by Julie Stock
‘How many visitors do you get a day?’
‘It varies. In the summer, probably between twenty and thirty people come every day but in the winter, there aren’t so many. We don’t have visitors in the autumn because we’re too busy with the harvest and we just don’t have spare staff.’
We finally arrived at the end of the buildings and I could see the vineyard spread out below us, where rows and rows of flourishing vines were all being tended by hand. The heat of the day was rising now, making it even harder work for those people to be caring for the vines in such conditions. I knew that hand-picked grapes led to better quality wines and understood that it must have been a conscious decision by the vineyard owner to choose this method of vineyard management.
‘Have you seen the château?’ Henri interrupted my thoughts, pointing to the slightly shabby looking house I had seen from the back door of the cottage.
‘Yes, I saw it earlier. It looks like it needs some work doing to it.’
‘It does need work, you’re right, but it would require a lot of money to bring it up to standard.’
‘But Didier told me he’s going to move in there when I move in to the cottage.’ I felt even worse about that now.
‘I’m sure it will be fine, mademoiselle. It’s time we were getting back, I think.’ He had a guarded look on his face now and I assumed that was because he didn’t want to give away any of Didier’s secrets.
Henri turned and led the way back up the hill to the courtyard and I fell silent, trying to reconcile all the thoughts buzzing round my head. Didier was waiting for us when we got back and, after a brief goodbye, Henri disappeared inside once again.
‘Did you enjoy the tour?’ Didier appeared calmer now and closer to his usual easy-going self.
‘Yes, very much. I’m looking forward to starting work next week.’
‘Will you be staying in Strasbourg over the weekend?’
‘No, I’m going home to see my parents and I also have a wedding of one of my university friends to attend so the timing has all worked out well.’
‘That wouldn’t be Amandine’s wedding, would it?’ He smiled at my expression of surprise.
‘Do you know her too?’
‘No, I’ve never actually met her. I’ve been friends with her fiancé, Laurent since before university and we took the same business course together in Strasbourg.’
‘We’ll see each other there then.’
‘I’ll look forward to it.’
My return taxi arrived just then, saving me from having to say any more, and soon, I was on my way back to Strasbourg with a new job but also with more on my mind than when I had set off from the city that morning.
As I was packing up my things in preparation for leaving the hotel, my mind drifted back to Didier and the way his face had closed down after I’d made my speech suggesting the temporary contract. I didn’t regret what I’d said, I just wished I’d managed to phrase it better. I released a sigh and then jumped as my phone buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts. I was expecting it to be Ellie asking about the job, so I was shocked to see my mum’s name pop up on the screen.
‘Chérie, it’s Maman. Where are you? I haven’t heard from you for a few days and I’m just worried that everything’s okay. Please call me, darling, and let me know you’re safe x’
I rang my mum back there and then.
‘Mum, hi it’s me,’ I began. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch.’
‘Oh, Fran, mon dieu, I’ve been so worried about you!’ I could imagine her with her hand over her eyes in typical dramatic fashion and I had to smile. ‘Is everything all right with you?’
‘I didn’t mean to frighten you, Mum, I’m sorry. It’s just that a lot has happened to me in the last couple of days.’
‘Like what, sweetheart? What has happened?’
‘Mum, I’ve split up with Paul. I walked in on him in bed with someone else so I left him.’
‘Oh, non, c’est pas possible. I’m so sorry he did that to you. What are you going to do? And what about the wedding?’
‘Well, the wedding’s definitely off. I can’t trust him again after this so I’ve moved out of the flat and I’ve just got myself a great new job.’
‘A new job? Where?’
‘It’s in Alsace, Maman.’ I held my breath, waiting for her reaction.
‘Oh, I wish you’d let us know but still, that’s great news. I can’t wait to hear all about it.’
‘Mum, I’m really sorry, there just wasn’t time to let you know before the interview. But I’m in Strasbourg now and I’m still coming home for the weekend for Amandine’s wedding. Then I start my new job on Monday. Can you or dad collect me from the train station later please?’
‘Yes, of course, chérie. It will be so lovely to see you. It has been a long time since we were all together as a family.’
‘Is Lottie home then?’ It had been ages since I’d seen my sister and I longed to catch up with her too.
‘Yes, she came home today quite out of the blue. It’s so wonderful to see her again after all this time.’
‘I’ll call you later then when I know what time I’ll be arriving. A bientôt.’
‘A bientôt, chérie.’ And with that she rang off. I realised how wonderful it would be to see my family again and I felt guilty then for not contacting my mum sooner to tell her what had happened. Paul had been so against coming back to France each time I’d suggested it that my visits home had become less and less frequent. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had called home. I blew out a long breath and determined that things would be different now.
Ellie texted me shortly afterwards and I called her straight back to tell her about the job and the cottage.
‘That sounds wonderful,’ she said when I’d finished giving her all the details.
Then I told her about the phone call with my mum.
‘Well, I hope you have a wonderful family get-together and I hope the wedding goes well too, and that Monday brings the fresh start you’re looking for.’
