Croissants and Jam

by Lynda Renham

  I quietly sit and eat my roast duck with sauerkraut.

  ‘I’m Christian’s PA by the way, probably should have said. What about you?’ Matt smiles and offers me some bread.

  ‘No, I’m not a PA,’ I answer seriously.

  He laughs loudly and his cheeks dimple. I smile and wonder if I could ask him about the lawsuit. He seems very approachable.

  ‘I’m a friend of the family, well a friend of Simon’s actually.’

  His expression seems to change and I think I see his face cloud over but very quickly he composes himself and is smiling again.

  ‘Ah, a friend of Simon’s. Well, do accept my condolences.’

  I let out a small gasp and he shrugs.

  ‘I’m sorry, that was a bit rude.’ He looks sheepish.

  ‘Simon isn’t the one suing his father,’ I say bluntly and immediately wish I had kept my thoughts to myself.

  He cocks his head to one side and studies me before reaching forward for some champagne. He pours some into a glass and hands it to me before refilling his own.

  ‘That is quite true, but when you have acquired three quarters of a law firm through dishonest means, I guess you don’t have to sue anyone do you?’

  I stare at him.

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Well, that’s understandable if all your information came from Simon. As a family friend, however, you surely should know that Edward is no fool. Although having said that, he was a bit of a fool to trust Simon with the legal side. The guy has wanted full control of the business for years… Anyway, I have said too much. My loyalty is to Chris, so I apologise for being rude.’

  ‘But that is what Edward wanted,’ I say realising I sound as naive as I feel.

  I feel my head spinning and wish I could phone Simon and ask him to explain everything.

  Maria watches us and smiles.

  ‘The food is very good, yes?’

  I sip some champagne.

  ‘It is excellent,’ I agree.

  She looks pleased.

  ‘My mother, me and my sister, prepare all the food today.’

  I gasp.

  ‘You did?’

  She nods proudly.

  ‘Yes, we did everything but the pig roast. The desserts are in the kitchen, you will like them.’

  I almost ask her where the bloody hell the host is, when at that moment he walks in to cheers and applause. I feel my face redden and my heart quicken. He is every woman’s dream, at least I think so. I find I can’t take my eyes off him. He is wearing the Marc Jacob jumper and the memory of when I first saw him in the Sushi bar floods back into my mind. I watch as he grabs a piece of bread and then climbs onto one of the tables to more cheers. He raises his glass of champagne. Maria leans across to me.

  ‘How do you know Christian?’ she asks with a smile.

  God, I must be so transparent. I pick my glass up with shaking hands and take a long gulp.

  ‘I almost married his brother,’ I answer honestly.

  She looks wide-eyed at me and Matt seems to nod knowingly. I turn back to look at Christian who is asking for silence and holding a microphone in his hand.

  ‘I’m not going to ramble. I am really glad you are all here and I just want to say eat, drink, be merry. I am so grateful to all of you for all your hard work and for helping me get the house finished in record time.’

  His lifts his glass and smiles broadly.

  ‘Santé.’

  Everyone lifts their glasses and echoes ‘santé’. As they do Jean-Paul climbs onto the table. He takes the microphone, sending a loud squeak through the PA system.

  ‘I know I can say this in French as Christian, you speak our language very well, but we have quite a few British people here so I say it in English. Christian, we look forward to having you as a neighbour and we are very pleased you have chosen us over New York. Welcome to a future in Provence.’

  There is more applause and I see Christian’s gaze land on me, and for a few seconds, our eyes lock. Then, as though nothing ever happened he holds his hands up for quiet again.

  ‘Thank you everyone, enjoy. One last thing, those of you who fed that damn cat, you’re not getting paid.’

  There is much laughter as he jumps from the table. I wait hopefully for him to come over to me but instead he is eaten up by the crowd, and I lose sight of him. Please God, don’t let me have made the worst mistake of my life by coming this evening. I wait a few minutes longer but there is no sign of him. Any hopes I had of him approaching me are quickly dashed.

  ‘Shall I fetch you dessert?’ Maria asks while looking at me curiously. ‘Are you all right? You look a little flushed. Do you need water?’

  I jump up, wanting the ground to open up and swallow me. I had made a terrible mistake. I had misread all his signals and worse than that I had been unbelievably vile and not even apologised. I grab my handbag and limp slowly towards the exit only to see it blocked by a crowd of people. I limp back and head for the other exit that leads to the side of the house. My foot is killing me and I am relieved when my phone rings and I can stop for a bit. It is Simon.

