A couple of hours later, Carla came out of her room wearing her new chiffon maxi dress that both Maddy and Josette had insisted she buy from the trendy boutique they’d found in Cannes, along with the pair of high-heeled sandals that were already killing her.
‘You look great, Mum,’ Ed said, coming out of the kitchen with a tray loaded with food for the barbecue. ‘I’ll just get this over to Sam so he can start cooking, then I’ll be back to pour you a glass of champagne.’
Joel was busy lighting the tea candles in their jars hanging from various trees and shrubs around the garden, as well as standing alongside the pool and down the paths. So many flickering candles. Carla was looking forward to dusk descending when the candles and the lights would come into their own, casting long shadows over the garden, creating a mysterious, magical atmosphere as they did so.
Joel had exchanged the shorts and coloured T-shirt she was used to seeing him in for dark jeans and a white shirt, the sleeves of which he’d rolled up, leaving his suntanned muscular forearms exposed. A pair of sunglasses were pushed back on his head. She laughed as she saw Leroy stalking him around the garden. Nothing new there. Whenever Joel was home, the cat could always be found close by.
She wished Joel hadn’t told David he was the gardener the way he had. Surely he regarded himself as a friend first and foremost? She knew that was how she thought of him – a good friend too.
‘Here you go, Mum, one glass of bubbly,’ Ed handed her a glass of pink champagne. ‘Your lodger seems a nice bloke,’ he said, following her gaze.
Carla nodded, still watching Joel as he switched on the lights in the trees. ‘He is. He’s a good friend.’
‘Nothing more?’ Ed asked quietly. ‘He seems very fond of you.’
Carla turned to look at him. ‘No. I’m barely divorced from your father and happy enjoying the single life. Santé.’ Ed looked at her quizzically, but the arrival of the neighbours, Heléne and her husband, prevented him from pursuing the subject, to Carla’s relief. David arrived soon after, carrying a magnum of champagne.
‘I had the hotel keep it in their fridge for me, so pop it back in yours for half an hour and we can drink it later. Happy birthday by the way.’
Dutifully, Carla did as she was told. Coming back out, she smiled at Josette and Gordon, going across to greet them and make sure they too had a glass of bubbly.
Josette looked over to the barbecue, where Sam was turning the meat. ‘Who’s that talking to Sam and Joel?’
‘It’s…’ Carla stopped. ‘Of course, you’ve never met him have you? That’s David. Come on, I’ll introduce you.’
‘David as in ex-husband? What’s he doing here?’
Carla shrugged. ‘Said he wanted to wish me happy birthday, but really I think he wants to mend bridges – particularly with the twins.’ As she headed over, she called out. ‘David, come and meet…’ for a second she was almost tempted to say ‘meet my mother’ but knew David would think she’d flipped and demand an explanation. An explanation she’d give him another time, but not tonight. ‘Meet Josette. And this is her friend, Gordon.’
‘Hello, Tante Josette, the mysterious unknown aunt,’ David said, holding out his hand. ‘Good to meet you after all these years. Gordon, pleasure to meet you too.’
Carla gasped. ‘Oh, I’ve just realised. Ed’s here too. You’re meeting all my family today. Come and sit on the terrace and I’ll bring him over.’ Carla grabbed Josette by the hand and started walking quickly towards the terrace, leaving Gordon to talk to David. ‘David doesn’t know you’re actually his mother-in-law yet – well ex-mother-in-law now. I’d rather not have to break the news to him tonight, so promise you won’t say anything, will you?’
‘Promise,’ Josette said. ‘You’d better tell the twins to be careful to not mention it as well.’
‘Gordon won’t say anything, will he?’ Carla asked, anxiously glancing back at the two men.
‘Non. Gordon’s a very discreet man,’ Josette assured her. ‘Now, where’s my,’ she dropped her voice to a whisper, ‘grandson?’
By the time Carla had introduced Josette and Ed and made both twins promise not to breathe a word of Josette’s story to David, the other neighbours and Bruno had arrived. Five minutes later, Sam and Joel shouted, ‘Food’s ready.’
Dusk was falling by the time Maddy appeared, carrying a birthday cake ablaze with candles. After everyone had sung ‘Happy Birthday’ and Carla had managed to blow out all the candles, Maddy took the cake back into the kitchen to cut it up. In the lull that followed before the slices were handed around, Carla overheard Bruno quietly ask Josette why she hadn’t answered his uncle’s letter.
Josette looked at him before answering equally quietly. ‘Because I’m not sure what to say to him after all this time,’ and she’d moved closer to Gordon and caught hold of his hand. Bruno watched her thoughtfully before accepting a slice of cake from the plate now being offered by Maddy. Ten minutes later, he made his way across to Carla to say goodbye.
‘I’m sorry to leave, but I have an early morning flight to catch tomorrow,’ he apologised. ‘May I call you when I get back next week? Maybe we can have dinner again.’
Smiling, Carla agreed. ‘That would be lovely.’
An hour or so later, sitting next to Joel on the terrace, sipping a last glass of champagne, Carla sighed happily. It had been a good evening. Bruno leaving had been the signal for the others to drift away, including David, who’d said he’d see them all in the morning before he left for the airport. Carla resisted the urge to ask ‘why?’ Ed had taken himself off to bed, muttering about jet lag, but Josette and Gordon had said they were in no hurry to leave.
Now, quite dark, the garden was bathed with a romantic glow from the candles and lights. Someone – she suspected Maddy – had put some ‘music to smooch to’ on and she and Sam were gently swaying together by the side of the pool. As were Josette and Gordon, Carla saw with delight.
Carla closed her eyes and let the gentle music float over her. The past year had been fraught with problems and stress, but things were on a more even keel now, despite everything. A new year stretched ahead of her. A year she was determined to make the most of. She sensed someone standing in front of her. She opened her eyes to see Joel looking at her.
‘Would you like to dance with me?’ He held out his hands and gently pulled Carla to her feet when she took hold of them.
Standing in the circle of Joel’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder, as they moved slowly together to the rhythm of the music, Carla’s only thought was, This is the perfect ending to my birthday, and she unconsciously snuggled in closer to Joel.