Biarritz Passion: A French Summer Novel

by Laurette Long

  ‘This summer? What do you mean? What sort of plans?’

  ‘Holiday plans, silly. You’ve got three weeks off, I remember you saying.’ Annabel sounded impatient. ‘Have you got anything fixed up yet?’

  ‘Well, I haven’t really made up my mind, there are various possibilities, it’s a bit early, I was thinking about...’

  Caroline’s voice trailed off. Damn. She was never fast enough to come up with anything that would fool her sharp young sister.

  ‘Early? Caro it’s the end of May! Hello! Anyway, you don’t have anything definite organised. That’s marvellous because I have the most brilliant suggestion—you are coming to France with us!’

  The expression ‘knocked me down with a feather’ sprang into Caroline’s mind. Going to France? With Annabel and Julian?

  Her sister was rattling on.

  ‘—this super villa, you should see the photos, it’s on top of a hill, sea-views, it’s got a fabulous pool—’

  Caroline interrupted her sister’s flow of words.

  ‘You’re going to a villa? You and Julian? And you want me to come?’

  It couldn’t be the money, Julian was rolling in it.

  ‘Not just us two darling, don’t be silly, there’s a whole bunch of us going, the villa belongs to their family actually, sort of a summer residence, they’re awfully rich. You might have heard Julian mention one of them, Edward, his friend, Edward Rayburn.’

  ‘Rayburn, I don’t know, maybe...’

  Caroline spoke slowly, playing for time. What on earth was going on? The two sisters hadn’t been on holiday together since Annabel was fifteen. Caroline’s suspicions were on high alert. She decided the best tactic was to stall.

  ‘Um, look Annabel, sorry, I’m afraid I’ve got to go, we’re really busy here. Why don’t we talk about it this weekend at Willowdale? I’m not sure it will fit in with my plans, I was thinking of going to see Jill in Edinburgh, and well, it is a bit out of the blue isn’t it?’

  ‘Dear, dear, lovely sister,’ Annabel’s voice was wheedling. ‘You can go and see Jill any time, there are trains to Edinburgh every hour! And it’s only for two weeks, so you could always have a week with Jill as well. Just imagine, two weeks in a posh villa in France! For free! You’d love it. Please say yes. Edward simply has to know today, he’ll ask someone else if you can’t come, and that would be an awful shame. You’d be missing out on the most marvellous opportunity.’

  There was definitely something fishy going on, something Annabel wasn’t telling her. An electronic voice in Caroline’s head was repeating ‘Hidden catch! Hidden catch!’ She took a deep breath and spoke firmly.

  ‘Annabel, sorry, I really must go. I can’t simply make such a big decision on the spur of the moment, you should know that. You can’t ring up out of the blue and expect me—look, I don’t even know where this villa is and who’s going apart from you and Julian, and this Edward whatever his name is. We can talk in more detail this weekend. I’m really going to have to ring off now.’

  ‘This weekend will be too late!’

  The wheedling tone had gone. Caroline heard a hard edge in her sister’s voice.

  ‘I’ve just told you, Julian has to let Edward know today!’

  ‘And I’ve just told you I can’t make a decision like this on the spur of the moment!’ Caroline’s reply was equally edgy.

  There was an ominous silence from the other end of the line.

  ‘In that case I shall simply have to tell him no.’

  Caroline sighed.

  ‘If that’s the only alternative, yes, I’m afraid you will. You said he was thinking about somebody else, anyway, so what’s the problem?’

  ‘Right. I’ll tell him my sister doesn’t give a toss about his generous offer. I’ll tell him you’re off to see a friend who you could visit any old time. Too bad.’ There was a pause. ‘Well, we won’t be seeing you before we leave, so do enjoy your little holiday with Jill.’

  Caroline blinked.

  ‘What do you mean you won’t be seeing me? I thought you said this thing in France was for July?’

  ‘So?’

  Annabel’s voice was flat.

  ‘But it’s the end of May! We’re seeing each other this weekend.’

  A pause.

  ‘I doubt it.’

  Caroline felt a cold shock run through her.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Julian’s pretty busy this weekend. I doubt if we’ll be able to get down to Willowdale after all.’

