Villa of Sun and Secrets Read online

  ‘I’ve hired this little beauty just for today,’ Gordon said. ‘We can pretend we’re young again and can afford a fun car. The coast road, I think,’ he said, pressing the start button. ‘Monaco, here we come.’

  Josette put on her sunglasses and took off her sun hat before the wind could whip it off her head as Gordon drove fast and expertly along the bas corniche. The small waves of the blue Mediterranean on their right gambolled in the sunlight, rolling up the pebbled beach and back again. In the sky, planes making their descent for Nice airport travelled a faster parallel line to the coast road before disappearing from view to touch down gently on the runway.

  It was only yesterday that Carla had taken off in one of the planes flying in the opposite direction. She missed her already. The telephone call early this morning had been an unexpected surprise. She sighed and sensed Gordon giving her a fleeting glance.

  ‘Carla rang me this morning to check I was all right. Wasn’t that kind of her? Things are falling into place for her to move over and live in the Villa Mimosa.’

  ‘That’s good,’ Gordon said.

  ‘I’m not so sure,’ Josette sighed, ‘I’m not used to being involved with family. All I’ve ever wanted from the day Amelia and I inherited the place was to sell it and close that part of my life. Now, when it seems the opportunity has finally arisen, I cave in and agree to Carla not just moving into Villa Mimosa but running a chambre d’hôte in the future.’

  ‘Why were you so desperate to close that chapter of your life?’ Gordon asked.

  ‘I have some unhappy memories of the place.’

  ‘No happy ones at all?’

  ‘Probably my own fault, but the unhappy ones have, over the years, pushed the good ones out of my mind,’ Josette said.

  ‘It seemed a happy place to me when we were there the other evening. The garden was lovely too. I think Carla will make a success of her business and in a few months you’ll realise how much you like having family around you.’

  ‘Maybe. Having close family nearby is something I’d accepted would never happen because of the feud with Amelia. Anyway,’ she added determinedly, ‘today I’m not going to think about what the future may hold. I’m going to enjoy the fun day you promised me.’

  Josette sat up straighter and pushed herself back against the car seat. A phrase her mother would have used ‘blowing the cobwebs away’ came into Josette’s mind minutes later as the car flew along, eating up the kilometres and the invigorating wind blew around her head.

  ‘I love this car. Wish I’d had one like it when I was young,’ Josette said. ‘It’s years since I’ve been along this road. We always came to Monaco by train. It was easier.’

  ‘We? And why?’

  ‘Amelia and I. And the why was because our father agreed with Somerset Maugham’s words, “it’s a shady place for shady people”, and didn’t approve of us visiting. We used to come in secret.’ She glanced at Gordon. ‘D’you know Monaco well?’

  ‘In a previous life I used to be a regular visitor. Almost bought an apartment here.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s changed a lot since those days. But it still has a certain je ne sais quois.’

  Gordon rarely mentioned his past life and Josette waited, hoping he’d enlarge on his comments. When he didn’t, she said. ‘Life’s a funny thing, isn’t it? Changes of which we are aware happen, we even instigate and accept some of them. Then, ten, twenty, years pass and you realise certain of those changes had an unseen domino effect on other things, and almost without noticing you’ve lived a whole different life. One where you forgot your dreams.’

  ‘That’s a sad reflection,’ Gordon said quietly. ‘It’s never too late to have dreams, you know.’

  ‘Maybe not, but turning them into reality could be a step too far, too late. C’est la vie.’

  Gordon, concentrating on overtaking a lorry, didn’t answer.

  ‘Tell me what you have planned for today?’ Josette asked once they were safely past.

  ‘After parking the car, I thought we’d walk up through the town and start with coffee in the Café de Paris, followed by a visit to the casino, where we’ll play the slot machines. After which I’m hoping we’ll come back down and my plan for lunch in the Automobile Club happens. There is a fair amount of walking involved in these plans as you probably realise.’

  ‘That’s fine. J’adore me promener around the principality. There’s always something or someone to see.’

