to the necessary hygiene requirements, but some of the expense of buying new catering equipment could be passed on to a tenant if they leased it out.
Around mid-afternoon she went across to the manager’s house to see how the team she’d organised to clean it were getting on. They’d started on the bedrooms and the bathroom that morning and everything upstairs was sparkling. Now they were working their magic downstairs. The sitting room and the small sunroom looked far more inviting than when she’d first seen it. In the kitchen, the loose covers from the small settee were whirling around in the washing machine, whilst the vigorous use of steel wool on the oven was getting rid of seasons of grease.
Thanking everyone for their hard work, Belinda returned to the office, deep in thought. A few more days and she’d be able to leave the auberge and move into the house. Leaving Fern and the auberge would be a real wrench though. The two of them had become firm friends and Belinda worried about leaving her alone. The campsite house would be basic accommodation, nowhere near as comfortable as the auberge, but living on site had always been the intention. At least there was a usable bathroom and the kitchen was adequate for her needs. Belinda sighed. She’d talk to Fern tonight about moving out and also insist that they went out for lunch one Sunday, her treat. Maybe they could meet up at least once a week while she was in France.
Alain was in the office when she pushed open the door, staring intently at the computer and muttering under his breath. Belinda hesitated, before moving to his side. Relations between them had been less strained recently but she was still wary of upsetting him and opening herself up to more rude comments.
‘Problem?’ she asked.
‘For me, not you,’ Alain answered, closing the email programme he had open on the screen. ‘I ’ave to deal with something this weekend in the UK. I’ll see you Monday morning peut-être.’ He picked up his jacket from the chair, looked at her, went to say something, changed his mind and walked out.
Belinda stared after him. What the hell? He couldn’t just walk away with no explanation, even if it was a personal matter. Maybe she could have helped, if only he’d told her. Belinda took a deep breath. Over the past week or two she’d realised that Alain Salvin didn’t confide in people or ask for help. But it was that ‘perhaps’ at the end of his last sentence that stayed in her mind and worried her.
Back at the auberge that evening while they ate dinner, Belinda told Fern she’d be moving out – probably at the end of the next week.
‘The cleaners have worked really hard on the manager’s house and I always intended to live on site as soon as possible. Just waiting for the bedding and other stuff from Nigel to arrive.’
Fern’s face fell. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Not half as much as I’m going to miss you and your delicious food,’ Belinda said. ‘I’m only up the road, a nice afternoon walk for Lady. Once I’m settled in, I’ll make you cheese on toast one evening.’ She finished the last mouthful of rich chocolate mousse that Fern had made and replaced her spoon. ‘That was delicious.’ She glanced at Fern, who was still looking downcast. ‘Cheer up. The tourists will be arriving soon and you’ll be buzzing. I’ve got Sunday off and thought we could go out for lunch? My treat. You’ll know the best place to go. Book a table and we’ll be ladies who lunch, okay?’ Belinda smiled when Fern nodded her agreement. If only there was something tangible she could do to help ease the lingering grief in her friend’s life.
11
Belinda and Fern loaded the two dogs into Fern’s car mid-morning on Sunday in preparation for a walk alongside the river that was close to the restaurant where Fern had booked a table. Fern had insisted on driving, saying it was easier as she knew the roads.
‘My car has got satnav, you know,’ Belinda teased her.
It was when they’d been driving away from the village for ten minutes that a sense of déjà vu flooded Belinda’s body and she shivered with the intensity of it. She recognised the direction they were travelling in. A direction she’d deliberately avoided ever since she’d arrived. Why oh why hadn’t she asked Fern where they were going so that she