by Klaire, Jody
I stared at him.
He shrugged. “I couldn’t figure out how to fit that into the tea drinking theme.”
I gave his arm a squeeze. “You’re wonderful.”
He tilted his chin. “Keep talking.”
“He loves being flattered.” I poked him in the arm. Stephanie watched on, some thought whirring in her eyes. How she could look so good after being covered in plaster all week, I didn’t know.
“My...” She sighed. “My ex-lover, she was not happy unless you only like coffee.” Her eyes misted. “It leaves scars.”
“Sounds like an idiot to me.” He nodded when we stared at him. “To demand you shouldn’t be who you are only defeats the object in loving you.” He grinned a satisfied grin at me. “Learned that from you.”
“You did love me for me.” I squeezed his arm. “I just wasn’t open enough.”
“No, but then I didn’t listen or make it easy for you.” His eyes twinkled with affection. He was such a sweet man. He turned to Stephanie. “Hopefully the gentleman or lady you are with now treats you far better?”
Stephanie dipped her gaze to her tea. She sipped away as if trying to decide if she liked the taste. “I am not with anyone.”
Doug’s eyebrows shot up. “There must be a queue. I’m guessing you’re just not ready?”
Stephanie looked to me.
“British thing. We queue at random... um... form orderly lines. You can stop anywhere near a till in a shop and you’ll have other people queued up behind you.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened. “Pour quoi?”
How to explain? “We have a lot of hobbies, random queuing is one of them.”
Doug nodded, sipping at his cup then smacking his lips. “You hold such fascinating conversations as, ‘are you waiting?’ or ‘terrible weather, isn’t it?’”
“You speak of the weather a lot?” Her bright blue eyes locked on Doug, wide with interest.
“Of course. We don’t do deep conversation with just anyone, you know.” Doug grinned at me. “It goes something like this: ‘are you waiting?’”
I nodded. “Oh yes, bit of a wait at this till. Card machine is taking an age.”
Doug “Ah’d,” and tapped an imaginary basket. “Terrible weather. Had to pop out to get more tea.”
Stephanie giggled and sipped at hers.
“Yes, indeed. I came in for bread and look.” I lifted up my imaginary basket. “I’ve even forgotten the bread.”
Doug and I laughed cheery laughs.
“Oh yes, prices have gone up, haven’t they?” He sighed, peering over at my lap. “Popping in for tissues, I see. Cold season has hit, hmm?”
I nodded. “It has been a very wet summer.”
He nodded too, a grave look in his eyes. “We had our heatwave in the spring.”
Stephanie finished her tea, a soft smile on her face. “You really speak this way?”
“Well, it’s a bit stereotypical but close.” I offered her a second cup and she nodded.
Doug grinned with a satisfied nod.
Tea was a hit then.
“When you’re queuing, walking the dog, at the vets or if you have children. Then you can talk to strangers.” He smiled as Stephanie shook her head. “They are set conversations you can have without being odd.”
“Less so with children.” I chuckled. He was right. We’d had a few conversations, all standard, when we’d walked Jeffery.
“Unless you are a parent.” He smiled. “Would be nice to have small talk about them.”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow.
“Doug wants lots of kids.” I shook my head at his dreamy look. “Let’s hope Marie is up for it.”
Stephanie’s cheeks flushed. “A busy role, non?”
He sighed. “I’m traditional. My mother stayed at home. I like that better than nannies or child-minders.”
“So poor Marie gives up her career?” I poked him.
“Honestly, I’d like her to be at home but if she is set on working then I’d stay.” He smiled, once again wistful. “Maybe we could do it as a team?”
I stared at him again.
He tapped my hand. “That’s the fun of having them. You get to spend time with them.”
Stephanie leaned on her fist. “Oui, they grow so fast.”
I looked from Doug to her and held up my hands. “My cue to go to bed.”
Doug tutted at me. “Pippa has issues with kids.”
I pecked him on the cheek, yawning. “You’re not squeezing them out, are you?”
He sucked in his breath.
