Chapter 31
Maxine and Jo stood in the kitchen, face to face. Jo said, ‘I hope you have a spare room, but I’ll sleep on the couch, I’m so desperate. You don’t mind me staying, Max?’
‘Not at all.’ Maxine filled two cups with teabags and boiling water. While the tea was brewing, she placed the pretty wild flowers in a jar of water. ‘You didn’t see who delivered these?’
‘I didn’t. Do you have an admirer?’ Jo reached for the tea. ‘Can I make myself something to eat? I’m starving.’
‘I’ll do it. How long were you sitting outside?’
‘Ages. Since five. I texted you, but I expect you were busy. And yes, I got your address from Terry. He wasn’t happy about it, but I told him I had to see you.’
Maxine opened the fridge. ‘There’s a restaurant just down the beach – Le Shack. You could’ve eaten there.’
‘I didn’t know if it was any good.’
‘It is.’ Maxine dumped a plate of bread and cheese in front of Jo and watched her dive in. She was clearly ravenous.
‘How have you managed by yourself, Max?’ Jo asked between mouthfuls. ‘I mean – how do you meet people? It must be terrifying, going it alone.’
‘You just have to get out there.’
‘All my friends were mine and Terry’s. Now I’ve messed that up.’ Jo pulled a sad face. ‘Terry won’t have anything to do with me. I went round to your flat the day before yesterday and it didn’t go well. At least I got your address.’
‘Terry’s still hurt,’ Maxine said.
‘I know – I’ve been an idiot.’
She felt sorry for Jo. Maxine took a breath. Thank goodness Russell had given up messaging her. She was grateful for that.
‘How stupid was I?’ Tears welled in Jo’s eyes.
‘Russ and I were near the end of our time together.’ Maxine put a hand on Jo’s shoulder and added kindly, ‘You and I are friends.’
‘How can you be so nice after everything I did?’
‘You told Russell where to go when he came round again. That’s a good start.’
‘He made me feel cheap.’ Jo began to cry new tears.
‘You were vulnerable. He took advantage.’
‘I’m furious with myself.’
‘Jo, you’re worth more—’
‘I’ve never thought I was good enough.’
‘Really?’
‘As a kid, my sister was the special one, the favourite. I married Terry and he truly loved me. But sometimes he’s just so clever and it makes me feel dim.’
‘Everyone feels like that sometimes, Jo. Terry’s incredibly well read.’
‘And I fall back on the only thing I’ve got.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I used to be pretty. But am I still all right?’ Jo was still devouring the bread and cheese.
‘All right?’ Maxine tried not to laugh.
‘You know – still attractive.’
‘You don’t need someone like Russell to tell you that.’
‘It’s different for you, Max – you’re confident and strong.’
‘So are you, Jo.’ Maxine wanted to shake her, but she hugged her instead.
‘That’s why I came. To apologise.’ Jo put her plate down and blew her nose on a tissue. ‘I wanted to visit you, so you’d know I’m sorry. And to be your friend again. I’ll pay rent.’
‘Jo—’
‘You don’t want me to leave, do you, Max?’ More tears came. ‘I rang you up and you let me tell you all my problems even though it was my fault and it was your holiday and I was intruding on your time.’
‘Jo, stop it. Look.’ Maxine took her firmly by the shoulders. ‘You’re welcome to stay. On one condition.’
‘Anything.’
‘Have a proper holiday. Concentrate on yourself. Not Russ. Not even Terry. Take this opportunity to think about Jo Clayton.’
‘I’m not sure I like her—’
‘Then learn to like her.’ Maxine heard the strength in her own voice. ‘Go out. Enjoy the beach. Shopping. We could go canoeing.’ The idea of introducing Jo to J-F wasn’t a smart one. Maxine tried again. ‘Horse-riding.’
‘Just me and you?’
Maxine thought of Fliss, the Barron brothers, Béa. She wanted to spend time with them too. And she’d promised J-F that she’d see him again. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow. Finish your food and I’ll show you your room.’
‘Max – thank you so much – honestly.’ Jo was near to tears again.
‘You know the conditions,’ Maxine said firmly. ‘You need to value yourself.’ She imagined Jo flirting with Théo and Manu. It would be a disaster. ‘And enjoy Plouvannec. Go up and put your stuff in your room, have a shower and get a good night’s sleep. Oh, and – Jo?’
‘What?’
‘Do you speak French? You’ll need to, a bit.’
‘I worked as an au pair in Paris when I was twenty-one,’ Jo said. She looked relaxed for the first time. ‘I’m a bit rusty, but I’m not bad.’
‘I didn’t know you lived in Paris,’ Maxine said.
‘Oh, I loved it. The children I looked after were horrible – but you should have seen their father. He walked about in his boxers all the time. He definitely had a thing for me.’
‘Right. It’s definitely time for bed.’ Maxine watched as Jo picked up two cases and her coat. It was going to be tough having her around. Maxine had just settled to the idea of a relaxing holiday; she’d made new friends.
She hoped things wouldn’t change too much now she had a visitor.
Then an idea came to her. It wasn’t a bad plan at all. She picked up her phone and texted the best ally she had. She knew who would sort Jo out.
The next morning, Maxine peeped into the spare room.
Jo was still asleep, curled in the spare bed, thumb in her mouth like a baby.
Her cases were flung open, clothes strewn everywhere.
Even in sleep, she was frowning. Maxine felt sorry for her.
She understood. Not so long ago, she’d drunk too much, slept with J-F.
She’d flirted with Manu, given him nine out of ten.
She was over all that now. It had been a wobbly phase. She was adjusting. Recuperating. But she wouldn’t judge herself harshly. Or Jo.
