she couldn’t even stop for a break. Being short-staffed for the last day of the holiday hadn’t been in the plan and she’d had to help out on reception and in the restaurant. She couldn’t kick her shoes off quickly enough and change from her work clothes into her PJs – or leisure suit, as the advert had called them when she’d ordered them online. Once that was done, she fed BB, poured a glass of wine and stepped out onto her little secret terrace outside the sitting room.
The terrace was one of her favourite things about the flat. Big enough for a small circular table and two chairs and a lilac tree that was budding up to blossom in the terracotta pot she’d placed in one corner, she had a wonderful view of the inner harbour and river, but she herself was so high up and set back from the front of the hotel as to be unseen by the ant-like people she could watch below walking on the quayside. With a sigh of relief, she sank onto a chair, took a sip of wine and glanced at her watch. Jane had sent a text earlier saying she was back after spending Easter with her family and would see her about eight o’clock.
Time to make a phone call, take a shower and generally relax before Jane arrived. She’d asked the kitchen to prepare a supper tray for two people – slices of quiche, a salad, and chocolate mousses – which Jane would collect on her way through the hotel and bring up. A bottle of chardonnay was already cold in the fridge.
Belinda picked up her mobile, but her finger hovered over pressing Alain’s number. Would he regard it as an intrusion if she phoned him? After all, this wasn’t an emergency. But they were working colleagues and she wanted to know how the Easter weekend had gone over in Camping dans La Fôret – whether there had even been any campers turn up. She’d worked hard to help get the place set up and she wanted to know about the first visitors. She didn’t need an excuse to phone him. Defiantly, she pressed the button and listened as the call rang out.
‘Bonjour, Belinda, you are missing me a little, mais non?’ Alain’s voice held a teasing note.
‘No, of course not,’ Belinda protested. ‘I was simply wondering how the weekend went. Did anyone turn up and stay after you’d explained about the lack of facilities?’
‘Half a dozen caravans and three camper vans. Two of the caravans are staying on for another week. No tents.’
‘How was Marie?’
‘Good. And Easter, it was good for you and the hotels?’
‘Usual mayhem, with the added problem of staff shortages thrown into the mix. I’ve only just finished today. At least it will quieten down tomorrow.’
‘Your daughter and the grandchildren? ’Ave you spent time with them?’
‘Yes.’ Belinda hesitated. She wanted to ask him more about the campsite: whether the weather had been good, whether things had gone smoothly or whether they had overlooked anything important, whether Bernie had been useful. But Alain was already winding up the conversation.
‘I ’ave to go. Everything, it goes like clockwork here, so no need for you to worry. Take care. Bye Bye.’
Belinda smiled at his heavily accented ‘Bye Bye’ as she echoed it. She’d phone one morning later in the week, maybe Alain would have more time then to chat and answer her questions.
Right, time to jump in the shower and get dressed.
The fairy lights Belinda had looped around the door frame outside on the terrace were twinkling and Belinda was putting glasses and cutlery out when Jane buzzed the door. She quickly ran down the stairs to let her in and to take the tray from her. Five minutes later, they were settled on the terrace and they both tucked into their supper.
‘Phew,’ Jane let out a deep breath, ‘I really envy you this little hideaway. I love my family dearly, but after three days of 24/7 with them, this is just what I need,’ Jane said. ‘Wine, food, just you and me. Perfect.’ She waved her fork in the air. ‘I bet you missed this view when you were in France.’
‘To be honest, I was too busy to have much time for views. My bedroom at the auberge I stayed in looked out over countryside and that was pretty lovely too.’
‘So how is the campsite?’
‘Pretty run-down and basic, but we’re slowly getting to grips with it. It’s going