Once I conquered my fear of Sandrine, I was actually quite envious of Jackson’s relationship with her. I’m still a little wary, but over the years I’ve learned how to deal with her.
I remember her mocking me for eating nougat once. “You’re like a cow chewing the cud,” she said distastefully.
I chuckled and replied, “You can be such a bitch, Sandrine.”
She threw her head back and cackled loudly, and when she was done laughing, she regarded me with warm affection. It was as though I’d won her respect by giving her a taste of her own medicine.
Chloe knew how to handle her from the start. She didn’t take crap from anyone so she made it into Sandrine’s inner circle very quickly. Not that the honeymoon period lasted, from the sounds of it.
When she finally releases Jackson from her embrace, she turns to me with a wide smile.
“Gracie, it’s been too long!” she cries in a thick French accent, clutching my shoulders as she gives me two air kisses—a cozy hug by Sandrine standards. Her unbridled affection is reserved for Jackson, but I don’t mind. I’m grateful that she raised him to be tactile.
“It’s nice to see you,” I reply. I can’t believe it’s been three years.
She’s wearing a cream trouser suit and her bleached-blond hair is pulled up into a typical sleek topknot. Her cheekbones look more pronounced than ever and her makeup is intact, despite the transatlantic flight. As usual, I find myself eyeing her immaculate winged eyeliner with envy. It’s a skill I will never master, no matter how hard I try.
“I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to,” she says, looking around the office.
“I can’t wait to show you,” I reply.
That’s a lie. I’m glad we’re already so far along with the project, but she could still rock the boat.
“Tomorrow?” she asks.
“I, um, can’t tomorrow,” I reply awkwardly. “I’m actually—”
“She’s going kayaking,” Jackson interrupts with a smirk.
“Kayaking!” Sandrine exclaims. “With you?” she asks Jackson.
“No, with the guy who owns the garage you’re trying to buy,” he replies nonchalantly, and I’m not sure if he’s intentionally trying to wind me up, but I could actually kick him.
Sandrine shoots her head around to look at me. “Gracie!” she says with surprise. “Are you being our little mole? Getting to him from the inside?”
Jackson laughs. “Calm down, Mom. She’s not a spy.”
“She could be,” Sandrine says with a shrewd look.
Inside I’m having a mini panic attack.
“Have you got the contract back yet?” Jackson asks me, kind of changing the subject, but not in a particularly helpful way.
“Tomorrow,” I reply.
“Has he signed it?”
“Yep.”
I don’t know if either of these things are true, but that’s what I’m hoping.
Étienne comes tocollect me from my doorstep at six thirty the following morning. Before he arrives, I have a restless feeling in my stomach, as if I’ve had too much coffee.
Only I haven’t had any coffee yet today.
Raphaël took Étienne’s kayak to Vallon Pont d’Arc yesterday, so we’re collecting it from his hire place in an hour, before the tourists arrive.
Mellie comes outside to say hello.
