Rosie's Little Café on the Riviera

by Jennifer Bohnet

  Seb studied her face anxiously. ‘In a good way, I hope?’

  Rosie nodded. ‘Oh, yes.’

  ‘Rosie, we need to talk, but before we do there are things I need to sort out, things that could come between us. But tonight is not the night.’ Seb glanced at his watch.

  ‘I need to get back to the hotel. I promise you, though, once the season finishes, you and I…’ He hugged her tightly before saying, ‘Things will work out, I promise. Trust me on that.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Exhausted wasn’t a big enough word for how Rosie felt leaving the café one evening a few days later. Shattered, worn out, stressed. Clumped together those words maybe came somewhere near to describing how she felt. And the season was still weeks away from finishing.

  With the café being silly busy over the last few days, plus looking after Isabella for a couple of hours in the evening, there was simply not enough down-time for her to recover. But tonight the official childminder was looking after Isabella and Rosie was free to go home and collapse into bed.

  Yesterday she’d confessed to Seb she’d never ever felt so tired and stressed. ‘Not even when I was catering for VIPs on board the super yacht I worked on a few years ago.’

  She suspected that the confession had been behind Seb insisting on booking an official childminder for this evening and telling her to go home and get an early night.

  ‘I’ve been taking advantage,’ he’d said when she’d protested that she was happy to look after Isabella. ‘I should have realised how stressed you were. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Hey, it’s not your fault. Besides I do get to relax on your wonderful terrace for an hour once Isabella’s in bed.’

  He’d shaken his head. ‘It’s not enough. You must get more rest.’

  ‘But I like seeing you every evening after work,’ she’d protested. It felt like belonging to a proper family, he and Isabella had become such a big part of her life.

  She smiled now, remembering Seb’s words as she’d left him last night. After kissing her gently, bringing the memory of the romantic hour they’d spent together out at the lighthouse alive again, he’d murmured, ‘I promise life will be different for us once the season finishes.’

  Leaving the beach behind and walking along the bord de mer, Rosie passed several couples with their arms wrapped around each other and kissing passionately. The French were so relaxed about showing their feelings publicly. Like the young couple in front of her now. She slowed her pace to stay discreetly behind them.

  The boy had his arm around the girl’s shoulders and was hugging her tightly against him while whispering in her ear. But something about their body language told her things were not right.

  She heard the girl shout, ‘No. I’m not going to. I don’t want to. Get off,’ as she tried to shrug his arm off.

  Rosie froze. That was Saskia’s voice.

  ‘It’s payback time, you teasing bitch.’

  Rosie watched in horror as Saskia tried to shrug off the arm around her shoulders again and pull away, but the boy violently swung her around and pushed his face into hers as he yelled an obscenity at her before dragging her towards the darkness of a shop doorway and hitting her across the face, making her scream out.

  Rosie reached in her bag for her phone before lengthening Lucky’s lead and charging towards them screaming, ‘Leave her alone, you bastard. I’m phoning the gendarme.’ Lucky joined in, barking furiously.

  ‘Back off, lady – mind your own business. This is between my girlfriend and me.’

  ‘This is my business. That’s my sister you’re assaulting. Let her go now. And don’t you even think about kicking my dog,’ Rosie shouted as the boy raised his foot towards Lucky, who was now snapping at his ankles, before dropping his hold on Saskia. With a muttered curse he turned his back on them both and ran away down the street.

  ‘You all right?’ Rosie asked Saskia, looking with concern at the bruise already appearing under her left eye.

  Saskia nodded. ‘Please don’t phone the gendarmes.’

  ‘He should be reported. He’s seriously assaulted you.’

  Saskia shook her head and brushed the tears away. ‘No. And please don’t tell Dad. He’ll be all for getting a lynch mob organised. Promise you won’t tell Dad or the police what you saw tonight. ‘

  ‘I’m not sure how you’re going to keep it from him,’ Rosie said. ‘He’s going to take one look at the state of your face and know something bad happened.’

  ‘I’ll tell him I walked into a door,’ Saskia said. ‘Please, Rosie?’

  Rosie sighed. ‘OK. I think you’re wrong but, if you insist, I won’t tell. Come on, let’s get you back to the hotel and get a compress on that eye.’

