A French Affair

by Jennifer Bohnet

  ‘Not really. Although at one stage I desperately wanted to be a rally driver. The summer we left, Dad had bought me a 2CV like yours but…’ She shrugged. ‘Let’s not go there tonight,’ and she picked up her wine glass and took several gulps.

  ‘I’ve had this dream, not since I was a kid, but for a good few years now. Camping dans Le Fôret is at the heart of it.’ Alain forked a spoonful of lasagna up. ‘You know of Michael Morpurgo, the writer?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve heard of him. I’ve even bought a couple of his books. He and his wife are famous for starting Farms for City Children in England.’

  Alain nodded. ‘All the time I worked for the charity in Africa, I wanted to be back in France, doing something similar with this place. Not a farm, although I always planned to ’ave a small area with animals, just a few chickens, maybe a goat or two, a horse, a cat, definitely a dog. Turning this place into an escape from the city for underprivileged kids. Give them a holiday in the countryside. That was my dream.’

  Belinda struggled to keep the look of astonishment off her face. She’d always assumed that Alain was simply being stubborn about bringing the campsite into the twenty-first century. Preferring to keep the site as an homage to his parents.

  ‘Did Nigel know about these plans?’

  Alain smiled at her. ‘Nigel he ’as always known about, and approved, my plans for the site. Seemed to think through me he would be doing his bit for some underprivileged kids.’

  ‘But now he’s sold the site to the new owners who probably won’t care a fig about doing anything like that,’ Belinda said sadly. ‘I’m so sorry, Alain.’

  Alain helped himself to some more salad.

  ‘You asked me once why I didn’t want you ’ere. Two reasons: One, I didn’t want Nigel’s troubleshooter ’ere sorting the place out. Me, I could do it on my own. Because I want to give kids from the inner cities a week or two living ’ere, learning about nature, I was determined to keep technology at bay. So, when you arrived and started talking about pods and glamping and going upmarket I couldn’t believe it. That wasn’t what I’d arranged with Nigel.’

  Belinda held her hand up. ‘Stop. You had an arrangement with Nigel? I thought it was your parents who’d sold the site to him.’

  Alain looked at her. ‘Originally, oui. Before I arrived back ’ere, Nigel he ’ad agreed to buy the campsite. Purely I think to ’elp my parents and stop the worry of it all for them. Fortunately, Nigel, he agree to change things for me. He wouldn’t buy the campsite, but put up the money to get the place up and running again, I’d keep the costs down, and repay ’im within a maximum of two years.’

  Alain picked up his wine glass and raised it in Belinda’s direction. ‘Bien, the campsite stay in the family and I can start to put my plan for holidays for children into practice. But he insist on sending you over – to troubleshoot and to make sure I keep to my side of the agreement. I think it a perfect arrangement – until you arrived, determined to pull the site into the twenty-first century with lots of technology everywhere and trying to attract the glamping luxury market.’

  ‘So that’s why you put up obstacles to the pods, and why he refused to sack you.’ Belinda stared at him open-mouthed. ‘But what happens now he’s sold up? You won’t be able to continue.’

  ‘Yes I will. Nigel left our private arrangement with the campsite out of the sale to the new hotel people. We’ve rearranged things yet again. Now he’s going to be a sleeping partner and I’ve got three years to pay ’im back instead of two.’

  Belinda stared at him for a couple of seconds while the truth dawned on her. ‘You mean you’re the new owner? Or rather you’ve been the unknown owner all the time.’

  ‘Oui,’ Alain said, smiling and nodding at her. ‘Mais, now you know. It can be our secret until the first of June when we officially open, oui?’ He looked at her anxiously. ‘We ’ave a party to tell everyone.’

  ‘Sure,’ Belinda said in a daze. ‘I won’t tell anyone.’ She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear her thoughts. Could this day get any more bizarre? First the emotional reunion with her father and now it turned out that she’d been working for Alain, not Nigel, all along. Belinda opened her eyes and looked at Alain thoughtfully. ‘So what was the other reason you didn’t want me here. You said there were two.’

  Alain looked at her. ‘As troubleshooters go, you weren’t what I expected.’

