by Julie Stock
‘Oui, Fran, c’est moi.’ He grinned at me, holding tight to the dog’s collar, which he had managed to grab before it tackled me again. ‘You have come for the interview, yes?’
Now I was thrown. ‘How do you know about that? Do you work here?’
‘Certainement. I’m the Domaine manager. Your interview is with me.’ He disappeared back inside the building, re-emerging a few minutes later sans chien and beckoned me across the courtyard to another building.
I had no choice but to follow him, my mind whirring. Could this self-assured man be the same Didier I had known in my student days? The one I had left behind when I went to London? I really wanted this job but could I handle working alongside Didier, after all that had happened between us in the past? I decided to carry on as if we didn’t know each other and to be as professional as I would have been without him there. He led me into a small office and gestured for me to take a seat. He pulled a swivel chair out from behind the other side of the desk and wheeled it nearer, sitting down very close to me in the confined space. His closeness unnerved me and all thoughts of professionalism suddenly went out the window.
‘Alors, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Is it really just four years since we were at university together?’
I nodded, incapable of speech. I took a deep breath and tried to control my pounding heart. He studied my CV for a minute, giving me time to look at him. His dark, curly hair was longer than I remembered and kept flopping in front of his eyes. His skin was a golden brown, no doubt from working outside in the vineyard, and his body looked toned and fit, even in a slightly crumpled t-shirt and jeans. He’d put on a pair of black, square glasses to read the paperwork, which only seemed to add to his allure. He looked up then, staring right at me with his mesmerising green eyes and I knew that it would be easy to fall under his spell once more.
‘Let me tell you more about the job. It is for a marketing manager for the Domaine who must be able to speak English and French fluently. You can still speak French, yes, after being in England so long?’ His eyes twinkled and I noticed his lips turning up at the corners. I suddenly remembered what those lips tasted like and the thought warmed my whole body this time. He was waiting for a reply.
‘Yes, of course. I was working as a bilingual translator in the marketing department of a large bank in London.’
‘And what is it that has persuaded you to come back here after so long? You were very happy to be leaving Alsace when I last saw you.’ He glanced away as he said this and I recalled how upset he was when I told him I was leaving to take up the job in London.
‘I…I felt it was time to come home, that’s all. I had no idea you worked here, otherwise I wouldn’t have wasted your time.’ I stood up and so did he, bringing our bodies very close together.
He gazed deep into my eyes, trying to find the answers I wasn’t prepared to reveal.
‘It is not a waste of my time to be with you, Fran. It never has been and I think you would be a good person for this job. Please sit down and let me tell you more about it.’ He took a step back towards the desk waiting to see what I would do. I hesitated for several seconds. Then, slowly, I sat down again.
CHAPTER THREE
Later that morning, I kicked off my shoes with relief and flopped onto the bed in my hotel room, just as my phone buzzed with a text.
‘How’s your first day of freedom been and how did the interview go?’
Bless Ellie for thinking of me.
‘Freedom has been great. Interview was interesting, lots to tell you. I’ll call you later.’
‘Ooh, sounds intriguing. You’d better call me back. I want to know how soon I can come and stay!’
After a lazy lunch and another afternoon of sightseeing around Strasbourg, including some time wandering around the magnificent Gothic cathedral, I decided it was time to call Ellie for some advice. Leaving the pink hues of the minster behind me, I made my way back to my hotel wondering how exactly I would explain my feelings about the job to her. All day I had been wrestling with the common sense my head was telling me on the one hand, as opposed to what my heart was telling me on the other.
‘Hey you, how was your day?’ I asked when she picked up, knowing how much she disliked her job at one of the investment banks in the City.
‘Oh, the same old crap, you know, flak from the people calling in and from the staff you’re trying to put them through to. You can’t bloody win on reception. I still hate it as much as ever. I need a proper job. Anyway, enough of all that, what happened at the interview?’
So I told her all about it.
‘Let me get this straight, then. You had your interview with the Didier you went out with when you were both at university - the same Didier you split up with when you came over here to work at the bank?’
‘Yes, that’s right. I haven’t really told you the full story before, I’m sorry. It was all so painful and I just wanted to forget about it and move on. Anyway, I wanted him to come with me at the time but he said he couldn’t move away from his family, and on top of that, if he wanted to get a job on a vineyard, he would have to train in France. I understood all his reasons but I couldn’t forgive him for not coming with me so we didn’t part on good terms.’
‘Hmm. He offered you the job, though, and you obviously want the job, from what you’ve said about it.’
‘I do! You should have seen the plans they’ve drawn up for the new Visitors’ Centre and I’d be overseeing the setting up, the building works, the hiring of staff and the promotion. It would be such a wonderful opportunity for me.’
‘So, why are you stalling?’
‘If I took the job, I would have to work side by side with Didier every day, and I wouldn’t even be able to get away from him in the evenings either. Given our history and everything that’s happened with Paul, I just don’t know if it would be the greatest idea to be this close to Didier again. Just sitting opposite him at the interview, I felt myself drawn in by him again, but so much has changed since we last saw each other. We need to keep a professional distance.’