  ‘Rosie?’ Saskia paused. ‘Could we go to your place rather than the hotel?’

  Rosie looked at her. Maybe that would be better. She could at least keep an eye on her then in case shock set in – which it surely would.

  ‘Okay. Come on, it’s not far.’

  Back at the apartment, Rosie wrapped some ice in a tea towel and told Saskia to hold it over her cheek and eye.

  ‘Thank you for coming to my rescue tonight, sis,’ Saskia said quietly.

  ‘I’d have done the same for anyone. I dread to think what could have happened if I hadn’t been there. You know you should report it to the police – another girl he assaults might not be so lucky.’

  Saskia sighed. ‘I know, but please don’t keep on.’

  ‘It was one of the boys you play volleyball with, wasn’t it?’

  Saskia nodded. ‘I thought he genuinely liked me.’ Her body began to shake as she burst into tears. ‘I’m such an stupid idiot.’

  ‘No, you’re not. Naive maybe, but not stupid.’ Rosie pushed a box of tissues towards her. ‘I’ll make some tea. God, listen to me. I sound like my mother. She’s always believed that tea is the first necessity in times of crisis. Although these days I think she’s probably replaced it with wine or champagne. D’you take sugar?’

  ‘No. Is your mother lovely?’

  ‘She has her moments,’ Rosie said. ‘But generally, yes, she is lovely.’

  ‘I wish I’d known my mother,’ Saskia said quietly. ‘I think my whole life would have been different – Dad’s, too.’

  Shocked, Rosie looked at her. ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘She died soon after I was born.’ Saskia sniffed and took another tissue to rub her good eye in an attempt to stop the tears.

  ‘All the time I was growing up Dad never told me any details – just that she died when I was very young. He’d never tell me how old I was when it happened. I spent years looking at photographs of her, trying to dredge up a memory or two. Nothing. It took me a long time to realise the one picture of her and me that existed had been taken when I was maybe an hour old.’ She gave a big sniff.

  ‘That’s when I made Dad tell me the truth. She’d died within forty-eight hours of having me.’

  ‘Oh, Saskia, you poor love,’ Rosie said, wanting to envelop Saskia in a hug. Before she could move closer or voice any more sympathy, Saskia defiantly took the ice pack away from her face.

  ‘Apparently it wasn’t me that killed her. Sudden Adult Death Syndrome did that. Doesn’t stop me feeling guilty, though.’ Saskia took a deep breath. ‘How can I miss her so much when I never knew her?’

  ‘Have you ever talked to anyone about this? Had counselling? Talked to your Dad about how you feel?’

  Saskia gave a bitter laugh. ‘Rosie, I’m American, I’ve had counsellors for everything. Think this needs some more ice. It’s warm.’ She held the cloth out. The subject of her mother was clearly being closed.

  ‘You look like you’ve had a run-in with Mike Tyson,’ Rosie said. ‘Not sure your story about walking into a door is going to be believed.’

  Saskia shrugged. ‘It was a big door.’ She felt in her jeans back pocket and groaned. ‘I seem to have lost my phone. Could I
use yours, please? I was supposed to meet Dad for dinner. He’ll be wondering where I am. Besides…’ She hesitated. ‘I don’t want to upset him. He seems a bit stressed at the moment.’

  ‘Sure,’ Rosie said, taking it out of her bag. ‘We’ll need to phone for a cab to take you back, too.’

  ‘Do you have to?’ Saskia bit her lip as she looked at Rosie. ‘Can’t I tell Dad I’ll see him in the morning and stay with you tonight?’

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Against her better judgement, Rosie agreed to Saskia staying at the flat overnight. She felt sorry for her but she couldn’t help feeling it would be better if she went back to the hotel and faced up to things. Let Terry see the state of her face. He would surely insist on her reporting the assault to the gendarmes.

  Rosie pulled the sofa bed out and started to make it while Saskia phoned her father to tell him she was staying with a friend.

  ‘Honestly, Dad, chill. I’m just spending the night with a friend. What? Female, of course. I’ll see you in the morning. Love you.’ She put the phone down on the table and smiled at Rosie.

  ‘There. Now he won’t spend the night worrying about me.’

