by Julie Stock
Didier called the pickers together and I followed on after helping Sylvie pack everything away. We’d been split into two teams, one picking the muscat white grapes, and the other the pinot noir. There were only a few vines for these grape varieties so picking them shouldn’t take long. After that, we planned to move on to the noble grape varieties, like riesling and pinot gris. The weather was brighter today with no rain forecast and Didier was much more relaxed as a result. Even so, we had to get back to it with a vengeance while the weather was still on our side.
‘Are you going to join me for the meeting with the builders after break?’ I asked him as we walked back up to the courtyard a couple of hours later.
‘I can at least be there for the start but then I’ll need to go to the winery to make sure the grapes are getting there quickly enough for the pressing.’ He smiled at me and took my hand. ‘Have you thought any more about my proposal?’ he asked, a gleam in his eye.
‘You know I have but I need a bit more time.’
He nodded. ‘Are you frightened of moving in with me?’
I hated the way he knew exactly what I was thinking sometimes.
‘Truthfully, I am a bit, yes. But that doesn’t mean I’m not committed to you.’ I gave him a defiant look and he laughed.
We got out all the bread, ham and cheese that Sylvie had brought along that morning, and switched the urns on to high so hot drinks would be available in no time. Making sure everyone was fed and watered kept us busy for the next half an hour. While I was serving, a van pulled into the courtyard. The sign on the side told me it was the men from the building company. A few minutes later, father and son were approaching the table to introduce themselves.
‘Would you like a drink before we get started?’ I asked Dominic Hahn, shaking his hand. Dominic, a tall, wiry man, was the owner of the company and Tomas was his son. I passed them both a coffee and they stood and chatted to Didier while everyone finished their drinks and snacks. After all the workers had left to continue picking, I quickly cleared away with Didier’s help, remembering to switch the slow cookers on for lunch. Finally, we led the builders off to the winery to discuss their plans for the Visitors’ Centre.
Didier
After attending the start of the meeting with the builders, I checked in on the winery before rejoining the pickers for the rest of the day. After lunch, I sent my mum a text to check she was still able to collect Chlöe. When she confirmed, I carried on working. Around three, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I was tempted to ignore it but a sixth sense made me look.
‘Didier, I’ve been involved in an accident on the autoroute. I’m okay but they’re taking me to hospital. Cannot pick up Chlöe. Don’t worry about me xx’
I straightened and started calling for Fran. When she stood up, I motioned for her to run with me. I was late for Chlöe and they hadn’t brought her to me like they did before. Something wasn’t right. We ran to the courtyard together.
‘My mum…has had…accident…in car. She’s okay…but hospital. Have to get…Chlöe. I’m late,’ I panted, as we ran side by side. We both jumped in the van as soon as we reached the courtyard and we didn’t say another word until we reached the nursery. I’d got my breath back by then but I was worried sick.
I walked into the nursery after they buzzed me in, looking all around for signs of Chlöe. I called out to a nursery assistant I recognised.
‘Mademoiselle, je m’excuse d’être en retard. I’m looking for my daughter, Chlöe.’
She raised her eyebrows.
‘She’s in the office with her mother.’
‘Her mother is here?’
‘Yes, she is meeting with the supervisor. As Chlöe’s grandmother had said she might be late today, we thought you had asked your wife to collect your daughter in the event of a delay. When she arrived, she asked to meet with the supervisor about the arrangements for Chlöe’s care. Would you like me to take you to the office?’
‘Yes please, I would.’
I took Fran’s hand in mine and we followed her down the corridor but then I heard the sound of my daughter’s voice. As we rounded the corner, I came face-to-face with my wife and the supervisor. From the satisfied look on Isabelle’s face, their meeting had obviously gone well. Chlöe threw herself at me and I stooped down to pick her up, avoiding eye contact with Isabelle.
‘Ça va, ma chérie?’ I asked softly, pushing her curls back from her face and giving her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. She gave me a sloppy kiss in response and then reached for Fran. As I passed her over, I noticed the look of contempt that crossed Isabelle’s face.
Turning to the supervisor, I said, ‘Madame, I would like to talk to you for a few minutes with my wife please.’ She looked from me to Isabelle and seeing our thunderous faces, she quickly agreed, turning to lead the way back to her office. I glanced at Fran and she nodded back at me, confirming she would look after Chlöe.
‘Madame, I apologise for being late to collect Chlöe today. My mother had an accident in Strasbourg, which is what caused the delay.’ I paused to let her register that fact and then continued. ‘It has made me realise we don’t have a contingency plan in place for Chlöe to be collected in such situations.’
‘I don’t understand.’ She frowned. ‘Your wife told me you had asked her to collect Chlöe today.’
‘My wife and I are getting a divorce, madame. At the moment, she isn’t even permanently based in France.’
Madame raised her eyebrows. ‘Well, this is all very unusual.’
‘I apologise. We should have told you sooner what the situation was.’ I looked over at Isabelle who was studying her nails. ‘As I mentioned before, my wife is not based here at the moment. So, for the time being, if Isabelle agrees, I believe it would be best if only my mother or myself collect Chlöe. If that is not possible for some reason, I will always call and let you know.’
