by Lost
Raff clenched his jaw.
‘Coco, no…’Sophie tried to stop her.
‘She made me tell Sophie that you knew about me.’ Coco was weeping loudly now. ‘That you were a bad father and you just didn’t want to know me. She made me say it and I didn’t know it was wrong. Not until I got older. And then Sophie turned up and I didn’t want to say anything.’
‘Is this true?’ Raff was livid.
‘I’m afraid so,’ Sophie admitted. ‘But it wasn’t Coco’s fault and I don’t blame her. Not one bit. She was a child and she didn’t know she was doing anything wrong.’
‘It’s my fault you left Paris,’ Coco wailed.
‘No, it isn’t,’ Sophie told her resolutely. ‘It’s my fault. I should have had more faith in your dad. I should have stayed and listened. Instead, I ran away. So you must know that that’s never the answer.’
Coco nodded, her bottom lip trembling.
‘I’m the one who’s wasted all this time we could have had together,’ Sophie stammered. ‘It’s my fault, not yours. Coco.’
Raff looked shell-shocked. He hadn’t realised how truly manipulative Estelle was. He didn’t want her anywhere near any of them, not now. Not ever.
‘Right.’ Fifi stepped in. ‘Enough. Let’s just say that everyone had a part in this. Apart from Raff. I think you’ve had a really bad time with all of this.’
Raff sighed. ‘It’s in the past. You’re back, Sophie, and that’s all that matters. For however long you’re going to be here for,’ he added quickly.
‘Listen,’ Fifi said calmly. ‘We have the launch in a few days’ time. Why don’t we all get a good night’s sleep and we can review things in the morning.’
Raff and Sophie both nodded.
‘Sleep here,’ Fifi said. ‘We have plenty of rooms with fresh bedding. I can send my friend over to Henri to keep him company tonight.’
‘Maybe I should get back,’ Raff said worriedly.
‘It’s up to you, but I think he’s feeling much better now,’ Fifi said. ‘I spoke to him earlier.’
Raff looked pleased and he phoned Henri again. ‘You’re sure? You don’t want anyone to check on you. No, I know you’re not a child, Dad. Fair enough.’ He came off the phone. ‘Well, that told me.’
Fifi smiled. ‘He sounds more independent already. Come on, Coco. Let’s get you into bed. You can have the room next to the one I’m using. It’s probably not as ‘cool’ as your room at home, but it’s very pretty.’
Coco kissed Raff goodnight and hugged Sophie.
‘Sorry,’ she whispered. She went upstairs willingly with Fifi, looking utterly exhausted.
‘Zut.’ Raff sank down onto the sofa. ‘What a day! I never want to go through that again.’
Sophie joined him. ‘Me neither.’
‘I can’t believe Estelle made Coco say that stuff to you.’ Raff passed a hand over his eyes. ‘That’s terrible, even for her.’
‘It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have listened.’
Raff lifted his head. ‘It was a child, telling you I knew about her. It wouldn’t be your first thought not to believe her, or to believe she’d been coached to say something like that. It’s horrendous.’ He sat up. ‘I honestly don’t blame you, Soph. I really don’t. Why wouldn’t you believe a child? Estelle turning up like this, whenever she pleases, makes things hard for everyone. She causes havoc every single time.’
‘She has rights,’ Sophie said tiredly. ‘But I get why it stresses you out.’
‘Stresses me out? It’s worse than that. And I can’t stand how she’s made you feel.’
Sophie pulled him back against the sofa. ‘No more, Raff. I’m too tired.’ She curled up against his warm, now-familiar body. He tucked his arm around her and his chin on top of her head and within minutes, the pair of them were asleep.
Fifi came down after settling Coco and watched them for a few seconds. Making sure they were both covered with a fleece, she turned the lights down low and left them to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The following morning, Raff stirred. Sophie was in his arms and it had been a long time since they’d slept like that. He was going to savour each minute until she woke up. He had around half an hour before she opened her eyes and it was bliss.
‘Wow.’ Sophie lifted her head. ‘I was in such a deep sleep then.’ She leant over and kissed him sleepily. ‘This will sound crazy, but I’ve missed sleeping with you. Next to you. Oh, you know what I mean.’
