Chapter 35

T

he next few days passed in a blissful haze for Jeanne. She made excited phone calls to Kate and Freya, the latter letting out such a screech that Jeanne had to hold the phone away from her ear.

‘The dishy man’s proposed! Oh, my God! That’s brilliant news, girl. I’m so, so happy for you. You weren’t by any chance wearing that lovely rose quartz were you?’

Jeanne’s fingers instinctively touched the pendant round her neck and smiled.

‘Yep, I’ve been wearing it for a few days now. Perhaps it’s my lucky charm.’

‘Looks like it. So, when’s the wedding going to be?’

‘Oh, there’s no rush. Perhaps next year. We want to see how we cope with living together while we finish off the cottage. Just in case!’

It was true there was no hurry. They both wanted to make absolutely sure that this time round they had chosen the right partners. As for Jeanne, it had only been a few months since the break-up with Andy and the loss of her baby. At least Nick had made it clear how much he wanted a family and she could now give free reign to her dreams of playing with their children in the garden of Le Petit Chêne. Jeanne hugged that picture to herself as she made a site visit before going on to take flowers to the graves.

She had just parked her car when Reverend Ayres approached.

‘Good morning, Jeanne. How are you this fine day?’

‘Very well thanks, Vicar. In fact I’ve got some news for you,’ she smiled.

The Vicar expressed his delight at the engagement and said he hoped to have the honour of marrying them when they’d set a date.

‘Oh, I’d love that! It would be so good to have a happy family occasion celebrated here at long last.’

‘Yes – completing the circle, as I believe both your parents and grandparents were married here.’

Jeanne nodded and they chatted for a few more moments before going their separate ways.

‘Mum and Dad, I’ve got something wonderful to tell you!’

Kneeling by their grave her heart was filled with love, but sorrow still lurked on the edge. As she spoke she thought of not just what she had gained, the love of a wonderful man, but the loss of her loving and would-be proud parents. She felt so sad that her mother wouldn’t be at the wedding, wearing a posh frock and big hat, the beautiful mother of the bride. Her dad would not be walking her proudly down the aisle as he’d always envisaged. Wiping away the tears falling on the freesias, Jeanne consoled herself with the thought that as the wedding would be at St Saviours, her parents and grandparents would be nearby. Surely they’d be wishing them both well. Come on, girl, get it together, she told herself, as she went over to her grandparents’ grave.

Molly and Peter were over the moon when Jeanne and Nick popped in on Monday evening, and insisted on opening a bottle of champagne. They had delayed calling round as Molly’s visitors had not left until that morning and they’d not wanted to intrude. Peter, no longer feeling guilty about Marcus, made clear his approval of Nick and the two men had soon drifted off into the garden, deep in a discussion about boats and fishing.

‘Molly, I need your help with a problem,’ Jeanne said as they sat in the kitchen finishing off their champagne.

‘Of course. Oh, you’re not still having nightmares, are you?’ Molly looked worried.

‘Oh no, nothing like that. It’s just that I feel there’s still some unfinished business between Marcus and I. He was so keen for us to be a couple, told me he loved me and everything. But he knew he’d helped kill my parents! Not willingly, I know. But what was he thinking would happen if and when I regained my memory? And been able to identify him?’ Jeanne said, twisting her hair tightly round her fingers.

Molly frowned.

‘I see what you mean. He wouldn’t have been able to relax, ever. Strange. Perhaps subconsciously he wanted to be found out. It must have been a terrible burden to carry all these years.’

‘Yes. Maybe that’s why he was so materialistic – trying to blot out his guilt.’ Jeanne took a deep breath.

‘Do you think I should see him again? Ask him to his face?’

Molly looked concerned.

‘I don’t know if that’s wise. You might stir things up for yourself again, just when your life’s coming together. Whatever he’d thought about what might happen has no bearing on either the present or the future. I think he’s a very confused and unhappy young man who didn’t plan to fall in love with you, but did and hadn’t thought through the consequences. He may well have found that it was just as painful to be with you as not. Can’t you just let it go, Jeanne? Accept that not even Marcus may have known how he was going to handle the future if you’d become a couple?’

