One Summer in Monte Carlo

by Jennifer Bohnet

  ‘Of course, I’ll do everything possible to publicise your film,’ Vanessa said, ‘but I wanted to do something, try to make a difference, myself. I still can’t believe that they’ve turned the idea of a cooperative down because of some sleazy guy the head shaman has given his word to.’ She paused. ‘This outsider, as the shaman calls him, clearly thinks he’s on to something sending his henchman from Rio all this way into the forest.’

  ‘I wonder who he is?’ Ralph added thoughtfully.

  Vanessa shrugged and shook her head. ‘We’ll never know. I just wish the villagers could see that the cooperative would have given them so much more control over their own future – and that of the jungle,’ she added.

  For the next couple of weeks, Ralph concentrated on recovering from his accident and getting as much filming done as possible, before they began their long trek back to civilisation and then home. With their day of departure still some time away, Vanessa found herself thinking increasingly about the twins.

  Keeping in touch had proved as impossible as she’d known it would from so deep in the jungle and she was looking forward to reaching Manaus on the Amazon in a week or two and being able to telephone them. She’d missed them so much and couldn’t wait to hug them both tight to her.

  She didn’t mention the cooperative idea to anyone again and was surprised when late one afternoon, Angela brought the subject up as they prepared bowls of vegetables for the evening meal together.

  ‘Do you really believe your idea of a cooperative would work for the village?’

  ‘Of course,’ Vanessa said. ‘It would take a few months to organise and find outlets, but it’s the kind of thing I’m good at doing. The village would be totally self-supporting – nobody could muscle their way in and take the profits like they do now.’

  Angela placed a bowl of vine leaves on the table before looking at Vanessa. ‘The villagers are angry with you and Ralph. The man from Rio has failed to come to buy our gold.’ Angela paused. ‘Some of the men think you have put the evil eye on it.’

  Vanessa looked at her, horrified.

  ‘The shaman is insisting that you and Ralph attend a village council meeting this evening. He wants to hear what you have to say before deciding what to do about you.’

  25

  Sunday morning and Jean-Claude and Nanette were on their way to Antibes for lunch, when Jean-Claude took an unexpected detour before pulling to a stop in a deserted supermarket car park.

  ‘You need to drive again,’ he said gently. ‘And this place is perfect for a trial run.’

  Nanette looked at him. She’d been looking forward to today from the moment Mathieu had said he was taking the twins out for the day.

  ‘I’ll be away for most of next week,’ he’d said. ‘So I thought I’d treat them to a day’s sailing in Italy.’

  Jean-Claude, who was in the apartment at the time, had immediately asked Nanette to spend the day with him, an invitation she was happy to accept.

  Apart from the fact that she loved spending time with him, it would also be an ideal opportunity for them to talk. For Nanette to tell him how Mathieu had suggested she took up Zac’s job offer. But now, as Jean-Claude got out of the car and walked round to open the passenger car door for her, she froze.

  She shook her head. ‘I can’t do it.’

  ‘Like a horse – you fall off, you get back on,’ Jean-Claude insisted. ‘Otherwise the fear takes over. That, I think, is what happened with you. Come on, just try for me.’ He held out his hand to help her out of the car. Nanette could feel her legs trembling as she stood and walked round to the driver’s side of the car.

  Nanette had to force herself to get into the driver’s seat of the immaculate Jaguar F-type sports car and fastened the seat belt with trembling fingers.

  Jean-Claude pointed to the push button start and waited patiently as Nanette steadied her nerves.

  Nanette took a deep breath, gripped the steering wheel tightly, and gently pressed the accelerator pedal. As the car began to move forward, she found herself hardly daring to breathe.

  ‘Relax,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘Nothing is going to happen. Just drive around. Get the feel of driving again.’

  Nanette steered the car around the large car park usually filled to bursting with people and cars, but with the supermarket closed on Sundays, it was just a wide, open space.

