Chapter 54
The morning of Evie’s departure, Mel walked down with Croque Monsieur to see her off at the train station.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to come to the airport with you?’
‘Saying goodbye here is fine,’ Evie said. ‘We will see each other again soon, won’t we?’
‘Definitely,’ Mel promised. ‘In the meantime, we have WhatsApp and email. When do you think you will be back in Europe?’
‘As soon as I can persuade Mom that she needs to come and meet her new relatives. I’m hoping that will be in a few months – visa applications allowing.’
Standing on the station platform, Evie gave Croque Monsieur a last cuddle before straightening up to give Mel a goodbye hug.
‘I’m so glad we met,’ she said. ‘Hey, you do realise when you marry Marc, you and I will be related by marriage. How weird will that be. I bet Albert will take it as proof of his six degrees of separation.’
‘There’s a divorce to happen and other stuff to do before that can happen,’ Mel said. ‘Besides, Marc hasn’t asked me to marry him.’
‘But when he does, and he will, can I be your bridesmaid, please?’
Mel laughed. ‘Evie, you are incorrigible. If it happens, I’d love you to be a bridesmaid.’
The train could be seen fast approaching and Mel quickly pulled Evie tight.
‘You take care, surrogate daughter. I’m so glad we’ve met.’
* * *
Mel walked slowly back to the villa. Next week it would be her turn to leave.
And she truly did not want to leave the bubble she’d been living in for the last three months.
Three months which had given her a different take on life.
Three months that had shown her there was more to life than merely existing and living in a marriage that had gone past its sell-by date.
Three months to start believing she could live a life on her own terms.
And then there was Marc. Mel smiled to herself at the thought of him. She felt so happy when she was with him. Evie teasing her about wanting to be her bridesmaid had made her smile. The thought of possibly marrying Marc was crossing her mind more and more these days.
His purchase of the Valbonne house was secure now he’d signed and paid the deposit.
The notaires were talking the third of May for completion and moving-in day.
Every time they were together, Marc insisted they pored over some catalogue or other.
First it was kitchen catalogues. Next it was bathroom catalogues.
When Mel had protested he should go ahead and choose whatever he liked, he’d looked at her.
‘But you’re coming to live there with me so you have to like it. ’
As she let herself back into the villa, Mel’s mobile rang. ‘Hi Nadia, how are you? I was wondering about handing over to the new guardian. You are? How lovely. OK. Martine is due in a couple of days so the villa will be ready for you. See you soon.’
Mel walked through to the kitchen and opened the French doors.
She felt unexpectedly bereft at the thought of leaving a villa that wasn’t hers, could never be hers, but had become her home for the last three months.
Nadia was coming home for the summer, Hugo and the children would join her here as and when they could.
Absently, she stroked Croque Monsieur’s head and ears. ‘I’m going to miss you too,’ she said. ‘Maybe I can take you for a walk occasionally when I live over here.’