  ‘I have a missed call from you,’ he states bluntly.

  I can hear airport noises in the background and memories of my first meeting with Christian rush into my head.

  ‘Simon, I am at Christian’s. Did you try to fiddle him out of the law firm?’ I answer equally as bluntly.

  There is a shark intake of breath and I curse. Sod it. Those awful things I had said about Christian having no integrity and being dishonest. How can I ever put them right?

  ‘I’ve admitted to making a mistake, didn’t he tell you that?’

  Oh God. Me and my big mouth never actually gave him a chance to tell me anything. What an idiot I am.

  ‘I really didn’t think he would care. He’s got his business and God knows it’s doing a hell of a lot better than Dad’s law firm ever could. I just wanted some control. I didn’t think he would get so uptight about me having the larger majority. I’m sure if Dad could have done it that way he would have done...’

  ‘But your dad didn’t?’

  I hear loud raucous laughter and someone calling Simon’s name.

  ‘Look, I have to go. All’s well that ends well, huh? Have fun.’

  I click my phone off and feel wretched. I remove my shoes and continue until I am outside the back door of the house. I can see the desserts laid out on a large oak table.

  ‘Can I offer you dessert?’ asks a voice from behind me. I freeze unable to look at him.

  ‘We have croissants and jam. I remember how you liked croissant with your jam.’

  I turn to see him looking playfully at me and I nervously pat my hair. He walks past and the familiar scent of him calms me. I hobble in to the house and watch as he cuts a croissant. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. He closes the door to shut out the music from the bandstand. My mouth is dry and my foot throbs unmercifully.

  ‘That looks nasty,’ he says, pointing to my toe. ‘You never did say what happened.’

  He spoons jam onto the croissant and hands it to me, pulling out a chair as he does so. I flop down into it and sigh. He sits in another next to me and cuts a slice of cake.

  ‘I slammed the car door on it,’ I say, and then blush.

  ‘Well, that’s the kind of thing you do isn’t it?’ He grins at me and bites into the cake. ’I bet the air was blue that day.’

  I shake my head in exasperation.

  ‘You’ve not lost your appetite I see,’ I retort.

  ‘That’s a nice top,’ he says softly, not looking at me.

  My stomach is churning and not even the fresh cream trifle can tempt me.

  ‘About my vile tongue…’ I begin, wondering if there is a chance in hell of putting all this right.

  ‘Yes, not your best quality, I have to agree. You have a lot of nice qualities but the vile tongue and filthy temper does tend to erase those from one’s mind.’

  I s
igh. Why is he always so bloody irritating?

  ‘It’s just I thought…’

  ‘I know what you thought,’ he interrupts passing me a slice of cake. ‘You really should try the desserts, or is there another dress you are struggling to get into?’

  I smile awkwardly.

  ‘You’re not suing your dad?’

  He shakes his head.

  ‘Right now, I’m not suing anybody. But, I would have gone through with it if Simon had not seen sense. As it happens he finally did. Frankly, the truth is I couldn’t care less about the firm. I don’t mind admitting that everything I know about law can be written on the back of a postage stamp. He is welcome to run the place but Dad wanted his two sons to own the business and that’s what mattered to me. Simon’s welcome to be in charge but I wanted everything to be morally right for Dad’s sake. ’

  I take a half-hearted bite of my cake.

  ‘What I said about not being my type, well it wasn’t true,’ I say quietly.

  ‘Oh, and there’s me thinking Jack Russell’s were more your type.’

  I frown at him. Why can’t he ever be serious? He pours lemonade into a glass without looking at me.

  ‘I only went out with Jack once, I haven’t seen him since. I only went out with him because my mother insisted. I am sorry. I just could not cope with being friends with you if you were married to someone else.’

  He smiles and pulls off the Marc Jacob jumper to reveal the top he had bought on our journey to Rome.

  ‘I realised you weren’t marrying Claudine and I thought…’ I stop and swallow in an attempt to lubricate my throat. What had I thought? He is looking at me.

  ‘Oh Lord, what did you think? No, don’t tell me. Claudine, as it happens played me for a fool and not many people do that…’

  ‘And live,’ I smile.

  ‘I was lenient. I just called the wedding off. She was so desperate to live in New York that, behind my back, she tried to put a spanner in the works with the house. I would have to have sold it.’

  ‘Oh,’ I sigh, the relief evident on my face.