‘But what if he’s in a relationship with someone else. Do you know?’
‘I don’t know. I did hear that he started seeing someone else after I left so I assumed that was the end of that. He could be married for all I know.’
‘Exactly. You just don’t know and I don’t think you should let your past relationship get in the way of this wonderful job. You should put yourself first. You want the job. He said it’s yours, so take it.’
‘Well, when you put it like that, you make it all sound so easy! I think you’re right. I’d regret it if I didn’t take it.’
‘Excellent. Can I come and visit for a weekend then? It’s not too far out in the sticks, is it?’ She laughed her rich, throaty laugh and I knew it would be lovely to see her.
‘Let me accept the job first, and see what the accommodation is like, but you know I’d love to have your company for a whole weekend.’
That night, I lay in bed in the semi-darkness of the hotel room going over my conversation with Ellie and I knew she was right. Time had moved on for both Didier and me. I owed it to myself to take this job and to leave the past behind where it belonged.
Didier
‘What do you want me to do then?’ Henri asked me the next morning. ‘About the job, I mean.’
‘I want to know what Fran decides as soon as possible. Maybe we should ask her to come back to see the cottage? If she’s unsure, that will definitely help her make up her mind. Could you give her a call this morning and invite her please?’ I glanced at my watch and saw that it was still early. ‘Wait till nine before calling, though. She might be enjoying a lie-in.’
My mind started to drift then, as I recalled how Fran had been every bit as beautiful as I’d remembered, with her long, dark hair framing her face, and her body had felt every bit as good too. I coughed awkwardly, hoping that my face wasn’t giving my thoughts away, and tried hard to refocus on the work I ha
d to do. In the end, I decided to go for a wander in the vineyard, hoping the fresh air would clear my mind for me, and I left Henri to the job of calling Fran.
I took the route across the grass and past the little cottage I had called home for the past two years. I realised I would have to move out if Fran did decide to take the job and I began to wonder how on earth I was going to make the château habitable both for myself and for Chlöe when she came to stay. I was inspecting some vines towards the bottom end of the estate when my mobile buzzed with a text.
‘You might want to head back to the cottage to make sure it’s tidy :)’
I chuckled at the warning from Henri, stood up and started the climb back up the hill.
I spent the next hour tidying the cottage as Henri had suggested. I had no idea I was so messy because normally, my housekeeper came in every day when I was at work and sorted everything out for me. Still, it was high time I got round to doing some of these things for myself. I worked my way steadily round the compact living room and the adjoining kitchen, picking up magazines, books and toys, throwing away empty cartons and the like, as well as doing the small amount of washing-up left over from breakfast.
I sat down on the single bedframe in Chlöe’s room and looked around, realising with a pang of sadness that there were hardly any of her toys or clothes here. I decided I would talk to her over the weekend about how we might make her visits more homely for her. I put her few toys back in the basket we kept under the bed, straightened the duvet and crossed the tiny landing. I gave my room a quick glance, taking in the made bed and mostly tidy surfaces, decided it would do and ran back downstairs again. I shooed Princesse back outside and shut the doors so that I could give the floors a quick sweep.
When I’d finished, the cottage looked much more presentable and I was pleased with my efforts. The cottage was going to be the pièce de résistance in my plan to get Fran to accept the job, with its idyllic setting in the middle of a beautiful garden, as well as its views across the vineyard slopes from its typical blue shuttered windows. I was hoping she would fall in love with it and that it would be the final push she needed to say yes. I’d sensed she was nervous about working alongside me because of our history, so I needed to step up my game if I was going to persuade her to stay.
I left the cottage just before eleven and made my way back to the office to wait for Fran to arrive. I wanted to be there when she stepped out of the taxi this time, so that I could take her straight down to see the cottage. I had a feeling it would be as high on her list of priorities as it was on mine. It wasn’t long before I heard the crunch of gravel in the courtyard and I went outside to meet her once again.
Fran
Didier opened the car door and put his hand out towards me, obliging me to take it. His rough, calloused hands spoke of the hours he must have already spent working the vines on the estate and I found them reassuring. He let go of my hand and I realised we were standing very close to each other once again. I went to take a step backwards, but he anticipated my move and took a gentle hold of my elbow so I couldn’t distance myself.
‘It is good to see you again,’ he said softly, leaning in to kiss me on each cheek, as old friends would do in France.
The brush of his lips and his curly hair against my skin brought back long-buried memories of the intimate time we had spent together in the past. I shook my head, trying to regain my composure, and this time I did step back.
‘And you. I would like to talk more with you about the position here, and to see the vineyard and the accommodation before I finally make my decision. Would that be convenient today?’ I deliberately kept my tone business-like.
He grinned at me and I felt my cheeks heat slightly. ‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘Let me show you the accommodation first of all. I think you will love it and you will see it is so much more than that. Henri can give you a tour of the vineyard later. Please, this way.’ He took my elbow once again, guiding me through the archway that led on to the estate. I’d learned my lesson from the previous day and was wearing my flat shoes this time as we crossed an open expanse of grass on the other side of the archway. Little by little, a sweet, almost fairy-tale cottage came into view, with roses growing up a trellis outside the painted, wooden door and the typical pale blue shutters at the window that I loved. I could hardly speak for delight. The smell of the flowers all around was heavenly and, as I breathed it in, I felt dizzy with the beauty of it all. I turned to find Didier watching me, enjoying my reaction.