  By the time she’d driven round half a dozen or so times, changing gear, accelerating, braking, she had relaxed and, to her surprise, the enjoyment she’d always taken in driving had returned. She pulled into a parking space and pulled on the handbrake before glancing across at Jean-Claude.

  ‘I enjoyed that, thank you, JC. It feels good to be behind the wheel again. Thank you for insisting it was time.’

  ‘Fancy driving along the coast road then?’ Jean-Claude asked quietly.

  Nanette hesitated for all of two seconds before saying. ‘Why not?’

  ‘If you turn left out of the exit and then take the next right, we’ll be back on the Bord de Mer.’

  It was a mere couple of hundred metres to the busy main road and Nanette was surprised at how quickly she found herself back in the mindset of automatically judging the speed of the traffic. Quickly slipping into a gap between cars, she found herself enjoying driving along the coast road for the first time in three years.

  Five minutes later, a noisy scooter, swerving in and out of the traffic, unnerved her and when the driver clipped her passenger-door wing mirror as he passed too close on the wrong side of the road, she abruptly pulled over and parked in the first roadside space she could find.

  She was shaking as she pulled on the handbrake and stopped the engine before turning to Jean-Claude. ‘It’s the third anniversary of my accident next week. That scooter just reminded me how quickly accidents can happen and change things.’

  ‘That wasn’t your fault,’ he said. ‘You must remember how irresponsible the young scooter drivers down here are – they cut everyone up from all angles.’

  ‘I’d forgotten. I was really enjoying myself until then, so thanks, JC, for insisting I faced the fear,’ Nanette said, undoing her seat belt and opening her door. ‘I’ve had enough for today though. You drive the rest of the way please.’

  Twenty minutes later, the car was parked and they were strolling along the ancient Antibes ramparts on their way to one of Jean-Claude’s favourite restaurants. As they settled themselves at a window table, Nanette gave him a happy smile.

  The restaurant, popular with both locals and tourists, was busy, but the staff were attentive and within minutes Nanette and Jean-Claude had aperitifs and the bread basket in front of them and the waiter had disappeared to fetch the glass of wine Jean-Claude had chosen to accompany Nanette’s main course, while he stuck with water.

  ‘I need to talk to you about something,’ Nanette said quietly. ‘You know I told you about Zac wanting me to work for him and his new business venture?’

  Jean-Claude nodded.

  ‘When I told Patsy, she virtually had a heart attack at the thought of me even considering working for Zac. Wanted me to let her tell him what he could do with his job,’ Nanette said, hesitating. ‘Mathieu, on the other hand, would like me to take the job. He thinks I could help him,’ she added quietly.

  Jean-Claude was instantly alert. ‘How?’

  Natalie shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. He simply said me working for Zac, having access to papers and the names of his associates, might be very useful for him.’ She took a sip of her wine. ‘I didn’t say yes, but I didn’t say no either. I know you’re worried about Mathieu, would it help you too, if I did some work for Zac, because it does look as if they are both embroiled in something?’

  Jean-Claude reached out for her hand and held it tightly. ‘Nanette, listen to me. I can’t forbid you to work for Zac, but please don’t. I don’t care what Mathieu says about it helping him – he is so wrong to try to involve you.’ He looked at her intently. ‘Promise me you won’t even think about it
. I don’t want you in any sort of danger. I’d never forgive myself.’

  Shocked by the intensity of his words, and the look in his eyes, Nanette could only say quietly, ‘I promise, JC.’ She paused. ‘Mathieu knows he’s being followed, you know,’ Nanette said. ‘He doesn’t know who’s arranged it, though,’ she added quickly.

  The waiter appeared with their food at that moment and Jean-Claude released her hand.

  ‘Has the private detective discovered anything?’ Nanette asked once they were alone again and eating their meals.

  ‘Non. Nothing new anyway. Mathieu has had dinner several times at the Automobile Club. Boris was there on one occasion. Zac on another. My detective wasn’t the only one surveying things. He recognised an ex-gendarmerie colleague who now runs an agency in Nice.’

  ‘Was he watching Mathieu as well?’