Jeanne sighed and her fingers released the tangled hair.

‘You’re right. I have to, I guess. After all, there’s a lot going on in my life now.’

Just then the men came back and Jeanne’s heart contracted as she gazed at Nick. She really was a very lucky girl, she thought. Molly was right. No point in raking up the mud with Marcus when she could just enjoy being loved by Nick.

She was happy living with him in his house but could hardly wait to move back into her cottage. She had to curb her impatience, however, as Nick had pointed out that it would be better to wait until at least some of the rooms were painted and they had a fitted wardrobe in their bedroom. Agreeing, reluctantly, that this made sense, she turned her energy into painting the rooms downstairs while Nick started work on the units for the master bedroom. She loved his designs and told him so.

‘Aren’t I lucky to have a clever carpenter at my beck and call.’

‘Hey! I’m not just a carpenter, you know. And who said I was at your beck and call?’ Nick grabbed her and they rolled over in a mock fight, both laughing as they mercilessly tickled each other.

Calming down they went back to checking through their To Do list.

‘I definitely don’t want stuffy furniture. I’d like squashy leather sofas, a modern light oak dining table with leather, high back chairs and, most importantly, a big, bouncy bed,’ Jeanne said and fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated fashion before getting a fit of giggles.

‘Sounds great. I particularly like the sound of the bed,’ Nick grinned as he pulled her close.

‘I think we’d better go shopping, then, Mr Mauger.’

‘Yes, Miss Le Page, I think we should!’

Three weeks later they moved in and were holding a barbecue to celebrate. Summer was nearly over but the weather remained warm and sunny and the garden was a delight to the eyes. The pergola looked as if it had been there for years, crafted in weathered timber and encircled with young shoots of Russian vine, honeysuckle and passionflower creeping up the posts. By the following summer there would be an umbrella of foliage to offer shade to diners as they relaxed around the large teak table. This was now groaning under the weight of the food prepared to feed the guests invited to the celebration.

Jeanne linked her arm with Nick’s as they strolled around, checking that nothing had been forgotten. Colette had generously offered to help with the catering as her moving in present to the couple.

‘It certainly won’t be haute cuisine, just good ol’ hearty food to feed the troops,’ she said. ‘I’ll even provide desserts now we’ve got the use of that fantastic Smeg.’

They had only moved in a few days previously but, apart from some unpacked boxes of books, the cottage was looking as if they had been settled there for months. Colette was busy putting the finishing touches to her food as the guests began to arrive. As they mingled in the garden, Nick introduced Jeanne to those of his friends and family she hadn’t met. Her left hand sported a sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which flashed in the sunlight as she waved at her friends.

Peter was to be Head Chef in charge of the barbecue, with Jonathan and Scott as his sous chefs. Scott had started heating up the large gas fired grill but Peter and Molly were missing. Jeanne was just wondering where they’d got to when they arrived. They were not alone.

‘Kate! Oh, my God! What a surprise!’ She rushed at her aunt and flung her arms round her. ‘But how, where…?’

Kate laughed. ‘When you told me about the party I felt I just couldn’t miss it but wanted to surprise you. Peter and Molly have just collected me from the airport and they’ve kindly offered to let me stay with them. I didn’t want to intrude on you in your new home. You’re probably not ready for guests yet.’

Jeanne was so excited that she could barely introduce Kate to Nick so he shook her hand warmly and introduced himself.

‘Welcome, Kate. I’ve heard so much about you and we were planning to come over soon so you could give me the once over,’ he grinned.

Kate smiled. ‘I think you can take it that you have my approval. I’ve never seen Jeanne look so happy!’

Indeed, Jeanne was grinning from ear to ear as if intoxicated. She felt as if she could burst, with love and pride. Love for the people closest to her and pride for the beautiful home she had created. As she linked hands with Nick she could have sworn she heard Gran chuckle and whisper, ‘There you are, my girl. Home at last!’