Page 17 of The Village Cafe in the Loire

‘So, do you think you can help?’

‘You want some advice in running the café?’ he asked, confused.

‘No.’ Had he literally not been listening? ‘I want to ask whether you can… help Pascal to understand that what Maud wanted, with all the love in the world, doesn’t really matter now, does it? And I’m sure…’

Georges’s expression clouded. ‘Surely you do not mean this? That you would go against your aunt’s wishes? She gave you her café, yes, but it is more than a café. It was her life.’

Becky nodded, wishing she’d chosen different words. ‘Oh, of course. Of course itmatters. I didn’t mean… In an ideal world I’d love to do what she suggests. But it’s not practical.’

Themaire, she noticed, had stopped nodding. His eyes bore into her. She shifted uncomfortably.

‘So you would like me to speak to Pascal and ask him to tear up the letter,c’est ça?’ He mimed tearing a piece of paper and throwing it away.

‘You would?’ she asked, leaning forward, eyes wide.

‘Non,’ he said simply.

It was unlikely that she’d misunderstood what he meant bynon, but she pushed on regardless. ‘You won’t?’

‘Non.’

‘But you… it can’t be legally binding. Should I speak to anotaire? Get someone legal on it?’

‘Oui, you could.’ He nodded. Then he leaned forward again, his expression serious. His eyebrows, thick and bushy, were truly something to behold up close. ‘But I would not waste your time.’

‘Oh.’

‘You see,madame, there is the law, there is the letter of it. And there is the heart of it.’ He tapped a fist to his chest in case she was unaware of where hearts were located. ‘And I think perhaps you have the letter of it in your favour. But here in Vaudrelle we have the heart. We loved Maud when she was here. We love the café. We respect people’s wishes. And we would prefer to take a little time. Do things right.’

‘What aboutmywishes?’

‘Your wishes. Well, I think you will get your wish eventually,madame. You will sell the café in a little while, I am sure. You will take your money and forget your aunt and do whatever it is you want to do with it.’

‘Look, I’m not a bad person or anything, it’s just?—’

‘Of course. But I’m afraid this is how things are.’

She took in his expression, his folded arms. All the friendliness had disappeared from his manner. Clearly he had decided she was the enemy.

‘Fine. I’ll go to thenotaire. Get things moving that way!’ she said, hotly.

‘Oui, of course, it is your right.’ Georges smiled, rather coldly. ‘But I think you will find that if you go to thenotaire,he may not act very quickly. Perhaps he will think this is not an urgent matter. Maybe he will take many months to help you,’ he said,looking at her meaningfully. ‘And perhaps if you don’t want this terrible delay – ah, the legal profession, they are so slow! – it would be better to do the right thing. And I believe you will find that the right thing is also the quickest thing for you.’

Was he threatening her? It was hard to tell.

‘You’re saying that he’d delay things on purpose?’

‘I am saying,’ he said, ‘that I think it is in your best interests to honour your aunt’s wishes. And perhaps that this will be the quickest way too.’

‘But…’

There was a silence as they looked at each other, at an impasse. Then, ‘Madame,’ he said. ‘I hope you are not suggesting anything improper?’

‘Sorry?’

‘I see that you are winking at me, giving me the eye?Madame, you are very beautiful. But I am sorry, I will not be seduced.’

‘Oh! No. It’s my eyelid. A stress thing!’ she said, putting her hand to her eye, which of course now started behaving itself and acting as if it hadn’t literally caused a #MeToo moment.

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