“How was your flight?” asked Laura.
“Good, thanks.”
Cherry’s attention was taken by her surroundings and she didn’t really engage with Laura’s polite conversation. She continued to gaze around the kitchen and was struck by a painting on the wall above her, a vivid oil color of russet-roofed buildings around a sandy-colored square, with yachts on an azure sea in the background.
“What a beautiful painting!” she exclaimed.
“Isn’t it?” said Laura. “A local artist.”
“Is it of Saint-Tropez?”
“Yes. Of course, there are stacks of painters down in the village, all excellent, but this one, he’s one of the best. We’ve got a few more dotted around the house.”
“My absolute favorite is on the landing,” said Daniel, coming in behind them and putting his arm around Cherry.“‘Les Pins.’”
“‘The Pines.’ Sounds wonderful.”
Daniel looked up at the picture. “It’s fantastic, isn’t it? I’ve always loved this artist. She’s got good taste, eh, Mum? These are worth quite a bit now. He’s become pretty famous. I love them. One day, I might buy a painting for myself, if there’s ever one available. Most of the time, they have sold stickers on them.”
“Would you like to see outside?” asked Laura.
Cherry followed her hostess through some large glass doors onto the terrace and caught her breath. Beyond the large, gleaming pool was the blue of the Mediterranean, a heart-soaring expanse that fused into the hazy sky. Lured by what she could see, Cherry walked toward the garden wall, dotted with red geraniums and leaned over to get a better look. Far below her lay the tops of the russet roofs of Saint-Tropez, which she’d just been admiring in the painting. And the yachts! There were so many of them. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
“Bit of a rubbish view, eh?” said Daniel, joining her.
Cherry blinked. Speechless, she burst out laughing.
“We can go and explore later,” Laura said enthusiastically. “Show you around. And we’ve got an invitation from Isabella for dinner.”
“Mum’s oldest friend,” explained Daniel. “Is Brigitte here?”
“Yes,” said Laura. “Brigitte is Isabella’s daughter,” she added for Cherry.
Cherry smiled politely.
“Hope you’ve got lots of stamina,” said Laura. “I’ve got loads of ideas for your stay. Thought you might like to go and take a look at some of the vineyards, it’s so beautiful up in the hills. And, of course, a little tour of the village here—it’s classified as one of France’s‘plus beau villages, ’and we can go to the beach, obviously, and I thought maybe you’d like to take a drive up the coast to Cannes? Anyway, there’s loads to do, you can just go at your pace.”
Cherry smiled along, but she inwardly prayed that she didn’t have to share her entire weekend with her boyfriend’s mother.
* * *
The first event was dinner at Isabella’s villa down in Saint-Tropez itself. Cherry had just had enough time to shower and change and spent a stressful ten minutes wondering what she should put on. Did the moneyed dress up? Or did they just do expensive casual? Cherry didn’t know and eventually settled on a fairly simple—and cheap—cotton dress. She couldn’t afford much of a vacation wardrobe and the dress was something she’d bought when she was in Australia. She hoped it didn’t look too faded.
Cherry noticed Isabella’s eyes went to her first as she opened her wooden front door, even though she was busy helloing those she knew.
“Oh, you darling boy,” said Isabella, embracing him tightly. “I don’t see you for months and then you spring this”—she turned to Cherry and beamed—“lovely surprise on me.” She wasn’t unfriendly, but her gaze was most definitely one of assessment, of ego-laden curiosity, thought Cherry.
“Brigitte’s going to be devastated, you know. . . .”
Daniel laughed. “I think she’s got better taste.”
“Nonsense. Still, what’s done is done, and what a wonderful couple you make! And I, for one, am delighted to meet you, Cherry.”
“Likewise,” said Cherry, although she mistrusted the joviallament. She didn’t really want to be meeting a load of strangers that included a girl who, it seemed, might hold a candle for Daniel. She was already feeling tired at having to fake smiles. And who was this girl, anyway? Was she some kind of ex? Cherry felt vulnerable not knowing.
“So, shall we come in, Izzy?” asked Laura, raising a stern eyebrow.
Daniel held Cherry’s hand as they were led into the garden, where she was greeted by another breathtaking view. A curved infinity pool hugged the edge of the hillside, beyond which was the sea, its azure blue broken up every now and then with spray from the tufts of gentle waves. Lying by the pool were two svelte, perfectly tanned girls.
