Christophe clapped his hand over his heart as if he was wounded to the core, but he was laughing.
A ripple of sound that made Fi catch her breath and turn away.
She walked towards the table set up on the terrace and laden with food. Theo, with some fairy bread in one hand and a handful of potato crisps in the other, was ducking under the tablecloth that reached the paving stones. The magic mushroom birthday cake with its single candle took centre stage, along with the pretty butterfly cupcakes they’d baked yesterday and the colourful plate of flower-shaped fairy bread. Some of the little posies of lily of the valley were in small vases to decorate the table, but the charcuterie board Laura had put together this morning had to take the prize for being the most spectacular offering.
There were several different cheeses, with slices of baguette to accompany them. There were folds of salami and paper-thin prosciutto and small bowls of olives and the baby French gherkins called cornichons. She could see bunches of grapes and tiny heritage tomatoes in shades of green and a red that was dark enough to be almost black, pâté with a crust of ground black pepper, and those crispy Italian breadsticks – what were they called?
Fi bit her lip, lifting her gaze as she tried to remember. Her glance caught Ellie walking back to the house without Bonnie in her arms, but the baby wasn’t in her father’s arms either.
Christophe was holding her. Looking down at the baby’s face and rocking her gently while he was nodding at something being said around him. Did he have a family of his own? He certainly looked as if he was more than comfortable with an infant in his arms. The shaft of longing that came from nowhere was sharp enough to be painful. Because she wished that things could be different? Thatshecould hold Bonnie like that…? Or was it more to do with the person who was holding the baby?
She dropped her gaze back to the table.
Ah…grissini… that’s what they were called.
The relief of remembering was out of all proportion to the importance of the snippet of information. Why did it even matter?
And why was Fi so fascinated by this collection of food when she didn’t feel remotely hungry?
The answer to more than one of those questions came as she heard another rumble of laughter from the men nearby.
Three men, but it was so easy to distinguish one voice from the rest, even though no words were being spoken.
Christophe’s voice.
His laughter.
How could nothing more than a sound feel so much like a physical touch?
What was more puzzling, however, was why, instinctively, she felt like stepping closer, instead of running away.
7
‘What a grand party it was… Well done, Laura. I don’t think I ever gave any of you girls a birthday party like that. You were lucky if I found the time to make a cake.’
‘That’s not true, Mam.’ Laura was sitting on the floor of La Maisonette’s living room playing with Lili. ‘You always made us a wonderful cake. And top hat treats. Oh…’ She tapped her forehead. ‘Why didn’t I think of making them? All you need are some marshmallows, chocolate and Smarties. They used to be my favourite party food.’
‘I’ll make them for you at our next party.’ Ellie was on the other end of the sofa to Jeannie, breastfeeding Bonnie. ‘Even if it’s mine.’ But then she sighed. ‘I’d better start planning for Bonnie’s first birthday though. The bar has been set far too high. What amIgoing to do? Find a unicorn to do pony rides?’
Fi came out of the kitchen to put a basket of bread on the table, beside plates loaded with ham and cheese. ‘You could put a sparkly horn on Marguerite or Coquelicot. I’m sure they’d be delighted to join in the fun and give rides to everyone.’
‘Do you know, we’ve never thought of letting Theo ride them? He’dlovethat.’
‘I could get a wee saddle and do some lead training with them while I’m here, if you like.’
‘Where would you go to find a saddle?’ Jeannie asked.
Fi shrugged. ‘I could ask Christophe. He’d know where the nearest saddlery or tack shop was.’
It was impossible to miss the glance that flicked between Laura and Ellie.
‘What did you find to talk about with him for so long yesterday?’ It sounded like Laura was deliberately keeping her tone casual. She wasn’t even looking at Fi as she reached to pick up Lili’s new stuffie. ‘Look, sweetheart. Donkey. Can you say “don-key”?’
‘Pa-pa,’ Lili said.
Fi joined in the laughter but she wasn’t thinking about the only word Lili knew so far as she turned to fetch the pepper grinder and jar of mustard.
No… she was remembering that long conversation. When she’d tried to slip quietly out of the group to go and pat Heidi but Christophe had followed her moments later.