‘I do.’ Raff grinned. ‘And I feel the same. I’ve missed sleeping with you too. In every way you can imagine.’
Sophie grinned back. Their limbs were entwined and they squeezed them closer. They kissed again, more deeply, hands in each other’s hair.
‘God, I’ve missed you so badly,’ Raff breathed.
‘Stop talking,’ Sophie said, pulling him back.
‘Who would like coffee?’ Fifi called down the stairs loudly.
Sophie and Raff sprang apart like teenagers.
‘Er… I’d love one,’ Raff called back, sitting up.
‘Me too,’ Sophie added sheepishly.
Fifi appeared on the stairs. ‘Ah, good, you’re both up.’ Her eyes twinkled at them as she strode past in a smart navy skirt with a cream pussycat-bow blouse. ‘I’ll get us some breakfast.’
‘She doesn’t eat breakfast,’ Sophie yawned.
Raff checked his phone. ‘Estelle has messaged and asked to see me.’
‘I think you should go,’ Sophie said, getting up properly. Suddenly, she felt clear about Estelle. She wasn’t a threat, not in the sense Sophie had thought. She had caused immense trouble, but there was also much for Sophie to reprimand herself over. And that made her feel back in control of the situation.
Coco appeared on the stairs. ‘Can I come?’
‘To see your mum?’ Raff was surprised. ‘Yes, if you want to.’
‘I need to say a few things,’ Coco said.
‘I’ll stay here and help Grand-mère with the shop relaunch,’ Sophie said, giving Coco a hug.
‘Let’s go,’ Raff said. ‘I’ll ask her to come to ours.’ They left in a taxi, and as soon as they got home, Coco jumped in the shower and got changed.
‘Everything alright?’ Henri said, handing Raff a coffee.
Raff stared at it. His dad hadn’t made him a coffee in over a year.
‘Don’t make a big thing of it,’ Henri said gruffly. ‘I’ve been feeling far too sorry for myself for the past year. I can only apologise.’
‘What, for grieving? You don’t need to apologise for that. I’m just so pleased you seem so much better.’
‘I feel different,’ Henri said, putting his outdoor shoes on. ‘Not necessarily better yet, just… different.’
Raff rubbed his eyes tiredly. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Gardening. Fifi’s friend Ruben is coming over shortly.’
Raff checked his watch. ‘So is Estelle.’
Henri pulled a face. ‘All the more reason to get out of the house then,’ he joked. ‘Be careful there, son.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ Raff told him steadfastly. ‘I am very clear about what I need to say. I’m pleased you’re sorting out the garden, Dad.’
Henri rolled his sleeves up. ‘Just clearing it for now. When it comes to planting flowers and all that, Fifi is sending her friend Margaux over.’ He tapped his nose knowingly. ‘I think she might have some silly notion about setting me up with her, but I know what she’s up to and it won’t be happening, so don’t worry about that.’
‘I’m not,’ Raff said honestly. ‘I just want you to be happy. I know you’d never try and replace mum.’
‘Never,’ Henri said, his eyes looking misty. ‘I loved her so much.’
Raff refrained from comment. He was sure it was too soon for his father to be thinking about being with someone else, but he hoped that one day, his dad might be ready for it. He had thought he might find it weird, but he now realise
d that it would simply make him happy to see his dad happy.
The doorbell rang.
‘If it’s Ruben, send him out into the garden please,’ Henri said. ‘But I’ll make myself scarce in case it’s the other one.’
Raff hid a laugh. He knew his dad had never liked Estelle.
‘Don’t let Sophie go,’ Henri said over his shoulder, ‘but that other one is a horrible woman and I’d be happy if I never saw her again.’
Raff couldn’t agree more. He got up and answered the door. It was both Ruben and Estelle. He stood aside. ‘Dad is outside,’ he told Ruben. ‘Let’s go through to the lounge,’ he told Estelle. He knew he sounded cold, but he didn’t care.
Estelle followed Raff. She was uncharacteristically quiet. She wore blue jeans with a khaki-coloured t-shirt – a subdued outfit by her usual standards. Coco came downstairs in a similar outfit, which she didn’t seem to notice.
