Page 32 of The Riviera House Swap
‘Thank you,’ the woman stubbed her cigarette out on the step and lay the stump neatly at the corner of the concrete, evidentlywith the intention of throwing it in the bin when it had cooled. ‘I am sorry to be a bother for you.’
‘It’s fine,’ Nina said, opening the door and gesturing the woman in and wondering quite how the invitation had come about.
Ten minutes later, they were installed on the cream sofas, Nina slightly worried at the state of the woman’s boots and the fact they were drinking rich black coffee, but too polite to object. Surely Jean-Luc’s sister would know the house rules he usually lived by?
‘So, we should start again,’ the woman said. She stuck out a hand. ‘I’m Sabine, sister of the useless Jean-Luc, who told me I could come anytime for a break, but did not tell me he was leaving the country.’
Nina laughed in spite of herself. ‘I’m Nina,’ she said, giving Sabine’s cool hand a quick shake. ‘We’re doing a…’ she lapsed into English, ‘house swap?’
‘Oh, so he is in your house?’ Sabine said, clearly familiar with the English expression. ‘And you have his?’
‘That’s right.’
‘For how long?’
‘A month.’
‘Merde,’ Sabine said again. ‘I’m sorry to have troubled you. I will sleep in the van and then I will go tomorrow. Or perhaps, as you say, I can stay with my other brother, Antoine. But he lives in a very small apartment,’ she mused.
Was she hinting that Nina should offer her a bed for the night?
‘Yes,’ she said, quickly. ‘Happy to have the van on the drive for a night.’ The last thing she wanted was for her solitude to be interrupted – this was meant to be her moment to find herself again, carve out a little space for herself.
‘Of course, it may seem a little odd to the neighbours to have me stay there,’ Sabine continued, as if simply musing aloud.
‘I’m sure they won’t mind,’ Nina said, firmly.
‘Yes. You are right. And perhaps it is for the best. I am not sure you are the kind of person I could share a space with.’
Nina found herself bristling. ‘What do you mean?’ she said, affronted.
‘Oh, but do not take it the wrong way. You are a little uptight? A stressed person? And I am relaxed; I like to take things easier. You would probably be very difficult to stay with.’ Sabine smiled as if sympathising with Nina; it must be hard to be such an awkward, fussy person.
‘Not at all!’ Nina said. ‘I’m relaxed! I’m chilled! I’m not uptight!’ She realised she had sat up straight and raised herself up to say this and tried to relax her posture more. ‘I don’t mind people staying with me.’
‘You don’t?’ Sabine said, looking at her craftily. ‘Well, if you are sure?’
‘What?’
‘Yes. I will take your invitation to stay. If you are sure. I am sure Jean-Luc would approve,’ Sabine said. ‘Thank you.’
‘But…’
‘I will get my bags.’ Sabine said, standing up and placing her cup on the coffee table. ‘Perhaps you can help? I have jewels in the van – I make things with silver – and I do not want them to get stolen.’
An hour on, the living room was filled with debris from the van, and the pair were sitting down to another coffee that somehow Nina had found herself offering and making for Sabine.
‘Thank you for letting me stay,’ Sabine said. ‘I will not be more than perhaps a week or two?’
‘I thought you said overnight…?’
‘Oh yes, a few nights,’ Sabine said, as if agreeing with Nina. ‘Just a few or seven perhaps, or…’ she trailed off. ‘It is kind of you. You are truly a kind person.’
Am I? thought Nina.
‘And I am sorry – because I should have called Jean-Luc before I came. But he is normally here; he is not like me. I am never still. I like to take a risk, to do things, like a shot to the head.’
‘Like a what?’
