struggling with hoardings to be put in place for the upcoming film festival, they were in front of the famous red steps of the Palais des Festivals. Walking with their eyes down they began looking at some of over three hundred handprints of famous stars embedded in the path known as the Allée des Étoiles.
‘Cannes’s answer to the Los Angeles Hollywood Walk of Fame. Look, Sophia Loren, Jean Paul Belmondo, Julie Andrews, Johnny Halliday, to name but a few. And here’s Catherine Deneuve,’ Francine said. ‘Maman’s favourite. I wonder if Theo has shown her this walkway yet.’
‘I hadn’t realised how fond Theo is of your maman,’ Edwin said absently, wandering down the path towards her.
Francine glanced at him. ‘What d’you mean?’
‘Here in France they seem closer than they did on the occasions we’ve seen them together in Bath and Dartmouth, that’s all. They seem to be more of a couple.’
‘They’ve been in each other’s lives a long time,’ Francine said. ‘They’re comfortable with each other that’s for sure. I know Maman was always waiting for Oscar to turn on Theo, which was something he’d done in the past apparently. Now that he’s dead maybe they’re both more relaxed?’
‘That’s probably it,’ Edwin said, looking across at a gaily painted ice-cream stall. ‘Fancy an ice-cream?’
‘I was going to suggest stopping for a coffee but yes, aglacéinstead would be lovely.’
* * *
Zazz, having decided she couldn’t get out of the family dinner that evening, stayed close to her dad as the three of them left to walk down to meet Theo and Agnes on Saturday evening. Things were still strained between Francine and herself and she’d decided distance would be good. The restaurant Francine had booked was down on the busy Allées de la Liberté near the boules court. Zazz sank gratefully onto a chair between her dad and Theo.
Once they’d ordered their food – steaks for Edwin and Theo,magret de canardfor Agnes and Francine and a vegetarian dish for Zazz, Edwin poured the wine. ‘To think I’ve never been to the South of France before. I hope this is the first of many visits,’ he said.
‘You’re welcome to come and visit me any time, Dad,’ Zazz said. ‘You too, Mum,’ she added hurriedly, seeing the look on Francine’s face.
‘Thank you. We’ll definitely be taking you up on that offer, won’t we?’ Edwin said, turning to Francine.
‘Depends where Zazz will be living after the house is sold,’ Francine said, glaring at Zazz. ‘Studios don’t generally have much room.’
Zazz sighed but didn’t say anything, her mother had stated the truth. The apartment she and Mel were planning on sharing, although far bigger than a studio, didn’t have a guest room.
‘You’re both more than welcome to stay with me any time,’ Theo said.
