The Vineyard (21 page)
Authors: Karen Aldous
‘If you think it necessary, yes. I trust your judgement.’
‘It’s not nice for the staff so, if he can’t walk in, it’s reassuring,’ Sophie advised.
‘Ok.’
‘Jean-Luc and I also spoke briefly about the work at the Rue Antibes salon and he said to send over your ideas; he’s pencilled in a few days for us.’
‘Oh yes, sorry, I have had my head in the clouds this week. Yes. Email me what you have in mind and I will email mine to you. Then we can discuss them. Thank you so much for all your help Sophie.’
‘I’m loving it Lizzie and can’t wait to get going.’
‘Yes I’m sure.’
‘Anyway, give Thierry a big hug from me and tell him Aunty Sophie loves him and good luck for this afternoon when your mum is home.’
‘Thanks and let me know what the notary says. I hope it won’t jeopardise our plans!’
After her early morning call from Sophie, Lizzie opened the windows to her mother’s bedroom. Bright sunshine flickered in through the trees and a breeze rustled the leaves. She stripped the bed, vacuumed the floor, washed paintwork and wardrobes then polished, before dressing the bed in fresh clean sheets and pillowcases. Whilst polishing she picked up a man’s watch on one of the bedside cupboards. Strange. Not the sort of watch she would have associated with Cal. A little old in taste. That is, assuming it was Cal’s, which she did. She was going to put it in to her pocket and return it to him but then checked herself and put it back. It was not her business she figured.
The thought of her mother and Cal in bed together wasn’t a pleasant one and she swiftly tried to remove it from her mind. Back downstairs Thierry amused himself with his toys so Lizzie cleaned up the rest of the house as much as she could. Cal was outside. He’d also been up early. She’d spotted him trimming vines whilst she was on the phone to Sophie. He had walked back up to the new winery building now, talking to the builders. As soon as she could she called to him.
‘Have you heard from Mum?’ she asked as he neared.
‘No. I imagine she will call you on the landline though.’
‘Oh. I wanted to walk down to the parade with Thierry and buy some flowers for her room.’
‘No problem. Leave the window open and I’ll listen out for the phone.’ He pointed to the kitchen window.
***
Lizzie placed a small vase containing the fresh cream roses edged with pink in her mother’s bedroom which, with the soft breeze, brought the room to life. In the kitchen, another bunch of plain cream roses she positioned in the centre of the old oak dining table and added sprigs of lime green leaves from a Mexican Orange blossom in the garden. Satisfied with the striking result, she opened more windows, inviting in the gentle waft of the vines and the warm July sunshine. She made Thierry lunch; a cheese and cucumber sandwich with a couple of cherry tomatoes on his plate. Then she continued buttering bread and stacked it on a plate. She decided to make up both ham and cheese salad sandwiches ready for when she returned from the hospital with her mother. Wondering where she could find some music, she walked into the front lounge and put on a
Chet Baker
CD already in the unit. The stale waft in the room drove her to the windows, opening them too. Then to her surprise Cal drove into the drive with, she saw, her mother sitting next to him. She ran out to greet her with an embracing smile.
‘I was waiting for your call,’ she said, helping Caroline from the car and leading her to the front door whilst Cal pulled out bags from the back seat.
‘Yes but with Thierry here Cal thought it would save you a trip.’
Cal slammed the back door with his foot. ‘Well I would have stayed with him but you were out anyway,’ he added.
‘I didn’t even notice you gone Cal, thank you. So glad you’re here, Welcome home. Thierry’s waiting,’ Lizzie added excitedly.
Shuffling at her mother’s pace she led her in gently.
‘I’m not an old invalid you know.’
‘Oh I know.’ Lizzie chuckled. ‘I thought you might be a little unsteady that’s all.’
‘That’s very thoughtful.’ Caroline said, snuggling into her daughter’s arm.
As they entered the kitchen, Thierry peered up with big dark eyes from his plate and Lizzie witnessed her mother’s face light up like the brightest sun.
‘Hello, my darling,’ she chimed to her grandson. ‘How lovely to see you again and, in my very own home.’ Lizzie thought she was going to cry with delight. She raised her palms to her face. ‘My grandchild, oh, my goodness, I still can’t believe it. ‘Oh, Thierry darling.’ His eyes followed hers as she approached him, kissing his forehead.
