Chapter 19
Mel stood back and looked at the Christmas tree in its pot that Hervé had kindly carried through the villa for her and placed on the terrace.
She’d briefly thought about having it in the sitting room, but as she didn’t feel comfortable using any room other than her bedroom and the kitchen, she’d decided the terrace would be the best.
Starting near the top of the tree, she slowly began to wind the lights around it. Thankfully, they were long enough to go around its branches twice.
What had she been thinking only buying two glass baubles – they were going to look ridiculous.
Carefully she tied the first glass bauble to a high branch on the front left-hand side of the tree, and then placed the second one on a lower branch also on the front, but diagonally opposite, on the right-hand side.
Mel pushed the plug into the socket and then pressed the control panel on the lights.
Instantly, the tree was ablaze with white lights.
The large number of lights on the tree more than made up for the lack of ornaments, Mel thought, and the glass baubles stood out, looking spectacularly beautiful.
The very top of the tree, though, was crying out for one of the silver-tipped glass stars she’d resisted when she bought the baubles.
She’d buy one next time she went to Antibes and then the tree, in her eyes, would be complete.
Sitting out on the terrace eating her supper later, Mel started to make a list of the things she needed to do in the run-up to Christmas.
Decide what the three of them would eat for Christmas lunch, some treats, some wine – perhaps champagne?
Buy a star for the tree, buy a present for Evie, something small for Justin because she’d left his present with Ginny, believing that was where he would be spending Christmas.
She’d also treat herself to something, not simply as a Christmas present but to remind her of this time in Antibes.
It would be nice to invite people for aperitifs too one evening, but she only knew Evie and Brigitte.
Still, the three of them could have a special drink together.
Thinking about Brigitte reminded Mel she had yet to hear whether Brigitte was going to agree to her secret plan. Tomorrow, she would walk to town, buy the star, invite Brigitte and Evie for an evening aperitif, and start to buy a few treats.
When her phone rang, Mel smiled as she saw who it was. ‘Evening, Evie. How are you?’
‘Good. Fancy lunch at Café Felix tomorrow? About twelve-thirty?’
‘Why not. I need to pop in and see Brigitte, so I can do that before. I also need to buy a glass star for the top of my tree from the Christmas market.’
After the call ended, Mel sat back smiling. Life felt as if it was starting to come together for her down here in the South of France.
* * *
Leon’s was busy when Monique and her family arrived that evening.
The ma?tre d’ greeted Monique like an old friend and led the four of them to a table in the window overlooking the garden.
Solar-powered lights were dotted around highlighting several sculptures, and a Christmas tree with coloured fairy lights had been placed in the centre of the garden.
A silver ice bucket with a bottle of champagne nestling on the ice cubes was already on the table, and Monique gave a satisfied sigh as the sommelier arrived to open the bottle and to pour their drinks.
‘Family,’ Monique said, raising her glass. ‘So, so lovely to have you back here permanently. Santé.’
Brigitte echoed her maman’s words smiling at her uncle and cousin. ‘And in time for Christmas too,’ she added. ‘Making it extra special this year.’ She glanced at Marc. ‘When do you start your new job?’
‘January the second, so I have a little time to begin looking for somewhere to live.’
‘You can stay with us forever as far as I am concerned,’ Monique said expansively. ‘Brigitte came home and has never left – you can do the same.’
‘Circumstances are a little different,’ Marc said gently, glancing at Brigitte. ‘For a start, I’m not your son.’
‘Non, but Albert is your papa and he lives in the house now, so it is your home too for as long as you want.’
‘Thank you,’ Marc murmured.
‘Just so you know, I did not – and do not – plan on living at home forever,’ Brigitte said, through gritted teeth.
Monique gave her a sharp look. ‘I know if you get married you’ll move out, but as that seems an impossible hope right now,’ she shrugged, ‘you will be living with me for years yet.’
‘Monique,’ the quiet voice of Albert admonished his sister. ‘Now is not the time or place for this conversation. To be honest, I don’t think that it is a conversation you need to pursue ever.’
Brigitte gave an inward sigh of relief. She’d forgotten how her uncle had always had the knack of calming his young sister down when she got carried away. Maybe she had two allies in the house now, as Marc, like Hervé, had always supported her when he visited and Monique was being difficult.
Conversation was muted for a while, but as the meal progressed and the champagne was drunk, talk turned to the family’s traditional Christmas champagne and nibbles party, always held on the twenty-second of December.
‘Are there any old friends you’d like to invite?’ Monique asked Albert, seemingly having recovered her normal equilibrium after her brother’s comments.
He shook his head. ‘No one that isn’t already on that list you showed me earlier.’
‘Marc?’ Monique looked questioningly at her nephew.
‘Maybe next year when I’ve settled in and made new friends.’
‘I’ve got a couple of friends I’d like to ask,’ Brigitte said quietly.
‘Hervé and his daughters are coming already,’ Monique said.
‘That’s good, but I’d like to invite Mel, Nadia’s house-sitter, and Evie, the young American I told you about. They are both alone down here and they are sure to be missing their families at Christmas.’
Brigitte held Monique’s gaze as the silence that greeted her words lengthened. After what seemed an age, Monique shrugged. ‘D’accord. Invite them. If you must.’
* * *
As they left the restaurant an hour or so later, Marc fell into step beside Brigitte, ahead of Monique and Albert, as they all walked home to the house on the ramparts together.
‘Tante Monique doesn’t get any easier to deal with, does she?’ Marc gave Brigitte a wry grin.
‘She was particularly horrible tonight, wasn’t she?’ Brigitte said. ‘I don’t understand what gets into her at times. Hopefully, Uncle Albert will be able to keep her in check like he did this evening, although I wouldn’t want him to get in Maman’s bad books over me.’
Marc slung his arm around her shoulders. ‘When I’ve found somewhere to buy, you can move in with me.’ And he squeezed her shoulder.
‘Be careful, I might take you up on that offer,’ Brigitte laughed as she leaned against him.
‘I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to having you living here.
’ She hesitated. ‘If I tell you something, promise you won’t mention it to either Monique or your papa?
’ When Marc nodded, she said, ‘I’m thinking of moving into the apartment above the shop.
Hervé thinks it could be made into something special. ’
‘No chance of you and Hervé? Now that he’s back and free?’ Marc asked quietly. ‘I know he’s very fond of you.’
‘I’m very fond of him too, and I’m glad he’s back in my life as a good friend, but that is it.
’ They reached home at that moment, and Brigitte unlocked the front door.
‘I can tell you because I know you won’t say a word to him.
If he ever shaves off that stupid moustache of his, I would think seriously about it, but as he has absolutely no intention of doing that – and why should he when it’s his choice to grow one and he clearly likes it?
’ She shrugged. ‘It’s not going to happen. ’