‘Oh my gosh,’ I muttered, trying to control my hysteria.
‘My gosh indeed. Alphonse?’ Jess leant forward to pat the dog’s head. ‘You nearly did for me,’ she croaked, wiping tears again from her eyes, but this time of mirth.
Then all at once, her face lit up. ‘You say Luc doesn’t want this dog?’
Puzzled, I nodded at her.
‘I wonder…’
***
‘I knew she was in a bad way, but I didn’t realise quite how bad.’ Luc looked troubled.
‘Look, I think she’ll be all right given time. Although she’s vulnerable, she’s tough and she’s intelligent andshe’s sensible. What she needs is something to focus on, something to love and care for, and Alphonse could be the answer. He’s a very affectionate little dog,’ I said. ‘And if nothing else he’ll provide a distraction.’
‘With what you just told me about the fart, it certainly sounds as though he’s good at distractions.’ He smiled. ‘Actually, that is so bloody funny I’m tempted to keep him.’
‘Jess said you could have him straight back if you wanted.’
Luc waved a hand. ‘No, no, I’m joking. It’s a great idea. Jess could always come and live with me for a bit, but you said she doesn’t want to do that.’
‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘Afraid not.’
‘It’s not practical anyway. I won’t be staying in France. Okay. It’s a done deal.’
‘What about Emma?’
‘Oh, I think she’ll be fine about it. I’m not presuming to second-guess my daughter – I never can – but apart from the fact that she’s extremely fond of Jess, I think it was the idea of Alphonse being cast off to someone strange that she didn’t like. Actually, I wasn’t too enamoured of that idea myself.’ Then he leant forward towards me across the table. ‘Listen – thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘For what you’ve done – for Jess, for my family. I’m truly grateful.’
‘I haven’t done anything.’
‘Yes, you have. And listen,’ he said again, ‘there’s something I want to say to you.’ With a shy little smile, he stretched out his hand as if about to take mine, but beforehe could, his phone, which had been peacefully lying on the table, flashed and emitted a loud beep. ‘Oh, hell.’ Glancing at it, his smile switched off like a blown light bulb. ‘Excuse me a moment,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘But I’m afraid I’ve got to answer this.’ Phone clamped to his ear, he banged out through the swing door.
I got up and took my empty cup to the sink only to linger there, staring up out of the window at the winter evening sky. What had he been going to say to me? A little tremor of anticipation ran over me. I didn’t know what to think. I wondered who he was talking to on the phone. I could just hear his voice, faintly in the distance, not the precise words but between long pauses sounding distinctly annoyed.
He came back in. ‘Oh, bugger, sod, damn.’ He sighed, throwing me a distracted look as I turned towards him.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘Has something awful happened?’
‘Something awful? No, not awful, just bloody aggravating. That was my mother,’ he said flatly. ‘She’s decided she’s had quite enough of Nice and wants to go home as soon as possible.’
‘I see,’ I said carefully.
‘Of course it’s entirely up to her what she does, but she’s demanding that Emma travels back with her.’
‘I expect she doesn’t like flying on her own.’
‘What? No, it’s not that—’ He broke off as his eyes suddenly lighted on the present for me, still lying unopened on the kitchen table. ‘What’s that?’ He frowned, nodding at it.
‘Um… oh, a Christmas present – for me apparently.Nicole found it when she was hoovering under the tree.’ I lifted my shoulders. ‘But I’ve no idea who it’s from. Whoever is the giver hasn’t signed their name.’
Picking it up, Luc examined the tag. ‘Jules. That’s Jules Croisset’s handwriting,’ he said and put it back down.
I picked it up and frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