He took a new mouthful. ‘I’m eating my sandwich,’ he said, still munching, and making them all explode with laughter.
‘You are a good boy. You’ll grow big and strong just like Cal,’ said his grandmother.
‘When you finish your mouthful Thierry you can say hello to…oh Mum what would you like to be called? Grandma, Gran, Nanny?’
‘Grandma. It’s so funny but I have been thinking about that. Call me Grandma, darling.’
Thierry looked at his mother and then back to Caroline.
‘Say
Hello Grandma
,’ Lizzie said, giving her son a wink.
‘Hello Gr..andma,’ he said, creating another burst of cheery laughter.
‘Well he might need a bit of practice,’ Lizzie said as she walked over to the kettle. I’ll make some tea. Lunch is ready, so sit down.’
‘Grandma. Are you having a sandwich?’ Thierry asked.
‘I would love a sandwich. Your Mummy has been busy hasn’t she?’
‘Mummy…me and Mummy,’ he rushed his words excitedly. ‘We went to the shops and we bought flowers for you.’
‘Did you? What a kind boy and Mummy you are. Thank you, they are beautiful. This is so fabulous, so surreal. He is so adorable Lizzie,’ Caroline voiced in sheer delight.
‘He is isn’t he?’ Cal agreed.
‘I was so excited last night, I couldn’t sleep,’ she added.
‘Oh Mum, really. Well you know you must rest. You need to sleep to help your skin to heal,’ Lizzie showed a mock scowl.
‘Look, it’s not every day you discover you have a grandchild you know. I have so much to catch up on.’
‘As long as you don’t overdo it. Your rest is important,’ Lizzie said as she delivered the large plate of sandwiches and uncovered them. She then took plates from the cupboard and placed them on the table and returned to the task of making tea. ‘And anyway, I’ll make sure you do. We’ll have plenty of time. I’ll be here for a few weeks yet.’
‘And I shall be making the most of it,’ Caroline added. ‘I can’t tell you how much having you both here means to me.’
Cal looked across to Lizzie. He could see the pride and comfort that those words gave to her. She blushed at his attention and brought over the teas.
‘We are happy to be here,’ Lizzie told her mother. ‘And, we look forward to spending time with you. We want to make sure you get better, don’t we Thierry?’ Lizzie glanced back at Cal as he sat down at the table and she swore she spotted a tear in his eye.
‘Well I couldn’t be happier,’ Caroline affirmed, easing in to a chair at the table.
Lizzie couldn’t believe it. What a turnaround. All that time she’d wasted worrying how her mother would react to her having a child out of wedlock. She’d convinced herself she’d shamed her family. This outcome far exceeded anything she could have ever predicted.
‘Well Cal should also take some credit. He brought us back together.’ Lizzie picked up a sandwich and sat down facing him.
‘Yes I agree,’ Caroline nodded but failing to take her eyes off her grandson. ‘You have done so much Cal, thank you. Lizzie says you’ve looked after Thierry too. Didn’t have you down as a child minder!’
‘You are all very welcome but just so that you know, I have enjoyed it, particularly looking after Thierry. He’s a great lad,’ Cal chirped, finishing his sandwich before announcing, ‘Right. I’m just going to collect my things from the spare room and put them in the car ready to move back home. I have to get back to work. See you all later. Let me know if there is anything I can do?’
Hmm, Lizzie thought, Thierry was going to miss him.
Lizzie spent the afternoon in the lounge fussing over her mother whilst she settled back in. Cal obviously felt uncomfortable staying whilst she was around. Either that or her mother didn’t feel ready to have him in her bed yet but she hadn’t heard them discuss it. Anyway, she figured it was none of her business. She listened to her mother and Thierry chatting and inbetween, when possible, posed questions to her mother about the coming weeks, gathering details of Caroline’s numerous appointments and leaflets to read. It was all rather daunting to Lizzie so God knows how her mother felt about suddenly having to deal with it all. And this was just the beginning!
‘As you said. I’ll take each day as it comes,’ Caroline said, seeing Lizzie’s expression. ‘That’s all I can do. Of course, I’m praying the disease has been caught early enough.’
‘Well promise me you will tell me when you need something, anything. Don’t think you are going to be any trouble. I’m here to help.’ She raised her eyebrows to her mother.
‘I forgot to say actually, the nurse will be coming here for a couple of days.’
