Page 49 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
‘Come on, let’s follow the crowd and get out of here,’ Dominic said, laughing. ‘I think we both deserve a drink after sitting through that.’
By the time they were descending the red carpet, the crowds were smaller but the paparazzi were still hanging around, waiting for the last of the celebrities to appear. Nobody took any notice of Dominic and Zazz though as they stepped off the red carpet onto the pavement and disappeared into the streets of Cannes out of the limelight.
‘Are you pizza hungry?’ Dominic asked.
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Zazz said. ‘Will anywhere be open at this time of night?’
‘Festival week they open all hours. Come on, my favourite is this way,’ and Dominic held her hand as they crossed the road and began to walk towards the Allées de la Liberté where Zazz could see the restaurants were still open and busy.
Sitting there sipping glasses of red wine while they waited for their pizzas, Zazz looked around her. ‘This place is truly something else during film week, isn’t it? It’s lively and buzzy at other times but for the ten days of the festival it seems to take on an extra vibrancy, almost a magical air about it. Dreamlike and romantic, it feels surreal to me. I love it.’
‘Monday morning, it will be back to reality,’ Dominic assured her. ‘There are other very busy festivals and conferences throughout the year, but they do lack the glamour of this one. I like to travel to see other places, but I love coming home and honestly, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,’ Dominic said.
Their pizzas arrived at that moment and they both tucked in and it was a moment or two before Dominic said. ‘Mel is thrilled you’re going to share her apartment from September.’
‘Not half as thrilled as I am,’ Zazz said. ‘It’s such a lovely place.’
‘So, you’re planning on living down here for the next six months? Or longer?’
‘If everything goes to plan – and please don’t tell my mother this – I’m not planning on going back to live in the UK any time soon. I love it down here. Of course it does depend on me really upping my followers on Instagram and YouTube by several thousand to survive. I’ve got a bit of a cushion but you never know what the future is going to bring.’
‘My future is suddenly looking a lot brighter hearing that you are staying,’ Dominic said. ‘We can really get to know each other, if you want to.’
Zazz smiled at him. ‘I’d like that a lot.’
42
Friday morning and Agnes could barely contain her excitement at the thought of Denice and Carl coming for lunch to meet Francine and Jasmine for the first time. When Theo returned from giving Cerise her first walk of the day, they went to the market as usual but today they were buying ingredients for a special lunch. The weather forecast promised a hot day with the temperature possibly hitting twenty-seven, so they decided rather than cook they’d provide a cold lunch. Lots of cheeses, a board of charcuterie meats, some langoustines, a big greensaladeand several artisan breads from their favourite boulangerie. Dessert would be a big bowl of fresh local strawberries with crème fraîche. And champagne of course. It was a special occasion.
Back at Theo’s, as they sat out in the courtyard enjoying a palmier biscuit with their coffee, Agnes glanced at Theo. ‘Has Francine said anything to you about wondering if Denice is really my sister?’
‘Non. Why?’
‘She was so suspicious that day we told her about meeting Denice, I thought she might have questioned you about how you felt about her.’
Theo shook his head. ‘I think you were so definite about Denice being Denice that she took your word for it finally.’
‘I hope so. I don’t want any awkward conversations spoiling today,’ Agnes said.
Theo smiled at her. ‘Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. Come on, time to start getting the place ready. What time did you suggest to everyone?’
‘Around mid-day.’
Francine and Edwin were the first to arrive. Agnes felt her heart sink as she sensed how uptight Francine was about this meeting with her unknown aunt. Before she could say anything to reassure her, Denice and Carl arrived in the flurry of exuberance that Agnes seemed to remember her sister always generated around her when socialising, making it impossible to ignore her. Calling her the life and soul of any party she attended had been the only way to describe the teenage Denice.
Once indoors, Denice turned to Francine and pulled her into a tight hug. ‘You have no idea how much this means to me, first re-uniting with Agnes and now meeting my unknown niece. That bastard, Oscar, has a lot to answer for. Thank God he’s dead, we’re all better off with him out of the way. Anybody ever told you how like your maman you are?’ Francine nodded her head, hardly able to breathe the hug was so tight.
Releasing her, Denice turned and took Edwin’s hand in a firm grip before planting two kisses on his cheeks. ‘And you must be the husband. Lovely to meet you.’
The front door slammed at that moment and Zazz flew into the room. ‘Granny, I’m so sorry I’m late. I hope Great-Aunt Denice hasn’t, oh, you have,’ and Zazz came to a quick halt as she saw everyone. ‘Hello, I’m Zazz.’
Denice, her arms outstretched, advanced towards her. ‘If you call me great-aunt ever again I shall disown you. I’m Denice, understood?’
Zazz nodded. ‘Understood.’
‘In that case, come here and let me hug you.’ As Denice threw arms around Zazz she whispered in her ear, ‘And I promise I’ll never call you Jasmine.’
There was a carefully controlled pop as Theo eased the cork out of the champagne bottle before pouring everyone a glass. ‘Time for a toast,’ he said as Zazz handed the glasses around. ‘To family.’
