Page 92 of The Riviera House Swap
Nina
Gurgle, at the moment. I’m starving!
Sal
Well, we want constant updates. And PICTURES please!
Bess
And what about the gorgeous Antoine?
Nina
Well, it does feel as if maybe something’s there. But there’s no rush. I’ll be back at Cagnes-sur-Mer before Christmas so…
Bess
If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.
Nina
Exactly.
The rain had thankfully stopped by the time she had finished packing and she stood in the mild air, waiting for her lift to arrive.
Sabine’s original plan had been to reach Geneva on the first day, then spend a few days exploring. But in fact, she’d only made it as far as Andorra – just an hour and a half down the coast. ‘It was so beautiful,’ she explained. ‘I thought I would stay for one or maybe two nights. It will be easy for you to catch up with me.’
She’d offered to come back to collect Nina, but Nina hadn’t had the heart to let her drive back yet again at her behest, to cut her travels even shorter. ‘I’ll take a bus, or a train or something,’ she’d told her friend. ‘How hard can it be?’
Then Antoine had offered her a lift. ‘I have the afternoon now,’ he’d said. ‘There is not much point to be the boss if you cannot take some time. And we can spend some of the evening in Andorra with Sabine – it will be lovely, I think.’
She’d smiled and agreed.
Now, standing on the edge of the pavement, she heard a tiny, tinny noise in the distance. It sounded very much like… but ofcourse, it couldn’t be. She strained a little, hoping that the sound would increase as the vehicle neared her, turn into the low growl of the truck she’d assumed he’d be using. Because nobody would think they should travel 100km on a small electric bike, would they?
Her answer came moments later when Antoine rounded the corner on his tiny bike. He pulled up alongside her, his eyes widening at the sight of her suitcase at her feet.
‘Um, I don’t think that’s going to fit on the back of your bike,’ she said with a grimace.
Antoine threw back his head and laughed. ‘I love my bike, but even I do not want to sit on it for 100 km!’ he said. ‘I’m on the way to collect my van; it’s parked around the corner. I was going to take you with me, but I think I will come back with the van – you do not travel light, I see!’
‘Oh, phew!’ she said, laughing too.
‘But I have brought a helmet for you, just in case,’ he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. ‘I hope eventually you might come to love the bike too. And I’m bringing her to Andorra, so perhaps we can ride a little there?’
‘Well, maybe,’ she said.
He disappeared again and a few moments later returned in his van, pulling close to her on the kerb and jumping out. He took her suitcase to the back, and as he opened the doors. she saw the bike, with his black helmet on one handlebar and a white, neat helmet on the other. Especially for her.
She smiled. ‘Thanks,’ she said and he met her look.
‘If you like it, it’s not too late to ride all the way?’ he suggested, with a grin.
‘I think we’ll stick to the van.’
Once they were in the van, Antoine stuck to a scenic route. There was little traffic, and the weather behaved itself soalthough she felt a little jittery and excited, she’d taken in the views, tried to relax.
The two-hour journey passed quickly; they’d break out in conversation from time to time, but sometimes just sit in silence, taking in the view, lost in their own thoughts. It was nice to feel so comfortable.
