The Riviera

by Karen Aldous

  She peered over at Marie-Claire who was stroking her book. She looked at the cover; ‘Studying Biology.’

  ‘Are you thinking of going back to school?’ Lizzie asked suddenly alarmed at the thought of losing Thierry’s nanny.

  Marie-Claire smiled. ‘I love looking after children but when Thierry goes to school, what will I do with myself? I thought of becoming a children’s nurse.’

  ‘Yes, that would fit you perfectly. Although, I think Sophie could be seeking help with a baby in the next year or so. I don’t think she’s pregnant yet but I’m sure she won’t mind me saying.’

  ‘Oh, that would be great but, longer term, now I know what I want, I’d like to begin planning. Like Jack. Maybe I can study part-time.’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Lizzie said admiring the effect Jack was having on her. ‘Jack will be proud to think he has influenced you. And, speaking of nurses and hospitals, I must ring Angus.’

  Lizzie searched for her phone and scrolled down for his number.

  Chapter 31

  It was three days later before Angus’s mother was finally out of danger and sitting up. Every night Angus had relayed to Lizzie his concerns but today, he reported, his mother Jackie had finally turned a corner. Her colour and vitality were so much more vibrant, she had her voice again, and was bossing everyone, he’d remarked. Lizzie had rung him on Sunday afternoon after the final hectic morning at the salon and was relieved to hear the good news. Angus had made a joke and she definitely heard his smile beaming down the phone. He’d told her Sophie had been in touch too. They had discussed bringing his mother to France to benefit from the warmer air, and so she could still have her holiday, albeit a restful one. So all being well, they’d hope to travel later in the week.

  After the call, Lizzie finally felt she could relax although, having time minus Cal just didn’t equate and, after a beer on the terrace with Marie-Claire, she took Thierry out for a walk along the promenade for an ice cream and then an early tea. The beaches of Cannes blazed with colour; bathers, mainly female as most of the men were in Monaco for the Grand Prix. But Lizzie was only too aware, parties would begin later and, she was sure, many of these girls would be leaving their sunbeds in the next couple of hours to glam up for the night. Most of the make-up girls still had a long afternoon. Her thoughts slid back to Cal; he and Jack enjoying the Grand Prix. She knew Jack was excited to be going and wished she was there too.

  They ambled leisurely, enjoying a light breeze whispering off the sparkling Mediterranean, Thierry babbling away about the sail boats and cruisers bobbing in the distance. Lizzie found it so refreshing to be away from the office and breathing in some fresh air. The next few days would be busy preparing things for her mother and family arriving, but she was fully aware that as soon as they’d gone, her life would be extremely empty without Cal around. Damn him! She really missed him. It made her miserable but, she reminded herself, it was for the best. Time would hopefully heal her tattered heart. That’s what Sophie would say. Although Sophie thought Cal was innocent, she may never discover the truth. An image of Cal and Kelly interrupted her view – he should not have spent the night with her. Even one night was wrong but she suspected they had actually spent more time together. After all, she now knew what it was like herself to be in love, and she certainly didn’t want to be apart from Cal all the time they were together.

  After their pizza overlooking the promenade, they arrived back at the apartment where the scent in the air was much stronger than usual. A pretty scent Lizzie thought as she poured Thierry and herself glasses of ice-cooled water. Marie-Claire floated out of her room in a stunning off-the-shoulder dress and high heels and gracefully paraded before her.

  ‘How do I look?’

  Lizzie glanced up. ‘Wow, you look beautiful. I love your dress and you look so grown up.’

  ‘Thank you. I borrowed this dress from my friend. I’m meeting Jack. One of the students in Jack’s class organises VIP parties and asked Jack and a couple of the other students along, so Jack has asked me to go with him. I think they just need to rent a crowd by the sounds of it.’

  ‘Oh, well it will be fun I’m sure. Just be careful who you mix with.’

  Lizzie felt a tinge of pity. She knew how attractive the glamorous parties could appear when you were young. It had been a long while since her glitzy party days with Anton but she was so glad she got away from them when she did. The false promises and promiscuity, the drink and drugs and the ease with which she’d been influenced.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, I shall be staying close to Jack. I know how the scene works. I’m only going to protect him.’