‘Thank you and I promise we will sort out a date for you to come over and stay as soon as possible!’
‘You’d better!’ She was still laughing as we said goodbye.
Didier
I’d been thrown by Fran’s comment about putting the past behind us and I was even more disconcerted by her insistence on a temporary contract. I trudged back to the office feeling decidedly more downbeat than I ought to have, considering that she had accepted the job.
‘I take it she said no then,’ Henri said when I went in and slumped down in my chair.
‘She said yes actually, but she put me firmly in my place about putting the past behind us in order to work together again now, so I feel upset about that even though I can’t really blame her in all honesty.’
‘Perhaps it will be easier when she starts working here and you get to know each other again. You need to give her time, I think.’
‘I know you’re right and I am trying to think about it from her point of view.’ I heaved a big sigh.
‘Look, why don’t we go for a drink at the bar tonight and we can maybe talk more about it then?’
We left work at six after what felt like a very long afternoon and walked down to the village to our usual bar. We sat on stools at the counter and asked for two glasses of Pastis. As the alcohol slipped down, I could feel the tension from my earlier meeting with Fran slipping away.
‘Better?’ asked Henri, knowingly.
I nodded.
‘I realise now that Fran must have been more hurt by my behaviour than I’d appreciated when she went to London. I didn’t want to beg her to stay but now, looking back, I almost wish I had. I could have really done with Fran’s support to see me through those difficult times.’
‘I remember it all happening so quickly, much more quickly than any of us had expected, including the doctors.’ Henri rolled his eyes then because the doctors had given my dad six months to live but in the
end, he had only managed three. It had been a shock for all of us. ‘You should have told her, Didier. If she had known your dad had cancer, she would have stayed with you, I’m sure of that.’
‘I know she would but I didn’t want her to stay with me out of pity and I didn’t think it was fair to stop her following her dreams. Anyway, she felt stifled by life here so it was best for her to explore what city life might hold for her.’ I shrugged, remembering how difficult it had been to make that decision at the time.
‘And then you might never have met the lovely Isabelle.’ Henri pulled a face and ordered two more glasses of Pastis as if he needed something to help block out the memory of Isabelle’s arrival on the scene.
‘I was a wreck after my dad died, you know that - trying to keep the estate going, while looking after my mum as well. Isabelle came along at my lowest point. I really needed someone and I was flattered by the attention she paid me. I had no idea how much she would change my life.’
‘And not for the better either, with the exception of Chlöe of course.’ His face lit up and that made me smile too.
‘Well, you’re not doing a very good job of cheering me up, are you?’
‘How can you say that? I haven’t even mentioned how your mum and Isabelle hated each other on sight! I’ve been very gentle with you if you ask me.’
‘Hmm. Well, it’s easy for you to criticise when you’re not involved with anyone. Maybe we should talk about the terrible state of your love life instead.’
‘I just haven’t found the right woman yet but it doesn’t mean I’m not having fun looking.’
‘You’re getting on a bit now, though. Time’s running out. Look at me, off to another wedding tomorrow. All my friends will be married off soon.’
‘Well, at least you’ll have Chlöe to keep you company and you won’t need to talk to Isabelle at all.’
‘That is definitely a plus point. It will be Chlöe’s first wedding and I expect she’ll love it.’ I chuckled at the thought of my little girl attending a wedding. ‘Right, come on then, I’d better get home and sort myself out before the morning. I don’t want to be hung over.’
Fran
The journey by train from Strasbourg to Colmar was beautiful, passing through luscious, green vineyards in the shadow of the pine-clad Vosges mountains and alongside gurgling rivers and streams, bringing me deep into the heart of the Alsace wine region. I had about five more minutes to go before reaching Colmar when my phone buzzed. I was surprised to see Paul’s name on the display and I berated myself for not having blocked his number yet.
‘Hi, Fran, how are you getting on? I miss you so much. I’m really sorry about what I said before. I’d like to meet and talk if you’d be up for that?’
What could I say to that? He had a nerve after the way he’d behaved in leaving my things outside the flat and changing the locks. I didn’t want to talk to him again so I took the British way out and didn’t reply at all. I made sure to block his number straight after reading his text.
A few minutes later, I grabbed my suitcase and my bag and descended from the train onto the platform at Colmar. There were window boxes all along the platform railings, overflowing with tumbling red, white and pink geraniums, and I smiled as I remembered that Colmar had been awarded the title of ville fleurie for many years and clearly still took that award very seriously. I loved to see and smell all the flowers and it felt good to be home again. I came out of the station building into the car park and looked around for my parents.
‘Fran!’ My dad was waving at me from the car. I smiled broadly at him before making my way over.
‘Ah, chérie. Que c’est bon de te revoir! I missed you.’ He kissed me firmly on both cheeks and then again and gave me an all-enveloping hug.
‘Hey, Dad, I’ve missed you too.’ I passed him my case and went round to the other side of the car to get in.
‘So, we are speaking English, are we now?’ he asked as he put his seat belt on.
‘Well, I thought you might need the practice, Dad, after all this time.’ I loved the banter between my dad and me, and we’d both slipped straight back into it as if I’d never been away.
