Chapter 9
9
Agnes searched the crowds waiting to greet friends and family in the Arrivals Hall at Nice airport, anxiously looking for Theo’s familiar face. He wasn’t difficult to spot, at six feet three inches he often stood head and shoulders above any crowd even if those shoulders were a little bent these days. She spotted him almost instantly, standing apart from the crowd with a dog sitting patiently at his feet. A smile broke over both their faces as the two of them saw each other and Agnes immediately relaxed. Being with Theo was always good, they shared so much life history since meeting all those years ago.
Once all the normal hugs and kisses were out of the way Theo introduced Cerise the dog, whom Zazz was already petting having dropped down onto her knees.
‘She was Oscar’s dog so I’ve looked after her since the accident,’ Theo said, a rueful smile on his face. ‘Impossible to let her go to the refuge. She’s not a problem which given her sad history is remarkable, but I never have a dog before.’
‘She seems taken with Zazz,’ Francine said, watching as Cerise, her tail switching frantically, tried to climb on to Zazz’s knees. ‘What breed is she? And what’s her sad history?’
‘Tibetan terrier,’ Theo answered. ‘Oscar found her about nine months ago on the autoroute one night coming home from Nice. No collar, no chip.’
‘She’s adorable,’ Zazz said. ‘I suspect she will be missing Oscar.’ She gave Cerise another stroke before standing up. ‘Shall I take her,’ and she held out her hand for the lead.
‘ Bien . Let us find the car and get you all back to Cannes,’ Theo said, taking charge of the trolley with three cases and Zazz’s rucksack loaded on it.
The sweet, almost medicinal, camphor smell of the tall eucalyptus trees surrounding the airport made Agnes catch her breath with delight. So many years since she’d inhaled that particular, once familiar, smell. Walking across to the car under a clear blue sky the heat in late April was already stifling in its intensity. Zazz helped Theo load the cases into the car as Agnes settled herself in the front passenger seat and Francine sat in the back. As Zazz swung her rucksack in on top of her case, Theo asked quietly. ‘You tell them about what you did? And the other thing you plan?’
Zazz shook her head. ‘ Non .’ Quickly adding as Theo looked at her crossly. ‘But I will soon, promise.’
‘If you do not, then I will. The news will give them unhappiness but they deserve to know it.’ And he closed the car door with barely controlled force.
Leaving the airport, Theo drove them along the bord de mer which was far busier than either Francine or Agnes remembered it being. The Mediterranean glistening on their left though was reassuringly the same; the beaches dotted with parasols and windbreakers but not as crowded as in July and August.
Forty minutes later, as they passed The Palm Court onto the beginning of the Croisette in Cannes, Theo looked in his rear-view mirror at Francine and Zazz before glancing across at Agnes sitting next to him in the front passenger seat.
‘Agnes, you remember my house in the old town down by the harbour, I think you all like to stay with me there rather than in,’ he hesitated. ‘Rather than in Oscar’s house at the top of Le Suquet.’
Agnes nodded gratefully. ‘ Merci . I would prefer to stay with you.’
Francine, knowing how much her maman had been dreading going back to the house she’d shared all those years ago with Oscar, breathed a sigh of relief. It meant she didn’t have to stay there either. She opened her mouth to accept Theo’s offer but Zazz was already speaking.
‘If nobody minds, I’d rather like to stay in Oscar’s house,’ Zazz said, cuddling Cerise who had climbed onto her lap and refused to budge. ‘Happy to take this one with me too.’
Silence followed her words. Theo, about to say that was fine, caught a glimpse of Francine’s face in the mirror and stayed silent.
Francine stared at her daughter before saying. ‘Thanks for the offer, Theo, but I’ll go to Oscar’s with Zazz.’
‘I know it will be hard for you to stay in the house so please don’t bother on my behalf,’ Zazz protested. ‘I don’t need company.’
‘I know but I’m still staying in that house with you.’
‘Whatever,’ Zazz said before shrugging and turning to look out of the window.
‘I have an idea,’ Theo said breaking the uncomfortable silence that descended. ‘We park the car and go to my house, maybe a cup of coffee or have a glass of wine and then the three of us will walk up the back way to Oscar’s. Agnes can have a rest if she needs it before we go out for dinner this evening.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ a tight-lipped Francine muttered.
Ten minutes later, after parking the car down on the harbour, Theo led them the two or three hundred metres or so across the main road and into a labyrinth of narrow roads lined with tall old houses built in elevated positions overlooking the old harbour before stopping in front of a bright yellow door at the end of a terrace.
‘ Bienvenue chez moi ,’ Theo said, unlocking the door and ushering them in. The downstairs of the old fisherman’s cottage had been converted and modernised sympathetically into an open-plan living and kitchen area. French doors at the end opened onto an outdoor area where a well-established, thick-trunked bougainvillea, its magenta bracts vivid in the sunshine, could be seen. Terracotta tiles on the floor, cream walls with blue and yellow Provencal splashback tiles in the kitchen area above the sink and the marble worktops. Cream curtains with a green olive print hung beneath the worktops hiding shelves and basket containers, with an under-the-counter fridge on the end. The range-type cooker was positioned near the window. A breakfast bar with more curtained shelves on the kitchen side separated the kitchen from the remaining large comfortable dining and living area.
A table with four chairs, a squishy three-seater settee and a small coffee table stood in front of the inset log burner in the living area. A highly polished black Steinway upright piano was placed in front of one wall. Bookshelves packed tightly with books and the occasional ornament and framed photo, were fixed to every conceivable free wall space.
‘This is lovely,’ Agnes said, looking around appreciatively. ‘You renovated it beautifully. I remember it was in terrible condition when you bought it. It’s the kind of house I always imagined you living in.’
‘ Merci . I am happy here,’ Theo smiled at her.
‘I don’t see your saxophone?’ Agnes said, looking around.
‘I only play the piano these days. I find I’m quite in demand in the summer for the old-fashioned afternoon tea dances that are gaining in popularity. Bien ! Wine, tea or coffee?’
‘Tea please,’ Agnes and Francine said together.
‘I’d prefer coffee,’ Zazz said. ‘But I’ll have the same as everyone else.’
‘Nespresso okay?’ Theo pointed to his machine and Zazz moved towards it, nodding happily.
Her coffee pod quickly pressed through the machine, Zazz opened the door and took her cup out into the yard while Theo carried Agnes’s case upstairs and showed her the room he thought she’d prefer. Francine organised three teas and brought them out and placed them on the wrought-iron table before sinking onto one of the chairs. Zazz sipped her coffee, hoping Agnes and Theo wouldn’t be too long.
‘Why are you so intent on staying in Oscar’s house?’ Francine asked quietly.
Zazz smothered a sigh. She knew she had to talk to her mother soon but she didn’t want to start that conversation here when they would be interrupted – and possibly joined – by Agnes and Theo. ‘Mum, there are a couple of things I need to tell you but can we talk later please? When we’re alone.’
Francine stared at Zazz for several seconds before giving her a quick nod in agreement as the others joined them.