Coming to, Flick willed herself back to sleep. She’d lain awake for hours the night before, mulling things over and over in her head, and could have done with a few extra zeds. Her brain was having none of it though and she opened her eyes. Yawning, the crisp white bedding and brand-new duvet felt luxurious compared to the sleeping bag she usually woke up in. And no longer zipped into a confined space, she stretched her limbs out in all directions, simply because she could.
She thought about the day ahead. With as much decorating as she could afford done and Dee on with finding that all-important buyer, it felt strange not having a long to-do list of jobs to tackle. But at least she could relax and have the holiday this trip to France was meant to be. She threw back the covers. “Starting today.”
Getting out of bed, she put on her dressing gown and approached the window. Looking out and down the long driveway, she still couldn’t believe that all this was hers, albeit, only in the short term. She felt a pang of envy that someone other than her would be waking up to this every morning. Not that there was any point in feeling envious, she knew that. She just had to make the most of the time that she had left.
Heading downstairs to the kitchen, as she made her entrance, Brenda was busy texting again. Going off her mother’s gravitas, she was, no doubt, giving her friends an update, letting them know she’d be back in the UK sooner rather than later. Flick watched her click the send button, her mum’s serious expression continuing well after placing her phone down on the table. “Everything okay?” Flick asked.
“Sorry?”
Flick nodded to the discarded mobile. “Is everything okay?”
Brenda shook herself out of her reverie. “Fine. Why?”
Flick joined her at the table, concerned. Her mum might be saying all the right things about her decision to sell the chateau, but that didn’t mean she was one hundred per cent behind it. Flick knew she was only going along with things for her sake, but what choice did either of them have? “I know what’s happening is difficult for you. I’m not finding it particularly easy myself. But there isn’t much else we can do, Mum.”
Her mother seemed distracted again and Flick’s concern grew. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Can you excuse me for a minute? I just need to make a quick call.”
She watched her mum get up and leave the room.
Within seconds, she was talking to someone and Flick strained her ears, trying to tune in to the conversation. The thick chateau walls muffled the sound, however, and she couldn’t make out the words. Although thanks to the tone, she had a pretty good idea her mum would be on the phone to Linda, her go-to person in times of need.
Having known each other for years, the two of them were like sisters, there for each other through good and bad. Linda had been a tower of strength when Flick’s dad died, although it wasn’t one sided, her mother had been there for Linda during her times of need too.That’s what friends do, thought Flick, realising that apart from her mum, she herself had no one; a fact made more than clear upon Matthew’s disappearance.
Their friends turned out to be his friends, all of whom happily followed his lead and vanished, never to be seen again. On a good day, Flick tried to forgive them. After all, what do you say to a jilted bride? Her supposed friends were probably as embarrassed as she was by the whole affair. But still, it would have been nice if at least one of them had hung around to help her pick up the pieces.
Brenda’s voice suddenly got louder, grabbing Flick’s attention once more. Still not clear enough for her to understand, she couldn’t help but wonder what on earth the two of them were discussing. She just hoped that whatever the issue, it wasn’t as serious as it sounded.
The conversation ended and Flick tried to appear indifferent as her mum re-entered the room. “Everything all right?”
“What? Yes, of course.” The woman was obviously lying.
“And Linda?”
“Linda’s fine. Why wouldn’t she be?”
Flick decided not to pry any further. Knowing her mum, she’d share when she was ready. “Just asking,” she said instead.
“Anyway, getting back to earlier, what was it you were saying?” Brenda asked, retaking her seat.
“I was telling you that I understand your reservations about me selling this place.”
Brenda reached over and patted Flick’s hand. “You don’t have to explain, although I can’t deny I wish things were different.”
Flick followed her mother’s gaze as it moved to the stone mantel above the fire. She wasn’t surprised to see her father’s casket of ashes back to sitting there. Following Dee’s visit, no matter how many times Flick put it away, her mother kept getting it back out again.
“Do you think if you had the money you’d decide differently?” Brenda asked, returning her attention to her daughter.
“But I don’t have the money.”
“What if you did though?”
Flick thought for a moment, recalling Dee’s comment about the chateau making a great art school. The suggestion had sparked not just Flick’s interest but her artistic passion; a passion that she’d long since buried – something else she could blame Matthew for. She didn’t think it had been his intention to dampen her ambition, but she certainly couldn’t say he’d been encouraging. Rather, he’d made her artistic endeavours seem trivial and unworthy.
Naturally, his inability to support her dreams had gradually eroded her own desire to succeed, something she thought she’d never get back. Thanks to this place though, it was as if a flame had been rekindled and as she looked around the room, she knew she had the perfect environment in which to fulfil any potential she might have. “If I had the money then I suppose I’d at least consider staying on.” She knew it was a pipe dream, of course. “But as things stand…”
Besides, she had more important things to think about. Her immediate future for one.
