The dreamlike week at La Maison du Paradis was ending and the natural alarm clock of birdsong woke Caroline. She rose from her bed. Stretching out her arms, she stepped on the lime-washed floorboards and walked slowly to the window to open it wide.
As the scents of the early morning dew-dappled garden enveloped her, she closed her eyes. Now, it was time to go home and face the music.
By the end of the day, she would be back in Kensington, alone in the house she’d shared with Stanley for all their married life. But instead of the anxiety that had gripped her in the first days of her holiday in France, Caroline felt a flutter of hope. The road ahead didn’t appear as difficult and now, she had someone to talk to. For Caroline had no doubt that her friendship with Fran would flourish.
Caroline opened her eyes and gazed out at the sunflowers.
Despite her optimism, there was a sadness that tugged at her heart and that was Waltho. How she longed to stay in his beautiful home and spend time in his company. It was as though Waltho had reawakened a passion she’d forgotten and never hoped to experience again.
What would it be like to be loved by a man like Waltho, she wondered?
But it was something she would never know and it was pointless to contemplate such thoughts. Soon, another class would arrive and Waltho would play host to a new set of guests. One day, she imagined, someone would walk through his door and he’d lose his heart again. The perfect person, beautiful, clever and capable. So unlike herself.
Suddenly, Caroline was eager to pack her case and be on her way. It was painful to stay any longer. But first, she must say goodbye to her new friends.
* * *
Fran was flustered. She’d overslept, and now, after Angelique had knocked loudly on her door, she rushed to sling clothes into her holdall, heave it onto her shoulder and catch the minibus waiting to take her to the airport.
‘Gawd, I’m late,’ Fran muttered.
Dressing hurriedly in her orange slacks and a matching T-shirt, she took a last look at her room. There wasn’t time to straighten the bed or tidy the bathroom. Taking twenty euros from her purse, she left it on the dressing table for the lovely lady in housekeeping.
Sorry to be such a slob, Fran scribbled on paper torn from her notebook.
Shielding her eyes, Fran ran across the gravel and breathed a sigh of relief when Tomas came forward to take her bag.
‘It’s okay, we wait for you,’ he said, packing the holdall onto the minibus.
‘You missed breakfast,’ Angelique said. ‘I heard you snoring and let you sleep in. You have a long day ahead.’
Fran wished that Angelique hadn’t been so generous. Useless without a hearty start to the day, Fran rubbed her stomach as hunger pains began to bite.
‘But Tomas has made provisions for you to enjoy on your journey.’ Angelique handed Fran a perfectly packed parcel of delicacies.
‘Oh, you darlin’, I could kiss you.’ Without further ado, Fran grabbed hold of Tomas and smacked her lips on his cheek.
‘I will miss you…’ Tomas laughed. ‘But good luck in your new endeavour.’
‘I will miss you too,’ Fran replied.
The twins were waiting beside the minibus. In matching cardigans and comfortable cotton trousers, they said their goodbyes. Ahmed, standing alongside, was returning home by train, and soon, a taxi would take him to the station in Poitiers.
Bridgette marched over, followed by Waltho carrying her cases. ‘Where’s Caroline?’ she demanded as she searched the departing faces.
‘Here I am!’ Caroline called out.
Clutching a hat to her head, Caroline tugged on the handle of her case.
A car pulled up, tooting its horn and the expats, here to say their farewells, bundled out.
‘Has anyone seen Sally?’ Fran asked anxiously, wondering if Sally was still in bed. She didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.
‘There she is.’ Bridgette pointed. ‘It looks like she has a valet.’
All eyes turned as Sally walked confidently towards them. In her wake, Daniel, loaded with cases, made his way to Romeo.
‘By heck, am I seeing what I hope I am seeing?’ Fran asked.
‘I’m giving him a lift, that’s all,’ Sally said. ‘Don’t read anything into it. There’s space in Romeo, and it will be company for me on the journey.’
