Page 44 of Love In Provence
‘Ah,’ he says, still holding my arms. ‘Actually, I’m only here for one night. We weren’t too far away, so rather than go out for a meal, I wanted to come home and see how you were doing with the harvest. We’ve barely been able to talk. I’m sorry. I just needed to see you. I have to go back later. I missed being here.’
‘Oh.’ My heart sinks. ‘But you’ll stay for tonight?’
He smiles. ‘Yes, of course. But I’ll have to leave early.’
And he kisses me, just like I’ve been dreaming of for the last couple of weeks. Finally we pull apart. I feel a rush of colour to my cheeks and my tired body suddenly feels alive.
‘Come and meet everyone,’ I say, as we wrap our arms around each other and walk towards the group. Keith has reappeared. He looks like he’s been crying, but has washed his face and joined the gang, standing with a glass of rosé in his hand, next to Graham.
Maria is serving with Ed.
‘Everyone, this is Fabien!’ I say, and Ralph stands proudly at his side, chin lifted as if we’re talking about him.
‘Well, we did hope you don’t go around kissing all male visitors to the farm like that!’ says Keith, making everyone laugh.
‘This looks like a feast!’ says Fabien, having shaken hands with everyone. He’s carrying little Louis on his hip and Tomas is attached to his leg. He hugs and kisses Stephanie warmly, JB too, then Rhi, saying he hopes she’s doing okay and that being here at Le Petit Mas de la Lavande is helping.
‘Has she told you?’ Rhi asks him.
‘He’s only just arrived, Rhi,’ I chide. ‘I’ve only just heard the news myself. We haven’t had a chance to talk.’ I think back to the snatched phone calls over recent nights, tired and snippy with each other. ‘And that’s why I couldn’t get you on the phone earlier. You were driving here.’
He turns to me with a sudden worried look. ‘What news? Is everything okay?’ He gently puts Louis on the floor, despite his protests.
‘Yes, well, no. I’m fine, it’s not me. It’s Henri’s.’
He frowns.
‘Henri’s son, Zacharie, has arrived, as you know. He came to collect Henri’s ashes from Rhi.’
‘Okay,’ he says slowly and evenly.
‘And to close down Henri’s bistro as we know it,’ Rhi rushes in.
‘Close it down?’ Fabien gasps.
I sigh.
‘He’s turning it into a high-end classic French restaurant, apparently. Called l’expérience.’
Fabien screws up his nose. ‘L’expérience?’
I nod.
‘He’s hoping for a Michelin star. He’s a trained French chef.’
‘But what about Henri’s?’
‘He says we served peasant food. And that he owns the building, so he can do what he likes.’
‘And the funeral for Henri?’
I let out a long sigh. ‘A private family-only service, apparently. I tried to change his mind but he wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘Oh, là,’ says Fabien, reverting to French to express his disgust, rubbing my arm. ‘And the bistro now?’
I shake my head. ‘Locked.’
‘You should have rung me sooner. Told me to come back. I would have been here,’ he says, his eyes darkening with fury. ‘I should speak to him.’