  ‘Annabel!’

  Caroline looked round hastily. Her three staff had all stopped work and were listening with interest. She glared at them, and reached out a foot to push the door closed.

  ‘You can’t possibly call off this weekend! It’s Margaret’s birthday. Her 80th! Everything’s planned, you know it is. She’d be absolutely devastated!’

  ‘You’ll be there. You’re the one she really cares about.’

  Caroline gasped.

  ‘I’ll ring and explain. She’s always telling me how busy my fiancé is, how a leader has to set an example to his troops and hold the fort and toe the line.’

  Caroline didn’t miss the contempt in her sister’s tone. She knew Annabel was someone who held a grudge. She drew a deep, murderous breath.

  ‘You are being absolutely selfish and manipulative. Even if Julian’s busy, which I very much doubt by the way, there’s nothing to prevent you coming down on your own. I’ll even come and pick you up.’

  ‘Selfish? I’m not the only one, am I? I ask you a favour—hang on one minute, did I say a favour? I offer you a golden opportunity more like, the opportunity to spend two fabulous weeks in a luxury villa, rent-free, and all you can say is—’ Annabel mimicked a whiny voice ‘I might want to go to Edinburgh.’

  Caroline gripped the receiver, her sister’s sarcastic tones ringing in her ears.

  For a moment she couldn’t speak. Her head was pounding as she tried to keep her temper under control. She couldn’t have a row with her sister in front of her staff. Annabel had manoeuvred her into a corner. Phoning her at work, using Margaret as a bargaining chip. It was as simple as that. And as shameful. She said with forced calmness:

  ‘So that’s it. If I change my mind, you’ll change yours.’

  ‘Well darling, you know what they say, one good turn and all that…’ Annabel gave a hard tinkly laugh. ‘You know what you’re like, sister dear, so over-cautious. So not spontaneous. You think I’m twisting your arm, don’t you? Thanks for the vote of confidence. You’re unbelievable, you know. Julian has this great offer, and we immediately think of you.’

  Annabel was working herself up into the role of the injured party.

  ‘It’s really insulting. A fabulous holiday, for free, and how do you react? Defensive and suspicious. Incredible. I don’t know what’s happening to you, Caroline. Ever since Liam—’

  ‘Alright. I’ll see you at the weekend.’

  Caroline’s voice was stony.

  There was a pause.

  ‘So that’s a ‘yes’?’ Annabel’s voice had changed in an instant from hurt to jubilant. ‘Wonderful darling. You won’t regret it I promise! I’ll let Julian know right away. And we’ll see you this weekend.’

  ‘We? I thought you said Julian was busy?’

  ‘Oh don’t worry about that. You know Juju. I point, he sits. See you soon darling! Or should I say à bientôt?’

  Caroline replaced the receiver with a trembling hand. She was seething with anger. The blood was pounding in her temples, her eyes were hot. Annabel had gone too far. She would have it out with her this weekend, party or no party. To phone her like that, when she was unable to talk freely, to force her to agree to some scheme that wasn’t of the slightest interest to Caroline—how could she do it? How could she be so unaware—Tears of fury came into her eyes, she blinked them away, groped in her bag for some paracetamol, feeling the headache take hold with a vengeance.

  Through the glass wall of h
er cubicle she could see that the window in the main office was once more tightly shut. George was working in front his screen, head bent. Sheryl and Jen were both attacking their work with unusual dedication. Caroline got up, walked over to the coffee machine, poured herself a cup and walked back. No one spoke. They all worked on in silence until lunchtime.

  ‘Er, Caroline?’

  ‘Yes Sheryl?’

  The girl was hovering in the doorway.

  ‘I was wondering if I could leave early this afternoon. Dentist’s appointment. I forgot to mention it yesterday.’

  Caroline almost laughed out loud. The previous week it had been her mother, ill in bed with a stomach upset. A couple of weeks before that, a doctor’s appointment. Sheryl stared expressionlessly at the wall above Caroline’s head. What did the teachers at school use to call it? Dumb insolence. Jen, though she had her limits, was a useful member of the team; George, for all his maundering, was solid and reliable. But Sheryl was slipshod and untidy and didn’t seem to give a damn. And the memory of too much information in the form of Mozzarella in a red thong was the final straw.

