Chapter 37
WhatsApp call over with, I stared at my phone, surprised my ears weren’t burning. I knew from their expressions that Joyce, Hattie and Alex weren’t buying my claim there was nothing between Theo and me. They were wrong though. My ill-timed nausea had made sure of that.
In need of a diversion, I clicked on TikTok to see if Mum had added another video and pleased that she had, crossed my fingers, hoping she was about to finally reveal her destination.
With things going from bad to worse by the day, all I wanted to do was get her home so I could put the sorry mess I was in behind me.
She smiled straight into the camera while Jackson made a fuss of Roma. The three of them had obviously squeezed in a little Christmas Eve shopping, as not only did Roma, sitting on Jackson’s knee staring adoringly up at him, look cleaner and fluffier; she sported a pink diamanté collar.
My head jerked and eyes narrowed as I spotted a bandage wrapped around Mum’s left wrist.
‘What can I say about today?’ Maeve asked.
You can start by telling us what you’ve done to yourself.
Maeve let out a long happy sigh. ‘Apart from the fact that it’s been absolutely wonderful.’
The carpus dressing told me that wasn’t quite true.
‘We have laughed, haven’t we, Jackson?’
Still a lad of few words, he grinned and nodded, while I wondered why he left all the talking to Mum. I let out a laugh, realising it was probably because he couldn’t get a word in edgeways.
‘And being honest, I’ve cried too,’ Maeve said. ‘Tears of joy, of course. Finally getting to meet Gisèle, I couldn’t help it. Although to be fair, neither could she.’
Mum’s wrist seemed to be bothering me more than it was Mum.
‘We were introduced to her lovely family, who were all so welcoming. Apologies if I mispronounce things but we met her son Raphael and his wife Aurélie. Their daughter Anna and her baby daughter Félicité. Yes, Gisèle is a great grandmother. How good is that?’ Maeve shook her head and smiled.
‘Not that you’d think it to look at her.
Not with her skin. We also met her great niece Eléa. A lovely girl, eh, Jackson?’
Mum had clearly hit a nerve and his cheeks reddening, Jackson put his head down.
‘Maeve, stop. She might see this.’
‘They got on so well I have the feeling the two of them will be pen friends like Gisèle and me. Except instead of letters, they’ll be communicating via that Insta thingy.’
Jackson’s blushes deepened. ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this.’
‘Doing what?’ Maeve gave him a mischievous grin. ‘Anyway, back to today. They certainly know how to celebrate here in France, don’t they?’
Like Theo and I, Mum and Jackson had obviously experienced le Réveillon de Noel.
‘We ate like kings. And the wine.’ Mum filled her cheeks with air and exhaled.
‘White, red, rosé, there was a different type for each course. Not that we got drunk.’ She put her hands up to clarify.
‘We only sipped and that was out of politeness. One, I don’t know the rules in France but by British standards, Jackson’s underage.
And two, I’m the boy’s guardian while we’re here.
A role I take very seriously, so no way was I going to overdo it. ’
Jackson sniggered and putting a hand up to his lips to hide his amusement, inadvertently let not just me but the whole world know their alcohol intake wasn’t quite as Mum described.
Either he’d managed to sneak in a couple of extra glasses behind her back or Mum had drunk more than she cared to admit.
Although two things could be true at the same time, I considered, which might explain the bandage Mum wasn’t talking about.
‘Another thing I wasn’t sure about were the oysters.
You like them, don’t you, Jackson? Then again, you would do, your dad’s a chef.
’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Rather than anything goes, I think I’m more of a visual eater.
Don’t worry, I wasn’t rude. Against my better judgement, I tried one.
’ She grimaced. ‘Although being honest, I did gag. I’d have much preferred a king prawn, but when in Rome and all that.
’ She flashed her viewers a look. ‘And before some of you race to your keyboards…’
Chuckling, I loved how Mum had got the measure of her trolls and wasn’t afraid to challenge them.
‘…yes, I know we’re in France.’
Where in France though, Mum?
