Page 87 of You Had Me at Chateau
She isn’t making it look hard, pouring herself a glass of wine, on her French retreat. Perhaps it’s just what I’ve seen here, and what they show people on social media, but their lives seem filled with leisurely wine evenings, laughter, and each other. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard a hint of struggle from any of them. Then again, I assumed Caleb had always had a perfect life too. Who knows what things are really like for them? One thing I can say for sure is that, whatever I’m going through, they’re not all that bothered.
‘Well, I need to pack my bag, to head home, but I just wanted to say thank you so much for the opportunity, and maybe I’ll see you later.’
‘Oh, I’m sure you’ll see us again,’ Mandy replies.
We exchange brief, half-hearted goodbyes and – honestly – I can’t leave the room fast enough. I head for the stairs, picking up the pace, keen to get back to my normal life.
As I reach the end of the hallway, I hear footsteps rapidly approaching behind me.
‘Amber, wait!’ Gina calls out as she catches up with me. ‘Can I talk to you for a second?’
I turn to face her, surprised to see genuine concern in her eyes.
‘Yeah, of course,’ I reply, keeping my guard up just a little. ‘What’s up?’
‘You need to take care of yourself, Amber,’ she tells me firmly, but sincerely. ‘Sometimes we all need a break so take some time and figure out what you want to do. There will always be other books, but there’s only one you – take care of yourself.’
Her words are filled with a warmth and understanding that I didn’t get from the other two, and I’m touched that she has come out of her way to offer me some advice.
‘Thanks, Gina. I really appreciate that,’ I say, my voice wobbling slightly. ‘That means a lot to me.’
She gives me a quick, reassuring hug.
‘Just remember that it’s okay to take a step back and breathe,’ she adds. ‘And don’t be too hard on yourself. Save the spanking for the book.’
I laugh, feeling a bit lighter for the first time in days. She’s right, a break is exactly what I need.
‘I’ll try. Thank you,’ I reply, genuinely grateful for her support.
Gina heads back to the lounge, and I continue on to my room.
I grab my things, stuffing them into my bag, pausing for a second to smile to myself as I pack the lingerie I flashed Henri in. I’m not sure I’ll ever wear it again but, weirdly, I feel like it has sentimental value now. How often do you think people say that about raunchy lingerie?
I’m grateful to Gina, for her kind words, and for the time I got to spend with Henri, and all of the inspiring places I saw, and thestories I heard, and yes, I’m grateful for Caleb. Not just for the money he’s paying me for the photos I helped him with, or for seemingly repairing my parents’ marriage, but for the time I got to spend with him too.
Life is just a mess of ups and downs and all we can do is ride the waves as they come at us. At least I can go home to my family – my happy family – and Christmas.
I just need to focus on the positives and get home safely. Although I think perhaps I need something different to watch on the flight on the way home.
I’m not sure I’m in the mood for any moreWelcome to Singledom.
47
I spot Tom in his shiny new BMW, waiting for me outside the airport. I reckon he would have picked me up from France, if it meant he got to drive it, because living in London means that, unsurprisingly, a car might just be the slowest form of transport.
The cold nips at my face, but it’s a different kind of cold from where I’ve just been. Even though I think it’s technically not as cold here, the UK cold is damp and dreary in comparison, but that might be because we’ve got icy rain instead of snow. Maybe the grey of the city and the exhaust fumes I’m breathing in aren’t helping, or maybe it’s just my mood. No prizes for guessing which one.
Tom waves energetically from inside his car, his grin wide and welcoming.
‘Hey, sis! How was France?’ he asks, the second I get in the car.
He is almost unnervingly chipper.
I make myself comfortable, immediately appreciating the warmth of the heated seats.
‘Hey, yeah, it was good,’ I say, not giving anything away, but also not sounding like I’ve had the best time.
‘How’s Caleb?’ he asks. ‘Is he still in France or has he come home? He seems like a top bloke. Honestly, that talk he gave me was so encouraging. And, bloody hell, he really worked his magic on Mum and Dad, they’re over the moon. Actually, they’re annoyingly happy. All over each other – it’s a bit much. You’ll see when you get there.’
