Sunday afternoon and Maddy drove Carla to the airport. A strangely subdued Maddy.
‘Stay and have a coffee with me?’ Carla said. ‘I’ll check the cases in first. Then I’ve got at least half an hour before I need to go through security.’
‘Okay. I’ll go and order. There’s always a queue,’ Maddy said and walked off.
When Carla joined her ten minutes later, Maddy was wiping the tears away.
‘I wish you weren’t doing this, Mum.’
Carla sighed. ‘Maddy, you know why I’m doing it. Can’t you just wish me well in my new life? A new life for me that still includes you in it. The world has Skype now. We can speak and see each other every day if you want. Besides, I’m going to be less than a two-hour plane ride away.’ When Maddy didn’t answer, Carla sighed. ‘Darling, don’t you think you’re being rather selfish? You are an independent young career woman with your life in front of you. You also have Sam.’
‘He says I’m being selfish too.’ Maddy looked at her. ‘It’s all happened so quickly. Granny dying. Dad’s affair. The divorce. You leaving. It feels like my world has suddenly disappeared.’
‘Think how I feel,’ Carla said quietly.
‘I’m sorry, Mum. I really do hope your new life works out for you. You deserve it.’
‘It will. I’m already looking forward to you and Sam visiting. How is Sam? I was sorry to miss saying goodbye to him.’
Maddy smiled. ‘He’s fine. Told me to send you his love and best wishes.’
‘Have you introduced him to Dad yet? Or even told Dad about Sam?’
‘No. The timing seemed all wrong. I will soon though. Sam, for some reason, is keen to meet him. Almost as keen as he is for me to meet his parents.’
‘This sounds serious.’ Carla looked at Maddy questioningly. ‘Is it?’
‘Think so. It does feel as though he could be the one. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know any news.’
Carla glanced at her watch. ‘I’d better get ready to board.’ They walked together to the entrance to security. Carla gave Maddy a tight hug. ’Don’t worry, everything will be all right. Visit soon, promise?’
Maddy nodded, too close to tears again to speak as Carla turned away and disappeared out of sight.
Carla was close to tears herself as she strapped herself into her seat, but as the plane began to taxi down the runway, she felt her spirits lifting. In less than two hours’ time, when she stepped back on French soil, her new life would begin. A life where she could forget recent hurtful events and push them into the depths of her mind and she alone would decide which path she’d take in the future. She was determined nothing would spoil her enjoyment of this French adventure. Whatever it took to make Villa Mimosa and her life in France a success, she would do. Nothing from the past was going to be allowed to intrude and spoil things.