Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at my half-packed suitcase. My insides felt like lead as I slowly folded my clothes. I had to shake it off. This was what I wanted—so why did it feel so terrible?
The truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. When I’d first arrived in Provence, inheriting this aging estate had seemed like a cosmic joke. Now, the thought of leaving felt like... well, like leaving a part of myself behind.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Colette standing in the doorway.
“Oh! You startled me.”
“Sorry. I did knock, but you seemed... elsewhere?”
I sighed. “A lot on my mind.”
“I can imagine. I wanted to give you something.” She took my hand and pressed something cool and metallic into my palm.
I looked down to see a delicate silver locket, its surface etched with intricate grapevine patterns.
“This was your grandmother’s. When you were born, Pascal gave it to your mother. But—well, when she left with you, she gave it back. She said she didn’t feel right keeping it. We all agree you should have it now.”
"But Colette, I couldn't possibly—"
"Nonsense," she said firmly, closing my fingers around the locket. “I told Félicité, and she fervently agreed. We all want you to have a little something from this place. Until you come back.” She winked.
The lump in my throat threatened to choke me as I fumbled with the clasp, finally managing to secure it around my neck. The weight of it against my skin felt right, like it had always been meant to rest there.
Colette pulled me into a tight embrace, the scent of lavender and home-cooked meals enveloping me. When she pulled away, her eyes were misty, mirroring my own.
“I’m so glad you came here,” she said, touching my cheek.
As I watched her walk away, I found myself frozen in place, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions coursing through me. I shook them off and finished packing the last of my things. I set my suitcase by the door and counted to ten. In French, for good measure.
A knock at the door startled me again.
"Elodie?" It was Remi's voice, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
I opened the door. He looked annoyingly composed. His eyes, though, told a different story—there was a storm brewing behind that calm fa?ade.
"Hi," I said, aiming for casual and missing by a mile.
"Hi," he echoed, then fell silent. We stood there, the air thick with words unsaid. “Can we talk?"
“Um, sure. Come in.”
Remi cleared his throat. "I just wanted to... that is, I thought we should..."
"Yeah?" I prompted, my heart thundering in my chest.
He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I'd come to recognize as a sign of frustration. "Merde," he muttered, then looked at me with such intensity I nearly took a step back. "Elodie, are you sure about this? Leaving?"
The question hung between us, heavy with possibility. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Was I sure? The responsible, sensible part of me screamed yes. But there was another voice, growing louder by the second, that whispered of missed opportunities and roads not taken.
"I..." I began, but the words stuck in my throat.
Remi took a step closer. "Because if you're not—if there's any part of you that wants to stay—"
His hand reached out, hesitating just shy of touching my cheek. I found myself leaning into it, my eyes fluttering closed at the contact.
"Remi," I breathed, not sure if it was a question or a plea.
The moment stretched, taut as a wire. I could feel the heat of his body, hear the quickening of his breath. All it would take was one step, one word, to bridge the gap between us.
But before either of us could move, a crash from downstairs shattered the moment. We jumped apart like guilty teenagers, the spell broken.
I shook my head. “In another life, Remi. This would be everything. But I just—I just can’t right now.”
He smiled tightly. “I figured. But I at least wanted to say goodbye in private. Without those idiots gawking.” He playfully nodded toward the door.
I laughed. “I’m glad you did.”
We stood in silence for a moment. Then he stepped into me, slipping his arms around me and crashing his lips into mine. I let myself fall into him.
He pulled away too soon and gently brushed my cheek. “I’m glad I got to know you, Elodie.”
“Me too,” I whispered.
“I’ll leave you to it then.”
He lingered for a moment longer, looking like he wanted to say more. But in the end, he just nodded and turned away.