I poked my tongue out at him and pecked Stephanie on both cheeks. “Watch him,” I said to her. “He has a habit of getting women sort of pregnant.”
“Not funny, Pippa. Brandy was very underhand.” He folded his arms looking more camp than grumpy.
“I meant Marie,” I said.
He cleared his throat. “Oh.”
Stephanie looked from me to him. “Brandy?”
Doug met my eyes. “Don’t ask.”
Chapter 32
Wedding dresses.
Oh yes, Doug’s dear bride-to-be had decided that we had to go to her fitting. So I had dragged Rebecca along, who relented because Babs was rough in bed.
We stood in said shop like scared wimps. Big frilly dresses all around us. I shuddered. Rebecca did the same.
“At least my mother isn’t here,” I mumbled, gripping her hand.
“Yeah, your mother and wedding dress shopping would cost more in therapy than Babs makes.” She strayed too close to a display and the lace veil thing launched itself at her. She yelped and threw it at Doug.
He caught it with a smile. “Are you worried that you may find you want to wear a dress?”
She scowled at him. “About as worried as you may feel.”
He shrugged at me. “I think even I’d be less grumpy about it.”
I nodded. Rebecca and dresses? They’d have to sedate her.
The woman in the shop wasn’t as... intensive... as Caroline but she still fussed and ordered me into the changing rooms.
“Pip, are you ready or what?” Rebecca muttered as I battled with the dress.
I ripped back the curtain and glared at her. “If you don’t stop moaning then I’ll make you wear the dress.”
Rebecca and Doug cocked their heads.
“Wow, you look fantastic, Pip,” she mumbled.
“Wonderful.” Doug beamed.
I peeked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look bad at all, even if I said so myself. I raised my eyebrows at Doug. “It’s worth more than a penthouse. Anyone would look good in it.”
Rich people and their expensive clothes. I didn’t even need to see the price tag on this one. I could feel how expensive it was.
“And why am I in it?” I fixed him with a glare. “Shouldn’t Marie at least try on her own dress?”
“You’re around the same sort of size.” He shrugged. “I just needed to get a picture of you for her.”
I smiled and waved as he took the picture.
“Rebecca, you too,” he said, motioning her over.
Rebecca strutted to me. She looked very suave in her grey, tailored suit. It had tails and a high shirt collar.
“Very dashing,” I shot at her.
She doffed her top hat to me.
“It’s amazing how good you look in proper clothes,” I said with a wink.
She flashed a charming smile at the camera. “Flirting with me again, Saunders?”
“Yes, what can I say?” I shot a bored look at Doug, who was snapping away. “Is she happy, or what?”
He sighed. “Don’t know. She’ll text back when she’s decided.”
“Right.” I turned to Rebecca. “We need to pick up some bits for my drill on the way back. Oh, and some extra buckets and sponges.” The rain and wind had caused more leaks in one room of the house.
“Ah, the conversations of a blushing bride.” Rebecca snorted and gave me a goofy grin.
> “Hey, I’m best maid, thank you. Don’t go there.” I glanced over at Doug. He held his phone at angles; Either he had no signal or he was attempting some kind of mobile yoga.
“So, you wouldn’t want this with Berne?” She asked as Doug grinned at his phone.
The thought of Berne in a suit like Rebecca’s, the high collar, the way it hugged her legs. I held onto my corset, fighting the urge to fan myself.
“Thought as much.” She sniggered. “Dougie, what’s Marie think?”
“She says great. She wants Pip to try on her bridesmaid outfit now. I have to try on a suit.” He shrugged, pocketing his phone. “She’s bossy.”
“Glad to hear it.” Rebecca yanked me to her, phone out and took a selfie.
“Hey!”
“It’s to cheer Babs up.” She kissed me on the cheek. “She’ll love seeing all the... you know... girlie frilly details.”
She would. “Right, shift over so I can strip.”
Rebecca chuckled her smutty chuckle as I hoisted up the dress and strode into the changing rooms.
“See, Dougie, she’s letting her feelings out,” she said.