‘Estelle. We have to talk about your visits.’
‘You don’t need to,’ she snapped.
‘Why not?’ Raff frowned.
‘Because I don’t see any point in coming again.’
‘You’re Coco’s mother,’ Raff said, taken aback. He hadn’t expected this. ‘I wasn’t going to suggest that you stayed away. Just that we need to talk about the visits being more regular so Coco can cope better.’
Estelle shook her head. ‘I can’t commit to regular visits.’
‘Why not?’ Coco asked calmly.
‘Because of work,’ Estelle shrugged.
‘You’re so selfish,’ Raff started. ‘I cannot believe you would—’
‘Dad.’ Coco cut in. ‘Can I say something?’
Raff sat back. ‘Go ahead.’
‘The reason I get upset when you visit is because you made me lie to Sophie all those years ago,’ Coco stated. ‘And when you came back this time with Sophie here, I remembered it again properly and I felt sad and guilty and like it’s all my fault that Sophie left and that dad has been unhappy for so long, when actually it was more your fault because you’re an adult and you shouldn’t have made me do that.’
‘Made you lie to Sophie?’ Estelle looked shocked at being confronted, but she did her best to bluff it out. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, and it’s terrible that you would make something up like—’
‘Estelle.’ Raff cut her off. ‘Please stop. We’ve all had enough. You’re Coco’s mother, but really, only biologically speaking. Otherwise, other people have brought her up. You haven’t done anything constructive. What mother leaves their child behind?’
‘I’m a model. And I’m trying to start a singing career…’
Raff stared at her. ‘Good for you. But you are Coco’s mother first and foremost. That should be the most important thing in the world to you.’
‘It’s ok, Dad,’ Coco assured him, putting her arm around him. ‘I don’t need a mum, that’s the thing. I have you, dad. And you’re the one who has been there for me. After Grand-mère, anyway and she’s dead now. So dad and Grand-père… they are all I need.’ She turned to Estelle, a calm expression on her face.
‘So you don’t want me to come anymore?’ Estelle asked. She got up. ‘Well, good. That suits me. It’s a pain having to come back here when I do.’
Raff couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Had it been anyone else, he would have imagined they were saying such things to cover up their own pain, but not Estelle.
‘Goodbye, Maman,’ Coco said, sounding relieved.
‘Are you hoping for a new stepmum?’ Estelle asked nastily. ‘Sophie Marchant, perhaps? Because if you are, just remember that she left as well. She left Paris and she only came back because her mother is missing. She left Raff and she left you. And I expect she’ll do it again.’
With that, Estelle flounced out of the house and slammed the door.
‘Are you ok?’ Raff was concerned for Coco. ‘You were so brave.’
‘I’m fine. I feel relieved. And I can relax now, knowing she won’t turn up again.’ She looked troubled. ‘But it upset me, what she said about Sophie. Is she going again?’
‘I don’t know,’ Raff answered honestly. ‘I hope not. But I don’t know.’
Coco nodded. ‘Ok.’
‘Let’s wait and see.’ Raff hugged her. ‘When Mariele is back, I think everything will be decided one way or another.’
‘Has she gone?’ Henri asked, pulling off his gardening gloves.
‘For good,’ Coco said.
‘Ah.’ He patted her head. ‘I’m sorry, Coco. But maybe it’s for the best.’
‘Definitely,’ Coco agreed. ‘Can I come and help in the garden?’
‘Of course,’ Henri put his gloves back on.
Coco kissed the top of Raff’s head and went into the garden.
Raff sat back against the sofa. That had been intense, but he was certain that it was the right thing for everyone involved. Coco would be far happier. All that was needed now was for Mariele to come home.
And for Sophie to want to stay in Paris, Raff thought. Right now he had no idea whether she was going to or not.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘Are we ready?’
‘We’re ready,’ Sophie nodded. She’d gone for a casual summer dress today for the opening: navy, with spaghetti straps and a short, slender skirt. But she was sure no one would be taking notice of what anyone was wearing today.
Sophie looked around. The macaron shop looked amazing. All the paintwork had been touched up. The new wall with the silver swirls on the pastel pink background looked fresh and modern. The new bags were lined up on the counter and the photograph looked glossy and eye-catching.
