fortnight, but so much had been achieved. The entertainment area had been pressure-washed and the picnic tables cleaned and put in place. The outside of the restaurant had been washed down, but peering through a window, Belinda could see the inside was still a shambles. Getting that ready for the season would be top of her agenda now, especially as Nigel had decided to employ staff to run it rather than lease it out.
Wandering on down through the site, Belinda stood and looked out over the river and remembered Fern saying something about an annual fishing competition. Fern. She needed to let her know she was back and arrange to meet up. See if she could give her any advice on how she should approach finding the missing link to her past.
As she turned to walk back past the cabins, BB bounded ahead happily and barked joyfully at Bernie sitting drinking a coffee at the table in his patch of garden. He raised his cup and pointed at it, looking at Belinda nodding and smiling. Belinda smiled back but shook her head, gently refusing what she took to be an offer of coffee. ‘Merci, Bernie, but non.’
If only he spoke French he could probably tell her something about the fishing festival. Maybe he liked to fish. Belinda remembered Fern saying she thought he understood simple French, he just didn’t like speaking it.
She gestured in the direction of the river. ‘Pêchez-vous?’
Bernie nodded vigorously.
‘Avez-vous pêche au festival de la pêche ici?’ Belinda said slowly and clearly.
Bernie’s face broke into a big smile at her words. He held out his arm and hand towards her, indicating he wanted her to wait and dashed into the cabin. Seconds later he was back and handed her a photograph of himself proudly holding a big fish and a plaque that said 1st Prize.
‘Félicitations,’ Belinda said, smiling as she handed the photo back. She tapped her watch. ‘Le travail. À bientôt.’
Leaving Bernie, Belinda made her way back to the office, hoping that Alain would be there and free to discuss the things in the file. Half an hour later, she was regretting that hope. They’d gone through everything, including the siting of the tree houses to replace the pods, except the plans for a newly refurbished restaurant. It was then the discussion turned into an argument.
‘There isn’t time to refurbish the restaurant for this season, so it makes sense to keep it as a basic café and employ a couple of people to work there for us. I’ve had an idea too about sourcing food, which I need to research more. Then, at the end of summer, we can organise a complete renovation,’ Belinda said. ‘After that, we can advertise its availability for functions in the spring.’
‘Functions? Why? And what sort?’ Alain almost snapped at her.
‘The restaurant refurbished, with decent tables and chairs, a bar and a sound system would be a wonderful place for weddings, parties, even some of those bonding weekends that companies are so fond of these days. Revive the old fishing festival maybe. It’s a way of keeping the site open and paying for itself all year round. It would all bring in good money.’
‘You’re turning it into the kind of campsite I don’t want to run.’ Alain glared at her.
‘Well, as this campsite is Nigel’s, he gets to make the final decisions, so if you’re not happy, maybe you’d better find yourself another one,’ Belinda said quietly.
Alain looked at her, opened his mouth as though to say something, before changing his mind and walking out.
The happier Alain of last evening had definitely disappeared.
When Marie turned up for work after lunch, Belinda saved everything on the website she’d been working on and returned to the cottage to work. Thankfully there was no sign of Alain. It was late afternoon before she remembered to phone Fern and tell her she was back.
‘You’re here,’ a delighted Fern said. ‘When did you get back? How was it?’
‘Last night. There were one or two unexpected changes, but on the whole it was okay. We need a catch-up. Fancy coming here tonight for a glass of wine. Or do you have guests?’
‘No guests, but Anouk and Scott are here. I could come after dinner. They’re quite happy to spend time together. You wouldn’t believe how competitive they get over a game of scrabble,’ Fern said, trying to organise her thoughts.
‘Excuse me? I’m away for two weeks and you not only move your ex ma-in-law in but a new