Chapter 38
Mel didn’t sleep well and was up early on Christmas Day.
She finished mending Evie’s dress before taking her morning coffee out onto the terrace, where she sat wrapped in a blanket enjoying the quietness of the day.
Thankfully, the sky was blue and the sun had already risen, so eating lunch on the terrace would be possible.
Determined to put last evening’s shock discovery out of her mind, she concentrated her thoughts on the day ahead.
As soon as Justin appeared, they’d have breakfast – croissants with Buck’s fizz – before opening family presents.
Mel recognised Ginny’s writing on the labels of several presents Justin had added to the ones she’d placed under the tree.
Afterwards they’d get ready for the day ahead.
There was sure to be a phone call to Ginny in place of celebrating the day together with their families.
Briefly she wondered if Geoff would ring.
Mel stopped her thoughts about her husband right there.
Today she was determined not to give him any space in her head.
She’d suggested that Evie and Rudi arrive at about twelve-thirty, ready for an aperitif before lunch.
Marc would arrive earlier, about eleven o’clock, which would give her time to introduce him to Justin properly, something she was looking forward to.
Should she mention how friendly she and Marc were becoming to Justin before the two of them met?
‘Happy Christmas, Mum,’ Justin said, appearing on the terrace and interrupting her thoughts.
‘Happy Christmas,’ Mel said, standing up and hugging him. ‘Croissants and Buck’s fizz for breakfast OK?’
* * *
‘So this Marc who is coming for lunch today?’ Justin said quietly as they ate their breakfast. ‘Do I need to check him out?’
Mel laughed and shook her head. ‘He’s a good friend and, no, you don’t need to check him out.’ She hesitated before adding, ‘I hope you and he get on, it’s important to me that you do.’
Justin gave her a serious questioning look, but Mel shook her head and smiled at him.
Keeping Geoff out of her headspace proved to be impossible when Ginny video-called later that morning. After Brian and her nieces had spoken to both her and Justin, and thanked her for the presents she’d left for them, Ginny appeared on the screen again, her face serious.
Justin took one look and said, ‘Right, I’ll leave you two to chat. I’ll take Croque Monsieur for his morning walk.’
As he walked away, Ginny said, ‘Right, what’s up? And don’t say nothing because I know when you are trying to hide something. My money is on Geoff having upset you again. Right?’
Mel nodded. ‘I was going to tell you after Christmas. It’ll keep.’
‘Tell me now,’ Ginny demanded.
‘Have you got the phone on speaker?’
‘No.’
‘Please don’t mention any of this to Justin.
I’ll tell him myself.’ Mel hesitated before telling her sister.
‘I saw a women’s profile on Instagram celebrating how she’d finally met the love of her life.
The photos were all of her and Geoff. Partying, kissing, generally acting like a couple who were together.
Geoff looks happy – happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. Smarter and thinner too.’
‘Geoff’s certainly going full-on for his midlife crisis, isn’t he? Honestly, I can’t believe the man is being so bloody stupid. Tell me her name. What about his own Instagram page? Has he put anything up on there?’
‘Her profile is @americansuzie. I didn’t want to look at Geoff’s.’
‘You need to. Take screenshots of both pages. His and hers. I know “no-fault divorce” is standard nowadays, but it does no harm to have some evidence.’
Mel caught her breath. Deep down, she could acknowledge that Ginny was right, divorce was feeling more and more inevitable, but she was still getting used to the idea her marriage was over. She nodded. ‘I’ll take some later.’
‘Not later, now, in case they take them down.’
‘OK.’
‘Right, so what have you got planned for today?’
‘Three friends are joining Justin and me for lunch. Evie and her friend Rudi, and Marc. I’m looking forward to a different Christmas lunch sitting out on the terrace in the sunshine.’
‘Raining here,’ Ginny moaned. ‘Who’s Marc?’ Mel realised too late she hadn’t mentioned Marc to Ginny before.
‘Just a new friend I met through Brigitte, the lady with the Vintage Vignettes shop I told you about.’
‘Promise me you’ll enjoy the day and not brood over things.’
‘No brooding today,’ Mel promised. ‘I’m looking forward to the day with Justin and my friends.’ She kept the thought ‘Marc in particular’ to herself.
‘Good. I will phone you later tonight. Have a good day.’ And Ginny was gone.
* * *
After the video call, Mel got ready for the day.
By mid-morning, the table on the terrace was set for lunch.
A small seasonal flower arrangement in the centre with greenery from the garden, serviettes patterned with holly and mistletoe placed on every side plate, and wine glasses in place.
The only things missing for Mel were crackers.
She’d learnt that the French simply did not understand the point of crackers and she’d been unable to find any.
Justin was still out with Croque Monsieur when Marc arrived and gave her the three cheek kisses that were now normal between them, before hugging her and sighing contentedly.
‘I am so happy to be spending the day with you. The atmosphere at Monique’s is stressful at the moment since Brigitte dropped her bombshell last night.’
‘What’s happened?’ Mel asked as they went out to the terrace.
‘She’s planning on moving into the apartment over the shop in the new year. Monique is, of course, making a big fuss.’
‘I’m beginning to learn that Monique is a difficult lady.’