  Leaving the car in the underground car park on the quay, the two of them wandered along the wide harbour front, strolled up the hill past the Princess Grace Theatre, along Avenue de Monte Carlo with its designer shops and into Place du Casino. By the time they sank onto chairs on the terrace of the Café de Paris, they were both ready for a reviving coffee.

  Waiting for the coffee to arrive, Josette smiled at the scene in front of her. Numerous tourists, under the watchful eye of the uniformed security man, were busy posing as close as possible to the luxury cars parked in front of the casino for photographs. All around them was a babble of international languages: Japanese, Dutch, English, Russian, Italian and, of course, French.

  The waiter placed her coffee on the table. ‘Merci.’

  ‘Amelia and I used to love coming here when we were teenagers,’ Josette said. ‘We’d pretend we were famous, talk in loud voices, giggle together over something that had happened “on set” and haughtily ignore everyone. The reality, of course, was that nobody was the slightest bit interested in us anyway. C’était amusant quand mȇme.’ She drank some coffee, conscious of Gordon watching her. ‘I took one of my more infamous photos here too.’

  ‘Infamous as in of famous people behaving badly?’ Gordon said.

  Josette nodded. ‘It was of the Burtons having a major tiff on the casino steps,’ Josette said. ‘I was lucky in that the paparazzi that usually hung around had all gone off to chase Rainier and Grace. That photo has earnt me a few euros over the years.’

  ‘I’ve never seen you with a camera in your hand. Do you not miss taking photographs these days? Just for your own pleasure.’

  Before Josette could answer, Gordon’s mobile pinged with an incoming text and the moment was lost.

  Reading the message, Gordon pulled a face.

  ‘Sorry, lunch at the Automobile Club is a no-go. Never mind. I know a good restaurant in rue Princess Caroline. Come on, time to gamble with the fruit machines first.’

  Josette and Gordon decided twenty-five euros worth of tokens each would be enough for them to have fun with and they joined the crowds in the slot machine room. Josette wandered around for a while watching other people and trying to work out how to play the modern electronic devices. ‘Wish they still had the old-fashioned models,’ she said, stopping to watch Gordon. ‘I knew how to play them. All these flashing lights confuse me.’

  ‘Just choose one and dive in,’ he replied. ‘You’ll soon get the hang of it. If not, it’s only a small amount of money you’ve gambled.’

  So she dived in as instructed and doubled her money on her first play, after which she was hooked. When Gordon tapped her on the shoulder half an hour later saying it was time to make their way back down and find a restaurant, she smiled at him.

  ‘That was so much fun,’ Josette said. ‘And while I didn’t exactly break the bank at Monte Carlo, I’ve still got my original twenty-five euros.’

  ‘In that case, you can buy a cream gateau later to take home with us for tea.’

  ‘It’s a deal,’ Josette said, laughing.

  18

  Sunday afternoon and Maddy drove Carla to the airport. A strangely subdued Maddy.

  ‘Stay and have a coffee with me?’ Carla said. ‘I’ll check the cases in first. Then I’ve got at least half an hour before I need to go through security.’

  ‘Okay. I’ll go and order. There’s always a queue,’ Maddy said and walked off.

  When Carla joined her ten minutes later, Maddy was wiping the tears away.

  ‘I wish you weren
’t doing this, Mum.’

  Carla sighed. ‘Maddy, you know why I’m doing it. Can’t you just wish me well in my new life? A new life for me that still includes you in it. The world has Skype now. We can speak and see each other every day if you want. Besides, I’m going to be less than a two-hour plane ride away.’ When Maddy didn’t answer, Carla sighed. ‘Darling, don’t you think you’re being rather selfish? You are an independent young career woman with your life in front of you. You also have Sam.’

  ‘He says I’m being selfish too.’ Maddy looked at her. ‘It’s all happened so quickly. Granny dying. Dad’s affair. The divorce. You leaving. It feels like my world has suddenly disappeared.’

  ‘Think how I feel,’ Carla said quietly.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I really do hope your new life works out for you. You deserve it.’

