Page 55 of Falling for Provence

‘Oh…’ Ellie’s interest had been caught, which was a good thing. The sad memories of her childhood were being pushed to one side. ‘That’ll be where gargle comes from. And gurgle?’

Julien nodded. ‘And gargoyle. That’s why the creatures were placed on the roofs of buildings – to channel the water away when it rains.’

‘Whenil pleut comme une vache qui pisse?’

Julien’s laughter faded into a smile. He usually only felt this soft sensation in his chest when Theo did or said something so adorable it made his heart melt.

He loved the way Ellie could do this…

The way she could notice or remember – and capture – a tiny thing that could touch others was part of the way she looked at life and one of the things that made her so good to be near.

‘Oh là là… tu es adorable,’ he said. He didn’t bother translating his words. Instead, he reached out to touch her cheek. The way his fingers traced the outline of her face felt so familiar now – like the way something caught in his chest when Ellie tilted her face into his touch. Her chin was the perfect fit for the cup his hand could create, and her eyes were closing already in anticipation of his kiss as he leaned towards her.

A long, slow, delicious kiss…

And then another.

But then Ellie rested her head on his shoulder and Julien moved his arm to provide a protective circle. Because he didn’t want her to move anytime soon. When they did move to go upstairs to her bedroom, it was quite possible that she wouldn’t want to make love in the aftermath of remembered trauma and sadness, and that would be fine by him. He would be more thanhappy to simply hold her like this and feel her fall asleep in his arms. To keep her company.

And to keep her safe.

Maybe that was why he responded the way he did when she spoke again.

‘I’d like to go there,’ she said quietly. ‘To where these photographs were taken. Would it be hard for me to find?’

‘Saint-Martin-Vésubie? I’m going near there myself,’ he found himself saying. ‘I’m collecting Theo from Roquebillière on Saturday afternoon because he’s been invited to the birthday party of a school friend in Vence on Sunday. I’ve been promising to take him to that wolf park for such a long time, and this is the day we can finally go. Saint-Martin-Vésubie is on the way. I could drop you there for an hour or two and pick you up on the way back.’

Except… he didn’t want to abandon Ellie to explore the village alone. He would know exactly how she felt about seeing the background of old family photographs come to life because it would be written all over her face. He wanted to share the warmth of something that made her feel good. Or offer comfort if it was something tinged with sadness.

‘Or…’ he added. ‘You could come with us and we could all explore Saint-Martin-Vésubie on the way home? The wolf park is in a beautiful part of the mountains.’

What was he doing? Inviting Ellie to spend time with his son again? Taking her into a part of his life that he had been protecting so fiercely – for Ellie’s sake as much as Theo’s? But this was important, too.

This was about Ellie’s family. And the unknown part of her heritage that was French. It would only be a tiny piece of the puzzle that represented a missing part of her life but perhaps it might help, in the same way that visiting the grave of someone lost could bring a sense of connection. Peace, even…?

And who knew when, or even if, he would get another chance to take Ellie to that town alone? Preparations were being made to put this house on the market very soon. Summer was drawing to a close.

At least this time he could give her the choice of whether she wanted to spend time with his son, on an outing that could cause pain by reminding her of her own loss. This wasn’t simply a thoughtless invitation.

‘They don’t allow dogs in the wolf park, of course, and you might not be happy to leave Pascal at home alone for half a day?’

The look in Ellie’s eyes told him that she understood the escape route he had just offered, but he could see something else there as well. Something that hadn’t been there the first time he’d suggested she spent time with him and his son. He’d known all along that she was courageous, but there was a strength there that felt new. Had making that child’s bedroom so beautiful changed something for her?

The hint of something like surprise – or wonder – on her face made him think that she was just discovering that new strength for herself as well.

‘I’d love to come,’ she said softly.

19

It was only an hour or so’s drive to the small town of Roquebillière, but Ellie had never been this far up into the mountains, and the scenery – not to mention the road, which appeared to be carved into the side of an enormous cliff with a drop on the other side to the river at the bottom of the canyon – was spectacular. Several times she found herself holding her breath and, when Julien slowed to negotiate a narrow tunnel, she let out a gasp.

‘Don’t worry,’ he told her. ‘I know this road like… what’s that expression? Ah,oui– the back of my hand. You’re perfectly safe.’

Ellie nodded. ‘It’s an astonishing road. I’ve never seen nets like that attached to cliffs.’

‘Rockfall protection,’ Julien told her. ‘This is one of the more scenic roads in France. The river below us is the Vésubie, which is a tributary of the Var. Do you remember the terrible storm a few years ago where so much damage was done and many people killed?’

‘I do,’ Ellie said. ‘It caused problems in Scotland, too, but nothing as bad as in France. It was a real weather bomb.’

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