Chapter 8
8
Francine was in the kitchen on the phone giving Theo their travel details, as he’d insisted he would be at the airport to collect them, when Zazz arrived home. Francine smiled her welcome before finishing her conversation with Theo.
‘Are you sure about meeting us? We can easily get a taxi and save you the trouble.’ She smiled at something Theo said. ‘Okay, we’ll see you the day after tomorrow then, four o’clock at Nice airport. Thank you.’ Ending the call, she turned to hug Zazz.
‘Welcome home, darling. Big suitcase for a quick visit?’
Zazz returned the hug but ignored the question behind her words. ‘Great to be home. Dad around?’
‘It’s his afternoon for volunteering at the museum. He’ll be home in about an hour.’
‘How’s Granny coping with Oscar’s death?’
‘Difficult to say. She seems okay,’ Francine said. ‘Busy packing for our trip and hiding her true emotions away as usual.’
‘We’re good at doing that in this family,’ Zazz said and immediately wished she’d kept her mouth closed when her mother threw her a look.
‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’ she demanded.
Zazz shrugged. ‘Nothing in particular, it’s just the way we are as a family. I’ll take my stuff up to my room, and then find Granny to say hi. I’ll help you with dinner later if you like,’ and she quickly picked up her suitcase and rucksack and went upstairs before Francine could question her further.
Francine stayed where she was for a moment, wishing she knew what was bothering her daughter because there was definitely something going on, she’d not been her normal good-natured self for several months now. Maybe she’d suggest Agnes have a gentle probe to try and unearth what was wrong; she had always been able to coax Zazz’s worries out of her. The three of them spending time together in France would be a good opportunity to talk too. The meeting with the notaire was the reason for the visit but there would surely be time for some exploring and relaxing, a mini holiday, after they’d got the will business out of the way. She’d booked flexible tickets so they could stay on for as long as they needed or wanted.
Francine heard Zazz coming downstairs and going out to the terrace where Agnes was sitting reading and enjoying the sun. Standing by the kitchen window she saw Zazz hug and kiss her gran before sitting down with her. Agnes laid her book aside and Francine suppressed a sigh as she watched the two of them begin to chat animatedly.
When was the last time she and Zazz had sat down together like that and chatted? Not the last time she was home, or the time before. She forced her mind back and realised that since they’d left Bath and moved to Dartmouth, Zazz had only been home a handful of times and then only briefly. She hadn’t even managed a visit for her last birthday, just a short phone call, which had upset Francine at the time but she’d accepted the apology and the beautiful silk scarf Zazz had gifted her without commenting. After all Zazz was twenty-three now, an independent woman with a busy life, she was entitled to spend time away with her friends. Turning away from the window Francine determined that when they were in France she would make a concentrated effort to try and repair her and Zazz’s fractured mother-daughter relationship.
* * *
The evening before they left for France the four of them enjoyed a fish and chip supper that Edwin had insisted on treating them to. Zazz had volunteered to go and collect their food from their favourite takeaway and they ate sitting out on the garden terrace, albeit with their fleeces on, enjoying the cool evening air.
‘I’m glad you’re going with your mum and granny,’ Edwin said. ‘And that you didn’t have a problem getting time off work.’
Zazz briefly thought about telling everyone about giving her notice in but knowing that her mother would instantly bombard her with questions, decided against it. Instead she smiled at her dad. ‘I was due some leave,’ she said, which was true in a way. ‘Shame you’re not coming to France with us. It would have been our first family holiday in the South of France.’
‘Dad will be joining us later. If Oscar hadn’t died we wouldn’t be going. It’s not as if we’ve been planning a holiday down there,’ Francine said. ‘I suspect it’s going to be a difficult few days for Maman, and probably myself,’ she muttered under her breath.
She glanced at Edwin. ‘I know you said you had a few things scheduled to finish in the next week but you can change your mind and come with us instead of waiting until later.’
‘Let’s see how long it takes to sort things out,’ Edwin said easily. ‘Agnes has always told us how convoluted French bureaucracy can be. In the meantime I’m sure the three of you will have some time to relax and…’ he paused. ‘Make some happier memories for Agnes and yourself,’ he said, looking at Francine. He turned to Zazz. ‘Whilst you, young lady, can enjoy your first visit to the French Riviera.’
Zazz wriggled in her seat. To say she was beginning to feel uncomfortable was an understatement. She wasn’t exactly lying but she knew her dad could accuse her of lying by omission. She’d planned on coming home to tell them everything this week so why didn’t she just open her mouth and speak? Because she knew that her mother and grandmother were not going to take kindly to her news when she did pluck up the courage to tell them. No, best wait until they were in France and her secret plan of moving there was already partly implemented.