‘I love the new sign,’ Raff said, coming back into the shop. ‘Have you seen it?’
‘I had a peek this morning. It’s great, isn’t it?’ Sophie felt absurdly nervous. Her mum might come back today and her stomach was jumping around like anything.
‘I think Mariele will love it.’ Raff made sure his macarons were perfectly lined up. ‘Do you think she might turn up today?’
‘I hope so. She sent a message this morning wishing us good luck and saying she’s excited to see the changes.’ Sophie thought for a second. ‘Which now I come to think of it sounds more like she just means she’ll see them whenever she turns up.’
‘No, let’s think positively.’ Raff watched caterers walking in with prepared platters of food. Olives, cornichons, rolls of ham, chunks of brie. Tiny canapés with various delicious-looking toppings. ‘I could have prepared all of this.’
‘I think Grand-mère enjoyed organising it all. I don’t think she wanted to stress you out after all the Estelle stuff.’
Raff smiled. ‘Cooking relaxes me. It would have helped me, not hindered me. But that’s fine.’
‘Are you and Coco ok about everything?’ Sophie asked. Raff had told her everything that had happened the other night.
‘Yes. I think we are both relieved.’
Raff refrained from saying anything about Coco’s concerns about Sophie leaving. About his concerns about Sophie leaving. He didn’t want to put any pressure on her. And Raff knew he needed to wait for Mariele to come back before anything else happened. The main thing was, Raff wanted Sophie to make her own decisions. He wasn’t about to apply any emotional blackmail or say anything that might influence her either way.
Louis arrived with Anne-Marie whose stomach seemed to have popped out a little more, and Louis, dazzling in a short-sleeved shirt the colour of ripe carrots, couldn’t stop rubbing Anne-Marie’s tummy as though it might release a genie from a lamp.
‘What do you think?’ Fifi said, walking in, throwing her arms wide to encompass the shop.
‘I think it looks amazing,’ Raff said, kissing her cheek. ‘Thank you so much for all your help. Mariele is going to love it.’
‘I hope so,’ Fifi said, frowning. ‘She can be very… particular.’
Raff smiled. ‘Where would she get that from?’
Fifi tw
inkled at him. ‘I have no idea.’ Her face faltered. ‘Do you think she will come home today?’
‘I don’t know.’ Raff glanced at Sophie who had been a bag of nerves all morning. ‘I really hope so.’
‘Fifi,’ Louis came over and gallantly kissed her hand. ‘Red shoes, I love it. And what a fantastic suit.’
Fifi glanced down at her cream Chanel and said nothing. Chanel spoke for itself.
People started to arrive for the pre-launch party. Coco and her friend Aimee, Eloise, Georges, and the boys, who had been allowed the morning off school. Eloise and Sophie hugged tightly and Eloise pulled back to look at her twin.
‘Maybe we’ll all be together again today,’ she said in a hopeful voice.
Sophie tucked Eloise’s hair behind her ear. ‘She said she’d be back this weekend. We have to trust her.’
‘I just want to know what’s happened,’ Eloise said, breaking down. Which made Sophie break down, because it always did. ‘God, I’ve been so strong, Soph! But today, now that she’s supposed to be here, it feels overwhelming.’
‘I know. How silly is this? We’ve been without her for the past few months and because she’s due back, we’re falling apart.’ Sophie wiped her eyes. ‘We have to get a grip. Maybe she just needed a sabbatical from work or something. I’m sure it will all become clear.’
‘Can’t be work,’ Eloise frowned. ‘It has to be more than that.’
Sophie sighed. There were just too many ifs and buts with the situation. All they could do was guess and surmise until their mum came home.
‘There’s Pinter,’ Eloise said, pulling herself together. ‘Zut, who is that gorgeous girl? And that man… he’s so handsome. Oops.’ She turned quickly to check Georges hadn’t heard her.
‘That’s Mason – and Savannah. The wedding couple I photographed the other day.’
‘They are so ugly,’ Eloise giggled.
Sophie laughed. Pinter, Esther, Savannah and Mason, provided a touch of tanned, over-the-top glamour, designer labels and magnums of champagne. Just what the party needed.