  Lizzie wheezed in surprise. ‘You’re much smarter than I give you credit for, young lady.’

  ‘Yes well I’ve had first-hand experience of these sorts, remember.’

  It was clear Marie-Claire had learnt well from her and Thierry’s father. Anton’s type was exactly the kind of person she was warning her of.

  ‘Well, thankfully Anton has finally grown up now, but look what it took.’ Lizzie thought of her brief meeting with Anton and his unexpected gracious turnaround in attitude.

  ‘Exactly,’ Marie-Claire agreed. ‘I’ll do my best.’

  Lizzie saw her out the door and slumped on the sofa. Where would she be now if Anton had ever taken Thierry for keeps? It didn’t bear thinking about. She would be locked up in a cell, she imagined. It was only the damage from the champagne bottle Marie-Claire had struck him with that had completely changed the man. Crippled him to such an extent, he must have realigned his compassion. And, of course, Cal had saved Thierry on Anton’s first attempt but Cal was large enough to intimidate him without a bottle. She saw the episode clearly. They were at the hotel in Bonnieux and she’d been so scared, clinging to Thierry’s buggy with every muscle she had as Anton shook it, threatening to wheel her son away. Then Cal appeared from nowhere and stood up to him. Chasing him off like a true hero.

  To think she disbelieved Cal’s motives then. He had done nothing but fall in love with her and wanted to protect her. He genuinely was in business meetings with Monsieur Giroux,that was evident, and, really cared enough to want her and her mother reunited. How clearly she saw that now. So why would he sleep with his ex? And why did she find it so hard to believe he didn’t? She stretched out and gripped her head, her fingers twitching to act. She wanted to ring Cal and talk to him. She wanted to hear him say he was completely innocent, no, she wanted proof he didn’t sleep with Kelly. He couldn’t offer that. So how were they ever to resolve their trust? And, the way he shunned her when she was walking along with Angus, he was unlikely to trust her now.

  Lizzie waved as she spotted Caroline and Michael wheeling cases towards them.

  ‘Look, Thierry. Here comes Grandma, can you see her?’ she said lifting him and pointing. ‘Wave, sweet pea.’

  Caroline dropped her bag and flung her arms around her daughter. ‘Sorry we’re late, darling.’

  ‘Oh, I checked on the internet. We’ve not been here long. You look stunning, Mum. And you, Michael, you both look very well.’

  ‘Darling, you look like you haven’t eaten for a month. And Thierry, my sweetheart. It’s so lovely to see you.’ Lizzie’s mother took Thierry from her arms. ‘I’ve missed you so much. Have you been eating all Mummy’s dinners? You have grown!’

  ‘Yes, you should be careful, Mum. He’s a bit big for you to carry.’

  Caroline hugged him tight, kissing him at every opportunity. ‘Oh, I could eat him. He is so delicious.’

  ‘I’ve got Spider-Man, look Grandma,’ Thierry said holding up the red and blue figure in his hand.

  ‘Oh wow, he looks a good friend to have, he’ll look after you.’

  After greeting Michael, Lizzie led them to her car.

  She drove them to Charles’s apartment where she had spent the whole of yesterday cleaning up after the girls. Cal and Jack had vacated too but left their room spotless. She was quite appalled at how much mess the girls had genera
ted, with cups and dishes left in the sink and bedding left on the bed. She only forgave them because they had worked extremely hard with difficult circumstances and some very demanding clients.

  Caroline was delighted however. ‘Oh what a beautiful view,’ she chimed as Lizzie raised the shutters from the switch beside the doors. ‘The room across the hall we had last year overlooked the pool which was lovely but this, this is spectacular.’

  ‘Yes, I wonder if Charles ever acknowledged it though. I think he had the blinds shut most of the time and his head buried in his work.’

  ‘Oh, what a waste. Well, tell him we love it. Don’t we, Michael?’

  ‘Yes, it’s perfect. We are very grateful.’ Michael glanced around the apartment.

  ‘So.’ Caroline turned. ‘Where is Cal today? Oh, no, let me guess, at his new vineyard?’

