Chapter 21
Lunch was delicious: bread, paté, fruit, quiches, salads.
They sat outside, gazing towards the beach, enjoying the sharp sea air.
There were ten diners – Bastien and Gemma had joined them, with Macey Roux and Bastien’s mother, Gisele.
The wine was flowing and Fliss, newly changed into a summer dress, was refilling everyone’s glasses.
‘Isn’t this glorious?’ she said.
‘Just what’s needed after a swim,’ Théo grinned.
‘I put artichokes in the quiche,’ Joel explained. ‘And a dash of honey to bring out the flavour of the Bleu d’Auvergne cheese.’
‘You’re a genius,’ Shirl said, her eyes shining with affection.
‘He is.’ Gemma was watching Macey push fistfuls into her little mouth.
Gisele played with her salad. ‘I was wondering about the wedding cake.’ She looked around nervously. ‘I want to make it.’
‘Gemma and I don’t want to give you extra work, Maman.’ Bastien wrapped an arm around his mother.
‘No, it’s tradition. I’ll make a tower of croquembouche,’ Gisele replied. She glanced at Manu, as if seeking his approval. Maxine had noticed her do that several times.
‘Théo and I will take you into Chapellin to buy the ingredients,’ Manu offered and Théo nodded vigorously.
‘It would be our pleasure.’
‘I’d like that,’ Gisele murmured.
‘Are you getting married soon?’ Maxine asked.
‘At the end of the month.’ Bastien took Gemma’s hand and they exchanged a look of pure affection.
‘I’ve got a visa, and I need a residence permit.
We both want to settle here,’ Gemma explained.
‘I’m going to work extra hours in the boulangerie.
Gisele wants to spend more time making specialist cakes…
Bastien has his yoga and the painting and decorating business.
We want to buy our own place.’ Gemma met her mother’s eyes.
‘Being able to live in one country will be so nice.’
‘Joel and I move between Somerset and Brittany for the same reasons. But it’s all right for us. We close Le Shack down for winter, and we’re getting extra help in.’ Shirl glanced at Joel. ‘We want to start taking time off.’
‘But I’m always glad to cook,’ Joel protested.
‘You should marry Joel and live here,’ Fliss chirped, reaching for her glass. ‘As for me, I’ve sold my English house. I have money in the bank, time on my hands – I can go wherever I want. I can’t stay at Manu and Théo’s forever.’
‘You’re helping us to renovate,’ Théo said kindly. ‘We need you.’
‘Yes, but after that, I could go to Paris for a month – I could travel.’ Fliss turned to Maxine. ‘What would you do if you were me? You’re a woman of the world, Max.’
Maxine didn’t stop to think. ‘I’d do what made me happy.’
‘Being here in Plouvannec makes me happy,’ Fliss said, raising a glass.
Everyone chorused, ‘Santé,’ and ‘Yec’hed mat!’
‘Brittany’s perfect for us,’ Gemma said, hauling Macey on her knee as the toddler made a lurch for her mother’s wine glass. Gemma handed her a cup of water and Macey threw it on the floor in disgust. Shirl picked it up.
‘I’ve travelled to many places, but I’m at home here,’ Joel said slowly.
‘I’m ready to retire here too, and now Papa has gone…’ Théo was quiet for a moment. ‘Being in Paris isn’t for me any more. I’m ready to be a contented old Breton.’
Maxine understood how he felt. There was such a close community in Plouvannec, so much warmth and support.
She’d been accepted very quickly, thanks to Fliss and Shirl and the kindness of their friends, and being in their company gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling she was starting to appreciate more than she’d thought.
She noticed Gisele meet Théo’s eyes, then Manu’s.
A smile passed between them. They must have known each other for a long time.
It warmed her heart to see a group of people who were so easy in each other’s company.
Maxine thought briefly of the evenings she had shared with Russell, and with Terry and Jo.
There hadn’t been the same feeling of each moment being so special.
In fact there had always been a sense – now she thought about it – of the chemistry not being quite right.
Maxine looked up. Manu was speaking to her.
‘Where do you feel happiest, Max?’
‘I don’t know.’ She forced a grin. ‘I’m in the process of finding out.’ She glanced at their inquisitive faces and thought she’d come clean. ‘I retired from my job last month. Then I found my partner had slept with one of my best friends and…’
‘You threw him out. Quite right too,’ Fliss said.
‘He had it coming,’ Gemma agreed.
‘My mother would have called him a samfie man – a dishonest cheat,’ Shirl said.
‘A woman I met recently said he was a waste man,’ Maxine remembered.
