Chapter 39
39
‘ORDER!’
Ziggy covers her ears. ‘Coco, you’re getting just as bad as Henri. I’m sure you’ve pierced my eardrum, and that’s not going to be ideal on the long-haul flight to Australia tomorrow.’
‘That’s rather dramatic, don’t you think?’ Agnes shakes her head. ‘Have you got your holiday reads sorted?’
‘I’ve got a few but I need more. Send me your recs.’
Agnes rolls her eyes dramatically. ‘Why must everything be done by a handheld device? We’re sitting directly opposite you. Can we not just use our voices?’
‘OK, OK, don’t get worked up, Agnes. I don’t want you having another heart attack on account of me.’ Ziggy shakes her head. These two always amuse me. Love to hate each other, but really, they just enjoy the bantering.
‘We’re just waiting on Henri,’ Lucy says, toying with her phone. ‘He said he’d be here soon.’
I remind members about the drinks and nibbles while we wait. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Valérie shooting quick glances my way. What’s that about ?
When she does it again, I spin to face her and raise my eyebrows. She yelps and ducks. I’m about to ask what she’s playing at when Henri walks in with a bunch of flowers.
‘Ooooh,’ says Lucy. ‘No guesses who they’re for.’
‘Me?’ Agnes says hopefully.
Ziggy scrunches up her face. ‘I mean, he can be a gentleman and all but I don’t think they’re for you somehow.’
‘ Bonsoir , Henri.’ I give him a welcoming smile.
‘ Bonsoir , everyone. Sorry I’m late. Can I borrow Coco for a few minutes?’
Agnes slumps. ‘They’re for Coco, I should have known.’
‘Sure, take your time,’ Lucy says.
Henri takes me gently by the arm. Is this connected to Valérie ducking for cover? ‘I had this idea and I hope it wasn’t too presumptuous…’
‘OK?’ He stands in front of a door I’ve never seen before because there was a bookshelf in front of it. ‘Where did the books go?’ How did I not notice? Is that what Valérie’s been doing while I’ve been setting up the book club?
‘Ready?’
I nod.
He pushes open the door to reveal a light-filled room with a small desk and lamp. It’s spic and span. ‘What’s this?’
‘Your new office. Valérie and I thought you might like to work among the books but still have your own dedicated space.’
He hands me the flowers. ‘To brighten up the room until you put your personal touch on it.’
I go to the desk and open the drawers. They’re filled with stationery, everything I might need to get started in my new little freelance business. ‘I stocked up for you. And I’ve arranged for an ergonomic chair, because you just look like an ergometric chair person to me. ’
I laugh and turn to him, touched that he’s done all of this for me. We stand close, our faces within kissing distance, and just as I go to lean in, the book club come barrelling in, demanding to know what the big secret is.