  ‘Apparently not. He followed Boris when he left. Which makes me wonder, who was paying him to do that?’

  ‘Your man can’t ask his ex-colleague?’

  ‘He can ask, but he can’t tell me. Client confidentiality and all that,’ Jean-Claude said, shaking his head.

  Jean-Claude was silent for a few seconds, thoughtfully fingering the stem of his wine glass.

  ‘What a mess,’ he sighed. ‘If only he’d tell me what was going on, I could help. I’m not without connections. I know people in the right places, as they say.’ He shrugged and looked at Nanette helplessly.

  ‘I know it’s hard not to worry, but the only thing you can do really is to let things take their course and be there to step in with help whenever you can.’ Nanette said, impulsively reaching out for his hand and squeezing it.

  ‘I am sorry, Nanette, today I want to be a happy memory for us, not one full of worry. Tell me more about your sister, Patsy.’

  The rest of lunch passed in a flash as they talked and laughed together and Nanette realised it was a long time since she’d felt as comfortable with a man as she did with Jean-Claude. They spent the afternoon wandering around the old town of Antibes and it was gone five before they reluctantly began to make their way back to Monaco.

  The news of Zac’s victory in the Canadian Grand Prix came over the car radio as they drove through Cap-d’Ail.

  ‘I think he make champion this year,’ Jean-Claude said thoughtfully. ‘He’s driving really well.’

  Nanette nodded. ‘He’ll be on a real high when he gets back next week,’ she said. ‘Making him accept no for an answer to his proposal will be difficult.’

  ‘Would you like me to tell him for you?’ Jean-Claude asked.

  Nanette smiled at him gratefully. ‘Thanks for the offer, but I think it’s something I must do myself.’

  As Jean-Claude stopped the car outside the apartment, Nanette impulsively leant across and kissed him gently on the cheek.

  ‘I’ve really enjoyed today, JC. Thank you.’

  Jean-Claude looked at her steadily before unexpectedly placing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her towards him. His kiss was gentle and undemanding and a surprised Nanette was totally unprepared for the emotions it unleashed within her. As they drew apart, she stared at him.

  ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Jean-Claude said, eventually releasing her.

  Wordlessly, Nanette got out and closed the car door. Jean-Claude gave her an enigmatic smile before turning the steering wheel and driving away.

  Nanette, her thoughts reeling, watched as the car disappeared. Had that kiss meant the same to him as it had to her? Could she be overreacting to a gesture that was maybe just a sign of loving friendship from a man she was already very fond of?

  26

  The following morning, Mathieu left on his business trip and Nanette’s day slipped into its normal routine imposed by the twin’s school timetable.

  With the memory of Jean-Claude’s kiss fresh in her mind, Nanette felt strangely shy when she took the twins up to his villa for an after-school swim. She needn’t have worried. Jean-Claude, as always, the perfect gentlemen, greeted her and the twins in his normal manner. It was only when they were alone for a few minutes, as the twins dried and dressed themselves, that he took her in his arms and gently kissed her.

  ‘How are you today, ma chérie?’ he asked.

  Nanette smiled at him shyly, as her heart skipped a beat at his use of the endearment. She hadn’t imagined it; the kiss had meant something to him as well.

  ‘Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?’ he asked. ‘I thought maybe you’d like some company after the twins are in bed,’ he added.

  Realising that Jean-Claude had remembered that tomorrow was the third anniversary of her accident, Nanette nodded. ‘Please.’

  ‘I have a business meeting early evening, but I should be with you by about nine o’clock,’ Jean-Claude said.

  ‘The twins have a school play rehearsal. I have to collect them at eight thirty, so by the time we’ve walked back, that would be perfect.’

  ‘Good. I think we have things to talk about, ma chérie,’ Jean-Claude said softly.

  The following evening, the streets were quiet as Nanette walked slowly through Monaco to collect the twins. It would be another half-hour before the rush of people out to enjoy themselves for the evening began to make their way to the restaurants and nightclubs.

