I snatch it up and read it, the blood draining from my face. Suddenly I’m freezing cold despite the sun warming the day outside. My phone rings. I spin to left and right, looking for where I’ve left it. Rhi and Lou join in. Rhi sees it in the fruit bowl and hands it to Lou, who tries to pass it to me but it slips through my hands on to the floor with a clatter, making Tomas jump. He drops the baguettes and bursts into tears as Ralph snatches one and runs off with it.
‘Allô! Stephanie!’ I shout, into the phone. I scoop Tomas on to my hip and sway gently to soothe him.
‘Del? It’s me!’
My heart plummets.
‘Ollie,’ I say flatly, disappointed. ‘Look, I’m really sorry but I can’t talk right now.’
‘Del, I really need a conversation with you.’
‘Ollie, there’s something I really need to do.’
‘Del, after ten years of marriage, it’s the least you can do. Just hear me out!’
I take a deep breath. Tomas has settled and Rhi has handed him a pain au chocolat, which he is eating, scattering crumbs over my right shoulder. I try to put him on a chair, but he starts to cry again so I stand up and hold him.
‘What’s that noise?’ asks Ollie.
‘Oh, nothing, just a chair, squeaking.’ I look at Rhi and Lou.
‘So, Rhi and Lou are there. I asked them … I wanted to be sure, Del. Is this what you really want?’
‘Is what what I really want, Ollie?’ I snap.
‘Is it really over for you? Is there no way we can get over this?’
‘No, Ollie, it’s really over.’
‘You’re sure? I want to be clear that this is what you want.’
‘I’m sure.’ I sigh, needing to get off the phone. ‘We agreed. You get the money in the account and I get the house.’
‘And that’s okay with you, is it?’
‘Yes. If you need me to sign something, just send it on. Now, I’ve really got to go, Ollie.’
‘And you’re staying in France for good,’ he says.
I sigh again. ‘If I can, yes, I’m staying right here in Le Petit Mas.’ My home, I think.
Suddenly there is silence and I wonder if he’s going to say something else. But I really don’t have time. ‘Okay, Ollie? I have to go.’
‘Right, but, Del?’
‘Yes?’ I’m about to press ‘end call’.
‘I’m sorry, okay?’
‘Really, nothing to be sorry about. We just have to be happy in our new lives,’ I say, and mean it. ‘But I have to go.’
‘I feel I should explain,’ Ollie says.
My heart sinks. We’re about to go over old ground. ‘Ollie, I’m sorry. We’ve been over this. No need for any explanations. We’re living our own lives now. I have to go.’
‘Goodbye, Del.’
‘Goodbye, Ollie,’ I say quickly. I throw the phone on to the table and pick up the note again.
‘What’s up?’ says Rhi.
‘Is Ollie okay?’ asks Lou. ‘Did he talk to you? He said he was going to phone. Explain.’
‘It’s not Ollie that’s the problem.’ I look at the two of them, who glance at each other. ‘It’s Stephanie!’ My mouth goes dry. ‘She’s gone!’