Page 42 of Sisters Making Mischief
‘Hmm. Nofèvefor me then this year. And I would have wished for better health, an end to my circulation problems perhaps. Or my palpitations, which are very bad at the moment. Who had it?’
‘Joy,’ Isabel said.
I gave an apologetic smile.
Eugénie pushed the plate away and finished her espresso. ‘It seems God does not wish to bless me. I may not be here next year. I’m not blaming anyone. I cannot stay here entertaining you and doing nothing all day. I have a hairdresser’s appointment at eleven. I was hoping you would drive me there, but if you are too busy with yourbrocante, then I will askCharles. I don’t want to do because it just encourages him. He will get funny ideas.’
‘Why don’t you just marry him,Mamie?’ Isabel said, sighing.
Eugénie gave a disgustedpouf.‘Why would I do that?La chasse– the hunt is part of the fun. Once I am caught, I will be like a trembling doe trapped in a net.’
‘More like a Tasmanian Devil wedged in a tree stump,’ Isabel murmured.
I turned away to hide a laugh and pretended to be washing up some mugs. She was hilarious, but the relationship between her and my sister was even funnier.
‘The secret is to keep running, men cannot resist that. And I don’t want to be caught, I just like to be pursued,’ Eugénie said.
‘You areméchant– unkind,’ Isabel said, ‘keeping Charles’ hopes alive for all these years.’
‘Men like to chase,’ Eugénie said, ‘it is intoxicating.’
I thought about this; yes, she was probably right. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of her book. I was actually enjoying getting to know Luc, and I knew he was feeling the same way. There’s just something that I think most women can pick up on. I knew he was aware of me, there were subtle things that couldn’t really be described. The tilt of his head towards me, an inflection in his voice the occasional look that didn’t involve anyone else. It was indeed, intoxicating. I hadn’t felt anything like it for years.
‘Now then are we going or not?’
‘Of course,’ Isabel said, ‘I’ll just get my keys. Joy, do you want to come too?’
After days of sorting through watering cans and fabric scraps, I was eager to get out and about, and now that my feet were dry, I was keen to go along too.
The little town looked lovely in the sunshine and there was a small, early morning market in the square, which by the time we arrived, was starting to pack up.
We deposited Eugénie outsideMadame Julie – Coiffeusejust after midday, and she went in with much ceremony, and was welcomed by a doughty looking woman with a floral overall and an aggressive perm. There followed much cheek-kissing and fuss as Eugénie was ushered through the doors. I think it must have been like when the Queen Mother in her heyday arrived at the London Palladium.
Isabel parked the car in front of Felix’s bookshop where there was a sign saying:
Parking Interdit.
‘Don’t take any notice of that sign, Felix made it out of an old tin plate and a broomstick. Right, we have time to go and buy some bread and perhaps grab a coffee. There is an absolutely lovely café just around the corner, you might remember it.’
‘I do,’ I said, rather excited, ‘I remember the cakes anyway.’
We went first to theboulangeriewhere the afternoon loaves had just been put out on the shelves. Despite the small size of the shop there were so many different types of bread that it was hard to decide what to buy. And the aroma was bewitching. Eventually Isabel selected abouleandun gros pain, which was like a fat baguette. When the bread was this good, it didn’t seem too much of a hardship to get it every day. Then we made our way through the little streets toLe Café de Mimi, where Mimiherself was sweeping the pavement outside and keeping an eye on everything.
‘Ah, c’est ton soeur! Joy!’ she said as we arrived. ‘And ‘ow are your family?’
‘Very well, thank you,’ I replied.
‘It’s good to get away from them sometimes,n’est ce pas?’ she said with a grin.
Hmm, not only did she remember who I was, she evidently knew something of the reasons that had brought me back in the first place.
I made a sort of head wagging gesture that was vaguely French, and as the sun was shining, the wind had dropped, and all the spaces inside were taken, we sat down at an empty table outside. Isabel gave our order and moments later, two coffees and two vastReligieusespastries arrived. They looked like heaven.
‘No wonder you like living here,’ I said, through a mouthful of choux pastry and crème pâtissière. ‘But don’t you get tired of everyone knowing everything about you?’
‘No. It was odd at first, but then I realised that actually no one is that interested. If everyone knows everyone else’s business, there is nothing to find out. Which is why Luc was a bit of a hot topic when he arrived. He was difficult to get to know, I suppose he still is. He seems nice enough though, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, from the little I know,’ I said.
