Page 50 of Love In Provence
I step into the cool of the kitchen and wash my face. When I turn away from the sink, I see Keith and Graham have followed me.
‘We could lend you some money, if it would help,’ says Graham.
‘No, no, thank you, but I couldn’t.’
‘We really don’t mind. This trip and being here is just what we needed. We’d be happy to help out.’
‘We would,’ agrees Keith, although I’m not sure that he agrees this trip is exactly what they needed.
And as much as I would love to take them up on the offer, I really can’t.
‘Are you sure?’ Graham says. ‘A bridging loan?’
‘I’ve come this far without taking handouts. I can’t start now. But thank you.’
These people, whom I’ve only just met, feel like lifelong friends.
19
‘I’m sorry,chérie. There’s nothing,’ Carine says, when I tell her I’m looking for a restaurant to rent. ‘Certainly nothing reasonable.’
‘I don’t know why I thought there would be. I haven’t even the money to feed the pickers.’ What was I thinking of?
‘I’ll keep my ear to the ground. And talking of an ear to the ground, I hear there is a service at the church this morning.’
‘For Henri?’
She nods slowly.
‘How early?’
‘I just heard it was early.’
‘But hardly anyone will be able to make it – they’ll be at work or in school.’
‘That is exactly the point.’
‘What?’
‘From what I hear, it’s just a small service for the family, as Zacharie said it would be.’
‘But what about Rhi? What about his friends, the community?’
‘Non. Not invited.’
Then I hear the church bells ring and stare at her. ‘It’s now!’
‘He is trying to do it before anyone is open for business!’ Carine looks as enraged as I feel.
‘Well, I’ll see about that!’ I march out of the office. Carine scoops up her jacket and follows me, her kitten heels clipping on the pavement behind me.
I can hear the church bells and I quicken my pace. Down the alley, past the bistro, towards the church in the square.
There is a dark car with blackened windows. The doors to the church open. I step forward to rush in, but it’s Zacharie and a woman, both in dark glasses, and the priest who step out. Zacharie looks around. I stare straight at him.
He’s done it. We’ve missed it. I’m seething, my hands clenched.
‘He’s had the funeral service,’ I say to Carine, staring at the car as they step into it. He’d completely ignored everything I said and everyone who cared about Henri. ‘How could he?’
