Chapter 8
After breakfast the next morning, Mel decided there was enough food in the fridge for another few days so she didn’t need to do a supermarket shop. Today she would simply explore Antibes. She was about to set off when her mobile rang. Nadia.
‘I hope you’re settling in well. How’s the Croque? Behaving himself, I hope,’ Nadia said.
‘He’s lovely,’ Mel replied. ‘I’m about to take him out for a walk and explore Antibes.’
‘Look, I’m sorry to bother you on your first day, but I forgot to tell you about collecting a dress that Sky took into Antibes for me to be mended. It’s ready in a shop called Vintage Vignettes, just off the Place Nationale. I’m sure you’ll find it easily enough.’
‘OK. I’ll pick it up this morning on my walk,’ Mel said.
Croque Monsieur trotted happily at her side on his lead as she set off a few moments later.
Antibes was bustling with locals going about their daily lives and tourists making the most of a beautiful December day and enjoying the French Christmas atmosphere.
Mel wandered down through the spacious Place des Martyrs de la Resistance with its shops, cafés and Christmas trees towards Place Nationale and its bandstand and more cafés and shops around its perimeter.
An empty bistro table at one of the cafés was a perfect place, Mel decided, to stop for a coffee and do some people watching before searching for Vintage Vignettes. Croque Monsieur settled down at her feet as she ordered coffee.
As the waitress placed her cappuccino on the table, a young woman at the next table smiled at her. Mel returned the smile. ‘Bonjour,’ she said hesitantly.
‘Bonjour. May I stroke your dog?’
‘Of course.’
‘Is that an English accent?’
Mel nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Great. I’m American. Are you waiting for someone?’
‘No.’
‘I’m Evie Sampson,’ and she held out her hand, which a bemused Mel shook.
‘Melissa Knight.’
‘I’m so happy to meet you. I’m a little desperate for some company and a chance to chat. I’ve been here for about eight days now and everyone I meet is always coupled up. I was beginning to think I was the only single person in Antibes.’
Mel laughed and decided she liked this exuberant, fresh-faced girl who was young enough to be her daughter. ‘Why don’t you join me,’ and she gestured to the empty chair.
Evie stood up from petting the dog and moved over to the chair. Croque Monsieur raised his head to look at the two of them and stayed where he was.
‘Your dog is beautiful and so well behaved,’ Evie said.
‘Yes, he is, but he’s not mine. I’m looking after him for a while.’ Mel took a sip of her coffee.
‘You live down here then?’ Evie asked.
‘For the next three months. I’m house sitting. Are you on holiday?’
‘Yes, and I’m also on a mission to make new friends and to follow in the footsteps of my great-grandmother.’
Mel looked at her, intrigued.
‘GeeGee spent some months here in 1945 soon after the Riviera was liberated. She gave me her journal before she died and urged me to visit.’
‘The place must be very different now to the way it was then,’ Mel said quietly.
‘The old medieval town seems relatively unchanged, but, yes, other places have been modernised, roads renamed, some roads have disappeared altogether. Not that I’ve done any serious looking – I haven’t even started to read the journal yet – I’ve been too jet-lagged.’
‘I’m sure once you start, you’ll soon start to discover the streets your great-grandmother walked,’ Mel said.
Evie nodded and took a sip of her coffee. ‘How are you enjoying your stay so far? Are you living in a Belle Epoque villa?’
Mel laughed. ‘No, nothing as grand as that, but it is very luxurious. I only arrived yesterday,’ Mel said. ‘So I haven’t done much exploring yet, but I like the parts I’ve seen. Exploring is going to be fun.’
Evie looked at her hesitantly. ‘Want to join me and help me follow in GeeGee’s footsteps?’
Before Mel could answer, Evie spoke again.
‘It would be lovely to at least meet up occasionally for lunch or a coffee if you don’t want to commit to joining me on my mission, but I think it could be fun to do it with a friend,’ she added quietly.
Mel smiled. Evie was so open and clearly finding it hard to make friends here in France.
How could she refuse? ‘Sounds like a plan. Have you walked the old ramparts yet? I was thinking about doing that after picking up a parcel from a nearby shop. Vintage Vignettes. I don’t suppose you know where that is?
It’s near this square apparently.’ She looked at Evie hopefully.
‘No. It does sound like my kind of shop, though. I wonder whether she has any stuff from the 1940s?’
‘Only one way to find out,’ Mel said, finishing her coffee. ‘Come on then, let’s go and find it,’ and she stood up. ‘Let’s try that small street down there first.’
They saw the shop the moment they turned onto the narrow street.
Brigitte glanced up smiling as they pushed open the door and walked in. ‘Bonjour and welcome,’ she said, reaching for a small tin.
Croque Monsieur pulled on his lead and then sat in front of the counter, looking at her expectantly waiting for his treat.
‘Bonjour.’ Mel laughed. ‘He’s clearly been here before.’
‘Oui. You must be Sky’s replacement come for Nadia’s dress?’
Mel nodded. ‘Yes, I’m Mel and this is Evie,’ she added, not wanting to be rude and leave her out of the conversation.
‘Bonjour, Evie. Did you enjoy the cheese you bought in the market?’
Evie looked at her startled. ‘That was over a week ago. You saw me, and remember me?’
‘Oui. I have a good memory for faces and accents. I expect Pascale sold you one of his special cheeses, non?’
‘He did and it was delicious but expensive.’ Evie gestured around.
‘Your shop looks amazing. I’m a total fan of French couture from the 1940s.
GeeGee, my great-grandmother, came to France in 1945 and bought a few dresses which I’ve inherited.
Oh, I don’t suppose you offer an invisible mending service for vintage dresses, do you?
I’ve brought a couple with me and there’s a small tear on the sleeve of one of them. ’
Brigitte shook her head. ‘I did, but sadly not now. I can’t find anyone with the necessary skill. The dress Mel has come to collect for Nadia was the last one to be mended.’
Mel looked at Evie. ‘If you show it to me, I can probably mend it.’ The two women looked at her and she gave a nonchalant shrug.
‘My grandmother was a dressmaker and skilled at invisible mending. She taught my mother, who passed on those skills to me. At home I have a costume restoration business so I do know what I am doing.’
‘I don’t suppose you want another job as well as house sitting?’ Brigitte asked.
‘I’m on a tourist visa, so I’m not allowed to earn any money whilst I’m here,’ Mel said. ‘Sorry.’
‘Well, if you ever decide to live here permanently, do come and tell me, I’d be happy to employ you,’ Brigitte said.
‘I’ll remember that, but it’s not likely to happen, I’m afraid.’
‘Pity. I’ll fetch Nadia’s dress,’ and Brigitte disappeared into the small office.
Left to themselves for a few moments, both Mel and Evie wandered around, occasionally exclaiming an ‘ooh’ or an ‘ah’ as they found things they liked.
‘Nadia has an account, so nothing to pay,’ Brigitte said as she returned with a neatly wrapped parcel.
‘I shall be back soon for a proper browse,’ Mel said, returning to the counter and taking the parcel and placing it carefully in her tote. ‘I’m going to treat myself to something special before I leave to remind me of Antibes when I’m home again.’
‘Definitely,’ Evie said. ‘I shall do the same. I’ve already seen things for my mother and grandmother.’
‘I look forward to seeing you both again,’ Brigitte said. ‘I hope both of you enjoy your stay in Antibes.’