The following morning, as the sun begins to rise, life seems to have found its groove again, like the lavender plants in their rows in the field. Where yesterday there was chaos, now there is order.
It’s market day. Everyone is delighted to see Stephanie back. Even Cora comes over to say hello. ‘But just a word of warning,’ she says conspiratorially. ‘I heard you were running this business from home. Hope you have all the paperwork in order. You know what the French are like! I’m telling you as a friend, looking out for you.’ She seems genuine. Would someone try to push me out because I’m not French?
Henri is serving a table of two outside, and Stephanie is telling interested holidaymakers that the bakes are made at Le Petit Mas, with lavender and love. But Cora’s words niggle. What if I shouldn’t be making these things in my own kitchen? What if there are regulations I don’t know about, including not having hairy dogs in the kitchen? Is everyone who they seem to be?
Everything seems to be hanging by a thread that might snap at any moment. Even so, I let the morning sun warm my face and watch Stephanie and Tomas handing out samples on the plates I bought that first day in the brocante. Henri has told Fabien the good news about Stephanie. I wish he’d come to see her … or maybe I’m wishing he’d come to see me, which wouldn’t be a good idea. No, it’s best we keep our distance for all our sakes.
As the church clock strikes midday, we have hardly anything left. Tomas was a great salesman, making people smile. We pack up, put the table in Henri’s storeroom, have lunch and walk home along the riverbank with the bees buzzing, the water flowing in and around the bright green plants growing on the bottom, past the deep purple irises and overhanging wisteria. We pass the clearing. Stephanie stops and greets the man with the long beard and hair. She seems to be thanking him. She even takes Tomas to meet him and the man’s face lights up – he’s apparently delighted to see Stephanie reunited with her son. She waves to him as we walk on. I don’t ask who he is or where she went when she ran away.
‘He helped me, when I … was upset,’ she says.
We walk with Tomas between us. ‘Un, deux, trois!’ we say, and swing him into the air.
Maybe, just maybe, life is settling down for me here. I have a small business and I could enquire about any paperwork that needs to be filed. I have help with the business from Stephanie and my friends, who have given no sign that they intend to leave just yet. Life is starting to look pretty good, even without Fabien in it. Although I can’t help but wish he was …
‘Encore, encore!’ shouts Tomas.
‘Un, deux, trois! Wheeee!’
I may not have everything I want in life, but I’ve got a lot that makes me smile. I have enough to be content.
I am definitely moving forward.