Page 5 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
Agnes barely registered Francine’s words, suddenly lost in her own thoughts about the ordeal ahead of her in the next week or two. How on earth could she circumnavigate her way around the unknown problems that were on the horizon? Oscar might be dead but this complication with his will was sure to cause her difficulties and mess with her head like he had in the past. She could practically see that familiar smug, cruel smile on his lips as he’d planned this final upset to her life. Would she be able to draw a veil over her past like she had said to Francine? Perhaps, although she couldn’t help thinking that people might die, but their cruel actions remained forever as memories.
* * *
Returning home after their meal, Edwin went upstairs to the room he’d turned into his office saying he wanted to finalise a quotation for a website he’d been asked to design. Agnes said she was going to watch TV in the sitting room and Francine, hoping that Zazz would be in a better frame of mind, made for the kitchen to ring her.
‘Once I’ve spoken to Zazz, I’ll come and join you,’ she told Agnes.
Zazz answered her phone warily. ‘Hi Mum. I was going to ring you later. I’m sorry about hanging up on you. I know I was rude.’
‘You were,’ Francine said. ‘Unexpectedly and completely without cause – not like you at all. Have things gone wrong at work or something? Is it Rufus?’
‘No, Rufus and everything is fine,’ Zazz answered quickly. ‘It was just the shock of Oscar’s death and I’d not heard Direct Cremations were an actual thing before. I find it incredibly upsetting that there are people out there who apparently have no-one to mourn them.’
‘I’m sure there are wakes or memorial services held after the event for the majority of deceased people,’ Francine said, before falling silent for a second or two. ‘Theo rang this evening. The notaire has asked for a meeting to discuss the will at the end of next week. He has also requested that as well as Granny and I being there that you attend too. Can you get the time off work? Maybe a week?’
‘Getting time off work isn’t a problem,’ Zazz said quickly. ‘I was coming down to stay for a few days anyway.’
‘Okay. I’ll book tickets and we can sort out the details when you’re here.’
‘See you soon then.’ And Zazz ended the call.
Francine joined Agnes in the sitting room. ‘Zazz is coming home for a few days and is okay to come to France with us as well. Tomorrow I’ll find flights and book the tickets.’ She collapsed onto the settee with a yawn. ‘Life does like to shake things up at times, doesn’t it?’ she said, a rueful tone to her voice.
Agnes nodded but didn’t answer. She had no intention of telling Francine that she suspected this particular shake up would very likely prove to be calamitous for their little family in more ways than one.
6
The morning of Oscar’s cremation Agnes sat out in the garden deep in thought, half listening to the dawn chorus and watching the sky turn blue as the sunrise with its pink and red overtones faded away when the sun was fully risen. She remembered so many mornings she’d sat out here down through the years; sometimes psyching herself up to get on with the way her life as it was and other, better times, sitting and simply enjoying the early morning quiet before she began her busy day. Today was not a psyching-herself-up kind of day. It was more a deep-breath-of-relief kind of day; relief that she had given up ever hoping to feel. She had to hold on firmly to the knowledge that she had Francine, the pride and joy of her life and now she was finally free of Oscar, the biggest mistake of her life.
Her conversation with Theo late last night after Francine and Edwin had gone to bed drifted into her mind. Dear Theo, her greatest supporter down the years against his own brother. As brothers went they were chalk and cheese, good versus evil. Having Theo in her life, even at a distance most of the time, had meant so much to her. She’d been hoping that Theo would be able to tell her more than he’d said in his earlier phone call. Something that he might not have wanted her to tell Francine. But for once he’d failed to reassure her, insisting that he had no more information.
‘The notaire, he will tell us everything,’ he kept repeating. ‘It is better that way.’ There was a pause before he continued.
‘I am looking forward to the three of you being here next week,’ he said quietly. ‘Even though I know it will betrès difficilefor you returning after such a long absence. For Francine and Zazz not so much, but I hope you know I will help you all in whatever ways I can.’
Agnes had murmured her thanks before quietly saying goodnight and ending the call. She’d been left with the strong impression that Theo did know more than he was admitting but for some obscure reason was not prepared to confide in her as he would normally. They’d been so close once…
She and Oscar had been engaged a couple of weeks, when Theo returned to Cannes after a band tour that had taken him all over Europe. As brothers the two of them couldn’t have been more different in either looks or personality. Oscar, as the elder brother, had inherited the family property business. A prosperous well-established business that continued to thrive for several years under his control. Theo, a talented musician who played both the piano and the saxophone, was part of a successful rock band and was away performing for months at a time. His life at the time was a nomadic one and Oscar made no secret of the fact that he was of the opinion it was time his younger brother grew up and found a proper job.
Agnes quickly realised how much she liked Theo. How much more she had in common with him than with Oscar. Theo lit up the room for her as soon as he entered in a way that Oscar failed to do. Nearer her age than Oscar, the two of them quickly developed a strong friendship. Agnes even found herself wishing that she was marrying Theo. A thought she quickly pushed away, determining to tell Oscar again she didn’t want to marry him and break off their engagement. The first time she tried to give him the ring back, he’d just looked at her and said, ‘Don’t be silly.’ Somehow she had to make him understand she meant what she said. She also vowed to spend less time with Theo. Being accused of leading him on when she was engaged to his brother wasn’t something she wanted to happen.
After a particularly boring evening with some of Oscar’s friends, where she’d spent the time secretly planning to give him the ring back as he walked her home, another couple accompanied them most of the way and it was impossible to do or say anything. She stifled a sigh, she’d missed her opportunity again. Oscar turned to her as they said goodnight at the door of her parents’ house.
‘You have a busy month ahead. I have to go away for a week or two but I’ve decided on the date of our wedding, so you’ll have lots to keep you busy and out of mischief. In a month’s time you will become my wife. Your parents are pleased.’ He gave her a quick kiss. ‘Goodnight. Sleep well.’ And he was gone before she could open her mouth to protest.
She stared after him, speechless. Why was everyone taking these decisions without her? What had happened to their six-month engagement? It was barely a month old. Why couldn’t her parents have discussed it with her first? It was her life they were giving scant regard to. Didn’t they care about her future happiness? All her father seemed to care about was marrying her off quickly to an outwardly successful man and basking in his status.
Agnes went indoors in a daze promising herself that she’d talk to her parents first thing in the morning. Surely they would listen and understand, if she put into words how worried she was about her impending marriage and how she didn’t love Oscar and needed their help to break off the engagement. Even with their help she knew it would be difficult to stop this rollercoaster of a wedding. The one person she longed to talk to about it, Theo, and ask his advice, was of course an impossibility.
But it was stopping the wedding that would prove to be impossible.
7
After a fitful night’s sleep Francine woke early and made her way down to the kitchen. She and Edwin had talked last night and decided there was little point in him going to France with them straight away. He had a couple of jobs to finish and then he’d fly over in a few days. Once in bed though sleep eluded her, her memory seemingly on a mission to remind her of things from the past she’d rather forget. Seeing Agnes out on the terrace she made two coffees and made her way outside.
‘Good morning, Maman. How long have you been sitting out here?’
‘I lose track of time,’ Agnes said, gratefully accepting the mug Francine handed her. ‘Did you sleep well?’