  40

  The next morning, Belinda, feeling the need to get away from the campsite for an hour or two, slipped BB’s lead on and prepared to walk down to the auberge. Maybe a chat with Fern would help sort her thoughts out.

  ‘I’m just walking BB and returning the dish to Fern. Marie’s in the office,’ she called out to Alain as she saw him in the machinery shed fiddling with a petrol can. She didn’t wait for an acknowledgement, just carried on walking down the drive.

  To think it was over two months, nearly three in fact, that she’d driven up the road for the first time and the trees lining the route had been waving their bare branches in the wind. Today there was a canopy of green leaves overhead filtering the sunlight down through to the grass-covered verges with their daisies and bee-attracting dandelions.

  Belinda remembered how resentful and unhappy she’d felt that first day, wanting to be anywhere but Camping dans Le Fôret. Now she was in a different turmoil with decisions to be made about things she’d never expected to have to give a second’s thought to. She couldn’t help wondering too, what exactly Alain had meant by his comment she wasn’t what he’d expected. Her mobile had rung in the sudden silence that had followed his words with a message from Chloe and the moment had gone before she could ask him.

  Yann was busy moving beer barrels as she walked past the village bar and called out a cheerful, ‘Bonjour, Belinda,’ when he saw her. She waved and called back as she made for the church and the road to the auberge.

  As she walked up the drive, she heard voices in the back garden, so rather than knock on the door, she made her way to the back of the house. Fern and Anouk were sitting with coffee on the terrace, looking at something on the laptop between them, and they both turned as she called out, ‘Coo-ee.’

  Lady came bounding over to BB and once Belinda had released him from the lead, the two dogs set off on a mad session of joyful play in the garden.

  ‘I think they’ve missed each other,’ Belinda said, laughing. ‘Hi, how are you two?’

  ‘I’m fine thank you,’ Anouk said. ‘I think the same can be said of Fern too,’ she said with a smile, looking at Fern.

  ‘Coffee?’ Fern asked, reaching for the cafetière and going to stand up to fetch a cup from the kitchen.

  ‘No thanks. I had one before I left the campsite. Thanks for supper last night, it was delicious.’ Belinda put the dish down on the table.

  ‘Grab a chair and sit down,’ Fern said. ‘I would have collected the dish later today. You didn’t have to bring it back.’

  Belinda shrugged. ‘I fancied a walk and wanted to see you.’

  ‘We thought about you yesterday,’ Anouk said. ‘How did it go?’

  ‘Better than I thought it would, if I’m honest, but emotional and difficult at times,’ Belinda answered. ‘I was a bundle of nerves when we got there. Alain took charge and calmed me down.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Dad told me he’d never expected to see me again.’ Belinda sighed. ‘I sat with him, held his hand and we talked. We both cried a bit, a lot actually, him while I was there and me when I left. Seeing him so ill and remembering how strong he was years ago…’ Belinda shook her head.

  ‘Has anybody given you an idea how long he has?’ Fern asked gently.

  ‘No. I asked the nurse, but it’s not really a question anyone can answer. She did take my number and promised to let me know as and when.’ Belinda looked across at the laptop. ‘What were you watching? Anything interesting?’

  ‘I was just reading an email from Scott to Anouk,’ Fern said.

  ‘How is he?’
Belinda asked.

  ‘He seems to be fine,’ Fern said. ‘Says he’s missing me even though we email and FaceTime.’

  ‘Every night,’ Anouk added with a smile.

  ‘I was worried about his real life in America taking over and things between us slowly dying away. Even though he said he wouldn’t let it.’ Fern fingered the Scotty pendant around her neck.

  ‘Oh ye of little faith,’ Anouk said, starting to stand up. ‘The man is in love with you. Anyone with a pair of eyes can see that.’ Anouk took her cane in her hand and straightened up. ‘I’ve a few things to sort in my room, so I’ll leave you two to chat. If you see Enzo again, do please remember me to him.’

  ‘I will,’ promised Belinda. She owed Anouk a big thank you. If it hadn’t been for her, it was doubtful that the reconciliation with her father would ever have happened.

