Page 6 of Falling for Provence

Theirhouse.

‘Are there any rivers around here?’ Ellie threw a last glance over her shoulder as they left the cobbled streets behind them.

‘I have no idea.’ Laura’s gaze was bewildered. ‘Does it matter?’

‘Not really.’

Her homeland had plenty of rivers. Beaches that were made of countless millions of stones. Ellie knew she could be taking photographs of these patterns, but she resisted taking her phone from her pocket. Because she knew it was unlikely that the images in her head were going to fade anytime soon? Maybe she would prefer to tap into these memories than hold a two-dimensional print that could become a barrier to something more significant.

But would a memory alone recapture this spark of connection? The way that touching them had? These paths were part of this place, and maybe the tiny glow of whatever it was that felt like a glimpse into the soul of the person she had once been was about more than simply a pattern. It might be connected to the sense of history that was as unique to this part of the world as the language and the smells and the softness ofthe sunlight and warmth. Different instruments but all playing their part in the same concerto?

They were almost back at the estate office, where they’d left the car.

‘I’m going to pop back in and ask how soon the house might be ready for some marketing photographs to be taken. I think I’d better come back to supervise that myself.’

‘You could ask for the key back, too.’

Ellie was almost as surprised by her own quiet words as Laura. They were enough to have stopped both of them in their tracks.

‘Why would I do that? You said you didn’t even want to see the house again, let alone go inside it.’

‘I think I’ve changed my mind,’ Ellie said slowly.

‘Oh, my God…’ Laura was watching Ellie intently, her eyes widening. ‘Is it the idea of staying and cleaning up the house that you’ve changed your mind about?’

That wasn’t the reason that was prompting this crazy impulse, but Laura didn’t need to know that. Whatever that flicker of connection had been, it was too tiny and fragile to expose to any external influence in case it was instantly extinguished.

It wasn’t that Elliewantedto stay, exactly.

It would be a terrifying idea if she let herself think about anything other than taking this first, tentative step. But she knew that sheneededto stay.

That she needed to find out if that spark had been real. If there was the possibility that all of her dreams hadn’t died forever.

‘Yes… I think so.’ The words came out as no more than a whisper. Then she cleared her throat. ‘Only for a while,’ she added, because that made it feel not quite such a huge decision. ‘Maybe just for the summer.’

‘I hate rushing off like this.’ Laura pulled back from Ellie’s hug the next morning to look down at the bags by their feet. ‘I’d help you carry it all inside, but I have no idea what the traffic will be like near Nice and I’ve got to get the rental car back. Unless you want to change your mind and keep it? I could get a taxi.’

Ellie shook her head firmly. ‘I’m not going to drive here. I’d forget which side of the road I’m supposed to be on and kill somebody. Me, probably, but it would be worse if I killed somebody else. Besides, how expensive would that be? You’ve already spent enough, and you’re going to be covering the costs of this renovation.’

‘I don’t mind. I’ll get it back when the house is sold. How are you going to get to the shops?’ Laura waved her hand at the bags. ‘That food won’t last long and the supermarket in Vence is miles away.’

‘I can get a bus. The main road’s not that far.’

‘I suppose so.’ Laura turned towards the car but then stopped again. ‘You’ve got the key?’

Ellie patted the back pocket of her jeans. ‘Yep.’

‘And you’ve got Noah’s card? With his phone number? You’ll ring him later, won’t you, if that plumber he called hasn’t turned up to sort out the hot water?’

‘Aye.’ The card was in her pocket along with the key. ‘Now get going or you’ll miss your flight. You don’t want to be late for that awards dinner tonight.’ She stepped forwards to give her sister another brief hug. ‘Good luck. I reckon you’re going to win a gold medal for your sales record this time.’

‘I’ll call you. And I’ll get some of your clothes packed up and your laptop and anything else that looks useful and get them couriered tomorrow, okay?’

‘Okay. Go!’

But Laura paused again on the other side of the road. ‘Do you really want to do this, Ellie? Are you going to be all right?’

‘I’ll be fine.’ Ellie sucked in a deep breath as she heard the tiny wobble in her own voice. She summoned a smile. ‘I’m going to make lemonade.’

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