CHAPTER 26
‘Okay,’ I say, as we all gather on the terrace. The bakery van has just been and there are freshly baked baguettes, a pile of buttery croissants, an almond swirl for Graham, a chocolate croissant for Maria and another for little Louis, who is eating with Keith while Stephanie makes her deliveries.
‘So, what’s the plan?’ Ed asks.
‘We can’t have live music, but they didn’t say anything about recorded music. We still have the record player and Edith Piaf.’
‘We need to make sure l’expérience knows we’re not going anywhere,’ says Maria.
‘We’ve got a write-up on a blog!’ says Jen. And then her shoulders drop. ‘So have l’expérience. It says that both are great places to eat but for different reasons.’
‘Let’s open two nights a week, double our takings,’ says Maria. ‘More even!’
‘Different set menu on each night,’ says Jen.
‘How’s the harvest doing?’ I ask. I haven’t been in the field for a few days.
‘We’re nearly done,’ says Graham, who’s taken up the reins on getting the last of the lavender in with Samuel and a couple of the other men from the riverside clearing.
‘I say we give it a go, for a week, open every night,’ says Maria. ‘It’s our final week here.’
‘Show l’expérience we’re as busy as they are,’ says Ed.
There’s just one week left until Fabien comes home. Until the harvest is officially over.
‘I’m in!’ says Jen.
‘Me too!’ says Keith.
Ralph gives a bark and little Louis claps, raising his hand too, and everyone laughs.
‘One big push to show him we’re more popular than his fancy tasting menu,’ Jen says.
‘To see if he can be convinced to work with me, and put Henri’s back at the heart of the town. Just until Fabien comes home at the end of the week,’ I say.
‘Let’s do it!’