She looked up at him. Took a breath to hold back the tearsbefore she started to speak. “It’s my grandmother. She’s ill. Really ill. I was wondering if I could have some time . . . a few days to go and see her.”
“Of course!” exclaimed Neil, and she detected a sense of relief this wasn’t about woman troubles. “When do you need to go?”
“This Friday.” She saw him hesitate. “I know, Emily and Abigail go on holiday the same day . . . ,” she trailed off helplessly.
There was a millisecond’s pause while he struggled, before reassuring her. “It’s okay. We can get a temp in. How many days do you think . . . ?”
“I won’t stay long, just enough to see her. Only, she’s abroad . . . so I might need to factor in the travel.”
“Where is she?”
“France. I’ve already checked the flights, and if I leave Friday, I can be back Tuesday morning.”
“That’s fine. We’ll work it out here.”
Cherry exhaled with relief. “Thank you. I can’t tell you what this means to me. We’re very close.”
Neil nodded sympathetically. “I hope she’s okay. . . .”
Her eyes filled up. “Me too. It’s cancer. They’ve just discovered it and are assessing her for chemo.”
He looked as if he wished he’d never asked. “I’m so sorry.”
A tear ran down Cherry’s face and she wiped it away with a brave smile. “It just means the world to me to be able to go and see her, and I know she’d want to thank you too.”
He brushed her thanks away modestly. “Honestly, there’s no need.”
“Il est un merveilleux patron.”
“Sorry?”
“‘He is a wonderful boss.’” Cherry blew her nose. Smiled. “That’s what she would say.”
Neil smoothed his tie. “Well, if that’s what I can do to help, then . . .” He sucked his teeth, then stood, tilted his head sympathetically. “Do you need a minute?”
Cherry nodded gratefully. He put a hand on her shoulder and then turned to leave.“Bonne chance,”he said, and Cherry noddedagain. She waited until he left the room and then blew her nose loudly, just in case he was still within hearing distance. Paused. Listened. Nothing. She smiled. She was going to France! TheSouthof France! When the invitation had come, she’d been so excited, but knew that the two little cows in the office had already booked time off, and there was no way Neil would let her go away too. It wasn’t right. She’d never gotten an opportunity like this before. It wasn’t fair that she should have to turn Daniel down, just because those two had the money to book a fortnight in Ibiza.
She was going to the South of France! Where her boyfriend owned his own villa!Well, it was his parents’, but that was a small detail. It wouldn’t always be. She hadn’t even had to pay for the flight—Daniel had insisted, saying it was unfair for her to pay so much as the trip was so last-minute. She had picked her man well and she congratulated herself, hugging the information close for a moment longer, relishing it.
Then she stood, smoothed down her skirt, and affected a pose of brave serenity, before going back to her desk.
11
Friday, June 20
LAURA TWEAKED THE VASE OF FLOWERS IN DANIEL’S—WHAT WOULDbe Cherry and Daniel’s—bedroom. Provence was renowned for its early-summer blossoms, and the fields of poppies spilled out into the roads. She’d picked great bunches, along with honeysuckle-scented brilliant yellow broom. The bed was made with crispbroderie anglaisesheets and she looked at the final effect, pleased. There was food in the fridge and a bottle of wine chilling, ready for when they arrived in about, she looked at her watch, twenty minutes or so.
She moved around the villa, a typical Provençal-style house, checking that everything was tidy and welcoming. Finally satisfied, she went out onto the sunny terrace, from which she could see the whole of the Saint-Tropez peninsula. She gazed out at the gleaming white yachts, tiny dots in the distance, some moored, some gently drifting in the breeze. She felt different when she was here. The house in London was Howard’s; this was her escape and over the years it had been a place of refuge when things had gotten on top of her at home. Since she’d gone back to work, she only got here a few weeks a year; whenever she did, it was like coming back to an old friend. It was particularly gratifying to be here now because their neighbors in London had startedconstruction the day she left. They were embarking on their own basement extension and the excavator was deafening; vibrations were throbbing right through their house. The builders had already tripped a power cut and it had been a relief to get on the plane. It seemed the whole of Kensington was digging underground. A labyrinth of tunnels and vast chambers. Laura had visions of whole sections of London collapsing into one great big pit. A brief thought crossed her mind: How would Howard cope with the disruption? He hadn’t been able to come to France due to work commitments. The answer came just as quickly. She knew he wouldn’t be staying at the house; he’d be at Marianne’s.
She quickly brushed this painful thought away. For two weeks at least, she could escape everything, and Daniel, no doubt, was pleased to be coming here as well. She knew he had lots of studying to do and there wasn’t much chance of getting it done with the cacophony next door. Cherry would be with them until Monday night, and Laura had lots of plans for her visit. She really wanted to show her around and get to know her a bit. She was looking forward to making this trip special for her, wanted the villa to be a place she could relax too. Laura had an idea they might bond, become friendly. It would be nice.
Hearing a car on the gravel drive, she turned and went back through the house, opening the front door wide. Daniel had parked the rental car and was hauling out the luggage from the trunk. Laura opened her arms and went to hug Cherry. “Welcome! So glad you could get the time off!”
“Me too,” said Cherry.
“Come in. Are you tired? Do you need a drink?”
It was early evening and gloriously warm. Cherry looked up at the house. The shutters and windows were open and gauzy white cotton curtains were caught against window frames. She was already liking what she saw. She let herself be taken inside and fussed over. She took in the large, airy reception rooms, with their big, open fireplaces, and the French country-chic kitchen, with gleaming teak worktops. She accepted a glass of chilled sauvignon.