Marc smiled wryly. ‘You are not wrong.’ He held out the gaily wrapped present he was carrying and handed it to Mel. ‘Brigitte gave me some advice on this. I hope you like it. Happy Christmas.’
‘Thank you. I asked Brigitte for advice too,’ Mel said, smiling, bending to pick up his present from alongside the tree. ‘Happy Christmas to you too.’
Marc laughed when he saw the driving gloves. ‘Thank you. Perfect present for me.’
‘Brigitte assured me they would fit,’ Mel said as she took a beautiful silk scarf out of its box. ‘This is lovely, thank you.’
‘Brigitte said a woman can never have too many scarves and I’ve seen you wearing a couple of different ones,’ Marc said.
Mel smiled at him as Croque Monsieur ran towards them and Justin joined them on the terrace.
‘Marc, meet my son Justin,’ Mel said, turning to Justin. ‘Marc is working in the Sophia-Antibolis Technology Park down here.’
‘Really? Wow,’ Justin said. ‘My dream when I’ve got my degree is to work somewhere like that – maybe in Silicon Valley, though, as my French probably won’t be good enough for France.’
Mel caught her breath at his words. Justin leaving home to go to university had been hard, but he’d only been two hours up the road, not across the Atlantic.
The idea of him making a life in another country so far away had never occurred to her.
But why not? He was young and if America was where the opportunities were…
She’d still have Ginny and her family nearby; she wouldn’t be totally alone.
Besides, once her marriage was over, she’d be a free single woman, and could live wherever she wanted.
Wasn’t she herself secretly starting to think about living in another country?
Evie and Rudi arrived soon after, and Justin opened the bottle of Crémant Mel fetched from the fridge, with a satisfying pop.
Evie squealed with delight as she saw the bag Mel had bought her. ‘Thank you so much. It will remind me of you and Antibes every time I use it.’ She gave Mel a big hug. She and Rudi had bought Mel a beautiful tall blue glass water jug from Biot which Mel instantly loved.
‘I hope you like chocolates,’ Mel said to Rudi. ‘I’m afraid I didn’t really know what to give you. But the chocolatier in town makes the most delicious chocolates.’
‘Thank you. I do love chocolate,’ Rudi said.
Mel disappeared into the kitchen to fetch some small nibbles while she finished assembling the avocados and prawns for the first course. Once they were on the table, she checked the chicken and sauté potatoes she’d decided to do in the oven rather than on the hob.
Lunch was slow and leisurely, and it was mid-afternoon before Mel made coffee and brought the cheese board out, to cries of ‘No more, I’m full.’ But everyone managed a mouthful of the special local cheese from Pascale.
As lunch finished, Evie took her phone out.
‘May I ring my mom from here before we disappear? Show her the garden where I’ve had lunch?
It’s the first Christmas I’ve not been at home.
I know she’ll be going to spend the day with my Granny Charlotte in the care home.
I’ll take a selfie and Mom will show her the picture and she’s sure to ask “Who is that then? Do I know her?” Mom will gently say, “It’s Evie, your granddaughter.
”’ Evie bit her lip. ‘Such a cruel disease.’
‘It’s hard for everyone concerned,’ Mel said. ‘Before I forget, your dress is ready, don’t forget to take it with you.’
‘Oh, thank you. Rudi has been invited to a New Year’s Eve party at his boss’s place, and I’m invited as his plus one, so I get to dress up again.’
After Evie and Rudi left Mel, the three of them sat companionably out on the terrace. Marc found a Spotify list with French instrumental music on his phone, and they sat there happily listening, sipping Crémant and playing the board games Mel had found in one of the cupboards in the kitchen.
‘I don’t really want to leave,’ Marc said. ‘But I have to rescue my papa from Monique – Brigitte also. We’ll probably go for a walk around the marina until supper time. Would you two care to come with us?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Justin said.
‘A walk around the marina sounds good. Croque Monsieur will enjoy an outing too,’ Mel said. ‘And then Justin and I will come home for supper.’
* * *
After an hour’s walk around the harbour and the marina, listening to Albert reminisce about the way it had all changed in his lifetime, Mel and Justin said goodbye and started to make their way back to the villa.
‘This has been one of the best Christmas Days ever,’ Justin said.
‘It has been good,’ Mel agreed. ‘I’ve loved having you here.’
She looked at him hesitantly. She didn’t want to pop the bubble of happiness they were both in, but she did need to prepare him for the changes which were definitely going to happen in their lives – and maybe give him a hint of another change which would be the biggest of all.
‘I told you the other day that I can’t see myself returning to the life I was living before your dad left. Something I saw on Instagram recently has confirmed that. You need to know when I get home I intend to start divorce proceedings against your dad.’
Justin turned to look at her. ‘Is he having an affair?’
Mel nodded. ‘Certainly looks that way. The other thing is, I’m also thinking of possibly moving to Antibes. New start, new country, new… just new everything,’ she said, laughing.
‘Cool. In the last few days, I’ve seen a different you down here,’ Justin said slowly.
‘Not Dad’s wife, still my mum but a happier, different mum who is a person in their own right.
I don’t know about Dad taking off to “find himself” but you seem to have found “you” without making a big drama out of it.
Whatever you do, Mum, is fine by me – so long as I get visiting rights. ’
‘You’ll always have visiting rights, as you put it, wherever I live, you daft thing,’ Mel said.