‘He was. I know the type,’ Gemma said, then she squeezed Bastien’s hand affectionately.
‘He didn’t deserve you.’ Fliss folded her arms. ‘Find a French man, darling.’
Théo laughed. ‘Fliss believes French men think of sex all the time.’
‘Whereas we think about cooking everything in butter,’ Joel joked.
‘We care about what really matters.’ Manu’s eyes shone. ‘Friends, family, good times. That’s what life is about.’
‘D’accord,’ Gisele murmured.
‘I agree,’ Bastien lifted Macey from Gemma. The little one was almost asleep now.
Fliss frowned. A thought had come to her. ‘Why didn’t J-F come to lunch? I asked him.’
‘He said he had clients,’ Théo said.
‘But he closes at lunchtime,’ Manu said.
‘I bet he’s got a secret liaison.’ Fliss laughed. Then she was serious. ‘No, I think sometimes things get a bit too much for him.’
‘He has a broken heart,’ Théo added.
‘A broken heart can mend a little with good food and good company,’ Joel said.
‘Do you like him, Max?’ Fliss asked.
‘He’s nice.’ Maxine hoped she wasn’t blushing. ‘He’s quite a character.’
‘He is,’ Fliss said. ‘He’s intelligent, well read, well-travelled – and he can be great fun.’
‘He eats here a lot. And drinks, too.’ Joel glanced at Maxine with a look that suggested he would say no more. He must have seen her stagger home with J-F that evening.
‘We should spend more time with him,’ Manu said. ‘He shouldn’t be alone so often.’
‘He clearly likes spending time with you, Max,’ Fliss said.
‘Mmm.’ Maxine felt the familiar shudder of embarrassment.
She picked up her phone and pretended to check for messages – there were several from Gráinne, Jo, other friends, and one from Russell, which she deleted immediately.
She thumbed an answer to Gráinne so that she could avoid the conversation.
She didn’t want to remember the drunken evening with J-F. The best plan was to try to forget it.
No, she wouldn’t worry about it again. She was among friends. Friends who didn’t judge her.
‘Is everything OK?’ Manu was waiting for her to finish texting. ‘Would you like more wine?’
‘No, thanks.’ Maxine pushed her empty plate away. ‘Lunch was wonderful. Thank you, Joel. But I should go back to the cottage,’ she said quickly. ‘I’ve got a few things to do.’
‘We need to go to the supermarket and stock up,’ Shirl told Joel.
‘And this little one needs her bed.’ Bastien hugged Macey Roux.
Théo stood up. ‘Come to Rose Falaise for lunch.’
‘And come to Le Shack again,’ Joel said.
‘I’d love to.’ Maxine turned to go. ‘Thanks. I had a great time.’
‘Me too.’ Manu took her hand. ‘It was nice having you as a rowing partner. We’ll meet soon.’
‘We will.’ Maxine thought he was going to kiss her cheek and she pulled back.
She was at it again, romanticising. An embrace would have been normal. A simple gesture of goodbye, the French way. She pulled herself together, threw her arms around him and pecked his cheek.
‘Thanks, Manu – it’s been a lovely day.’
Maxine spent the afternoon sunbathing in the garden.
She had been reading a book, about Queen Elizabeth I.
It had been fascinating, all about Elizabeth eating candied violets that rotted her teeth, spending her childhood under the supervision of her stepmother, Katherine Parr – but the sun had warmed her eyelids and relaxed her thoughts and Maxine drifted into a sleep that felt like being cocooned in a hammock.
When she woke, the air was cool. She padded barefoot into the house and put the kettle on. Her mood had lifted considerably today. Canoeing had been fun. She felt welcome. She had new friends.
Fliss was great to spend time with, full of mischief. Shirl was a calming influence, clearly in love with Joel. Shirl’s family were lovely. Théo was on the verge of retirement and ready to enjoy his free time. And Manu was nice.
Maxine couldn’t think of a better word. A thoroughly nice man. And that was all he was.
She glanced at the clock. It was almost seven.
She wasn’t really hungry, but it would fill the time to make something small to eat for supper and have an early night.
There was a dull thud outside the front door.
For a moment, Maxine wondered if it had been the wind from the sea, but the afternoon had been calm.
She listened harder, but there was no sound now.
Her feet still bare, she hurried across the cool flagstones and pulled the door open but there was no one there.
She glanced down and saw the flower on the step. It was apricot-coloured, a single rose, perfect petals, a long stem without thorns.
Someone had cut it and placed it deliberately.
Maxine picked it up and held it against her cheek. The petals were soft as skin; the light fragrance filled her nose.
Who could have left it there?