Page 21 of A French Inheritance
‘It’s a lovely day, wish I could join you,’ Lucy said. ‘What about tomorrow – are you on call? Sunday roast tomorrow as usual.’
‘No, I’m not on call, I’ll be here. Couldn’t miss one of your famous roast dinners.’
After Elliot left, Lucy wandered down to see Holly, who had messaged to say her daughter was better and she would be opening the pottery today. If Holly was happy, Lucy planned to film a short sequence of her working at the wheel fashioning one of the beautiful jugs she made and decorated and also showcase some of the pottery on the shop shelves.
Passing the empty workshop on the way, she sighed. Hopefully someone would take it on soon. Having it standing empty was such a waste.
* * *
When a text from Yann saying he’d pick her up at eleven-thirty pinged into her phone, Jeannie had smiled to herself. She’d been wondering what the locals would make of her and Yann lunching alone together. It would definitely be more relaxing to be in a busy restaurant where they were unknown.
Now, sitting next to him as he drove them down towards Cannes and then along thebord de mertowards Mandelieu-La Napoule, Jeannie’s thoughts drifted down memory lane to the time when the three of them – Jeromé, Yann and herself – had been firm friends. Life in those early days had been so carefree.
She and Yann had got on from the first moment Jeromé had introduced the two of them. Something had drawn them together. Yannick had never heard the term ‘best man’ and when Jeromé asked him to be his, he had burst out laughing. He’d turned to Jeannie. ‘If I’m the best man you should be marrying me!’ A throwaway joke that the three of them had laughed at. But Jeannie had registered the sad look in his eyes.
When they’d met and married, Jeromé had been six months into a two-year exchange contract with the English office of the French financial firm he worked for. When Jeannie had said how much she was looking forward to living in France when he returned to the French office, Jeromé had looked at her. ‘Mais non.We stay in England; my life is here now with you. I have already accepted a promotion in the English office.’
Jeannie remembered Giselle being upset at that decision. She’d tried to hide it from Jeromé, pleased that he was doing so well in his career, but had privately admitted to Jeannie that she’d been looking forward to the day when the two of them moved back to France. Once Briony had been born, Jeannie had told Jeromé that she would like to take Briony to spend most of the long summer holiday in France with Giselle every year. As Briony grew, Jeromé insisted that they left Briony with her grandmother for a fortnight in the summer whilst the two of them enjoyed a holiday on their own.
‘We have the time for a short stroll to look at the boats if you like,’ Yann said, breaking into her thoughts as he drove into a space in the car park of the Port La Napoule.
‘I haven’t been here for years,’ Jeannie said as they walked the quay alongside the water, looking at the moored boats. ‘It’s much bigger and busier than I remember it. Do you still keep your small day boat here?’
Yann shook his head. ‘Non.I sell it. The expense as the marina expanded was too much. Pauline and I had some good times on it together, but Evette was never a keen sailor. Now I come to look at the catamarans and the other wonderful yachts. And occasionally bring a beautiful woman for lunch to the new restaurant.’ He smiled at Jeannie and caught hold of her hand. ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are finally coming to live down here and we can be in each other’s life from now on.’
‘We’ve been in each other’s life for a long time,’ Jeannie said quietly.
‘Oui, but not in the way I would like.’ Yann looked at her, a serious look on his face. ‘Now I like to think, it is our time.’
15
Sunday morning, Jeannie and Briony had a relaxed late breakfast of coffee and toast out on the terrace. ‘This week has gone so quickly. To think we’ve only got today and tomorrow left,’ Jeannie said.
‘Do you think we’ll be the only guests at lunch today?’ Briony asked.
‘Elliot will be there, I expect.’ Jeannie gave a small shrug. ‘Other than that, I have no idea. Does it matter?’
‘No. Just wondering.’
‘How long do you reckon you’re going to have to stay back in England?’ Briony asked. ‘I’ve just got to clear out my personal stuff in the flat and leave.’
‘I certainly don’t want to stay there for too long, so I’m just hoping the house will sell quickly, not drag on for months,’ Jeannie said. ‘I know it’s unlikely to be less than three months though. And I definitely don’t want to have to stay there all that time. I want to be down here.’
‘You could do the completion on Zoom and just have the solicitor to do the proxy signing on your behalf,’ Briony suggested.
‘Brilliant idea. I want to be back down here as soon as I can,’ Jeannie said. ‘So once it’s on the market, and the removal men are lined up to bring things over here, I can jump on the plane.’
‘Think we may have a problem with cupboard space, if not room space, for any extra furniture,’ Briony said thoughtfully. ‘The kitchen cupboards here are already full. In fact, there is far more stuff than we’re ever going to need. And we do need to sort out Granny’s bedroom. Talking of which.’ She glanced at her mum. ‘Would you like to use that room rather than the one you’re currently in? I’m quite happy in the room I’ve always had.’
Jeannie hesitated. ‘It’s a lovely room and it does have the en suite, but I think I’d prefer to stay in the one I’m used to.’
‘Okay, but perhaps we should think about emptying the wardrobe and the chest of drawers in there so that if we have anyone to stay they can use that room.’
‘We’ve got a couple of hours this morning, we could make a start?’ Jeannie said.
‘Good idea. Let’s do that,’ Briony said, finishing her coffee and standing up.
‘Let’s start with the wardrobe,’ Jeannie said as they opened the bedroom door. ‘Granny brought most of her clothes with her when she moved in with me, but she did say she’d left some good pieces over here.’