Isabelle didn’t argue so the supervisor nodded and we all stood to leave. I strode back to Fran and Chlöe, scooping my daughter up again and going outside into the car park. I stopped and waited for Isabelle to follow, knowing she would want to say goodbye to Chlöe.
When she appeared, I put Chlöe down so she could go to her mother. I didn’t say a word, I just waited patiently and as soon as Chlöe had finished, I picked her up again and walked away back towards the vineyard. Fran caught up with me after a few minutes as my pace slowed the further away I got from Isabelle. She reached out to touch my arm.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked softly.
‘I will be. Let’s not talk about it any more for now,’ I said, nodding my head towards Chlöe.
By the time we got back to the vineyard, it was nearly five and I was desperate to check on my mum. I put Chlöe down in the courtyard where Ruby came to greet her, and called my mum’s number again.
‘Mum, what’s happening?’
‘I’m fine. How is Chlöe?’ I thought about not telling her but she guessed at once that something was wrong. ‘Didier?’
‘Isabelle went to pick her up, Mum. They were about to let her go with her because we hadn’t told them not to.’
‘How did she know I wouldn’t be there today?’
‘I don’t know. She just got lucky, I guess. She asked to see Chlöe when she came to see me last week and I asked for more notice. She obviously decided against that and has been hanging around since then, waiting for an opportunity to see Chlöe. Today, she got one.’
My mum made a strangled noise. ‘Oh, Didier, I’m so sorry, I’ve let you down.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Mum. You had an accident. Do you need picking up?’
‘No. They haven’t said I can’t drive but they have warned me about whiplash which can take some time to develop.’
‘Mum, I don’t want you to drive but I think it’s best if I stay here with Chlöe. I’m going to ask Fran to take my car, and I’ll get Henri to come with her and drive your car back, okay? Please stay there.’
‘Okay darling.
I’m at the CHU.’
Fran had already gone in search of Henri. Thank goodness I could rely on her calm support. She came back with Henri in no time. Henri’s relaxed expression reassured me as we shook hands.
‘Please stay in touch with me, won’t you?’ I said to her as I passed her the keys and pulled her in for a hug and a kiss.
‘Of course I will,’ she replied, and with that she was gone.
Fran
Henri and I were silent in the car for most of the journey to the hospital. I recognised the area as we crossed the River Ill for the second time and the university campus loomed ahead. We found the car park nearest to the emergency department and made our way to the entrance. The sign stated Urgences and that was how the whole day was turning out. Relief flooded through me when we found Sylvie sitting in the reception area. She was wearing a neck brace and was very pale. I understood then that she had kept the real extent of her pain from Didier.
She stood awkwardly when she saw us. I opened my arms and gently pulled her to me for a hug.
‘Are you really all right, Sylvie?’
‘I’m okay physically for the moment but I still feel a bit shaken up. The neck brace is just a precaution. I’m so worried about Chlöe. How was Didier when you left?’
Henri and I brought her up to speed as we walked slowly back to the car.
‘Where is your car parked, Sylvie?’ Henri asked as we reached Didier’s car.
‘I think the police took it to the station.’ She frowned, confused.
‘Don’t worry,’ I told her, with a glance at Henri, ‘we’ll pick it up tomorrow.’
Sylvie nodded, touching her forehead with her long fingers. She asked Henri to sit in the back with her, and he helped her to get in and get her seat belt done up so she didn’t have to twist her neck. Henri rang Didier to let him know we were on our way and that Sylvie was safe.
We drove back to the vineyard in anxious silence and there was a collective sigh of relief when I pulled into the courtyard at the Domaine. Didier came out of the office at the sound of the car. He embraced his mum and Sylvie began to cry as he touched her face with the palm of his hand.
‘Shhh, Maman. There was nothing any of us could have done to prevent this.’
The grape-pickers and carriers finished for the day. Many came up and offered their good wishes to us as they passed through the courtyard on their way home. Once everyone had gone, Didier, Chlöe and I started making our way down to the château, with Sylvie and Lottie following slowly behind, while Henri and Thierry walked off to the village to get us something for dinner. We’d just waved them off when Isabelle’s car pulled into the courtyard.
Didier
At the sound of another car arriving, I spun round in surprise. My mouth dropped open. Why would Isabelle have come back here after all that had happened earlier? She climbed out of the car but didn’t come towards me, remaining hesitantly by the driver’s door instead. I glanced round to check that everyone else had left the courtyard before walking towards her.
‘What are you doing here, Isabelle? I am in no mood for an argument with you.’
‘I don’t want to argue with you either, Didier. I…I just want to talk to you.’
‘What else is there left for us to say to each other?’
She took a step towards me, the look on her face more vulnerable than I remembered seeing there for a long time. She swallowed nervously before speaking again.
‘I’ve come to ask you to consider taking me back, Didier. After what happened today, I realised that Chlöe is the only one who matters in all this. I know that I have been selfish, putting my interests before hers, but I do love her and I think we could rebuild our marriage.’
