Page 56 of A French Inheritance
‘Thank you for the muguets this morning,’ Briony said. ‘I’m afraid I left it too late to find a bunch for you.’
‘You know the tradition of why the French give them on the first of May?’
‘Yes,’ Briony said.
‘Good,’ Elliot said, giving her an intense look before turning away. ‘Fish pie needs to come out of the oven,’ and he disappeared back to the kitchen.
Sitting out in the courtyard eating the delicious fish pie that Lucy had made and enjoying a cool glass of white wine, Briony, like Elliot, knew that right now she was extremely happy. The picnic on the lake had been wonderful and romantic, but somehow sitting here in the tiny courtyard, a candle flickering on the table, French café music playing softly in the background, it was romantic and intimate, making Briony wonder where the evening might end.
Dessert was a meringue nest filled with raspberries and cream. ‘I didn’t make the nests, but I did fill them and put the cream on,’ Elliot said, laughing as he placed them on the table.
After the desserts were eaten, Elliot suggested coffee indoors and Briony cleared the table whilst he organised the coffee. It was all very normal, friendly activity until Elliot caught Briony by the hand as she closed the door of the dishwasher and gently pulled her into his arms.
‘I can’t wait any longer to kiss you.’
Coffee was forgotten for several minutes as Briony responded to Elliot’s kisses.
It was the quacking noise coming from Elliot’s mobile on the work surface next to them that drew them apart. ‘I have to answer it, that’s the alert for the practice. I’m not on call tonight, but something may have come up.’
Elliot reached out and picked up the phone.
‘Hi, Julian. Is there a problem?’
As he listened, his facial expression changed and he gave a sigh. ‘It was expected but still sad. Thanks for letting me know. See you in the morning.’
Elliot put his arms around Briony again.
‘Julian wanted to let us know that Doug passed away an hour or so ago.’
42
May began to go by in a whirl for Briony. As the days lengthened and the sun shone, the temperature started to rise and her life settled into a routine of being Lucy’s Girl Friday two days every week and organising everything she needed to get done for the brocante on the other five days. Amongst other things, she did remember to find a suitable piece of wood and prepared it for Holly to signwrite the brocante name across it. One Tuesday morning when she went up to do some gîte admin, she took the wood with her and left it with Holly.
She’d been working in the office for sometime before a quieter-than-normal Lucy joined her.
‘Are you okay?’ Briony asked.
‘The summer season is about to kick off and there is so much to do. Menopausal brain fog seems to have taken me over. And for some reason I’m also missing the girls more than usual. Easter seems such a long time ago and I’m not sure when they’ll be home again. I should be used to them living away by now, we’ve been empty nesters for so long, but…’ Lucy shrugged.
‘Maybe it’s something to do with being in a different country to your children? Rather than just empty nest syndrome?’ Briony said.
Lucy looked at her. ‘You could be right. I hadn’t thought of that. I can’t just pop into town to see them, meet up for a coffee. It all has to be booked, put in the diary.’
‘Would you like me to do more of the admin? Take some of the pressure off you, maybe even give you time to fly over and surprise them?’ Briony asked. ‘Or maybe I could give you a hand in the house on another day?’
‘That’s sweet of you, but no. You’ve got enough on your Girl Friday plate, plus setting up the brocante. I’ll do some baking; that always cheers me up.’ Lucy smiled at Briony. ‘How are you? Looking happier than when I first met you, that’s for sure. I wonder if that’s down to the French air or someone in particular? My brother-in-law is a changed man too, which I suspect is down to you.’ She looked at Briony with a questioning look.
Briony felt herself blush. ‘I am much happier than when I first arrived, it has to be said. I confess Elliot has a lot to do with that.’
‘Good. Right, I’ll leave you to the spreadsheets and go bake a cake. Tea and a slice before you leave later, okay?’
* * *
It was another two hours before Briony went down to the kitchen for the promised cup of tea. Adam was there enjoying a mug of tea and a large slice of lemon drizzle cake. He looked up at her with a smile.
‘Has your mum told you that she has made me a very happy man? No? I helped her and Yann unpack the car after their garden-visit spree. Jeannie took the opportunity to tell me I’m losing money by not having thepépinièreopen at regular times and not having someone there to help customers. Gave me a proper telling-off.’
‘That’s Mum,’ Briony said, waiting to hear what else Jeannie had said.