  ‘It will. I’m already looking forward to you and Sam visiting. How is Sam? I was sorry to miss saying goodbye to him.’

  Maddy smiled. ‘He’s fine. Told me to send you his love and best wishes.’

  ‘Have you introduced him to Dad yet? Or even told Dad about Sam?’

  ‘No. The timing seemed all wrong. I will soon though. Sam, for some reason, is keen to meet him. Almost as keen as he is for me to meet his parents.’

  ‘This sounds serious.’ Carla looked at Maddy questioningly. ‘Is it?’

  ‘Think so. It does feel as though he could be the one. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know any news.’

  Carla glanced at her watch. ‘I’d better get ready to board.’ They walked together to the entrance to security. Carla gave Maddy a tight hug. ’Don’t worry, everything will be all right. Visit soon, promise?’

  Maddy nodded, too close to tears again to speak as Carla turned away and disappeared out of sight.

  Carla was close to tears herself as she strapped herself into her seat, but as the plane began to taxi down the runway, she felt her spirits lifting. In less than two hours’ time, when she stepped back on French soil, her new life would begin. A life where she could forget recent hurtful events and push them into the depths of her mind and she alone would decide which path she’d take in the future. She was determined nothing would spoil her enjoyment of this French adventure. Whatever it took to make Villa Mimosa and her life in France a success, she would do. Nothing from the past was going to be allowed to intrude and spoil things.

  Part II

  19

  Eight o’clock in the evening and Carla was floating on her back in the pool, relaxing, having just swum fifteen lengths. She’d been living in the villa for a fortnight now and beginning to feel more and more content in her new home. Last week, the van had delivered the few pieces of furniture she’d told David she wanted from the marital home, as well as the rest of her clothes and other personal stuff. In a rare moment of generosity, David had told her to take whatever she wanted from the kitchen too, apart from the coffee machine, so she had. All her favourite kitchen stuff – the mixer, the copper pans, cake trays, pasta machine, and lots of small utensils –were all were now installed here in her new kitchen. Alongside a brand-new grain-to-cup coffee machine. She was enjoying using everything in this new adventure of hers.

  Her daily routine here in France was so different to the life she’d left behind in England. Shopping in the market, discovering favourite shops, wandering along the bord de mer, swimming every day. She was slowly getting to meet people too – the neighbours on one side had put a welcome card in the post box with an invitation for aperitifs when she’d settled in. The only disappointment so far was that she hadn’t found any available French lessons to join. Not that she’d tried that hard yet, there had been so much to do.

  Two of the upstairs bedrooms and the sitting room still lacked several items of furniture, but gradually she was finding what she needed, either in local stores or ordering off the internet. And she’d discovered the joy of the French equivalent of car boot sales, vide greniers, last Sunday when Joel had told her about one in nearby Golfe Juan. It was thanks to him that the terrace now boasted a large white wrought-iron table and six chairs with comfy cushions.

  It had been strange, at first, living in the house and sharing the kitchen with Joel. Separate lives in the same house – the exact arrangement she’d suggested to David. Carla doubted it would have worked so well with him, but with Joel it did, probably because they’d never been a couple and really did lead separate lives. He was a good housemate and Carla already knew she’d miss him when he found a place of his own again and moved out.

  David had rung once to say he’d agreed to everything at the solicitors and their divorce was now underway with no further objections from him. The conversation had been strained and short, but at least they’d been civil to each other.

  Maddy had Skyped several times and she and Sam were coming next weekend for a few days. Maddy, never having met her Great Aunt Josette before, sounded excited, saying she was looking forward to meeting Granny’s sister at last. Carla doubted somehow that Josette felt the same. Her reaction when Carla had told her about Maddy and Sam coming for a visit had been decidedly lacking in enthusiasm at the prospect. Josette had seemed uncertain, worried even, at the thought of meeting Maddy for the first time, which was perhaps understandable. It wasn’t as if Maddy was a baby to be handed around the relatives and be cooed over. That should have happened years ago.