“Like kissing my arm,” I shot back. I slid out of the dress and pulled up the slinky bridesmaid one. “Does Marie like her bridesmaids to look seductive?”
I tried to fiddle with the split leg. Good thing I was toned but still, it was a big split. I would have felt more dressed in a hand towel.
“Only you as you’re the best maid.” Doug chuckled. “I think she guessed you wouldn’t go for a puffy one.”
I’d give Marie that, there was nothing puffy about the dress but then, there wasn’t much material either.
“Come on, Pip. I have my phone ready.” Rebecca’s cheeky tone didn’t calm my worries.
I sighed and yanked back the curtain. Rebecca’s gaze dropped to my cleavage and Doug’s dropped to my backside.
Wonderful.
Nothing changed.
“Are we done gawping?” I muttered.
“Really suits your tan,” Doug said, clearing his throat.
“And your... shape.” Rebecca wheezed out a breath.
“Then win us some ground and send it to Berne.” I fixed her with a glare.
She grinned.
Doug frowned. “Why?”
“The Frenchies think that we can’t seduce them like they do us.” Rebecca had her “team talk” face on. “We’re fighting for dignity.”
“Oh dear.” He held up his finger and strode off.
I glanced at Rebecca who shrugged.
Doug reappeared with a set of high heels. “You always look fantastic in these.”
When had I ever worn heels like that? “Doug?”
“She’s got good taste, like me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “She’ll love these.” He nodded. “Now, let your hair fall into your eyes too.”
I opened my mouth only for Rebecca to puff up my cleavage. “She’ll be drooling, oh yeah. England are back in the game.”
I sighed and took the heels. Good to know I was valued for my brains.
Chapter 33
Once I’d finished my mini fashion show, Rebecca and I went back to work. We’d set up the buckets which plopped and dripped on in the background. Doug had a free afternoon and, for some reason, spent it being our self-elected foreman. “You missed a bit,” for the umpteenth time made me grip the ladder.
“Doug, could you do me a really big favour?” I managed through gritted teeth, trying not to add “and shut up.”
“Of course.” He looked up from his phone. I was getting less and less worried about his feelings toward Marie because he’d been glued to his mobile. He’d smiled, chuckled and sighed—in between driving Rebecca and I crazy.
“Could you make us a cup of tea?” I asked. I didn’t want one. It was bitter outside which meant that Doug had cranked up the heating. I was close to stripping off my t-shirt. If I hadn’t been working next to the window, I would have.
“Me too,” Rebecca grunted. “Could you check on Babs while you’re there?”
He smiled a brilliant smile. He could fill Babs with cold concoctions that his mother recommended. “On my way.”
Off he sauntered, whistling away and I nodded to Rebecca.
“Thankfully.” She got to her feet from her position varnishing some bespoke chairs I’d rescued and hurried over to the heating control to shut it off.
The pipes clunked in response and I let out a slow breath. “I swear he has no temperature gauge.”
“Think he just enjoys seeing you half naked personally.” She wandered back to her task.
“That would be better if he didn’t have a thick jumper on.” Today he had on suit trousers and a shirt made “casual” with a jumper over the top. He did it when he wanted to appear friendly in meetings.
“What is all that about anyway?” She attacked the wood with her brush. “I mean it, it’s not that cold.”
“Yes, but we’re actually doing something more physical than texting.” I smiled. “At least he’s chatting to her.”
“Or she’s being saucy,” she said with a cheeky grin.
“No chance. The man blushes more than I do.” I laughed at her raised eyebrows. “I tried it, once. He couldn’t look at me for a week.”
“Really?” She gawped at me, brush forgotten. “I didn’t think he was shy.”
“Painfully. You have to be gentle or he gets nervous.” I held up my hand. “Before you ask, no, he’s still very capable, thank you.”
“Nervous?” She wandered over to the window, brush in hand. “He never really seems that way.”
“That’s because he’s not dating you.” I shook my head. “His heart is always set on treating a woman like a lady. He gets thrown if you change tack.” I smiled. “I didn’t know who was more terrified when I first stayed at his.” I peered out through the belting rain. “He’s so very sweet.”
