Chapter 44
The second of January, the day Marc started his new job, Mel walked Croque Monsieur down to town early to have a coffee with Evie at Café Pimm’s.
Evie was already there, a coffee to hand and busy typing on her laptop, when Mel arrived. ‘I need to quickly finish editing this feature and send it. Two minutes.’
Mel ordered her coffee and watched the passers-by. She guessed they were mainly locals at half past nine in the morning, unhurriedly going about their day and catching up with friends over a cappuccino.
Evie closed her laptop as Mel’s coffee arrived and sat back with a satisfied sigh.
‘GeeGee’s journal mentioned an American woman, Isabel Pell, who was active in the resistance during the Second World War down here, and my editor wanted something about her for next week’s magazine.
And also a bit of history about this place, which in those days was called Brasserie Jules and was a meeting place for resistance members. ’
‘You really are following in your great-grandmother’s footsteps,’ Mel said, smiling.
‘Only with the writing,’ Evie said quietly. ‘GeeGee had quite an eventful time down here from the things she wrote in her journal. And, to be honest, I’m wondering how it’s all going to pan out.’
Mel raised her eyebrows at her. ‘Sounds like she had an adventure.’
‘An adventure she never mentioned to her family when she returned,’ Evie said. ‘I’ll let you read the journal if you like when I’ve finished it.’
‘I’d like that, it sounds fascinating,’ Mel said. ‘I’m walking on down to the market when we’ve finished coffee. Marc’s coming for supper tonight, so I need some meat and other ingredients.’
‘I’ll walk back with you, I need some salad things,’ Evie said. ‘Are you and Marc…?’
Mel smiled. ‘We like and enjoy each other’s company for sure, but until I’m free, we’re just friends.’
‘Friends with benefits?’
Mel shook her head. ‘Not yet.’ She didn’t admit to Evie though, that she was secretly looking forward to her friendship with Marc turning into more than friendship, whenever and wherever it happened.
* * *
The market was busy when they arrived half an hour later and went their separate ways.
Mel planned to make a Provencal daube for supper that evening so made straight for the butcher to buy some stewing beef.
She bought a tarte tatin for dessert from the boulangerie, and some cheese from Pascale before wandering down to the cave for a bottle of red wine.
Back at the villa, she quickly prepared the daube, knowing that the longer she slow-cooked it for, the better it would be.
Once the meat was sealed, the onions gently fried, the carrots peeled and sliced, a mixture of fresh herbs from the garden added, she transferred everything to a terracotta dish and covered it with the red wine, before placing the dish in the oven to gently cook all day.
Marc had said he expected to finish work and be with her by seven o’clock.
When it started to rain during the afternoon, Mel decided they’d eat in the kitchen and set the small round table with the cutlery, plates and napkins.
Marc arrived a few minutes before seven, clutching a small posy of flowers which he handed to her after they’d shared a kiss.
‘Hervé was still open as I walked past,’ he said. ‘And I know you love flowers.’
‘Thank you,’ Mel said. ‘How was your day?’
Marc nodded. ‘Good. The company have an excellent reputation in the industry both for their expertise and in the way they look after their staff. I’m going to enjoy working there.’
Sitting there eating, sipping wine, listening to Marc chatting about his first day in Sophia-Antipolis, Mel felt an unfamiliar feeling of contentment and happiness spread through her body.
Marc picked up his glass of wine and took a sip. ‘But one of the best parts of this day is coming home to you. I’m dreading the day you leave, I’m going to miss you so much. Any idea how soon you’ll be able to return?’
Ruefully, Mel gave a shake of her head. ‘No, it depends on how long it takes to get the visa and also the divorce. That is going to take at least six months, I think.’
‘But once you’ve started proceedings you can live anywhere whilst waiting,’ Marc said quietly, looking at her.
‘I’m thinking of asking Ginny, my sister, if I can stay with her for a few weeks. Hopefully, the no-fault divorce will be straightforward and Geoff and I can both remain civil to each other. At least Justin is an adult now, so I don’t have to worry about how it will affect him.’
‘Did Justin tell you he spoke to me about us?’
‘He didn’t? How embarrassing,’ Mel said. ‘Do I want to know what he said? I hope he wasn’t rude.’
Marc shook his head. ‘No, he was just looking out for you. He simply suggested that if I wasn’t serious about you, I should make that clear to you, and he warned me about hurting you.’
Mel gave him a tremulous smile, her eyes watching Marc’s face. ‘What did you say to him?’
Marc picked up her hand from where it was resting on the table and held it tightly. ‘I told him I was very serious about you, and I thought you were equally serious about me?’
Mel nodded. ‘Yes. But I do need to be officially separated and have the divorce underway before we can be in a relationship.’
‘I understand. But once that’s all started and you have a new long-term visa, you will come back? I want you in my life.’
‘As soon as I can, I’ll be back.’ Mel hesitated. ‘You can always come for a visit.’
‘I shall definitely do that.’
* * *
Getting ready for bed after Marc had left, Mel looked at her left hand thoughtfully for several seconds, before coming to a decision.
Carefully, she placed her right-hand fingers over her engagement ring and wedding band, slipped them both off her finger and placed them in her small jewellery pouch.
First decision taken for the journey ahead. New Year, new Life, new Love. That New Year’s Eve kiss had changed everything in Mel’s mind. She was ready to move on.