‘That’s fine. Presumably to do your dressing?’
‘Yes. If you could just keep my room clean and well aired?’
‘Of course.’ Lizzie nodded.
‘Then, I just want to hear all about what you have been up to whilst you were away and what you and Thierry do in and around Cannes. There’s just so much to catch up on.’
‘As long as you rest inbetween!’ Lizzie ordered, peering down at her like she was the mother, and they both laughed. After a short delay, Thierry giggled too which made them laugh even more. By four o’clock both her son and mother were fast asleep on the settee with the film
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
playing on the TV. Lizzie finished off a bit of ironing and took the opportunity to make some calls.
She headed back into the kitchen and braced herself for the first call. She dialled Anton’s mobile, withholding her number. As it rang, she waited anxiously, then it went to voicemail. She left him a message.
‘Hi Anton, it’s Lizzie. I am still in England and it’s likely to be for a couple of weeks more as my mother has just got home from hospital. I shall stay here with her and Thierry until she can manage. I will come to see you as soon as I return.’
She was quite relieved he didn’t answer. At least this way he couldn’t keep her on the phone arguing. She then rang Josephine in Cannes to ensure the salon was ok. There were the usual day-to-day issues but nothing her manager couldn’t handle. Lizzie then got her diary and notebook to make a list of what she needed to do.
For a start, she listed what
she
could do then a list of what Sophie and the manager would have to do. Ideas for the new salon were next, well the start. As she began thinking about it, more new ideas were coming and she needed to rein some in. She had to be realistic about the budget and the timescale. Then the marketing plan. Again, budget and timing were crucial. Her plan, a large campaign from end of August to mid-September for when, they hoped, the new salon could launch. Advertising the new treatments for a new branding of Beaute Dedans Clinic, with every treatment available under one roof in Rue Antibes, was exciting.
But she very much looked forward to Sophie being involved and working with her. She filled pages with her lists, ideas and notes, even small illustrations to jog her memory. It was over an hour later when she heard Thierry cough, then realised she hadn’t started any dinner. Both Thierry and her mother were sure to wake up hungry.
Putting the kettle on and pulling out from the fridge a rather delicious cream cake she had bought at the local bakery, she placed it on a cake stand in the centre of the table. Entering the lounge, Thierry was tucked up asleep against his gran and Lizzie pulled out her mobile to take a photo. It was a scene beyond the scope of her imagination just one week ago. It prompted memories of her with her grandfather. She would love him to be here now. She was glad though that her mother and son had taken to one another. Was it now going to be difficult to part these two she wondered?
Meeting Monsieur Henri, the notary, was not as easy as Sophie hoped. He rarely seemed to be in the office to begin with and then when she finally made an appointment it was through his secretary. His office was in a high-rise block off Rue Antibes. Carrying her paperwork in an A4 folder, she waited for the lift and a few minutes later, entered. She pressed third floor as the secretary instructed and waited for the doors to close. Just as they began to draw in, a figure ran in, setting her heart racing.
‘Six etage, sil vous plais.’ It was a voice she instantly recognised as she pressed the number six on the panel. Charles Pitt-Barker. He stood still as he observed her. His eyes squinted at her but didn’t seem to register.
‘Hello Charles?’
‘Ah…erm yes…yes.’ Charles’ brows furrowed.
‘Sophie,’ she reminded him, waiting for a sign of recognition from him. The lift stopped.
‘Oh, yes, yes I remem….’ The doors opened.
‘Good to see you again.’ Sophie gave a disappointed wave as she stepped out.
‘Yes,’ he managed as he watched her stride off.
What bad luck she didn’t meet him outside the lift she thought.
***
Monsieur Henri, almost as wide as he was tall, greeted Sophie with a fat, sweaty palm in the reception before taking her into his office. Her patience was running thin as she had waited twenty long minutes over the appointment time and received no hint of an apology. His small, beady eyes lacked warmth and did nothing but repulse her. She guessed, by his sloppy professionalism, he was getting on for a big fat retirement package and had no inclination to be helpful or care about his clients. He led her to a dusty chair and flicked his hand for her to sit, which she did. She explained her purpose articulately and swiftly, not wanting to be in his presence longer than necessary. He browsed the copy of the draft lease she’d reluctantly handed to him and frowned into it. He looked over his glasses at her then back to the paper in his hand.