  The hall where the twins were rehearsing was part of the modern apartment block where Zac had lived years ago and Nanette found her footsteps dragging the nearer she got to the building.

  Having deliberately avoided this particular area of Monte Carlo since her return, Nanette couldn’t help thinking how ironic it was that it should be this evening of all evenings that she was again having to come to this particular building.

  Nanette tried to push thoughts of the past out of her mind and concentrate on present-day aspects of her life – the twins, Jean-Claude, particularly Jean-Claude – but as she crossed the road towards the apartment block, images from her past began to merge with the present-day ones.

  The lights were on in various apartments, including No.5 where she and Zac had spent so much time together. As Nanette glanced up, a glamorous woman came onto the small balcony to look out over the street, before going back inside and closing the French doors, shutting Nanette and the world out.

  Standing in the middle of the small service road that led to an underground garage, Nanette stared up at the window. Three years ago, she and Zac were in that apartment getting ready to go out and celebrate her birthday before he left for the next Grand Prix.

  She remembered how happy she’d been as they left the apartment. Stepping, hand in hand with Zac, into the lift to go down to the garage. Walking across to her new car and driving slowly up out of the underground exit, making for the autoroute and their dinner reservation in Mougins. The start of what had been a perfect evening with the man she loved – and whom she’d thought had loved her.

  An unexpected shiver racked her body and Nanette took several deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. Images from later on that fateful evening were beginning to crowd into her brain.

  Things she’d forgotten until now. The champagne she’d drunk, the friends they’d met up with, the heavy rain that had begun to fall as they were in the restaurant. Zac’s insistence…

  Nanette jumped as a car horn blared out behind her.

  ‘Hey, lady, that’s not the best place to stand – unless you want to be run down.’ The man in the expensive sports car leant out of his window and rebuked her.

  Nanette smiled weakly and mouthed the word ‘sorry’ in his direction, before moving back on to the narrow pavement, and allowing the man and his car to disappear down the ramp into the depths of the underground garage.

  Shaking, she leant against the wall. It was several minutes before she felt strong enough to walk the few remaining metres to the rehearsal-hall entrance.

  It seemed only a matter of minutes before the twins ran out to join her.

  ‘Hi, Netty,’ Olivia said, taking hold of her hand as they began
to walk, while Pierre ambled along in front.

  ‘I didn’t forget a single line tonight,’ Pierre said proudly.

  ‘Well done, you,’ Nanette said, struggling to talk normally. ‘And you, Olivia? How did you get on?’

  ‘OK,’ Olivia said, turning to look at her. ‘I’ve only got three or four lines to say anyway. Are you all right, Netty? You don’t look very well.’

  ‘I’ve got a bit of a headache,’ was the only thing Nanette could think of saying. ‘Come on, let’s go home. Shall we have some hot chocolate when we get back?’

  Once Nanette had seen the twins into bed, she went through to the balcony and looked down at the boats bobbing around on their moorings. Lights were shining out from the main cabin on Pole Position, and as Nanette watched, a crew member came out on deck to check the positioning of the fenders. Even though Zac wasn’t on board, the crew knew to keep everything in tiptop shape. Zac had been known to arrive unexpectedly even when on a tight schedule between races.

  She stared down at the yacht, wondering why her memory had suddenly started to throw pictures of the past at her. Zac’s proposition? Or maybe driving on Sunday had been the trigger? Whatever the catalyst, there appeared to be no stopping the flood of painful reminiscences that were unexpectedly crowding into her mind.

  Large droplets of rain blew in unexpectedly under the shelter of the balcony and Nanette grimaced to herself. She gripped the balcony rail tightly as another vignette of that dreadful evening three years ago flooded into her consciousness…

  It was raining heavily as they left the restaurant. By the time they were on the autoroute and heading for the first tunnel, it was torrential and Nanette expected Zac to decree leaving at the next exit. Instead, he simply pressed the play button on the radio and the nostalgic words of ‘Yesterday’ struggled to be heard against the noise of the storm and the rhythmic sweep, sweep of windscreen wipers rendered useless by the force of the rain.