Page 54 of A French Inheritance
‘Sounds good,’ Holly said. ‘I like the alliteration with all the B’s.’
Jeannie nodded. ‘Yes, sounds good.’
‘Briony’s Belle Brocante it is,’ Briony said.
While Jeannie started unpacking a few more boxes, Briony used her phone to type an advertisement, attached the photo, signed into theNice Matinsite, paid and sent it.
‘That’s something to tick off the list,’ she said. ‘Need to find a signwriter now to do a sign.’
‘I can do that for you,’ Holly offered. ‘If you find a piece of wood and prepare it, I’ll happily decorate it with the name.’
‘Really? Thank you so much,’ Briony said.
‘How many days are you going to open?’ Holly asked.
‘I’m going to take it slowly, build the business up. I’ve got a lot to learn about how things work down here. In the beginning, I’m planning to be open from ten till five. Two full days a week, Friday and Saturdays,’ Briony said. ‘And Sundays two till five. I’ll see how it goes and I might add a Thursday opening in the height of summer.’
‘There’s lots of red, white and blue bunting in this box,’ Jeannie said. ‘Shall we keep it for opening day?’
‘Why not,’ Briony said. ‘Put it in a corner somewhere so we don’t lose it. I’m going to drive Pascal up soon and bring a ladder, the handcart, the parrot cage and probably a few more boxes from the garage. Just to keep us busy and out of mischief.’
40
Wednesday afternoon and Elliot drove them both down to Antibes to see Meg’s old owner. ‘I feel I should know his name,’ Briony said.
‘It’s Doug. Jill has said she’ll meet us there.’
When Elliot drove into the care home car park, they found a subdued Jill waiting for them anxiously by the main entrance.
‘Briony, it’s lovely to meet you and thank you so much for taking on Meg. She looks extremely happy – and a little less fat,’ Jill said, bending down to stroke Meg, who clearly remembered her. ‘Dad isn’t too good this afternoon, I’m afraid, but his favourite carer, a lovely Indian lady called Afareen, is with him at the moment. Shall we go in?’
Doug was in a private room on the ground floor with a window overlooking the extensive grounds.
Briony stopped at the entrance to the room and looked at Jill. ‘Your father doesn’t know me, I think it would be better if you take Meg in, so I’ll wait here.’
Jill glanced at her father lying in the bed with his eyes closed and nodded. ‘I think you’re right,’ and taking Meg’s lead she walked into the room, while Briony and Elliot stayed outside and watched.
Afareen, the carer, smiled as she saw Jill and Meg approach the bed.
‘Dad, I’ve brought someone special to see you.’ Meg moved closer to the bed and Jill went to place her father’s hand on the dog’s head. But Meg had a different idea. She stood on her hind legs and gently placed both of her front paws on the bed and sniffed Doug’s hand. Doug’s hand twitched and Meg gave it a lick before placing her head on the bed between her paws. Jill, seeing her dad’s hand twitch, gently placed it on Meg’s head. Meg stayed still for thirty seconds or so, before carefully placing her front feet back on the floor and looking up at Jill.
Jill was brushing away tears when she handed Meg back to Briony. ‘I’m certain he registered Meg was in the room. There was a soft smile on his face as we left. Thank you so much for bringing her. Afareen has told me he hasn’t got long now. The rest of the family are coming soon.’
Elliot took Jill in his arms and hugged her gently. ‘Let us know if we can help in any way again.’
‘Thank you, I will.’
Both Elliot and Briony were silent as they walked back to the car.
‘Shall we walk the dogs in Cap d’Antibes woods?’ Elliot said, as he opened the car door, where Luna was waiting patiently and Meg jumped up to join her. ‘Have you ever been to the chapel at the foot of the lighthouse?’
Briony shook her head. ‘No.’
The ten-minute drive to Cap d’Antibes woods was quiet as both Elliot and Briony were lost in their own thoughts.
‘We’ll walk the dogs first. They can stay in the car then whilst we have a look at the chapel,’ Elliot said as he parked the car.
It was cool in the woods and the two dogs were happy on their long leads sniffing their way along the footpath as Briony and Elliot strolled slowly along. The tranquility of the woods was soothing and all-encompassing, whilst the silence between the two of them felt companionable rather than uncomfortable. Briony, although sadden by the visit to the care home, breathed deeply and realised how happy she was at that moment.