  ‘How is Scott’s cousin?’ Belinda asked as Anouk left them.

  ‘She’s doing better but it will be a couple more weeks before he’ll be free to return.’

  ‘I’ll probably have left by then,’ Belinda said. ‘Once official opening has happened on the first of June, I’ll be returning to the UK – jobless and homeless by the end of the month.’ As Fern looked at her, shocked, Belinda explained about the hotels being sold and deciding not to work for the new owners. ‘Maybe it’s the wrong decision given that I have no idea yet of what I’m going to do, but so much has changed in the last few weeks, I feel a new direction – life, even – will be good for me.’

  ‘Will you move to the Vendée to be close to Chloe?’

  Belinda shrugged. ‘It’s an option, although I do feel that Chloe and Max should live their lives without me tagging along. I’ll probably help them move and then settle into being a visiting granny.’

  ‘What about coming to live in Brittany? At least you’d be in the same country. Easier to be that visiting granny.’

  Belinda nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s a thought. Alain wants me to stay working with him… and the new owners,’ she added hastily, remembering her promise to Alain.

  Fern raised her eyebrows.

  Belinda laughed at the look on her friend’s face. ‘Stop it. Anyway, talking of the campsite, not long now before the café will open. You’ve organised the staff, the equipment is all in place, and once the kitchen has been inspected, we’ll be good to go. As the manager, are you happy with everything? No major crisis or anything we’ve forgotten?’

  ‘No crisis apart from the fact that I hope I don’t let you down,’ Fern said quietly.

  ‘Not a chance of that happening. Alain will be there to have your back and give you any help you need.’ Belinda stood up. ‘I’d better make tracks. Get everything up to date before Chloe arrives and I have some time off. We’ll arrange a day for you to come and meet Chloe and the twins.’

  Walking back to the campsite, knowing that in a few weeks she would be leaving Brittany again, Belinda sighed. Despite all the upheavals in her life during the weeks since she’d arrived, it was beginning to feel like leaving was the wrong thing to do. But she had no idea as to what was the right thing. At least Chloe was arriving soon and she could talk it through with her.

  41

  After breakfast the day Chloe and the twins were due to arrive, Belinda gathered together the things she wanted to take down to the cabin situated next to Bernie’s where she’d decided Chloe would be staying. As she closed the house door behind her, she could see Alain in the nearby hangar and she wandered over to see what he was up to. Bernie was there with him, helping building what looked suspiciously like a chicken house to Belinda.

  ‘Is that what I think it is?’

  Alain gave her a happy smile. ‘Oui. Un poulailler for the chickens that arrive soon. I thought for it to go behind our maison. Fresh eggs for breakfast.’

  ‘Your maison. You’ve forgotten I’m leaving soon,’ Belinda said as gently as she could.

  ‘Non. I don’t forget.’ Alain’s happy smile vanished as he looked at her for several seconds before turning back to his work.

  Belinda smiled at Bernie before making her way down to the cabin, pushing the look Alain had given her out of her mind.

  Once in the cabin, Belinda began to put out the things she’d brought with her, including the welcome basket of local goodies that they planned to place in every cabin for guests and a bunch of flowers in a vase on the table. In addition, she’d brought things especially for the twins: Ribena in the fridge, along with some snacks if they were hungry, a few books, a new soft toy each on the freshly made up single beds, along with a box of biscuits.

  Making a mental note to quiz Chloe about how she found the cabin – had they got it right? Had they forgotten anything that guests would want? Were the beds comfortable? – she left and made her way back through the campsite to the office.

  It was mid-afternoon as Belinda was working on the computer in the office alongside Marie when she heard a car arrive and glanced up to see Chloe pulling into a parking slot. She rushed out to meet them and opened the passenger door.

  ‘Hi, darling, let me jump in and show you straight to your cabin. Hi, you two monsters,’ she said, looking at the twins strapped into their safety seats in the back.

  ‘Gangan,’ they shouted, both holding their arms out.

  ‘Two minutes,’ Belinda promised. ‘And then lots of cuddles.’