  Lizzie’s heart wrenched. ‘Ah. I didn’t tell you. We had a huge fall out.’

  Caroline’s mouth hung open for several seconds. ‘No. Oh no, darling. I don’t believe you. Why?’

  Lizzie tightened her lips and braced herself for the long story. She opened the terrace doors and told them to make themselves comfortable while she prepared them cool drinks. She followed them out and dressed her report through her eyes. She knew her mother championed Cal, and he had been so good to them, the last thing she wanted was for Caroline and Michael to think him a rogue.

  ‘So,’ Caroline insisted, ‘really these are your own insecurities. Cal wouldn’t do that. Just because she and the children stayed the night doesn’t mean he would jump her at the first opportunity.’

  ‘Mum!’

  ‘Ha, sorry darling. Michael’s language is rubbing off on me.’

  Michael gazed at Caroline with wide eyes. ‘Pah, don’t blame me.’

  Lizzie laughed. ‘That’s so funny, coming from you. Anyway. I do wonder if it is all in my imagination. I’d spent weeks visualising them together but,’ she grimaced, ‘it’s so hard to dismiss it from my head. It keeps coming back and I just can’t believe he wouldn’t. They loved one another once and they had so much opportunity.’

  ‘Oh darling.’ Caroline took her hand. ‘I can’t imagine Cal ever doing anything to jeopardise your relationship. The lengths he went to to find you. The way he looks at you and what he has done for us, that is all for you. Why would he want to risk everything he’s been building for you? Yes, his son took priority and, to be honest, I can understand that. I wished I was able to do more for you. Unfortunately, I wasn’t blessed with his foresight, his compassion. He is an extremely well-balanced person. And if they had all been under such a lot of stress, who would blame them for one relaxing evening? Darling, I think you may have blown it all out of proportion.’

  Feeling the tight squeeze from her mother’s hand, Lizzie suddenly felt gripped with guilt. ‘Do you really think so?’ She bit her lip. ‘I…I wish I could rid my mind of my suspicions. I don’t want to believe it, and he soon walked out. If he wasn’t guilty then why didn’t he try to put my mind at rest or prove to me otherwise?’

  Caroline removed her hand, shaking her head. ‘Darling, maybe he felt you were being totally unreasonable.’

  Michael crossed his legs and leaned back. ‘Yes, if he had been through a lot of stress himself, maybe he wasn’t in a frame of mind to argue.’ He added thoughtfully, ‘Men who want to contain their anger use escape. I know I do. If I felt I would become too emotionally charged, the best thing for me is to get out of harm’s way before I say something I regret. I reckon the poor boy was tipping over the edge.’

  ‘Yes, did you think of that?’ Caroline added. ‘He probably needed to come home to you and to feel everything was OK. Maybe he was shocked you would think that of him especially after everything he has done for you and all of us…Lizzie?’

  Lizzie tapped her chair, biting her lip. They were definitely defending Cal and she didn’t wish to persuade them otherwise. It wouldn’t be fair. And they could be right. They both had a point.

  ‘Anyway, I’m so glad you’re both here.’ She clapped as if to make the conversation disappear. ‘It seems like an eternity since I last saw you and I have a few plans, but to be honest I’ve been so busy. It will be nice to just relax with you guys. I’ve organised a lovely lunch on Sunday so I shall be driving you up to Ménerbes in the Luberon. Apart from that, I have to work on Saturday morning for a few hours, then I can spend most of the week with you. I’ll just pop into the salon here and there. It is so much less hectic now.’

  Caroline rose to her feet. ‘Sounds perfect, darling. We have gathered a few places we’d like to visit too, so we’ll settle in and meet you in a couple of hours to chat some more. Can we go along to the place they cook fresh pizzas? Michael has been looking forward to going and I’m sure Thierry would love it.’

  ‘Pizza, Mummy.’ Thierry jumped up from the coffee table inside and bounced onto the terrace.

  Lizzie jumped up too. ‘Yes, I’ll pop in once I’ve parked and book it for six o’clock. I’ll meet you there.’

