Waiting for the first woman to turn up for her interview about the receptionist’s job, Belinda began to tick things off her action plan. The shop cleaned and spruced up, tick. All current painting jobs done, tick. Picnic tables pressure-washed and placed in position, tick. Boules pitch down by the entertainment area, tick. Manager’s house clean and tidy, tick. Office ready for action, tick. Not that there would be a lot of action, Easter would be like a dry-run experiment for the season when, hopefully, everything would be in tip-top condition. Information board, tick. She glanced across at it in position already by the door.
The Tourist Office had sent a large bundle of brochures and she’d been amazed at the number of attractions there were these days in Brittany, especially local ones that she’d never dreamed existed back in the day, which, of course, some of them hadn’t. Château de Trévarez, known locally as The Pink Chateau, had always been there, but the Valley of the Saints was definitely new, with its hundreds of granite statues standing on a hillside. There was Lac de Guerlédan for a day of water activities and the newly discovered Roman remains in Carhaix – so much to take Chloe and the twins to see when – if – they still came for their holiday at the end of May.
Belinda looked up as the office door opened and Marie walked shyly in. Belinda saw her glance down, embarrassed at the scruffy clothes she wore for the cleaning jobs.
‘Desolé. I wanted to smarten myself up for the rendezvous, but time, it was impossible. I ’ave better clothes at home,’ she hastened to assure Belinda.
‘No worries, Marie. I understand,’ Belinda said. ‘I’m not exactly dressed for the office today either. I was about to suggest you sat down, but I’ve realised we only have the one chair between us in here. Must sort out at least another two, I think. Now, I already know you’re reliable and a hard worker, so tell me why we should employ you as a receptionist?’
‘Because I’d be good at it, given the chance. I like ’elping people and I know about the area. I speak a little English. And I know how to use a computer. I am ’appy to do whatever is needed.’
Belinda asked a couple more questions and watched Marie as she spoke and tried to work out how old she was. Early twenties at a guess. About the same age as Chloe.
‘It would be part-time initially until about mid-June and then full-time,’ Belinda explained. ‘At the height of the summer season, it would be necessary to work several evenings a week, including Saturdays. Would that be a problem?’
Marie shook her head. ‘Non.’
‘Okay. I have one other person to see. Once I’ve seen her, I’ll let you know later this afternoon.’ Belinda smiled at Marie as she showed her out. She had a good feeling about Marie. Alain was right. She’d almost told her the job was hers, but morally she was duty-bound to at least see the other candidate.
Belinda glanced at her watch. The woman the employment agency were sending was late. Not a good start. In fact, not a start at all. An hour later when she’d neither shown up nor phoned to apologise for being late, Belinda went in search of a delighted Marie to tell her the job was hers.
Alain and Hervé were standing on the office steps when Belinda retraced her steps, intending to phone the agency and tell them about the missing job candidate.
‘Bonjour, Hervé,’ she said politely and went to carry on in, but Alain stopped her.
‘Hervé has given me all the information about the vide-grenier – okay to book it for Sunday, May the third?’
Belinda nodded. ‘Of course.’ She smiled at Hervé. ‘I hope it’s a success, I’ll be sure to ask Alain how it went. Maybe he’ll want to make it a regular feature.’
‘You won’t be here for it?’ Hervé asked.
‘I doubt it. I’m going back to Devon for Easter and possibly staying on for a few weeks.’ Belinda turned to Alain. ‘I’ve just told Marie she’s got the job. You’ll have to sort out her starting date and the initial hours you’ll need her over Easter. I won’t have time before I leave. Goodbye, Hervé, nice to see you again. Bon chance for the vide-grenier,’ and Belinda carried on into the office to tick yet another item off her list.
As Fern worked her way through her normal daily chores, Belinda’s question, what would happen to her own life if she did take on the responsibility for Anouk rattled around in her brain. She knew Belinda had been right to throw that question at her, but she couldn’t answer it readily. Her life would change, she knew that. Life as she currently lived it would cease to exist in many ways, but would that be such a bad thing? Having Anouk living with her could turn out to be the best thing all round.
Living alone for the past year and a half hadn’t exactly been a fun-filled existence. She’d spent a lot of time alone, especially in the winter months when she didn’t have guests to look after. She’d taken Lady for long walks in the countryside in all weathers, read a lot of books and watched a lot of rubbish TV shows. Anouk might be old and fragile in many ways, but she was still good company and hopefully would be for years yet. Having Anouk living at the auberge would put purpose back in her life. Someone to care for on a daily basis.
Fern picked up her mobile and pressed Anouk’s number. ‘Hi, may I come and see you this afternoon? There is something I need to ask you. I’ll bring some coffee eclairs,’ she promised, knowing that they were Anouk’s favourite cake.
‘Always delighted to see you, and with coffee eclairs, double delight,’ Anouk said.
Anouk was sitting out under the loggia in the sunshine when Fern arrived, cups, saucers and plates already on the wrought-iron table. ‘Coffee in the machine is ready to go,’ she told Fern. ‘So, my dear, what is it you want to ask me?’ Anouk said when Fern had fetched and poured the coffee and put the eclairs on plates.
Fern took a deep breath. Driving over she’d formulated a plan. ‘Have you anything planned for this Easter weekend? Meeting up with friends? Or seeing Fabian and family?’
‘Not many friends left these days.’ Anouk shook her head. ‘Carole has persuaded Fabian to visit her family for the ’oliday up in Normandy. Which leaves me entirely free to get up to mischief with you. What are you planning?’ Anouk gave her a beaming smile.
Fern laughed. ‘I don’t know about mischief, but I was wondering whether you’d like to come and spend the weekend with me? We could go for a drive down to the coast if you like. Have lunch out. You could go to church in the village Sunday morning if you wanted.’
Anouk looked at her. ‘Yes, I would like to do that. First, though, ’ave you been thinking about Fabian and his suggestions? Is this some sort of trial to see if we could live together before you suggest I move in with you?’
Fern laughed and shook her head. ‘Nothing gets past you, does it? Yes, I have been thinking about Fabian’s suggestions, but, honestly, asking you to stay for the weekend was not a ploy to see if we could live together. It was more to see if you would even consider the idea of moving in with me. I promise you I shall not be upset if you say no, but I really, truly hope you will say yes.’
‘Why would you want to take on the responsibility of an old woman who isn’t related to you? What happens if I get dementia and – oh, what’s the word you English use? Do… do…’
‘I think you mean doolally,’ Fern said, laughing.
‘Doolally, that’s it. What if I get that in a few months’ time?’
‘Just because the man that linked us together via marriage is no longer with us, doesn’t mean that I don’t still regard you as my mother-in-law, a part of my family,’ Fern answered quietly. ‘And I promise you, I’ll never stop caring about and for you.’ She took a drink of coffee. ‘As for you going doolally – I don’t see that happening for a long time, if ever.’
Anouk nodded thoughtfully. ‘D’accord. I too ’ave been thinking about Fabian wanting to move one of us out of our homes. The reasons you want to stay in the auberge are as valid as Fabian’s are for wanting you to move out. We will spend the weekend together and talk it through properly. Mais.’ She looked at Fern with a glint in her eye. ‘We ’ave no need to mention this to Fabian. He is away and we will decide without the pressure. It is for the best. D’accord?’
‘D’accord,’ Fern agreed.