Page 7 of Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’ she demanded.
Zazz shrugged. ‘Nothing in particular, it’s just the way we are as a family. I’ll take my stuff up to my room, and then find Granny to say hi. I’ll help you with dinner later if you like,’ and she quickly picked up her suitcase and rucksack and went upstairs before Francine could question her further.
Francine stayed where she was for a moment, wishing she knew what was bothering her daughter because there was definitely something going on, she’d not been her normal good-natured self for several months now. Maybe she’d suggest Agnes have a gentle probe to try and unearth what was wrong; she had always been able to coax Zazz’s worries out of her. The three of them spending time together in France would be a good opportunity to talk too. The meeting with the notaire was the reason for the visit but there would surely be time for some exploring and relaxing, a mini holiday, after they’d got the will business out of the way. She’d booked flexible tickets so they could stay on for as long as they needed or wanted.
Francine heard Zazz coming downstairs and going out to the terrace where Agnes was sitting reading and enjoying the sun. Standing by the kitchen window she saw Zazz hug and kiss her gran before sitting down with her. Agnes laid her book aside and Francine suppressed a sigh as she watched the two of them begin to chat animatedly.
When was the last time she and Zazz had sat down together like that and chatted? Not the last time she was home, or the time before. She forced her mind back and realised that since they’d left Bath and moved to Dartmouth, Zazz had only been home a handful of times and then only briefly. She hadn’t even managed a visit for her last birthday, just a short phone call, which had upset Francine at the time but she’d accepted the apology and the beautiful silk scarf Zazz had gifted her without commenting. After all Zazz was twenty-three now, an independent woman with a busy life, she was entitled to spend time away with her friends. Turning away from the window Francine determined that when they were in France she would make a concentrated effort to try and repair her and Zazz’s fractured mother-daughter relationship.
* * *
The evening before they left for France the four of them enjoyed a fish and chip supper that Edwin had insisted on treating them to. Zazz had volunteered to go and collect their food from their favourite takeaway and they ate sitting out on the garden terrace, albeit with their fleeces on, enjoying the cool evening air.
‘I’m glad you’re going with your mum and granny,’ Edwin said. ‘And that you didn’t have a problem getting time off work.’
Zazz briefly thought about telling everyone about giving her notice in but knowing that her mother would instantly bombard her with questions, decided against it. Instead she smiled at her dad. ‘I was due some leave,’ she said, which was true in a way. ‘Shame you’re not coming to France with us. It would have been our first family holiday in the South of France.’
‘Dad will be joining us later. If Oscar hadn’t died we wouldn’t be going. It’s not as if we’ve been planning a holiday down there,’ Francine said. ‘I suspect it’s going to be a difficult few days for Maman, and probably myself,’ she muttered under her breath.
She glanced at Edwin. ‘I know you said you had a few things scheduled to finish in the next week but you can change your mind and come with us instead of waiting until later.’
‘Let’s see how long it takes to sort things out,’ Edwin said easily. ‘Agnes has always told us how convoluted French bureaucracy can be. In the meantime I’m sure the three of you will have some time to relax and…’ he paused. ‘Make some happier memories for Agnes and yourself,’ he said, looking at Francine. He turned to Zazz. ‘Whilst you, young lady, can enjoy your first visit to the French Riviera.’
Zazz wriggled in her seat. To say she was beginning to feel uncomfortable was an understatement. She wasn’t exactly lying but she knew her dad could accuse her of lying by omission. She’d planned on coming home to tell them everything this week so why didn’t she just open her mouth and speak? Because she knew that her mother and grandmother were not going to take kindly to her news when she did pluck up the courage to tell them. No, best wait until they were in France and her secret plan of moving there was already partly implemented.
9
Agnes searched the crowds waiting to greet friends and family in the Arrivals Hall at Nice airport, anxiously looking for Theo’s familiar face. He wasn’t difficult to spot, at six feet three inches he often stood head and shoulders above any crowd even if those shoulders were a little bent these days. She spotted him almost instantly, standing apart from the crowd with a dog sitting patiently at his feet. A smile broke over both their faces as the two of them saw each other and Agnes immediately relaxed. Being with Theo was always good, they shared so much life history since meeting all those years ago.
Once all the normal hugs and kisses were out of the way Theo introduced Cerise the dog, whom Zazz was already petting having dropped down onto her knees.
‘She was Oscar’s dog so I’ve looked after her since the accident,’ Theo said, a rueful smile on his face. ‘Impossible to let her go to the refuge. She’s not a problem which given her sad history is remarkable, but I never have a dog before.’
‘She seems taken with Zazz,’ Francine said, watching as Cerise, her tail switching frantically, tried to climb on to Zazz’s knees. ‘What breed is she? And what’s her sad history?’
‘Tibetan terrier,’ Theo answered. ‘Oscar found her about nine months ago on the autoroute one night coming home from Nice. No collar, no chip.’
‘She’s adorable,’ Zazz said. ‘I suspect she will be missing Oscar.’ She gave Cerise another stroke before standing up. ‘Shall I take her,’ and she held out her hand for the lead.
‘Bien. Let us find the car and get you all back to Cannes,’ Theo said, taking charge of the trolley with three cases and Zazz’s rucksack loaded on it.
The sweet, almost medicinal, camphor smell of the tall eucalyptus trees surrounding the airport made Agnes catch her breath with delight. So many years since she’d inhaled that particular, once familiar, smell. Walking across to the car under a clear blue sky the heat in late April was already stifling in its intensity. Zazz helped Theo load the cases into the car as Agnes settled herself in the front passenger seat and Francine sat in the back. As Zazz swung her rucksack in on top of her case, Theo asked quietly. ‘You tell them about what you did? And the other thing you plan?’
Zazz shook her head. ‘Non.’ Quickly adding as Theo looked at her crossly. ‘But I will soon, promise.’
‘If you do not, then I will. The news will give them unhappiness but they deserve to know it.’ And he closed the car door with barely controlled force.
Leaving the airport, Theo drove them along the bord de mer which was far busier than either Francine or Agnes remembered it being. The Mediterranean glistening on their left though was reassuringly the same; the beaches dotted with parasols and windbreakers but not as crowded as in July and August.
Forty minutes later, as they passed The Palm Court onto the beginning of the Croisette in Cannes, Theo looked in his rear-view mirror at Francine and Zazz before glancing across at Agnes sitting next to him in the front passenger seat.
‘Agnes, you remember my house in the old town down by the harbour, I think you all like to stay with me there rather than in,’ he hesitated. ‘Rather than in Oscar’s house at the top of Le Suquet.’
Agnes nodded gratefully. ‘Merci. I would prefer to stay with you.’
Francine, knowing how much her maman had been dreading going back to the house she’d shared all those years ago with Oscar, breathed a sigh of relief. It meant she didn’t have to stay there either. She opened her mouth to accept Theo’s offer but Zazz was already speaking.
‘If nobody minds, I’d rather like to stay in Oscar’s house,’ Zazz said, cuddling Cerise who had climbed onto her lap and refused to budge. ‘Happy to take this one with me too.’
