Page 52 of The Village Cafe in the Loire

Becky

Can we talk? I’ve just met Maud! Miss you.

But there was no answer.

20

Georges was waiting outside the café when they returned. As Pascal parked his car approximately in the space it had left, he turned, frowning.

‘Uh oh,’ Becky said.

‘Sorry?’

‘He’s back!’ she said, dramatically. ‘Again.’

Pascal laughed. ‘Oh, Georges? But he is not a monster!’

‘Still, he looks a bit…’ She nodded at Georges, who had turned fully and was watching them both, his mouth a straight line.

‘He probably misses his caffeine,’ Pascal said. ‘Don’t worry.’

He exited the car and made his way over, as Becky undid her seatbelt and climbed out. After a quick handshake, the two men started talking quite rapidly together. It wasn’t clear whether the conversation was friendly or hostile.

‘Non,’ she heard Pascal say. ‘Pas maintenant.’

Not now, she translated, missing the words that followed.

Becky walked over slowly, trying to take her time to avoid being caught up in anything. She smiled as she approached. The two men stopped talking abruptly and turned to face her,looking a little like two toddlers caught stealing cookies from a jar. ‘Bonjour,’ she said to Georges.

‘Bonjour.’ He stepped forward and quickly pecked both of her cheeks. It was the first time anyone had greeted her this way in France, although she’d witnessed countlessbisousin the café. She tried to pretend that this was a completely normal way to greet someone – although could only imagine what would happen if she started to welcome her colleagues back home in this way. A lawsuit, probably.

‘Everything OK?’ she asked, glancing from one to the other.

‘Oui. Georges was just coming to see how things went with Maud,’ Pascal said, giving Georges a look.

‘Oh. Yes.Oui, I was here to find that out,’ Georges said, seeming flustered. ‘Was it all OK?’

‘Yes. Strange, obviously. Because I thought she was… you know. But yes. Lovely. She’s just as I remember her.’

Georges nodded. ‘I am glad.’

Tell that to your face, she wanted to say, but didn’t.

Pascal got out his key and unlocked the café. ‘You will stay for coffee?’

‘No. I must go. But again, I am very happy for you.’

Pascal nodded and pushed the door open fully.

Georges walked away, glancing over his shoulder at them as they went into the building. ‘I will see you tomorrow?’ he called to Pascal.

Pascal gave him a wave but remained silent.

‘Was he OK?’ Becky asked. ‘He was acting a little… strangely.’

Pascal laughed. ‘That is just Georges!’ he said. ‘I have known him some time now. His mannerisms take a while to read.’ She noticed his neck was slightly blotchy – red perhaps from the heat in the car.

‘OK.’ Walking into the café, she put her bag down on the counter and sank into one of the contentious yellow chairs. Itwas extremely comfortable and sitting there, she realised she could feel her muscles ache. ‘I’m shattered,’ she said.

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