  ‘That’ll be fine.’

  Sheryl’s eyes met hers.

  ‘What’s the name of the dentist by the way?’

  The smile that had started on Sheryl’s face froze.

  ‘Er, I can’t remember exactly, it’s one of those practices you know.’

  ‘Really? What’s the address?’

  Sheryl was now looking positively sullen.

  ‘I’ve forgotten the name of the street. It’s near the park.’

  ‘Oh well, doubtless it will be on your card. Your appointment card.’

  Caroline held out her hand. Two red spots appeared on Sheryl’s cheeks.

  ‘I forgot it.’

  ‘Well well well.’ Caroline’s voice was icy. ‘I think you maybe need to take a memory pill Sheryl. Can’t remember your dentist’s name, nor his address. Can’t see how you’ll possibly be able to keep your appointment this afternoon, can you?’

  Sheryl gave her a look of pure dislike, and turned on her heel. There was a snigger from the corner. George his skinny shoulders heaving, was laughing into his columns of numbers.

  Caroline stood up, took her bag, and said to no-one in particular:

  ‘I’ll be back at two if anyone asks for me.’

  The rain had let up as she walked down the road towards the coffee shop where she usually had a light lunch. As she opened the door she was met by the smell of steam and wet coats. She stood at the counter waiting to place her order, head spinning. She could have done without the little scene with Sheryl. She was still trying to get to grips with Annabel’s phone call and its implications. So much for taking back control. Had she really agreed to spend two of her precious holiday weeks with her sister?

  No, she decided. She’d been tricked into agreeing. That didn’t count as a real promise. When she saw Annabel this weekend, she would make things quite clear. She ordered a sandwich and a diet Coke. As she picked up her tray she noticed Rita and Helen waving to her from a table in the back. Normally she enjoyed having lunch with them, but today she would rather have been on her own.

  ‘Hi Rita, hi Helen. Everything OK?’

  She forced a smile as she joined them at their table.

  ‘It would be if this bloody weather would just let up.’

  Rita gave Helen a friendly nudge and the two made room for their friend.

  ‘You’re looking a bit pale love.’

  Helen was the solicitous type, hard to let anything get past her.

  ‘Headache,’ said Caroline. ‘Brought on by five days of non-stop rain and the joys of the workplace.’

  Rita gave her signature laugh, a rich deep gurgle that had people looking up from their plates.

  ‘Tell me about it. They ought to do a sit-com about that place. Like ‘The Office’ except 100 times more surreal. I had another run in with Roger the Dodger this morning.’

  Caroline gave a sympathetic grimace as she bit into her tuna sandwich.

  Despite being the mother of four children Rita was the acknowledged pin up of the Accounts Department, and every other department if it came to that. She was a tall bosomy brunette with creamy skin and full lips, like a forties Hollywood star. Men lost their power of thought when she sashayed into a room wearing one of the low-cut figure-hugging outfits she liked, more through a sort of malicious contempt for the masculine sex than from any wish to attract one of its members. Caroline had met Rita’s husband, Gerry, a laid-back car mechanic who thought Rita was a hoot. They got on famously.

  ‘Go on then, tell her,’ said Helen, chewing her way through a bean sprout and tofu salad. She was on a permanent diet, with no apparent results. ‘I saw it all, nearly choked on my Digestive. Roger the Dodger and his famous long wandering fingers.’

  ‘The laying on of the hands,’ intoned Rita. ‘Of course he was just placing an invoice in my in tray, wasn’t he, only he happened to get the wrong side, so had to do an extra long lean, extra close, holding on for support. Same thing as last time. The bloke’s a walking cliché. You only have to look at his ties. Anyway, as well as the wandering fingers I got a close up of his back molars and a blast of his breath mints. Which do not work, I may say. Some people just never learn do they? The thrill was too much. My nipples hardened at his touch. I had visions of a desk-top spanking with Roger snapping his braces. I shuddered in pure ecstasy, knocked over my hot coffee and Roger got a soaked trouser crotch and a big fright.’

  Caroline enjoyed her first laugh of the day.

