Page 42 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
‘Not sure I’ll be able to eat anything,’ Agnes said. ‘I feel so nervous but a wander around Juan would be good. Have you got the file?’
‘Already in the car.’
Cannes was heaving with people and traffic was heavy as they left on the coast road and it took twice the time it usually did to reach the outskirts of the town where the traffic cleared a little.
Twenty minutes later, as they approached Golfe-Juan, Theo gave Agnes a quick glance. ‘I think we have time for a quick detour.’
Agnes glanced at him, mystified, as he followed the sign for the Marina entrance car park, and pulled up in a space near the entrance.
‘I phoned earlier and was told where Oscar’s boat is moored. I think we should at least see it before it is sold.’ He gave Agnes a questioning look as she got out of the car. ‘Yes?’
She nodded. ‘We haven’t got all day though. I want to get to Antibes. How will we find it. I mean there are hundreds of boats here. Does it have a name?’
‘The harbour master told me it is berthed alongside the main quay, which is here opposite, and about halfway down.’ Theo led her along the walkway. ‘We recognise it easily, I think,’ he said. ‘The name is on the stern.’
Agnes laughed. ‘You need to tell me the name,’ she said, walking quickly along. ‘Goodness only knows what Oscar would call his boat – “Mal Acquis”maybe? It was certainly an ill-gotten gain.’ Suddenly she stopped and stared at one of the larger boats before turning to look at Theo. ‘“Agnes”? Is this the one?’
Theo nodded.
‘He took my money and then named the boat after me?Quelle moquerie!’
‘But you will have the last laugh when the boat is sold,’ Theo reminded her.
‘Thanks to you. Let’s go. I do not need to see any more.’
The two of them turned and made their way back to the car.
As they strapped themselves in, ready for the rest of the drive, Agnes leant across and kissed Theo on the cheek.
‘What was that for?’
‘Just because,’ Agnes smiled at him. ‘Where would I be without you?’ Theo started the car and Agnes sat back in her seat, silently answering that question herself. Lost, that’s where she would have been without Theo all these years, lost.
* * *
Half-an-hour later, as they drove past the ‘Welcome to Antibes Juan-les-Pins’ sign Agnes asked, ‘Did Denice give you directions?’
‘Non. I Googled it and I know where the street is,’ Theo answered. ‘But for now I think we find a car park and have a wander.’
The narrow streets were full of boutiques of all kinds and restaurants and coffee shops were everywhere. The restaurants on the beach with their wooden floors, sun canopies and ice buckets on every table to keep the wine cool were the busiest. With their kitchens on the other side of the road, Agnes lost count of the number of times she caught her breath as she watched the young waiters, typically carrying their trays on a raised arm across the road, dodging around the moving traffic.
‘I never realised waiting could be such a dangerous job,’ she said.
For their own lunch they decided on ham and cheese baguettes which they ate sitting on a bench overlooking the sea. Or rather Theo ate, Agnes couldn’t swallow properly.
‘Do you think she’ll have changed much?’ she said, turning to Theo.
‘We all change as we grow older,’ Theo said.
‘I suppose what I really mean is – will she still feel like my big sister? Or will we be like complete strangers meeting for the first time?’
‘I don’t know,’ Theo said, reaching for her hand. ‘But you are still the same kind-hearted, truly decent person you’ve always been, despite what life has thrown at you. Hopefully Denice has survived her own life traumas intact as well.’
‘I think we will walk to her house,’ Theo said. ‘According to the map it’s not far from here. If we go through this little park just along here, I think we’ll be heading in the right direction.’
Leaving the park, Agnes saw a florist further down the road and impulsively stopped to buy a bunch of flowers for Denice. It was too early in the year for Denice’s favourite, sunflowers, so Agnes decided on a bunch of variegated yellow tulips.
They found Denice’s house easily. One of a dozen in a small impasse, Number 5 was about halfway along. Tall Provençal green electric gates blocked the entrance. Agnes stood behind Theo as he pressed the intercom and gave his name. The small gate on the side clicked open and they stepped through into a large courtyard.