I was stunned into silence by this change of heart. I dragged in a long breath as I worked out what to say next. Isabelle came closer and I studied her face for signs of sincerity. Despite everything that had happened between us, I still wanted to believe what she was saying, if only for Chlöe’s sake. I shook my head a little, trying to clear my thoughts.
‘I know you love Chlöe, Isabelle, and you’re right, she is the only one who matters here. We have to do what’s best for her now but I don’t think us getting back together is in her best interest.’ Tears sprang to Isabelle’s eyes and I reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze of reassurance. ‘I’ve been angry with you for so long that I’ve lost sight of a few things myself but my love for Chlöe is just as strong as it ever was. You and I have both made mistakes and I’m truly sorry for that. We owe it to Chlöe to forgive each other now and move on.’
She put her arms round me and instead of pulling away, I embraced her warmly, knowing that it would be the last time we would be this close.
‘I’m sorry, Didier. It’s just that when you asked for full custody, I feared you wouldn’t let me see Chlöe if I agreed to that and I realised that I would never want that to happen.’
I pulled away so I could look her in the eyes.
‘I would never stop you from seeing Chlöe. You’re her mother and she loves you. You have a busy life with your job, and you need to travel at short notice. It just makes sense for Chlöe to live with me most of the time because, even with the vineyard to run, my life is a bit more stable than yours. That’s not meant to be a criticism at all and I would definitely want you to see Chlöe whenever you could.’
‘And there’s really no chance for us?’ she asked again.
‘I love Fran, Isabelle. I want to build a new life with her, and take the chance I should have taken several years ago. I’m sorry.’
Isabelle gave me a final quick hug before returning to her car. A moment later, she pulled away and I turned to go and rejoin the others.
Fran
Once I’d made sure that Lottie would be all right looking after Sylvie and Chlöe for a while, I dashed back towards the courtyard to give Didier my support. As I approached the archway leading to the courtyard, I heard voices and I slowed down in an effort to catch my breath. The sight of Didier holding Isabelle in his arms as I passed through the arch was more than I could take and I ducked back out of sight at the last minute, confused by what could have happened between them during my brief absence. Instead of going back to the château, I made my way to the cottage, desperate to avoid having to explain what I’d seen to anyone else.
I shut the door quietly behind me and collapsed onto the sofa. My mind was a mess of irrational questions and my heart was pounding. Why had Didier been holding Isabelle in his arms when just a few hours earlier, he had been furious with her? Were they getting back together? How could that be when he’d told me he loved me? But what other explanation was there? I stood suddenly, my mind clear. I had to go before Didier found me. I rushed upstairs to my bedroom and dragged my battered suitcase down from the top of the wardrobe. I flung an assortment of clothes and underwear into the case, as well as a few other knick-knacks from my bedside table before going back downstairs again. I’d just picked up my purse when Didier burst through the front door.
‘Fran, what are you doing? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’ He was out of breath and his hair was all over the place. Then he saw my suitcase and his face fell. ‘Fran? Talk to me please.’
‘There’s nothing to say. Just that I hope you and Isabelle manage to work things out this time.’
I took a step towards the door but Didier blocked the way.
‘Are you leaving me, Fran?’
‘Please, Didier, just let me go. Don’t make this any harder for me.’ My voice cracked as I finished speaking and my eyes filled with tears.
‘I love you, Fran.’
My head snapped up at that.
‘How can you say that to me when I’ve just seen you hugging Isabelle? You can’t love both of us.’ I let my suitcase fall to the floor, struggling to contain my anger.
‘I don’t love both of you,’ he said, taking another step closer and stretching his hand out towards me.
I folded my arms protective
ly across my chest, willing myself not to take his hand. I lifted my chin and looked him straight in the eye. ‘Can you just tell me the truth please?’
‘Isabelle and I have worked things out, but not in the way you think. She wanted me to take her back so we could try and rebuild our marriage for Chlöe’s sake. I hugged her just after telling her that I couldn’t do that because I am in love with you, and I want to build a life with you. That will probably be the last time I give her a hug.’
He closed the final gap between us and slipped his arms round my waist. I relaxed into his arms and lifted my hands to his face, pulling him close enough to kiss. As our lips met, I poured all my emotion into that caress, desperate to show my relief at his words. When we parted at last, he rested his forehead against mine.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I said, ‘for jumping to the wrong conclusion.’
‘As long as you know how much I love you, that’s all that matters.’
I nodded but didn’t say anything. He left shortly after that, needing to get back to Chlöe but for the first time, I wished he could have stayed to reassure me that I was doing the right thing by not leaving.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I hardly saw Didier the next day. He had decided to resume taking Chlöe to nursery so that Sylvie could rest, and we were kept busy all day with the harvest. He disappeared again before the end of the day’s picking to go and collect Chlöe, and Lottie told me she was going home with Thierry. The walk back to the cottage left me feeling lonely and down after the events of the past couple of days. After some dinner, I stretched out on the sofa with my phone and gave Ellie a call.
‘Hi, how’s everything?’ she said.
‘Oh, Ellie, I don’t even know where to start.’
‘God, what’s happened in just a few days? Come on, I have wine, tell me everything.’
And that was why I’d called her of course. She always understood my jumbled feelings. I explained everything that had happened.