Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Mel
‘Thank you,’ Mel said, as one of the cabin crew handed her the glass of rosé she’d ordered. Looking down on the clouds they were flying above, she sighed happily and sipped the wine as her thoughts returned to her first flight down to the South of France.
Her marriage breaking down with Geoff leaving to ‘find himself’ had left her floundering in a way she’d never before experienced.
But living a single life in Antibes, making new friends, being totally in charge of her own life, had shown her that life could be good again.
That she could have a happy future. Meeting Marc had been the unexpected catalyst in that respect.
Standing up to Geoff had been hard but she was so happy she’d found the strength to do it.
Now life was moving in a different direction again, a direction a year ago she could never have envisaged – but it was one she fully embraced.
Staying with Ginny for the last six months had been, interesting was probably the best way to describe it.
There had been so much to deal with as she closed down one life to leave and live an unfamiliar one.
She’d met up with a contrite Geoff and told him their marriage was unrepairable and she wanted a divorce.
And no, he couldn’t change her mind. He took the news that she had met someone else badly but their no-fault divorce went through without any real problems and would soon be finalised.
The business had been sold as well as the marital home and with money in the bank and no real need to work, Geoff had gone travelling again.
He’d last been heard of sailing a catamaran in the Bahamas with a blonde woman – who may or may not have been @americansuzie.
She and Marc had spoken to each other every day during the past months, and Marc had spent six long weekends with her during that time. Showing him the sights of South Devon had been fun. After his first visit to Dartmouth, he’d insisted on going there on every subsequent visit.
Mel placed her empty wine glass on the tray in front of her with a happy smile and glanced out of the window.
They were flying above the Mediterranean.
Soon she would be back in Antibes. Her long-term visa tucked securely away in her bag meant she was back to stay. Back to live a new life with Marc.
An hour later she was through customs and walking into the Arrivals Hall, where Marc swung her into his arms and held her tight as he murmured ‘Welcome home.’
* * *
Evie
Granny Charlotte passed away not long after Evie returned home. As sad as that was, it did mean that Evie was able to persuade Daisy to travel to France and meet her new Rochefort relatives on two occasions.
Together, they first spent a month in Antibes where Albert, Brigitte and Marc welcomed, and assured them, that Monique would come round to accepting the fact that their family had been extended in a good way.
Brigitte and Daisy worked out how closely they were related as cousins – which was complicated.
A similar age, they quickly bonded like long-lost sisters.
Albert almost instantly became a surrogate grandfather to Evie, talking to her about the history of Antibes and helping her with research for the novel she had almost finished.
Marc quietly told her she was to think of him as her uncle and if she ever wanted any help from him she just had to ask.
But it was Monique who gave everyone the biggest surprise on this, their second visit.
She admitted how much she liked Evie, declaring that she could see herself in her when she’d been that age: go-getting and adventurous.
Everyone had stared at her, surprised and shocked by her words.
Evie thought about what the words said but didn’t protest, although inwardly she vowed she would never be as difficult as Monique had been when they’d first met.
* * *
Brigitte
Brigitte was currently walking around with a silly smile on her face, a sapphire and diamond engagement ring glittering on her finger, placed there by Hervé the other evening.
Her maman of course, hadn’t been able to resist a caustic ‘about time’ comment, but Brigitte knew she was happy about the engagement.
Planning the small intimate wedding that Brigitte still hoped for, even though she knew the guest list was growing every single day, had at least given Monique a purpose in life.
Living in the apartment above Vintage Vignettes since the beginning of the year Brigitte had gained a new sense of confidence in herself, something that Hervé had also helped with.
Learning about the existence of Evie and Daisy, welcoming them both into her life had also changed things for her.
She wished she’d known about them before, especially Daisy whom she had grown close to quickly.
Evie, with her love of vintage clothes, was keen to help her in the shop whilst she was here this time.
Brigitte was starting to dream about persuading them both to leave America and relocate to Antibes, having the extended family in one place would be wonderful.
When she mentioned this to Hervé he smiled at her.
‘One never knows what the future holds. Dreams can come true if we have the courage to believe in them.’
* * *