Loneliness distorted people’s perspective. Maxine remembered Jo had been fun to be with, bubbly, without a care. She and Terry had been close and adorably devoted. These were Jo’s challenging times now – she needed support to bounce back, just as Maxine had.
As J-F was doing.
Maxine went downstairs to make coffee. Breakfast outside would be perfect in the warm sunshine.
She opened the door to the garden to allow the light to flood in and her eyes fell on the little bunch of wildflowers in the jar.
She wondered who had left them, and the rose, and the posy.
She could rule J-F out – she’d been with him.
There was a quiet rap at the front door. Fliss was right on time. Maxine pulled open the door wide and there she was, wearing a blue silk dress, her arms full of bread and pastries, fresh fruit. ‘Where is she?’
‘Still asleep.’
‘Right.’ Fliss marched inside and plonked her purchases on the table. ‘Are we eating in the garden?’
‘We are.’
‘Great, then we have a plan. Jo needs the Fliss Beaumont five-star induction to the French way of life, and then she won’t look back.’
Maxine carried a cafetière of coffee out to the little table. Fliss arranged bread and croissants in a bowl, then piled early strawberries and cherries in a dish. They collected three plates, cups and cutlery.
A small voice said, ‘Is breakfast ready?’ Jo was standing in the kitchen in pink pyjamas. She noticed Fliss. ‘Hello.’
‘Hello – I’m Fliss.’ Fliss shook her hand. ‘You must be the man-eater who slept with Max’s bloke.’
‘What?’ Jo caught her breath, astonished. Maxine, who was standing in the garden, just beyond the door, and had heard everything, caught her breath too.
‘You’re Jo. I know about you and Russell, that horrible little man who can’t keep it in his pants.’ Fliss burst out laughing. ‘Well, now we’ve got that out of the way, I’m pleased to meet you. Welcome to Plouvannec. Let’s have breakfast. I picked up fresh croissants.’
Jo was still speechless.
Maxine said, ‘I’ve made coffee, Jo. Shall we eat?’
‘Clotilde’s Cottage belongs to me, but I’m renting it to Max while I live up the road with two gorgeous hunks – neither of whom I sleep with, by the way.
’ Fliss wrapped an arm around Jo. ‘So welcome to France, Jo. Help yourself to the spare room. It’ll be good to hang out.
And I’m doing a bit of decorating up at Rose Falaise – you’re welcome to come over.
You must meet my friend Shirl too, who runs Le Shack with her partner. Joel’s the most brilliant chef.’
‘Oh?’ Jo allowed herself to be led to the garden and Fliss sat her down at the table. A cup of coffee was pushed into her hand and a plate with a warm croissant was placed under her nose.
‘So – you’re on holiday?’ Fliss took a huge slurp of coffee. ‘What are your plans?’
‘Plans?’ Jo looked like a rabbit in headlights.
‘We could go shopping in Chapellin,’ Fliss said. ‘There’s Le Phare. They have fab dresses – I often negotiate discounts there.’
Jo stared at Fliss’s silk dress and stammered, ‘I love what you’re wearing.’
‘Oh, this old thing?’ Fliss laughed. ‘Paris silk. It cost the earth. It used to be for special occasions, but I looked at it this morning and I thought, the sun’s shining – why the hell not?
I’ve given up caring. I’m too long in the tooth to bother about what other people think.
If it suits my mood, I just chuck it on. ’
‘It’s beautiful.’ Jo sipped her coffee.
‘So, now you’re here on holiday I thought I’d give you a bit of an introduction to our way of life.’ Fliss beamed. ‘We go to the beach most days, drink wine, eat good food, have conversations with gorgeous men. How does that sound?’
‘It sounds wonderful.’ Jo looked to Maxine for help.
‘Oh, Max is one of us now. Do you know, Jo?’ Fliss gulped more coffee. ‘You remind me a bit of myself. When I first arrived, all I could think of was, will people like me? And was there a good-looking man I could throw myself at? Well, this is Plouvannec, darling, so new rules apply.’
‘What new rules?’ Jo nibbled her croissant nervously.
‘First of all, we eat together, we laugh together. Of course, in the old days, I’d hoped we’d all sleep together too. I’d see a new man and I’d be thinking how good he’d look under my duvet. But do you know, since I’ve been here, it’s hardly occurred to me.’
Maxine looked from Fliss to Jo and back to Fliss. Jo’s mouth was wide open.
‘I do hope you’ll have a lovely time, darling.
Why don’t we all meet at the beach around eleven?
I’ll get Théo and Manu to come, and Joel can take an hour off.
We can have a game of football. Shirl can bring Gemma – she’s a great little striker – and we’ll play men against women.
Then tonight, we’ll eat at Le Shack. Joel’s doing Coquilles Saint-Jacques. How does that sound?’
‘Amazing.’
‘Then it’s decided. And tomorrow you and Max can come up to Rose Falaise for lunch and afterwards we can discuss decorating Maurice’s old study. Bring overalls – or I’ll get Manu to lend you some of his.’ She met Jo’s eyes. ‘And there’ll be wine.’
‘It sounds great.’
‘The coffee pot needs refilling – leave it with me. More coffee, Max?’ Fliss asked.
‘Yes, please.’
‘Right, I’ll do it. Then maybe we can go to the market and fit in a bit of horse-riding afterwards.’ Fliss stood up. ‘And, Jo, darling – do tuck into the cherries. I brought them specially. Because life’s a bowl of them. I won’t be a jiffy.’
Fliss sashayed back into the kitchen and Jo turned to Maxine. ‘She’s amazing.’
‘She is.’
‘I was a bit scared of her at first—’
‘Fliss is an inspiration,’ Maxine said.
‘Is everyone here like that?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Maxine squeezed her hand. ‘Just join in with the crowd, Jo. Welcome to Brittany.’