Page 54 of The Little Provence Book Shop

‘Claude!’

‘Bonjour, Madame,’ he said, tipping his head slightly towards her. He smiled and although it wasn’t a wide, open smile of happiness, it was different from the sad smile he’d had previously.

Something must have happened.

‘You’re looking well!’

‘Merci.’ He gave a little nod. ‘I thought it might be time to smarten up. Violet, my wife, was always telling me I should make more effort.’ His smile, after these words, was tinged with sadness, but somehow his manner was lighter. He’d never mentioned Violet to her so openly before. ‘And perhaps it is time that I listened.’

She smiled. ‘Well, good for you. You look great.’

‘Ha, as Violet would say “better late than never”,’ he told her and she smiled and nodded her understanding.

He leaned on the counter then, his head tilting in her direction. ‘Thank you for the book.’ Then lowering his voice added: ‘And also for saying what you did about the doctor. I am an old man, a stubborn fool. Too proud to go to the doctor for my head, for my broken heart. But you were right.’

‘I’m so glad,’ she told him quietly.

‘It was always Violet before, who made me go,’ he added. ‘And now she spoke through you, perhaps.’

Adeline wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this – to say that she was simply being sensible, giving him advice she’d give anyone, without a nudge from the spiritual world. But it seemed cruel; it was nice for him to believe Violet had had a hand in things. She smiled and nodded her head.

‘Bonjour,Monique,’ he said, turning and noticing Monique in the far corner, kneeling down next to a pile of books. She gave him a nod and he walked over and crouched down, speaking gently. Adeline watched as he reached out an arm and gave her a small rub on her upper back, as if comforting her.

She straightened, got to her feet with Claude’s help and they began to talk. It was hard not to listen and although Adeline busied herself with the order book, she couldn’t help but pick up snippets of their conversation.

‘I don’t know what to do, how to feel,’ Monique was saying.

Claude shook his head. ‘But I think that you do.’

She looked up at him, ‘Then what is it? What is the thing I must do?’

‘Non, I do not know. Butyoudo. Monique, you always know what to do. You are so in touch with instinct, emotion. You need to think what you would tell someone else. If someone came into your shop with this problem, what would you tell them?’

Monique looked at him, shaking her head. ‘I am not sure.’

‘But it is there,’ he insisted. ‘It is in your heart if you take a moment to listen.’

She nodded again, raising her face to his. Their eyes met and an understanding seemed to pass between them. Smiling, he turned and walked towards the door, stopping to say goodbye to Adeline before pulling it open. ‘I’ll be back later in the week for a new book,’ he said.

‘See you soon,’ Adeline called after him as the bell rang, signalling his exit.

Silence settled in his wake, like a blanket covering a birdcage, sending them back into their quiet, reflective state. Adeline busied herself, turning the pages of a new book and trying to get into it. She’d read more books in the weeks since she’d arrived than she had in the months beforehand and was thrilled that reading was now part of her job.

She’d begun to sink into the story of a young girl and her friend, finding entertainment in 1970s Yorkshire, when a voice by her ear made her jump. ‘…Un café?’

‘Monique!’ she said, turning and touching her heart. ‘Sorry, I was miles away. But yes, please. I’d love one.’

Monique seemed to be in no hurry to disappear to the apartment to make it. She remained in place, her hands wringing together, her shoulders still slightly slumped. Then a decisivemotion took over her body and she straightened. ‘I need to say that I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, Monique. What for?’

‘Ah, you are kind. But I have not been. I have been lost in my own selfish thoughts.’

‘Not at all,’ Adeline said, firmly.

‘Mais si! You have found your mother. It is incredible! And you must have a thousand emotions. You probably need a friend, to talk, and I have disappeared today. But it is because of my own sadness, you understand? I am very happy for you, but…’ she trailed off, not sure how to finish.

But she didn’t need to. Adeline was only too aware of what she was referring to. ‘I know,’ she said, softly. ‘I’m so sorry, Monique.’

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