‘I take it you approve of the cottage?’
‘Oh, I love it. It’s magical. Does this cottage really come with the job?’ I’d let my guard down now and I knew I would find it hard to hold out much longer.
‘It really does, yes.’ He laughed. ‘Shall we go inside?’ He pushed open the door, revealing a cosy lounge in front of us, with an enormous sofa and a well-used fireplace. A small kitchen was off to one side and there was a rickety-looking wooden staircase winding up to the left. The cottage was full of someone else’s things, though, which confused me: coats, boots, bags, newspapers and magazines, and a hefty pile of books on the coffee table in front of the sofa. It seemed someone else already lived there.
‘Would you like something to drink?’ he asked. ‘I have some home-made lemonade if you’d like it.’
I nodded on my way towards the back door and the garden, which I could see calling to me outside. The view from the back garden was of the whole estate and I could see the vineyard in the distance, as well as the main house in the foreground. It was a modest château but it had obviously been a while since it had been cared for in the way it deserved. The gardens in front of it were a bit overgrown too. Didier joined me a moment later and passed me my glass.
‘What a beautiful place! Is someone else living here at the moment though?’ I tilted my head to one side.
‘Yes, I live here at the moment, so I get to see these wonderful views every day. I find it easier to manage my time by living here, as it’s between the office and the vineyard. I will move out of course, if you decide to accept the job.’ He looked at me and his eyes twinkled knowingly. He had chosen to show me the cottage on purpose, sure that once I’d seen it, my mind would be made up. I took a long sip of my drink while I pondered what to say next. I turned round instead, heading for the staircase so that I could go up and see the bedrooms. At the top of the stairs there were two rooms, one of which I guessed must belong to Didier, and perhaps his partner, if he had one. I glanced left and right, taking in the simple double room on one side and the smaller guest room on the other. I had a quick look in both rooms, finding them unnaturally tidy, with no clues to offer about their inhabitants. I took in a deep breath before descending the staircase to talk to Didier once again.
‘What did you think of the bedrooms? It’s a bit squashed, I know, but for one person it’s probably enough.’
‘It’s lovely, Didier, but where will you live if you have to move out of the cottage?’ I frowned, not wanting to displace him.
‘I will move back to the château, there’s plenty of room there.’ He paused for a moment to take a sip of his drink but he didn’t take long to get back on track. ‘Now, what else did you want to talk to me about?’
I bit my lip as I wondered how to begin. ‘A lot has happened to me since we were together and I’m sure it is the same for you. So I need your promise that we will simply be work colleagues and nothing else.’ He raised his eyebrows at that but didn’t say anything. ‘Our lives have moved on and I want to look forward. I really want this job and I don’t want to let the past get in the way of that.’ I blew out a breath at the end of my little speech.
‘As you say, our lives have moved on and there is no point living in the past. I know that only too well, Fran. There is a big job to do here and I need someone I can rely on. I believe that person could be you.’ Despite his positive response, a shutter seemed to come down over his eyes. He took my now empty glass, moving back towards the kitchen b
efore I could reply. After putting the glasses in the sink, he turned to me again. ‘So, would you like the job?’
‘I would but I think it might be best for it to be on a temporary basis. Perhaps a one year contract while we see if we can work together?’
He looked surprised but I held firm.
‘As you wish,’ he said finally.
CHAPTER FOUR
I followed Didier back to the courtyard in silence, feeling deflated after what had passed between us in the cottage, despite the fact that he had offered me the job. Didier strode ahead and disappeared inside the office, re-emerging a minute later with another man behind him.
‘Fran, this is Henri, my office manager.’ I reached out to shake Henri’s hand. ‘He’s going to give you a short tour of the vineyard and I will speak to you again before you leave.’ He turned away without even waiting for a reply from me.
‘Mademoiselle, shall we?’ Henri pointed in the direction of the archway that led to the cottage and I fell in step beside him.
‘Have you worked here long, Henri?’
‘Yes, for a few years.’ I recognised his clipped accent from the phone call to my hotel earlier in the day. ‘This building is where we make all our wines,’ he went on, ‘and where we plan to build the Visitors’ Centre.’ He pointed to a large, old barn on the left. As we passed alongside the building, I noticed how ramshackle it looked with bricks missing here and there, and crumbled pieces of cement lying on the ground. I was curious to see the inside, as I couldn’t imagine it being fit for the purpose of making wine at all. We continued along the gravel path to the end of the barn and then past another, smaller barn. The doors of this one were shut tight.
‘What happens in there?’ I asked.
‘Oh, that’s where we hold our wine tastings at the moment. It’s a bit cramped in there when we have a lot of visitors, which is one of the reasons why we want to build a new space.’ He gave me an encouraging smile.