  ‘So Caro what are you doing for the holiday weekend? Going anywhere nice?’

  The three of them chatted amiably, discussing plans and kids and house refurbishing, Rita making them both laugh with her description of Gerry being dragged around the Home Furnishings department of John Lewis in search of new curtains.

  Feeling decidedly better after her chat with the girls, Caroline left early to buy Margaret’s card. She decided she would confront Annabel at the weekend and get out of the villa thing by fair means or foul. She’d also give Jill that call about organising a weekend together, either in London or in Edinburgh. These last few months she’d been drifting, just going along with the same mindless routine, never doing anything different. If she didn’t watch herself she’d end up like George. Poor George. He had been working in the same department for thirty-six years, dealing with his endless columns, first on paper and now, after repeated training sessions, on spreadsheets.

  It was his unchanging habits that both fascinated and horrified Caroline. Lunch was always eaten at his desk. She’d never seen him go out. And it was always the same thing, cheese sandwiches and an orange which he carried to work in an ancient leather satchel. For one hour he would munch away, studying an old copy of the ‘Reader’s Digest’. Then he would carefully wipe his pen-knife, and wrap all his crusts and orange peel in paper ready to return to the satchel and be disposed of at home presumably. At the end of this ritual, he would shuffle over to the electric kettle, stick his hands in his pockets, whistle silently through pursed lips while waiting for it to boil. Caroline shuddered. Was she slowly, inexorably, turning into a George? And could she stand another year with Sheryl? Decision time. She would log on to a Jobsearch site this evening when everyone had gone home. And she would ring an estate agent, get her flat valued.

  It was time to get the hell out of Dodge, she thought, walking back into the office building and pressing the button for the lift. This weekend she would tell her sister she was sorry but she’d won a three-week holiday in Ibiza in a Lucky Draw at Tesco’s. Departing July.

  She was approaching the office door, which stood half-open, doubtless for George’s benefit, when she heard her name mentioned. Struck by something in the speaker’s tone, she hesitated. It was Sheryl, her voice high-pitched with indignation.

  ‘..she really hacks me off, I can tell you, Miss High and Mighty with her superior airs, bossing us all around, I’m not going t
o put up with it for much longer I can tell you, who does she think she is?’

  She heard Jen’s laugh.

  ‘Your boss, dummy! Get over it. She’s not as bad as some I’ve worked for, I can tell you. Just set in her ways. Old before her time, really. They get like that here, you only have to look at her in Stationery, Miss Keene. Should have been a Sergeant Major in the Army. It’s being on their own that does it. Take my advice Sheryl and find yourself a fella. Don’t end up stuck in the waxworks chamber of horrors!’

  The two of them burst into giggles.

  Caroline was rooted to the spot.

  ‘Oh well as far as that goes, Jen, I don’t have any problems. Eric’s asked me out again, he’s got a new motorbike. Plus there’s this friend of his, been eyeing me up behind his back, cheeky bastard. But her, who’d fancy going out with a dried up mummy like her, a bloke’d have to be really desperate!’

  ‘She did have a boyfriend you know, it was before you arrived.’

  It was Jen again.

  ‘Used to pick her up from the office sometimes. Good-looking, posh car. She used to look totally different then, nice clothes, sort of sexy business suits, a bit of makeup, had something about her.’

  ‘So what happened, she scare him off in the end?’

  ‘Don’t ask me, he just seemed to disappear into thin air. She looked a bit mopey for a bit, then picked up again, brisker than ever. Maybe she’s one of those who doesn’t need a man, they make too much mess, know what I mean?’

  Caroline finally unfroze. She backed down the corridor, away from the office, the unkind laughter following her. She bumped into a wall, turned, and rushed towards the stairs. In her mind she heard over and over again the callous assessment. Dried up mummy. Even Jen, who she’d thought was a bit of an ally, what was it she’d said? The sort who doesn’t need a man. Her bag banged against the hand rail as she stumbled down the steps. Where was she going? At the bottom she saw a door marked ‘Emergency Exit’ and pushed it open. She was standing in the car park, not far from her car. With only a second’s hesitation she walked over, unlocked the door and was backing out of the parking space before she had time to think.