“Hello, you two,” Jess said, appearing to serve them. “How lovely to see you both.”
The customary round of cheek kissing began, something Flick still found strange, unlike her mum who continued to relish every second.
Jess’s face crumpled slightly as she stood back. “I promised I wouldn’t say anything, but I can’t believe you want to leave us.”
Brenda gave her a motherly smile. “Like I was saying only a moment ago…”
“There’s no point worrying over something that hasn’t happened yet,” Flick said, imitating her mother’s voice.
Jess laughed. “Sorry. That was unfair. Everyone knows how hard it must be for you, what with your dad and all that. I should have kept my mouth shut. Now what can I get you?”
“Two coffees, please.” Flick’s stomach rumbled again, much to her embarrassment and everyone else’s amusement, loud enough for them to hear.
“Do you have a microphone attached to that?” Brenda asked, nodding at Flick’s belly.
Flick flushed red. “Sorry,” she said to Jess. “We missed breakfast.”
Jess giggled, her laughter continuing as she headed back inside to get their drinks.
Along with her mum, Flick took a seat and as both of them fell quiet for a moment, she was just content to soak up the autumnal sunshine. Determined to make the most of it while she could, she knew she’d be confined to the indoors once they got back to rainy old England.
“How do you think it’s going?” Brenda asked.
Flick shrugged. “Dee said she’d phone once it’s over.” Flick checked the time, telling herself it was no surprise that there hadn’t been a call yet. There were, after all, three floors and rather a lot of rooms to get through. She wondered what the prospective buyer thought ofChateau D’Enchantement. Did it live up to its name for him too? Did he like the building’s architecture and original features as much as she? Of course he did. As far as Flick was concerned, he’d be mad not to. She felt a sudden resentment. Ridiculous considering she’d never even met the man, her only knowledge being that he had the cash to turn the chateau around while she didn’t. She sighed, consoling herself in the fact that it had at least been hers for a little while. “Thank you,” she suddenly said to her mum.
“For what?”
“For the chateau.” Flick might not be able to keep it, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t show her appreciation. She looked around. “And for all this. For showing me there’s light at the end of the tunnel after everything that’s happened.” She considered the existence she was going back to. The TV dinners for one, the lonely evenings, and the sleepless nights. Although to be fair, she did enjoy her job at the coffee shop. And they’d been really good about her having time off at short notice, insisting she take as much as she needed. “For showing me there’s another life waiting for me when I’m ready.” She suddenly laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Brenda asked.
“I was just thinking about work.”
“So, they know you’re going back soon?”
Flick nodded. “I rang them.”
“Did you tell them about the chateau?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“And they wanted to know everything about it. How old it is, how many rooms it’s got, exactly where in Brittany we are. Just like you, they think I’m barmy for not staying on.”
Brenda raised her eyebrows. “And that surprised you?”
“Not really.” Flick continued to smile. “That lot will say anything for a cheap holiday.”
“Here we are, ladies.”
Flick turned to see Pete appearing with their coffees. No sooner had he set them down when Jess arrived carrying two plates, one for Flick and one for her mum.
“What’s this? We didn’t order any food.” Flick looked down at a golden pastry parcel, next to a bed of rocket and cherry tomatoes. Not only did it look good, it smelt divine.
Jess happily handed over their cutlery. “Just a little something seeing as you missed breakfast. I hope you like it.”
“It seems a shame to break into it,” Brenda said, looking from her plate to her hosts.