‘We’re staying in a wonderful hotel. Run by a lovely young couple who couldn’t have been more helpful if they’d tried when I slipped.’
My ears pricked. When you what?
‘That’s how I did this.’ Maeve held up her bandaged wrist. ‘If you’re watching, Erin, please don’t go overreacting. It’s not broken. I simply put my hands out to break my fall and landed funny.’
My eyes widened. Well that’s all right then!
‘It isn’t even stopping us getting out and about. We’ve come up with a system whereby I’m in charge of steering and the foot pedals and Jackson here controls the gear stick.’
My jaw fell.
‘You’ve all heard the phrase teamwork makes the dream work.’
Please tell me you didn’t just say that.
‘And we’re having such fun with it.’ Maeve gave Roma a fuss with her uninjured hand. ‘I’m so glad we made this trip. Arles…’
Mum withdrew her hand and unhappy at the sudden lack of attention, Roma barked, interrupting her mid-sentence.
Convinced she’d just revealed their location, I held my breath, in the hopes Mum would repeat herself.
‘Where was I? Oh yes. I was just saying how wonderful it is here.’
Irritated by the lack of confirmation, I paused Mum’s video and rewound it a little.
‘I’m so glad we made this trip. Arles…’
I hit stop. ‘Finally!’ I jumped to my feet ready to tell Theo we, at last, knew where Mum and Jackson had landed. The bedroom door flew open before I reached it and Theo made his exit.
‘Arles,’ I said as he almost bumped into me.
‘Sorry, what?’
‘That’s where they are. Mum just said so in her video.
’ I typed her and Jackson’s whereabouts into Google Maps.
‘It’s in Provence.’ I held up the screen for Theo to take a look.
‘Looks like we still have a fair drive, but if we set off now, we’ll get there this afternoon.
’ I stuffed my phone into my pocket and hastened into the bedroom to start packing.
‘Before we go…’ Theo put a hand on my arm to stop me.
My stomach dropped and my embarrassment returned. ‘If this is about last night, I get it. We both had too much to drink, it didn’t mean anything… et cetera, et cetera.’
Theo appeared hurt. ‘Is that how you see it?’
His question surprised me. ‘Is that how you see it?’
‘No,’ Theo replied. ‘It’s not.’ He gave me a tentative smile as he produced a gift from behind his back. ‘Merry Christmas.’
I stared at the wrapped and ribboned gift box in his hand. Excited at having located Mum, I’d almost forgot it was Christmas Day. ‘Actually…’
Theo’s smile slipped.
‘Sorry.’ He pulled his hand back. ‘You’re right. It’s overstepping, I get it.’ He swapped the gift from one hand to the other as if not sure what to do with it. ‘I just thought who wants to wake up Christmas morning with nothing to open.’
‘No, it’s not that.’ Smiling, I went straight to my overnight bag and rummaging inside produced a present for him. ‘I was so wrapped up in my video call with Hattie and Joyce and then Mum’s update… Well anyway, it’s not much. More of a token. I picked it up from the supermarket the day we landed.’
Theo beamed and as we exchanged presents, he seemed genuinely chuffed I’d thought of him. ‘Thank you.’
We both continued to smile and lost for words, neither of us seemed able to look away from each other.
Our expressions turned serious and searching his face I wondered if Theo wanted me as much as I wanted him.
I took in his blue eyes, his chiselled jaw and his oh-so enticing lips.
Hungry for the man, I tossed his gift aside and lunged towards him.
Dropping my gift to him, Theo cupped my face and as our lips met, I couldn’t seem to get enough of the man. Taking off my sweater, I grabbed the bottom of his and while he pulled it upward and over his head, I frantically grappled with his jeans belt and zip.
Taking off his T-shirt, Theo paused. ‘Are you sure about this?’
In all my fifty years I’d never been so sure about anything. ‘Most definitely.’ I let out a squeal as Theo swiftly lifted me off my feet and laid me against the pillows.
With his face inches from mine, he looked into my eyes.
I smiled in anticipation. ‘What are we waiting for?’ I asked.