“And I swear he’s got shares in a tea company.” She pressed her hand to the pane. “Look, he’s trying to force feed it to Fabrice and Stephanie now.”
Down below us, under a see-through marquee, poor Fabrice and Stephanie were working hard. They were wrapped up in wet weather gear with woollen hats on but still smiling. Doug had tea for them and sandwiches.
“He’s really taken to Fabrice,” I said, smiling as Doug motioned, with one hand, to the section of wall Fabrice was working on and nodded as if approving. Fabrice chatted back, both arms in motion. Doug smiled and laughed, chatting back.
“He’d make a great dad.” Rebecca sounded wistful. “I hope Marie makes him happy.”
I smiled down at her from the ladder. “Me too.”
“Shame he is getting married,” she mumbled.
“Why, are you deciding English and buff is more your thing?”
She flashed a scowl up at me. “Ew.”
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway...” I motioned for her to get back to work. Doug fussed over Stephanie. She laughed as they fought the marquee which flapped about in the wind. She pointed to a section that they hadn’t worked on and Doug nodded, but even from my position, I could see he wasn’t sure. He gave a polite smile anyway.
Fabrice and Stephanie burst into laughter. He pursed his lips but Stephanie bumped his hip, pinched his sandwich and winked up at him.
“I think they have a spark, you know,” Rebecca whispered. “She brings him out of his shell a bit.” She sighed. “And she could really do with Doug. He’s the best.”
I nodded. “I know but he’s got Marie. Maybe Stephanie is just enjoying his company.”
“Yeah, she could fall in love with another woman. Only one that we scrutinise and decide if they are okay.” She nodded a curt nod. “Man, it’s got to be tough for her.”
“What do you mean?” I turned on my ladder, smiling at Doug howling with laughter as the Frenchies ganged up on him.
“Picking up the pieces.” She cleared her throat. “Must be so hard to start again.”
“Yes,
but she has us to amuse her and Doug to run circles around.” I laughed as Stephanie pinched another sandwich. “Think he’s forgotten our tea though.”
Rebecca pulled her mouth to the side. “She eats like Babs. I just don’t get how they all look so good.” She frowned. “Even with all the exercise.”
“Babs has great genes, remember?” Madame Henri didn’t look like she had an inch of fat on her.
“Don’t remind me. Talking of genes, you called your dad yet?” she asked.
I peered out at the rain.
“Pip, he doesn’t bite.”
I sighed. “I know. I feel cheeky just walking in and asking for his help.” I didn’t know how to talk to my dad. He’d been a distant figure when I grew up. He’d always scared me because of that.
“You’re his daughter, that’s what you do.” Her tone was serious enough that I met her eyes. They softened. “Please.”
“Alright. Just don’t blame me if Doug demands you have a round of golf,” I muttered.
Rebecca laughed. “Think he’s learned not to ask me.”
She’d whopped him. “Maybe we could take Fabrice and Stephanie? They’ve worked non-stop since they got here.”
“Why, to make Doug feel better?” She was an arrogant ass. She folded her inked arms, sticking up her freckle smattered nose.
“Or me. Stephanie and I can get glared at together.” I threw my sandpaper at her. It hit my knee.
“Great throw.” She shook her head and went back to her work. “I should ask Babs.”
“Not if she keeps spluttering. She makes Winston sound healthy.” I missed Winston, I missed Ajoux Sur Rhône and... I missed Berne.
“I’m taking her to the doctors.” She flicked her brush about. “She’s had it over a week.”
“Honey not working?” I asked.
“She won’t drink it.” Rebecca rolled her eyes. “There’s a brand in France that is the only one she likes.”
“Maybe Berne will bring some... if she ever visits.” I wasn’t glum, nope.
“Still not able to make the trip?” Rebecca thwacked the bristles over the wood. I’d tried explaining about runs in the paint and she’d stared at me with a blank expression. I’d given up. I just hoped Marie liked unique.