Page 51 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
‘Oh, okay,’ Agnes said, surprised at the abrupt end of the conversation and the walk they’d hardly begun.
Theo was silent on the way back to the cottage and once indoors he made for the sitting room.
‘Please sit down. I want to play you something.’
‘I’ve been longing to ask you to play the piano since I arrived,’ Agnes said. ‘I do wish you hadn’t given up on the saxophone.’
Theo regarded her intently for several seconds before moving across to the piano, pulling out the stool, gently, thoughtfully, stroking the keys before he started to play the one tune guaranteed to reduce Agnes to an emotional wreck.
She closed her eyes as the lyrics of ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ began to swim through her mind. So many words resonated with her. She knew she had always loved him and yet had done nothing but hurt him in the most awful way. She fingered the Celtic pendant that she rarely took off these days and tried to hold the tears at bay.
As the last note died away Theo swivelled on the piano stool, turning to look at her and saying her name in such a way that made her look at him anxiously.
‘I think the memories that song triggers mean everything to both of us,’ he said, his eyes fixed on her necklace. ‘I love seeing you wear that necklace,’ he said quietly. ‘You never wore it on my visits to see you and Francine in Devon. I did not think you still had it.’
‘I treasured it down through the years. I often just held it, hoping to feel close to you.’
‘And did you?’
‘I found the trick was to hold the necklace and play our song but then I couldn’t stop crying. I didn’t wear it for years. It was too poignant a reminder of what I’d lost through my own stupidity. These days, I rarely take it off.’
‘I do so love having you here, please stay,’ Theo said. ‘You complete my home – and my life.’
Agnes shook her head. ‘We agreed a long time ago not to talk about what might have been.’
‘Je sais, I know. But I cannot help but think, hope, pray, that now things are different our friendship will finally be allowed to flourish into the relationship we’ve both wanted for so long? And still want.’ He gave her a hopeful look. ‘Maybe now is the time to follow your heart. Which is something I’ve always urged you to do.’
Agnes hesitated. ‘You don’t think it is too late for us?’
‘You are finally free of a marriage that caused you so much heartache and pain and are free to move forward. It’s never too late when you love someone,’ Theo said. ‘We can be together like we’ve dreamt of for years. It’s never too late to be happy and in love.’
Agnes smiled. ‘It would be rather wonderful, I have to admit. But you forget, you live in France and I live in England.’
‘Pff, when everything is sorted it will not be a problem. I come to you. You come to me. We decide. We can be together wherever we choose. Six months here, six months there. We can work it out if you are willing to try?’
There was a short pause before Agnes spoke. ‘If you want me to,’ and she gave him a tremulous smile.
‘Agnes, I don’t want you to leave me ever again. I’ve dreamt of living a life somewhere with you ever since I met you. Now finally the two of us have the opportunity to have a proper relationship. Why d’you think I’ve never married? You are the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry.’
Agnes pressed her lips together in an effort to stop herself crying at his words. ‘But you could have had a family of your own. I’m so sorry I was the reason you didn’t.’
‘You, Francine and Zazz are my family, always have been, always will be,’ Theo said. ‘Nothing will ever change that, I promise you. I know I repeat myselfmaisI so love having you here,’ he said. ‘When everything is settled, I hope you will decide to stay with me – we can sort out the logistics of where – but we will finally be together – as we’ve always wanted to be and deserve to be.’
* * *
Saturday evening and Francine was at a loose end, feeling unsettled and missing Edwin although he hadn’t been gone twenty-four hours yet. She was alone in the house, Zazz having gone out earlier to spend the evening with Dominic. Briefly, she wondered what Agnes and Theo were up to, before deciding they’d probably appreciate a few quiet hours after the excitement of the last day or two.
Bored and flipping through one of the glossy boating magazines of Oscar’s that they’d left on the shelf, Piers came into her thoughts. Would he be down on his boat this evening? He had said he was there most evenings but maybe Saturday night was different. Saturday evening was the time for socialising with other people, for parties. Impulsively, she decided to go and buy a takeaway pizza and see if Piers would like to share it with her. If he wasn’t there she’d come back and eat it here, alone.
Half an hour later, clutching both a pizza and a bag of frites, Francine was anxiously approaching Piers’s boat. Her heart missed a beat when saw him in the cockpit, alone.
‘Fancy some company? I’ve got supper if you’re hungry,’ she called out.
‘This is a good surprise,’ Piers said, helping her on board. ‘You didn’t have to bring food but I’m suddenly longing for a slice of pizza.’
Five minutes later, Piers had opened a bottle of wine and they were tucking into their food.
‘Where is your husband tonight?’