  ‘There aren’t enough beds in the house Alain and I share, so I hope you like the cabin,’ she said to Chloe as she pointed the way. ‘You’re a bit of a guinea pig really as I want a full report on how good it is to stay in.’

  Belinda lifted the twins out of the car and held on to them as Chloe parked on the hardstanding that each cabin had down one side, before helping her carry the suitcases in.

  ‘How was the crossing?’ Belinda asked.

  ‘Good. I’m glad we did a daytime one, there were lots of activities for the kids on board. This all looks lovely, Mum,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ve been looking forward so much to this break. Wish Max could have come too, but…’ She shrugged.

  ‘Did Charlie and Aimee sleep in the car? If they’re not too tired, we can take them down to the river. It’s only a short walk. Make sure they sleep tonight.’

  ‘Don’t know about them, but I’m tired,’ Chloe said. ‘Think it might be an early night.’

  The next couple of hours flew by as Belinda showed Chloe and the twins the river, introduced the three of them to Fern, walked back through the campsite slowly, giving the twins a go on the newly refurbished tree swings and buying them an ice cream from the shop. There was no sign of Alain anywhere, but Belinda guessed he’d be in the office and didn’t want to take the twins there in case they caused havoc. She’d introduce him to Chloe and the twins at supper.

  When they got back to the house, Chloe and Belinda kept an eye on the twins while they organised supper. Charlie and Aimee had shrieked with delight on seeing BB again and played ball with him until the dog was panting and Chloe told them to stop. Now the twins were playing a game of their own making, involving stones and sticks in the small garden.

  Alain came home just five minutes before the meal was ready and Belinda took him straight out to the terrace to meet Chloe and the twins. Once the introductions were over, Belinda excused herself and went to check on the chicken casserole she’d bought from Fern.

  Five minutes later, Alain came back into the kitchen. ‘Something smells good,’ he said. ‘If there’s any left when I get back…’ He looked at Belinda hopefully.

  ‘Why aren’t you eating with us?’ Belinda said. It hadn’t occurred to her that Alain wouldn’t eat with them; they’d had a routine of eating together in the evening since she’d returned from the UK. ‘There’s more than enough chicken casserole. I didn’t make it, if that’s what bothers you. It’s one of Fern’s finest.’

  ‘I didn’t want to intrude on your first evening of family time,’ Alain answered.

  ‘Don’t be silly. If you really have to be somewhere else or
if your parents are expecting you, then fine, but if not, you’re eating with us this evening. Who else is going to open the wine?’ And she handed him the corkscrew with a smile.

  With Aimee sat between her and Alain and Charlie next to Chloe, Belinda had the strangest feeling looking around at everyone that they could easily be mistaken for being a unit – a family unit. Chloe and Alain were laughing at something and the twins were managing to eat their food without spreading it everywhere. After everyone had finished, Chloe stood up.

  ‘I think I’d better get these two in bed,’ she said.

  Belinda stood up too. ‘I’ll walk down with you and help. I’ll clear this away later.’

  ‘Non non.’ Alain was already on his feet. ‘You go. I do this.’

  ‘Thanks. See you in a bit then,’ Belinda said, taking hold of a twin in each hand.

  Bernie was outside gardening when they got back to their cabin and Belinda smiled and waved at him.

  Once the twins had cleaned their teeth and had a quick wash, they tumbled into bed. ‘Story, Gangan.’

  Belinda picked up one of the storybooks she’d bought and read them a story each and they were asleep before she finished the second one. She gently kissed them goodnight and went to join Chloe.

  Chloe had made herself at home, unpacking her suitcase and, opening the welcome pack she found in the kitchen, was now ready to settle down outside with a bottle of rosé and some nibbles.

  ‘This is going to be a little bit of paradise for the next few days,’ she said contentedly. ‘The site is lovely.’ She picked up the bottle of wine and poured them both a glass. ‘I know we had wine with supper, but hey, I’m on holiday. Dad sends his regards by the way.’ A remark that Belinda acknowledged with a wave of her wine glass. ‘I like your Alain,’ Chloe said, raising her eyebrows at Belinda. ‘He’s lovely. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?’