are you planning?’ Anouk gave her a beaming smile.
Fern laughed. ‘I don’t know about mischief, but I was wondering whether you’d like to come and spend the weekend with me? We could go for a drive down to the coast if you like. Have lunch out. You could go to church in the village Sunday morning if you wanted.’
Anouk looked at her. ‘Yes, I would like to do that. First, though, ’ave you been thinking about Fabian and his suggestions? Is this some sort of trial to see if we could live together before you suggest I move in with you?’
Fern laughed and shook her head. ‘Nothing gets past you, does it? Yes, I have been thinking about Fabian’s suggestions, but, honestly, asking you to stay for the weekend was not a ploy to see if we could live together. It was more to see if you would even consider the idea of moving in with me. I promise you I shall not be upset if you say no, but I really, truly hope you will say yes.’
‘Why would you want to take on the responsibility of an old woman who isn’t related to you? What happens if I get dementia and – oh, what’s the word you English use? Do… do…’
‘I think you mean doolally,’ Fern said, laughing.
‘Doolally, that’s it. What if I get that in a few months’ time?’
‘Just because the man that linked us together via marriage is no longer with us, doesn’t mean that I don’t still regard you as my mother-in-law, a part of my family,’ Fern answered quietly. ‘And I promise you, I’ll never stop caring about and for you.’ She took a drink of coffee. ‘As for you going doolally – I don’t see that happening for a long time, if ever.’
Anouk nodded thoughtfully. ‘D’accord. I too ’ave been thinking about Fabian wanting to move one of us out of our homes. The reasons you want to stay in the auberge are as valid as Fabian’s are for wanting you to move out. We will spend the weekend together and talk it through properly. Mais.’ She looked at Fern with a glint in her eye. ‘We ’ave no need to mention this to Fabian. He is away and we will decide without the pressure. It is for the best. D’accord?’
‘D’accord,’ Fern agreed.
18
When Belinda arrived back at the auberge that evening, she listened as a happy Fern told her about the conversation with Anouk and her weekend plans. ‘I’ll pick her up Saturday morning and by the time she leaves sometime on Tuesday she promises to have made a decision.’
Fern looked at Belinda. ‘I did think about what you said about putting my life on hold, but I think having Anouk here will do the opposite in reality. Life since Laurent died has been lonely and inconsequential. Having someone relying on me will make me do things again. I wish you could meet her before you leave.’
‘From what you’ve told me about Anouk, I think if she does come here, it sounds as though it will benefit you both,’ Belinda replied. ‘Hopefully I’ll be back to help finalise things for the opening of the campsite. I can meet her then.’
‘At least you’ll be able to see your daughter and the twins,’ Fern said.
‘That’s what I’m looking forward to the most,’ Belinda answered. ‘What about your girls? Are you likely to see them over the holiday?’
Fern shook her head. ‘No, sadly. They both have their own busy lives. I expect they’ll be over later in the summer though.’
After supper, Belinda apologised to Fern and went upstairs to finish sorting her things out. Once she’d packed and prepared everything for the morning, she stood in front of the bedroom window, looking out over the dark countryside. An almost full moon was illuminating the fields and owls were tooting in the copse at the far side of the field.
Belinda sighed. She’d felt so at home here in Brittany for the past few weeks, she’d be sad to leave tomorrow. The time here had woken something inside her that had been buried for far too long.
The next morning at work, she made sure everything on her to-do list was as up to date as she could make it, and the booking page on the website was properly loaded and working. She hoped that Maria was as computer-literate as she said and would soon get the hang of things. If not, Belinda could only hope that Alain would be