  Turning on her front, Carla swam down the pool towards the steps. Climbing out and wrapping herself in a large towel, her thoughts turned to Josette. Carla’s own dream of finally getting to know her aunt and spending time with her was failing to materialise. Since she’d moved into the villa, she’d got the feeling that Josette had withdrawn from her, deliberately putting up barriers between the two of them. She longed to show her how different the villa was now. Several times she’d invited her for lunch, a coffee and even a swim now that the weather was so hot, all of which Josette had declined for no real reason as far as Carla could tell.

  On the other hand, Josette always seemed pleased to see her when she called in at the cottage and would happily sit and have a coffee or a cool glass of rosé with her, or go for a walk along the ramparts. Carla was beginning to suspect that the villa itself was the problem. Knowing that Josette had planned on selling it and had only reluctantly agreed to let her rent it, Carla was becoming convinced that the real problem was Josette’s memories stopping her from making new, happier, ones. Something would have to be done. Precisely what, Carla had yet to fathom out. It would be Amelia and Josette’s birthday the weekend Maddy and Sam arrived, the first since Amelia had died. It wasn’t a day Carla was looking forward to herself. Perhaps celebrating the day with Josette by treating everyone to lunch somewhere would help ease things.

  Once she’d showered and pulled a cotton dress on, Carla took a bottle of wine, a packet of crisps and two glasses out on to the terrace. Joel wasn’t home yet, but he was always happy to join her for a small nightcap. In fact, the two of them sitting out on the terrace in the evening was turning into something of a ritual.

  The bats were flitting around the hedge at the bottom of the garden in the half-light before Carla heard the gates opening. She smiled at Joel as he appeared on the path at the side of the house. A Joel who didn’t immediately return her smile and was clearly upset over something.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Carla asked. ‘Has something happened?’

  He nodded. ‘I’m fine but… I’m working over on the Cap. There’s a team of us landscaping a garden for some Russian billionaire,’ he paused. ‘One of the other gardeners found this little chap terrified under a hedge. Reckons the mother was run over up there a couple of days ago. Said if I didn’t take him, he’d get rid of it like the rest he’d found yesterday. I couldn’t let that happen.’ As he spoke, Joel had gently put his hand in a pocket of his gilet and brought out a wide-eyed brown and cream kitten. ‘I’m hoping you like kittens?’

  Carla held out her hands. ‘Oh, the poor little thing.’ The kitt
en settled in the palms of her hands as she cuddled him against her. ‘He’s all skin and bones. He must be starving.’

  ‘If you don’t want to keep him, I’ll take him to the refuge tomorrow,’ Joel said.

  ‘No, you won’t. He’s just a baby. It’s a long time since I had a cat – my husband was allergic. I’m more than happy to give this little one his forever home.’

  Joel flashed her a smile. ‘I was hoping you’d say that. I stopped off at the vets and the supermarché on the way home and picked up food and stuff.’

  ‘Come on then, let’s get some food and liquid inside him and settled in the kitchen for the night,’ Carla said.

  Twenty minutes later, the kitten, having eaten and drunk and been the recipient of lots of cuddles from Carla, was happy to curl up in a small cardboard box Joel had lined with one of his old working shirts.

  Out on the terrace, Carla poured the last of the wine into Joel’s glass while he made short work of the packet of crisps.

  ‘What are we going to call him?’ Carla asked. ‘Any ideas?’

  Joel shook his head. ‘The perfect name will announce itself as he settles in and gets to know us. Really,’ he said, laughing at Carla’s disbelieving expression. ‘You wait and see.’

  20

  Since the day in Monaco with Gordon, Josette had found herself thinking more and more about photography as a hobby at this stage of her life. She did miss the buzz of capturing the essence of a scene, of a person, on film and was increasingly drawn to the idea of picking up her camera again. She could just take photos for pleasure. But definitely not selfies on her phone like everyone seemed to these days.

  She’d dusted off the Nikon, even bought a couple of rolls of film and inserted one in the body of the camera, but so far she hadn’t ventured out carrying it. But she would soon.