‘How long is it since we’ve seen you? Was it last Christmas, really?’ he asked, glancing briefly over at me.
‘I think it was, yes. Ages ago, I’m sorry. So, what’s new?’
‘Not a lot, really. We’re both working hard, as always. Did I tell you I work one day a week from home nowadays?’ I shook my head, not really remembering if he’d told me or not. ‘It’s good to be at home more. I wish your mum would do the same.’
My dad worked as an accountant for a large restaurant chain in the region and, although he enjoyed it, I knew it was a lot of work for him as he got older. My mum worked part-time as a waitress in one of their restaurants in Colmar.
‘And is Lottie home for good from her travels, did she say?’
‘She’s already gone again. Just a flying visit, she said, on her way up to Strasbourg to meet up with her latest boyfriend. I hardly even had the chance to speak to her. She sent you her love and said she’d be back again soon.’ He sighed. I didn’t say anything but I felt worried about my little sister. I made a mental note to text her over the weekend so we could meet up now we were both back in France.
As we got closer to home, my dad focused on the twists and turns of the road. My parents’ home was on the outskirts of town, almost back out in the countryside, and it had a nice bit of land with it too. As we turned into the drive, my eyes lit up at the sight of the farmhouse once again. My mum poked her head out of the window to give us a quick wave before coming out to greet us.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘Come on in, darling, it’s so good to see you.’
I gave Mum a long hug, realising just how much I’d missed her. ‘I wish Lottie was here as well but it can’t be helped, I suppose,’ she continued. ‘Dinner will be ready soon and you can tell us both all your news while we eat. We’ve missed you. We really shouldn’t leave it so long between get-togethers,’ she said, gesturing at me to sit at the table as she removed her apron. She put a tall, green, flute-shaped bottle of Alsace Pinot Blanc on the table and I smiled at the familiarity of it all.
‘I know, Maman, but now I can do what I want without Paul holding me back, we will see each other more often, especially since I’ve got this new job near Strasbourg.’
I went on to tell them how I’d seen the job a few weeks previously but only had the courage to apply for it when everything went wrong with Paul.
‘You’ll never guess who the vineyard manager is,’ I said, looking from one parent to the other. They waited patiently while I kept them in suspense. ‘It’s Didier. Do you remember?’
My mum gasped. ‘Ooh, I bet that was a surprise! What did you say?’
My dad stood up to open the wine and poured it into some Alsace goblets while I told them the story.
‘He was definitely the last person I was expecting to see there but the interview went well and he told me that same day that he wanted to offer me the job.’
‘Have you accepted it?’ my dad asked.
‘I went back yesterday to confirm whether I’d take it or not. I knew I wanted the job but I didn’t want the relationship we’d had before to get in the way in the future, so I made that clear before I accepted. I also asked him for a temporary contract for now.’
My mum winced as I finished speaking. ‘How did he take all that?’
‘I think he was a bit surprised to be honest but so was I when I found him there waiting to interview me.’ Even as I told my mum though, I wondered if I had offended Didier with what I’d said.
The oven beeped, breaking into the momentary silence, and my mum went over to take out the flammekueche she’d made for dinner. Although it wasn’t a wood-fired oven, the tart always tasted delicious and my mum had been perfecting it over many years. It was our favourite dinner, a bit like a thin pizza, smothered with crème fraîche, onions and bacon la
rdons, and topped off with gruyère cheese. The smell filled the whole kitchen as my mum removed the tray from the oven and it felt really good to be back home.
‘Ooh, Maman, merci!’ I beamed at her as she brought the tray to the table.
‘I know it’s your favourite, chérie, and I thought you deserved a treat after all the horrible times you’ve been having. Is it definitely over between you and Paul?’
‘He cheated on me, Maman, and I caught them at it in our bed. Despite the love I used to have for him, I don’t think I could ever get past that.’ I popped a string of gooey melted cheese in my mouth and closed my eyes to savour the flavour.
‘No, of course, I understand that. I can’t believe how stupid Paul was to treat you that way.’
‘There’s a lot you don’t know about Paul, to be honest.’ I glanced at them both before taking the plunge. ‘I didn’t want to tell you before because I knew you’d worry but Paul was very controlling. He never wanted me to come home to visit and he hated me doing things without him. If we’d stayed together, all that would only have become worse. I think I’ve had a lucky escape.’
For a few minutes, we tucked in to the lovely dinner Mum had made without further discussion. After we’d eaten, I stood up and walked outside into the darkening back garden, trying to clear my head of all thoughts of Paul.
My dad joined me shortly afterwards and came over to give me a hug, perhaps sensing my misery. I began to cry then, all the tears I should have already cried for me and Paul that I hadn’t had the strength to do as yet. My dad held me tight and I wiped my eyes.
‘I’m so sorry for what happened between you and Paul,’ he said gently.
‘Thanks, Dad. Right now, it stinks and I just need some time to get over it.’
‘I know, and it will get better in time, honestly. Anyway, maybe it’s for the best for you to split up if he can’t be faithful before you even get married.’