Page 31 of Love In Provence
He looks at his phone, then up at me. ‘I’m not here about the window.’ He smiles, pulling off his sunglasses. It’s a very attractive smile, and again, I’m familiar with it.
‘Oh?’ I frown.
‘I got your number from the card in the window. You’re Del, you said?’ He looks almost pleased with himself.
‘Yes.’ I’m confused. ‘I thought you said you were here about Henri’s.’ I feel niggled.
‘I am.’
‘Well, I’m Henri’s partner in the business. How can I help?’
The smile drops from his lips. ‘I’m Zacharie, Henri’s son,’ he says. I stare at him. It’s like a flashback in a film to a younger Henri, before the silver-grey set in, the stomach filled out, the laughter lines appeared and the hairline receded.
‘Of course! I can see the resemblance now.’ I throw open my arms and step forward. ‘I’m so sorry about your dad. We all are. I’m so pleased you’re here. We’ve just been talking about arranging a service for him.’
I wrap my arms around him and wait for him to hug me back. But to my surprise, and slight awkwardness, he doesn’t lean forward to me at all. I draw back, and feel as if I’ve been drunkenly hugging a lamppost. I cough and clear my throat.
‘Like I say, we were just talking about arranging a service, so I’m glad you’re here.’
He looks at the bistro, then back at me and says drily, ‘That’s okay. I have it all in hand.’
‘Okay, I’ll let everyone know. I think everyone needs it. Especially Rhi.’
‘Rhi?’ He sounds distracted. It’s probably grief, I think. Being here, at his father’s home.
‘Rhi. His partner. She’s staying with me.’
‘Ah, yes. The woman who was with him when he died. The solicitor told me. I couldn’t remember her name. In that case, I’d like to meet with her.’
‘Of course. Come to my farmhouse for lunch. She’llbe there. And don’t worry about the window. We’ll have it fixed in no time. I’m getting the writing done just the same.’
‘Don’t worry. There’s no need for a new sign.’
‘Oh, but I think we should have one. It looks so good. And, as I say, I’m a partner in the business.’
He turns to me with piercing blue eyes. ‘But not in the building,’ he says flatly.
‘Pardon?’
‘A partner in name only … in the business but not in the building. I own that now. Me and my sister.’
For a moment my jaw waggles up and down. I’m not sure what to say or even if I’ve heard him right. ‘Well, no. Okay. If you don’t want the name on the window, I’m sure we can work around that. I mean, people know where we are. They know Henri’s.’
Carine is hurrying towards me. ‘I’ve been trying to ring you,’ she says, through gritted teeth.
‘Sorry, I’ve been here with Zacharie, Henri’s son.’
‘Yes, we’ve met,’ she says, giving little away.
‘You have?’ I’m wondering if he is one of Carine’s romantic encounters. I look between the two of them. Zacharie is smiling. Carine isn’t. Although he’s very attractive, it isn’t a warm smile. There’s an atmosphere that I can’t read.
‘We were just talking about the business, getting it up and running again,’ I tell her.
‘You were?’ She attempts a frown, not very successfully.
‘Actually, you were talking about that,’ says Zacharie. ‘I was talking about the building. The one I own now. I’m having it valued.’
Despite the heat of the day, I’m suddenly very cold.