  Excitement was bubbling inside her as she and Thierry left her mother and Michael. They had no idea that they would be meeting Angela and Pheely. Her mother would be so surprised. She just hoped not to book too much in with her mother in case she and her cousin wanted to spend some time together. The bubbling wasn’t just for that reason however. Lizzie had made a decision. Well, right now, she felt it made sense. Like her mother pointed out, maybe he was just glad to be home and, oh, what had she done? She should speak to Cal and listen to his side of the story. Try much harder to eradicate her poisonous images and suspicions. At least let him know she had imagined the worst and, at the time, was unable to clear it from her mind. The look of disgust he gave her the last time she’d seen him almost scalded her. Just seeing him again, she knew she still loved him and couldn’t let what they had slide from beneath her feet.

  Once back at her apartment, having booked the pizza restaurant, Lizzie wondered if she should ask Cal along for dinner one evening with Caroline and Michael. He would surely enjoy that, despite their differences. As she watched Thierry run for his toys, she couldn’t help feeling that he must miss Cal too. And Jack. Although Jack had been in a few times with Marie-Claire, she now wished she had allowed Jack to stay. They had really enjoyed one another’s company. Oh but what if it all happened again? She had to consider her son. And maybe she was now too late? Would Cal even speak to her?

  Panic set in. It suddenly dawned on her that Cal could well have decided he no longer wanted anything to do with her. She began to reason. She now understood her actions better but would it be the right time for him? With what he saw the other day, he could still be hurt and angry. She strode to the window pinching her bottom lip. Oh shit, what to do! It was probably wise to contact Cal first and find out if she even stood a chance of getting him to speak to her. She trembled. She swung round searching for her phone. Her heart raced. Should she ring him now? Could she bear to be rejected? Taking a deep breath, a decision was made.

  Chapter 32

  Lizzie was still half asleep when she realised her phone was buzzing beside her. She grabbed it, and seeing the name on the screen instantly created a jolt in her belly. She swung her legs out of bed.

  ‘Cal?’ Her heart drummed so loud she could hardly hear.

  ‘It’s Jack.’

  Her mouth parched. ‘Oh. Hello, Jack. How are you?’

  ‘Sorry it’s early but I’m just so excited. I just went online and got my results. I got an awesome pass and, as it’s my last day at college too, I want to celebrate later. Can you guys come?’

  ‘Jack, that’s great news. Congratulations! Yes. That would be great. My mother and Michael are here. Would you mind if they come along too?’

  ‘Yeah, cool. I’m gonna ring Gran. Could you ask Sophie, Charles and Angus? I’ll text you the details.’

  ‘Yes, of course, but Angus is in Scotland’

  ‘Oh.’ Disappointment sank his voice. ‘Real shame.’

>   ‘He may be back some time later in the week. Jack, I’m so pleased for you. Makes up for the disappointment about the antiques too. We’ll see you later.’

  Excited but let down all in one fell swoop, she leapt from her bed knowing at least she would see Cal later. He must be so relieved Jack had done so well, and so proud. One thing did light her candle though: Cal must have agreed to come along knowing she would be there.

  In the salon, Lizzie couldn’t wait to find Sophie and relay the good news. Sophie said she was keen to join them and would tell Charles. She also supported Lizzie’s change of heart to speak to Cal to try to patch things up.

  ‘You seem like a new person today. Why don’t you see who is free this afternoon and have a pampering session? You deserve it, sweet.’

  Lizzie’s eyes sparkled back at Sophie. ‘Do you know what? I might just do that.’ She worked until two and then spent the remainder of the afternoon treating herself to a face and neck massage, manicure, and a much needed haircut and styling. After trying several times, she spoke to Caroline on the mobile. Her mother and Michael would be along later. They had taken a trip out to Saint-Paul-de-Vence so, she told them to meet at her apartment at six-thirty. Marie-Claire had said she would try to get Thierry to have a sleep so that he could stay up a little longer. Lizzie suddenly felt so much more alive and was really looking forward to having her close friends and family back together. And Cal. Although, she guessed the evening could be tense. He hadn’t called her back last night nor this morning. Ideally, she wanted to clear the air before she saw him. On the other hand, if she managed to upset him before Jack’s celebration, she could risk upsetting the whole evening. She decided it was best to leave well alone and see how things panned out later.