Up on the rooftop terrace late on Thursday evening sitting next to Guy, his arm casually along the back of the cane settee gently touching her shoulders, his fingers fiddling with a strand of her hair, Liz sighed happily. ‘I can’t believe tomorrow evening we’re going for a midnight swim as a finale to our time here.’
‘Does that mean I won’t see you tomorrow evening as usual?’ Guy said.
‘I’ll come up here first but probably won’t have a nightcap so close to swimming,’ Liz said. ‘You could always join us on the beach?’
‘I might as it’s your last swim. I was thinking too – have you been to the Picasso museum whilst you’ve been here?’
Liz shook her head.
‘Fancy going tomorrow afternoon? It will be nice and cool and not too crowded. The terrace with its sea views and statues is wonderful on its own.’
‘Sounds good,’ Liz said.
‘We can walk into town together,’ he says. ‘I’ll see you in the hallway at three o’clock.’
33
‘I’m so glad you suggested these early-morning swims,’ Helena said to Lorraine as the four of them made their way down the beach. ‘I know it’s only been twelve days, but I’m sure I’m already feeling the benefits.’
‘Fewer days for me,’ Liz said. ‘But I feel the same. I’d like to think I’d swim regularly when I get home, but I doubt that I will. Normal life will take over and a different routine will emerge. How about you, Mandy? Are you going to find a wild swimming club to join?’
‘Definitely and Helena’s going to join me, aren’t you?’ she said, throwing her towelling robe onto the beach and laughing at the look on her friend’s face. ‘Race you in.’
‘Depends where it is,’ Helena said, running after her. ‘Weekday mornings would be difficult because of the dreaded commute, but weekends should be okay.’
Ten minutes later as they all floated after their energetic swims, Helena said, ‘I’m treating today as the last day of writing. We’ve promised Mum that Mandy and I will spend all day Saturday with her as she’s alone today and do some sightseeing. What about you three?’
‘Writing this morning, then after lunch I’m going to google “making reels and posts” and try to learn a bit more about making content for social media,’ Mandy said.
‘Good luck with that,’ Liz said. ‘I’m hopeless with stuff like that.’
‘Becky has given me some tips,’ Lorraine said. ‘So I’m hopeful I too can do some more professional-looking posts. Why don’t you ask her too? Maybe we could have a quick session with her after Sandy’s session. I’ll ask her.’
‘I’m having a final morning of writing,’ Liz said. ‘And then this afternoon I’m looking forward to visiting the Picasso museum.’ No need to tell them she was going with Guy.
‘Tonight we have our midnight swim,’ Mandy said. ‘Something I’m really looking forward to – I think. Time to go ashore,’ and she turned onto her tummy and started a slow breaststroke back to the beach.
* * *
After Sandy’s session that morning, Lorraine brought up the subject of making content for their social media marketing directly with Becky. ‘Everyone was wondering whether you could help them like you helped me?’
‘Of course I can. You should have mentioned it before. Shall we do some now?’
‘Please.’
Within minutes, Becky had them all thinking about hooks to capture attention, practising posting photos on Instagram, adding text and then music. An hour flew by as she encouraged them to join the sites she recommended, including several tutorials on YouTube and gave them a quick lesson on how to make reels.
‘My head is reeling from all this information,’ Isobel said. ‘Never mind the reels. Thank you so much, Becky. Now all I have to do is remember the sequence of doing things. I definitely need a drink of rosé with lunch today.’
* * *
Joan spent the morning dithering between wanting to go back to the villa to look at the photograph again and then deciding it was a bad idea. It was early Friday afternoon when she finally walked along the bord de mer towards Villa Celestia. Even as she walked down the drive and into the hallway, she was telling herself she didn’t know why she was there. No, that was the lie in her head. She knew exactly why she was there. She desperately wanted to see the photograph again and to banish all doubt.
Thankfully there was no one was around and she walked slowly towards the bookcase and stood in front of it. It was definitely him. She’d recognise those eyes anywhere, any time. After all these years, she had actually come face to face with a photographic memory of him like the one that was embedded in her brain.
She was unaware of Guy coming into the hallway and stopping when he saw her.
‘Bonjour. Can I help you?’ he asked and Joan gave a startled jump.
