Chapter 50
Evie spent the next few days going for long walks along the bord de mer, and in the Cap d’Antibes woods, trying to get her thoughts in order and decide what she should do with the deeply shocking information about GeeGee she’d discovered.
Mel rang her a couple of times, concerned she hadn’t seen or heard from her for a few days, and she made the excuse she’d been busy and also had a bit of a cold which she didn’t want to pass on. She promised she’d see her soon. She really needed to talk everything through with someone.
* * *
Mel was in the kitchen waiting for her toaster to toast the bread when the intercom buzzer went. ‘Mel, it’s Evie. Can I talk to you, please?’
‘Of course, come on in,’ and Mel buzzed the gate open, before sliding another piece of toast into the toaster and filling the kettle again ready for another cafetière of coffee.
Evie, when Mel let her in at the front door, looked as if she’d spent the night on the ramparts in a howling gale.
‘You look terrible. What’s happened?’
‘I’ve learnt something about my great-grandmother, and I don’t know what to do about it,’ Evie said.
‘I thought there was something up with you,’ Mel said, as she handed her a coffee. ‘Marmalade on your toast?’
‘Please.’ Evie took several gulps of her coffee.
‘I’ve brought GeeGee’s journal with me. I need you to read the last four entries.
You can read as much of it as you like, but I need you to read those particular ones and advise me about what you think I should do.
Thanks,’ she said as Mel pushed a plate of toast in her direction.
‘GeeGee had an affair whilst she was here in Antibes. Became pregnant. Wrote about it in her journal, naming the man.’
Evie pulled the journal out of her bag, and handed it to Mel. ‘Start at entry eleven.’
‘I’ll read it while you drink your coffee and eat your toast,’ Mel said.
Sitting on the other bar stool, she opened the journal and slowly turned the pages until she reached entry eleven and she started to read.
Ten minutes later, she closed the journal, looked at Evie and reached for her coffee. ‘Oh my.’
Evie gave a quiet laugh. ‘Mel that is such a typically low-key English reaction. Me? I practically screamed in frustration.’ She drained her coffee cup. ‘The thing is, do I say anything to anyone? Or do I leave and take the secret back to America with me?’
‘Difficult. Have you spoken to your mum?’
‘Yes. GeeGee told her shortly before she died, about the lavender marriage, and that she was pregnant when they married. But Mom didn’t know the name of the unknown Frenchman until I told her.
Her opinion is that it all happened a long time ago and is best forgotten.
And not to stir up difficult memories for anyone. ’
‘Can you do that?’ Mel asked quietly.
‘In all honesty?’ Evie shook her head. ‘I don’t think I can.’
‘Would you want to know if someone were to come to you with a similar story?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK,’ Mel said thoughtfully. ‘So, how about you have a thank you supper before you leave and invite the people you need to talk to. Easier to bring difficult conversations up over a glass of wine and some food.’
‘Brigitte and Hervé. I know he’s not related, but I think Brigitte would appreciate him being there. Marc is Brigitte’s cousin – you will come with him, won’t you?’
‘If you want me to.’
‘That way I can leave it to Brigitte and Marc to break the news to Monique and Albert.’