Fran held out her arms. ‘Come and stay with me and Sid soon,’ she said with a hug.
‘Try keeping me away.’
As guests bound for the airport piled on the minibus, Tomas started the engine.
Waltho stood beside Caroline and held out his hand.
‘Good luck,’ he said and gripped her fingers. ‘I hope that all goes well, will you let me know?’
Caroline couldn’t find words to express how she felt. With the guests bustling around them and Angelique announcing that to catch their flights, Tomas needed to go, she found herself tongue-tied. But Waltho’s hand clenched hers firmly, his eyes heartfelt.
‘Thank you,’ Caroline whispered. ‘Thank you.’ That was all she could say and there were tears in her eyes as she turned away.
* * *
Fran sat behind Tomas. Her eyes were searching and she crossed her fingers as she watched Caroline and Waltho say goodbye. ‘Oh, no.’ Fran sighed as Caroline pulled her hand from Waltho’s grip. Fran thought she saw Waltho shake his head as Caroline boarded the minibus.
‘I must have misread the signals.’ Fran was bemused. ‘Rats,’ she sighed with frustration. ‘There’s a romance that’s slipped away.’
Tomas started the engine, and with the airport-bound guests safely aboard, hands began to wave. Ahmed climbed into his taxi, waving too, as the vehicles started to move. Romeo sprang to life, and Sally, sunglasses in place and her silky scarf shimmering, smiled as Daniel strapped himself in, and they followed behind. The expats, tooting their horn, joined the end of the convoy as it progressed towards the gates.
‘Goodbye!’ Everyone called out. ‘Safe travels! Keep in touch!’
* * *
Waltho felt Angelique’s presence beside him. He placed his arm on her shoulder, and together, they watched the vehicles disappear from the grounds of La Maison du Paradis. Suddenly, everywhere was quiet and still, as though the beating heart of the house had paused.
As the dust on the driveway began to settle, Tabby appeared. She flicked her tail and sauntered over to Waltho, where she wrapped her creaking body around his legs.
‘What now?’ Waltho turned to Angelique.
Angelique disengaged his arm and turned to face Waltho. ‘Now,’ she began, ‘you embrace all the good from this week. The French Cookery School has been a success.’
‘I hope so.’
‘Best of all,’ Angelique smiled, ‘you’re painting again.’
‘It’s a bonus,’ he agreed.
‘Life is like the theatre,’ Angelique said, ‘a stage for us to act out our lives. When one drama finishes, we stand in the wings, waiting for the curtains to open on a new performance.’
Waltho stared at Angelique. Was she right?
‘Let’s celebrate with coffee and cake, to more success!’ Angelique called out and disappeared into the kitchen.
Waltho scooped Tabby into his arms. He thought of the question he asked himself only a week ago. Had that day, with the opening of the cookery school, marked the first day of the rest of his life?
As he strolled along the lavender-lined pathway, he realised that it might well have done.
The darkness of losing Lauren had lifted, and he was enjoying his home. His studio had come to life, and he felt inspired by ideas for future paintings. But, Waltho pondered, had cookery been the right thing to do? Would he feel happier if he ran painting courses and followed his true passion?
Waltho thought of Caroline.
Unknowingly, Caroline had contributed to his recovery, and he wished that there was some way he could contribute to hers. As she’d climbed onto the minibus, he’d been aware of an unspoken bond between them, but it felt like it had broken away when she’d pulled her hand from his fingers. Shaking his head, he’d wanted to call out and implore her to stay.
Waltho sighed, but that was foolish. Caroline had a new life to engineer, and who knew what her future held?
He’d reached the pool, and Tabby slid from his arms. She jumped on a chair and curled up happily. The confident cat knew what she wanted from life. As Waltho stroked her fur, Tabby stared at the hesitating man.
‘Of course…’ Waltho whispered and began to smile as comprehension suddenly dawned.
The stage curtains had parted, and a new show was about to begin!