Flick couldn’t ever imagine Matthew being happy in the wilds of Brittany. He’d love all the video and film shoot opportunities but he’d hate all the stuff in between, including the need to mingle with her fellow artists. Moreover, this part of France would be far too quiet for him. She could already hear his complaints about the lack of nightlife or nearby shopping centres. He’d never get to grips with Sunday being a day of rest, it would be the five and a half day shopping week that Matthew found sacrilegious.But that was the old Matthew,thought Flick. Surely the new Matthew would do everything in his power to make her happy?
“Then there’s Nate to think about,” Brenda said.
Just hearing his name made Flick feel all warm and fuzzy again. But she couldn’t have met a man so contrary to her husband if she’d tried. She wondered if that’s why she liked him as much as she did. Had Matthew hurt her so much that her subconscious thought his opposite number would be a safer bet? Whatever the reason, she couldn’t deny she had feelings for Nate. The physical attraction alone was driving her crazy.
But it was more than that. Despite his early aloofness, Nate had shown himself to be a good man. Not only did they have lots in common, he accepted her for being her, he’d never trivialised her ambitions to paint and run an art school the way Matthew had done. To the point that on the rare occasion she’d allowed her mind to run away with itself, she hadn’t just hoped she and Nate would develop an intimate relationship, she’d envisaged the possibility of a professional connection too.
But she was married.
She sighed at her predicament. Maybe she should just bag them both off? That would certainly make life simpler.
“Do you think word’s got out yet?” Brenda asked.
“About what?”
“Matthew being here. I mean he only has tell one of the locals who he is and they’ll all know. This is a small town and in small towns there’s always gossip.”
Being the subject of tittle-tattle was something Flick knew all about. She took another intake of breath and loudly exhaled. “I hope not.”
35
Nate switched off his chainsaw and taking off his ear defenders stood back to admire his latest creation. Even without features, he knew the tall faceless angel smiled back at him. With long flowing hair, she wore a floor length gown and her wings were the shape of a giant heart. Nate had never had a muse before and as he examined the simplicity of the piece her influence was obvious. This work had a modern feel that wilfully contrasted with the more ornate, traditional style he usually fashioned and liking what he saw, his smile turned to a grin as an image of Flick sprang to mind.
Just the thought of her made his insides giddy and he couldn’t wait for the weekend to come around so he could see her again.The weekend, he thought, his need to do things right continuing to feel strange.
His mind drifted back to the party. After their kiss it would have been so easy to invite her back to his for the night. God knows he’d wanted to. But instead, he’d stayed just long enough to show his support for the event and to ask her out on their all-important date. Nate laughed at himself. “A bloody date, for goodness sake. When did you become such a gentleman?”
He didn’t know where this need to be all proper had stemmed from. Maybe it was because they’d both been hurt in the past. Maybe it was because he felt what they’d started was special. He just knew he wanted to get to know Flick, both inside and outside of the bedroom. He tingled with excitement, it was a prospect he relished. All he had to do was figure out where to take her, which wasn’t exactly easy in a sleepy little town like theirs.
Nate’s stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn’t yet eaten lunch. Checking his watch, it was clear he’d been so engrossed in his work that the hours had flown by and as he put his chainsaw to one side, he supposed Rufus would also be ready for a walk. He brushed himself down and a huge cloud of sawdust began swirling around him. The downside of his art, he considered, as he wafted the millions of tiny orange specks away. However, as he continued to look at his angel and smiled again, on this occasion having dust in every orifice seemed worth it.
Nate had a spring in his step as he made his way round to the front of the house, something he hadn’t experienced in what seemed a very long time. Finally, life seemed to be looking up and it was all thanks to Flick. He never thought he’d say it, but thinking about recent events he even felt grateful towards Brenda for having blackmailed him. Were it not for the video shoot, Flick would probably be back in the UK and he’d be sat here, not just pining, but surrounded by architects, builders, and whatever noisy machinery these people needed when turning a beautiful building into a block of flats. And then there was Matthew, a man who without even knowing it, had done him the biggest favour of all. Although after all Flick’s heartache, Nate would never openly admit that.
As Nate let himself inside, Rufus jumped up and down, his tail wagging, as he raced to greet his master.
“What do you think, boy?” Nate reached down to give the dog a fuss. “Is it going to be a happy ever after?” He watched Rufus’s tail speed up, wagging faster and faster. “Me too,” he replied, taking this to mean a big fat yes.
Ready for something to eat, Nate straightened himself back up and headed for the cupboards. “So, what do you fancy?” The ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ nursery rhyme suddenly played out in his head once he saw how bare the shelves within were. And opening the fridge door, that fared no better. “Looks like we’re dining out,” Nate informed his dog. “Come on, boy,” he said before grabbing his van keys.
The drive into town was both pleasant and quick and the lack of tourists around meant he easily found a parking space once he got there. Climbing out of the van, he smiled. The place was dead; a bad situation for local businesses, he realised, but an excellent one for him. On quiet days like this he could walk with his head held a little higher and he could lower his guard slightly. Oh yes, Nate loved the current time of year.
He was still smiling when he and Rufus entered Café Ange. “Bonjour,” Nate said, spotting Pete in his rightful place behind the bar.
Pete, elbows on the counter and resting his chin in his hands, looked up. “Is it?” he asked, signalling to the empty room before him. “Because me and my till don’t think so.”
“Nate,” Jess said, breezing in from out back. “Lovely to see you.”
“At least one of you seems happy,” Nate said.
“Oh, don’t mind him.” Jess kissed both his cheeks. “He’s always this miserable.” She clasped her hands in anticipation. “Now, what can we do for you?”
“You can start by feeding me. And Rufus. We’re starving.”
“Quick,” Pete said to his wife, “rustle him something up thenhecan tell you how much you’re wasting your talent. You might listen to him and we can start earning some money again.” He turned to Nate. “The feedback she got the other night and she still doesn’t think she’s good enough to turn this place into a restaurant.”
Nate looked at Jess, opening his mouth ready to tell her that he agreed with her husband, that he thought she should do more with her culinary skills. Not that he got the chance, Jess made sure of that.
“Not you too,” she said, and sighing at the mere suggestion she turned, continuing to shake her head as she retreated back into the kitchen.
