Chapter 20
Getting ready to walk down into Antibes to meet Evie, Mel realised she had started to make much more of an effort than she had recently back home.
Somehow, it seemed important here to look good whenever she stepped outside the grounds of the gated community.
Not in an over-the-top way, but co-ordinated, and sunglasses were absolutely de rigueur.
She’d lost weight over the last few weeks too and her clothes were definitely hanging on her better.
A haircut before Christmas was the next thing to organise.
Carefully, Mel placed the poinsettia in the large straw basket she’d been unable to resist one morning in the market, before putting the box of lights in and hopefully wedging the plant upright.
She clipped Croque Monsieur’s lead on, set the alarm and was out of the villa, slamming the door behind her before locking it.
When Mel walked into Vintage Vignettes, Brigitte and a man looked up from some papers they were studying on the counter.
Brigitte welcomed her with a smile. ‘Hi Mel, meet my cousin Marc. He and my uncle are living with Maman and me while he house-hunts.’
‘Exciting, I hope you find somewhere lovely,’ Mel said, letting go of Croque Monsieur’s lead as he’d already positioned himself in front of Brigitte in anticipation of a treat, and she took Marc’s proffered hand to shake.
Marc’s quietly spoken ‘Enchanté, madame,’ together with the look on his face, unsettled Mel for some reason as she smiled up at him, and she quickly pulled her tingling hand back.
‘I’m glad you’ve called in,’ Brigitte said. ‘We always have a champagne and nibbles party on the twenty-second and I wanted to invite you and Evie. Are you free that evening?’
‘I’m definitely free, thank you. Actually, I was hoping to invite you to join Evie and me for a Christmas drink sometime? It would be just the three of us as I don’t know anyone else to invite.’
‘At Nadia’s?’ Brigitte said, her voice serious.
‘Yes, probably in the kitchen or on the terrace in the moonlight – I’m terrified of using anywhere indoors other than the kitchen and my bedroom. Even though Nadia told me to treat it like my own home.’
‘Could you invite Marc too?’ Brigitte said, glancing at her cousin.
Surprised at the request, Mel turned to Marc. ‘Of course, you’d be more than welcome to join us.’
‘Thank you, I’d like to come.’
‘In that case, I accept,’ Brigitte said. ‘And I also accept your other offer.’ And she pushed a sealed envelope across the counter to Mel. ‘Open it later and keep it safe.’
‘You do? Brilliant,’ Mel said, putting the envelope in her tote. ‘Seven o’clock this Saturday evening for aperitifs at number five then?’
‘Seven-thirty would be better for me, because of the shop,’ Brigitte said.
‘Seven-thirty it is. See you then. Lovely to meet you,’ Mel said, turning to Marc, before picking up Croque Monsieur’s lead. ‘I’m off to meet Evie for lunch now,’ and she left quickly.
Marc looked at Brigitte as the door closed behind Mel. ‘Tell me it’s a different number five?’
Brigitte shook her head. ‘Non. It’s the number five. Mel is house sitting for the owners. That’s why I need you to come with me. I couldn’t possibly go on my own.’