Chapter 20
The next few days felt settled, and Léo was able to concentrate on developing recipes for the book, which he knew was coming along well. Juliet seemed more relaxed about Sindhu, who had been around more but had not offered any further career advice. Toby had called a few more times, but, to his knowledge, Juliet had simply cut off the calls and deleted texts without reading them. But his feelings of contentment were not to last.
It was a Wednesday evening when he received the email. He was working late in the kitchen, Juliet was upstairs trying out some sketches for the book and the rest of the family was at the house or, in Frankie’s case, out and about who knew where. He was pleased with the progress he had made and decided to check his email while he waited for the oven-baked risotto he was trialling. Working his way through an inbox mostly clogged up with junk, he saw a message from his friend Mathias, and clicked on it, eager to hear his news. But the news was not what he expected.
Dearest Léo,
I hope this finds you well and still enjoying England. I am sorry to contact you with more news of Veronique, but I do not know if you see the French gossip magazines and I think probably not. It is only fair that you know what is being said about you, so that you can respond if you wish…
Before moving on to other matters, Mathias had provided a link to the same magazine in which Léo had previously read about Veronique’s exploits in Le Chateau d’Amour. This time, there was a large photograph of her at home, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, wearing black clothes, minimal yet skilful make-up and looking extremely pale, if undeniably chic. There were a further three inset pictures. One showed Gilbert, the man she had grown close to on the television programme, looking muscly and brooding, the second was of herself looking drunk and distraught, her mascara streaking her cheeks and the third was an ambulance. The headline screamed: ‘Desperate and Depressed: Suicidal Veronique Recovers to Share Her Story.’ Léo took a deep breath and read on.
After finishing in first place on Le Chateau d’Amour, and leaving with not only the trophy but a new boyfriend, you might have thought that Veronique’s future happiness was assured. But, shockingly, she tells us that not only was she not as joyful as she appeared, in fact she was at her lowest point.
“I was so happy to win the show, and happy with Gilbert inside the Chateau, but when we left and the party had finished, everything started going wrong. I felt so miserable inside. I seemed like the girl who had everything, but I had still lost my husband, my babies and, worst of all, my trust in anyone.”
When asked why this trust had been eroded, she at first demurs, clearly unwilling to name names, but soon the tears rise again in her eyes and she confesses, “It is because of what happened with Léo. He made me feel…’ Her voice drops to a whisper. ‘He made me feel so very bad, so worthless, so expendable. I could not believe that Gilbert could be so different, and I started testing him, trying to prove he really was the wonderful man he appeared to be, a man so different from Léo.”
He knew he would have to finish reading the article, but Léo put down the iPad for a moment. The unfairness of what Veronique was saying made him feel as though he was having poison poured down his throat. Tears rose in his eyes as her words sank in, and he let them fall as he steeled himself to continue reading.
She wipes away tears as she continues:
“I didn’t treat Gilbert well, always asking him where he was and looking through his phone and his pockets. It is not surprising that he grew tired of this behaviour and left me. I was in despair and then – and then…”
She stumbles over her words as she speaks, clearly struggling to talk about the next terrible event that takes place. But after sipping some mineral water, she carries on bravely:
“It was then that I lost all hope and decided my life was not worth living. I remember sitting on my bed, weeping, and taking tablet after tablet…and the next thing I recall is waking up in hospital.”
His face contorting with anguish, Léo clicked to read the second page of the article, which featured a large photograph of Veronique and Gilbert on the sofa, with him also clad in black and looking strained but noble and protective. The article went on:
At this point, Veronique is joined by Gilbert, who wraps his arms around her as she sobs into his shoulder. After a few moments, the tears subside, and he checks that she is able to continue. She nods.
“It was a stupid thing to do, but you must understand that I felt I had no choice, that I had burnt all my bridges. Thankfully, Gilbert found me in time, and I am fully recovered – in more ways than one.”
They look deeply into each other’s eyes, then share a tender kiss.
“Gilbert and I are stronger than ever. I have shaken off Léo’s iron hold on me, and Gilbert and I are ready to move forward as lovers, and…”
She pauses and looks shyly at her man, who nods gently.
“…and as parents. Our baby is due soon after Christmas.”
Their radiant smiles say it all: a happy ending at last to a long, and at times insalubrious, story. Léo Brodeur was not available for comment.
Léo laid the iPad down gently and switched off the screen. He sat for a moment, gazing at the shining utensils hanging on the kitchen wall, his mind a muddle of images and feelings that might never consolidate into coherence. It was only the sound of the oven alarm that roused him, and he went to retrieve the risotto. As he went through the motions, barely noticing the glorious garlicky smell that rose from the dish, one thought floated up above the maelstrom: Juliet. How he loved her! But mon Dieu, how toxic would this love end up being to her? With no bad intentions at all, he had apparently driven Veronique first to a sordid reality TV show, which then catapulted her into the arms of this dubious Gilbert who, because of him, she had been unable to trust, which ended in her attempt to take her own life. What worse havoc could he wreak on the life of Juliet? What damage had he already done, unwittingly, unintentionally? Remembering the last time he had read one of these articles, and the way he had spiralled into despair, he drew his eyes away from the half-full bottle of red wine on the counter and instead picked up his phone.
‘Mathias? My friend, I’m so glad you answered. Is this a good time to talk?’
‘Of course, it’s good to hear from you, I miss you. You’ve received the email I sent?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m sorry to be the one to break these things to you, but I think it’s better that you know.’
‘It is, it is, but Mathias, how can she say such cruel and untrue things? Do people believe them? I’m still so very angry with myself for what’s happened.’
‘But these things aren’t your fault. You did your best, what more could you have done? You’re not a mind reader.’
‘I suppose not, but somehow, I feel I should have taken more care. And now I’ve met a wonderful woman, but I worry that she will be hurt by me as well, that – as with Veronique – I’ll unintentionally cause her pain.’
‘But how would you do that? I know you, you’re kind and sensitive. You have always been there for me and never behaved in any way that has done me harm. Quite the opposite.’
‘I’m worried that our relationship stops her from being in London, that it would be better there for her and for her career. She wasn’t sure about living here at Feywood again, her family home with all its memories and ghosts. Her father has a new relationship, and this worries Juliet, but I’m afraid that I’ve minimised her concerns and left her open to more pain and confusion. You see, I only wanted to help, but perhaps I can’t be trusted not to create a problem.’
‘But Juliet is an adult. She won’t stay if she doesn’t want to. Is it so hard to believe that she chooses to be with you for all the right reasons?’
Léo sighed deeply.
‘I don’t know. I don’t want to treat her as a child, that’s true. I’m so anxious that I will stop her being where she should be, with someone more suited to her.’
‘I don’t understand. Why shouldn’t that be you?’
‘Maybe it is, maybe not, but she has only recently left her life in London, her friends there, an ex…’
‘And what does Juliet say?’
‘She says she’s happy to have left, and certainly speaks poorly of the ex. I do trust her judgement, but I’m concerned that she says these things with such vehemence to make me feel more comfortable. I don’t want her to think she must keep me happy.’
‘I know it’s hard for you after all the lies Veronique has told, but you must trust Juliet – it’s the only way you will go forward. And you must trust yourself. You’re my friend, not some angel of darkness.’
This made Léo laugh.
‘Non, you are right. I will make sure it is all right, all of it.’
They spoke for a few minutes longer, before saying goodbye and arranging to speak again soon. Comforted by speaking to his friend, Léo dug a fork into the risotto and forced his mind back to the present, even though he knew that the worrying shadows still lingered.