  ‘Of course, things weren’t helped by her discovery of some photos taken here in France, especially a very fetching one of my backside, which she discovered on my camera. She had some kind of an anaphylactic fit on seeing those,’ he continues, with a twinkle in his eye.

  I clap my hand to my mouth to suppress my gasp and feel myself blush.

  ‘The house looks nice,’ I say embarrassed.

  ‘You’re sure you don’t want me just for my spider-catching skills,’ he says seriously.

  ‘No, no, of course not, I…’

  ‘Just as well, because secretly, I can’t stand them.’

  I struggle to keep the disappointment from my face but fail miserably and simply say.

  ‘Oh well…’

  I stop when I see the grin on his face.

  ‘You’re so gullible, you believe everything I say.’

  I could hit him.

  ‘I’m so glad you came,’ he says softly leaning towards me.

  I feel my body sway towards him and the kiss, when it finally comes takes my breath away. My hands curl around his neck and I sigh with pleasure.

  ‘Although your spider-catching skills help, of course,’ I whisper.

  His hands encircle my waist.

  ‘Just don’t expect me to get you to any more weddings.’

  The door creaks open and we both turn to see the cat saunter in. The cat looks at us and meows.

  ‘That’s it then, the cat approves,’ he says laughing.

  I wrap my arms tighter around him. At last, I have found Mr Right, and he is everything he ought to be: rich, successful, reliable, responsible and best of all, eligible. Mother will be pleased.

  * * * * * *

  Our Favourite Recipes

  Snoozy Woozey Sangria and Lemonade

  Mix a little lemonade (diet or otherwise, what the hell) with a large glass of cheap sangria. Compensate for the bitterness with a square of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut chocolate. If you suffer from a nut allergy, like Christian, avoid the nuts at all costs. Once consumed, continue your shared drinking experience with a good single malt whisky.

  Caution: Avoid bumble bees if outside.

  Kaz’s Banana and Blueberry Smoothie

  Take two organic Pink Ribbon bananas, blend with a cup of organic blueberries and half a litre of unsweetened soya milk. Add a teaspoon of organic honey, a pinch of Cinnamon and serve as an energising beverage.

  Best drunk in the lotus position.

  Edward’s Whisky and Nuts

  Select a good single malt whisky, matured for at least twelve years. Enjoy with a handful of roasted nuts. Nice and simple.

  Best drunk in a quiet corner, away from the crowds.

  Jack’s Chargrilled Steak

  Take one large sirloin steak and place it under a hot grill for thirty minutes or until nicely burnt. Serve with a large quantity of chips and a glass of the best champagne. If anyone questions your choice of steak and champagne, tell them you like to break the rules.

  Best eaten with a large side order of chips, before a night at the casino.

  Christian’s Sushi Overload

  Purchase as much Sushi as you can, preferably from the local Waitrose (Kitty knows the manager). While there stock up on olives, cheese, crisps, chocolate, pastries and cakes. Grab a couple of bottles of wine too while you’re at it. Money no object.

  Sushi best eaten until you feel sick.

  Bels Jam with Croissants

  Purchase two croissants from a reputable boulangerie (If you are anything like Bels, then you have never baked anything in your life, so why start now?). Acquire a pot of home-made raspberry jam from Mother’s kitchen. Apply liberally.

  Best enjoyed in the airport departure lounge.

  Justin’s Doughnuts

  I don’t care where they come from; just don’t cock it up again sweetie. They must be jam doughnuts, JAM and not frigging custard. Can you at least get that right? Am I the boss or am I the boss? Bloody hell!

  Best eaten in the office.

  * * *

  Also by Lynda Renham:

  Coconuts and Wonderbras

  (A romantic comedy adventure)

  Literary agent Libby Holmes is desperate for her boyfriend, Toby, to propose to her and will do anything for him and if that means dieting for England then she’ll have a go. However, when Libby’s boss introduces her to her new client, Alex Bryant, her life is turned upside down. Alex Bryant, ex-SAS officer and British hero, insists Libby accompany him to Cambodia for a book fair. What she hadn’t bargained for was a country in revolt. Libby finds herself in the middle of an uprising with only Alex Bryant to protect her, that is, until Toby flies out to win back her affections. Come with Libby on her romantic comedy adventure to see if love blossoms in the warm Cambodian sunshine or if, in the heat of the day, emotions get just too hot to handle.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-T
wo

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Our Favourite Recipes

  Other Books