  ‘I doubt that,’ Rosie said. ‘He still has no idea where you are – which must be a worry for him.’ She glanced at Saskia. ‘You could have told him you were with me. Which may or may not have reassured him. Right, you can have the sofa bed.’

  ‘May I have a shower first? I kinda feel dirty,’ Saskia said.

  ‘Of course. Clean towels in the bathroom cupboard.’

  As Saskia disappeared into the bathroom, Rosie’s discarded phone on the table played its incoming call music. Rosie answered it, expecting it to be Seb.

  ‘Can I talk to Saskia, please?’ an American accent demanded. ‘And who am I talking to?’

  Rosie took a deep breath. Terry. Of course he’d check up on Saskia, phone the unknown number on his phone. Like any loving father he would not simply take her word for it that she was safe.

  ‘Sorry, she’s just stepped into the shower. And it’s Rosie.’

  ‘My Rosie?’

  Refusing the temptation to snap, ‘I’m not your Rosie,’ Rosie said, ‘Yes.’

  ‘Right.’ He paused. ‘OK. I’ll leave you two to it.’

  ‘Goodnight then,’ and Rosie switched the phone off. She could tell from the surprise in his voice that Terry had no idea how to react to her being the ‘friend’ Saskia was staying with.

  That made two of them then. She had no idea whether she was handling the situation the right way or not. She suspected if she’d told Terry why Saskia was with her, he’d have been on the doorstep within minutes demanding to see her and calling the police.

  When Saskia reappeared wrapped in a towel, Rosie realised she needed something to sleep in and went into the bedroom to find her something.

  ‘T-shirt OK?’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I hope you’re not hungry. I don’t keep much food here, I eat mainly at the restaurant.’

  Saskia shook her head. ‘I’m not hungry, thanks. Can I just go to bed, please?’

  ‘Sure. I’ll see you in the morning,’ Rosie said. ‘I hope you sleep well.’

  ‘Rosie? Thank you.’

  Rosie waved her thanks away. ‘Get some sleep.’ Her phone rang and this time she looked at the caller ID. Seb.

  ‘I’ll take this in my room. Night night.’

  ‘What’s going on, Rosie? Tiki is in a bit of a state. Says he knows something is going on with Saskia.’

  ‘Is he with you? No? OK. Briefly, Saskia was assaulted tonight. I brought her back here and she asked to stay the night.’ Rosie hesitated. ‘Please don’t tell Terry. She doesn’t want him to know. She’ll be back at the hotel in the morning and plans to play things down. Say she walked into a door or something.’

  ‘She’s not going to the police?’

  ‘No. Although I’m hoping Tiki will change her mind about that when he sees her face.’

  ‘Are you all right?’ Seb asked. ‘If anybody has hurt you, I’ll personally sort them out.’

  ‘I’m fine. Glad I was in the right place at the right time, though, to help Saskia. It could have ended up a lot worse,’ she added quietly. Didn’t bear thinking about.

  ‘D’you want me to come round? Try to talk some sense into Saskia. Give you a hug?’

  ‘A hug would be wonderful but I’ll wait until I see you tomorrow. Saskia’s already in bed and I’m about to do the same.’

  Before she climbed into bed, Rosie opened the door quietly to check on Saskia and smiled at the scene in the sitting room. Saskia was fast asleep with Lucky snuggled into the curve of her legs.

  As tired as she was, sleep evaded Rosie and she tossed and turned before eventually falling into a fitful sleep filled with dreams. Dreams that featured Seb fighting monsters on her behalf and holding her tight and promising never to let her go.

  The smell of coffee woke her the next morning. Stumbling out of her room she found Saskia pouring two mugs.

  ‘Hi. I was about to bring this in to you.’ As she turned to hand Rosie a mug, Rosie couldn’t hide her shock. The bruise around Saskia’s eye and cheekbone this morning was large and flamboyantly coloured.

  ‘Aren’t I pretty this morning? Saskia said. ‘Don’t suppose you’ve got any concealer anywhere?’

  ‘A tubful won’t be able to hide that bruise,’ Rosie said. ‘And no way is your father going to believe the damage was done walking into a door.’

  ‘I guess not but that’s what I’m going to say.’

  ‘You should tell him what happened,’ Rosie said. ‘Seb says he was in a terrible state last night.’

  ‘I can’t tell him. He’ll be furious with me. He’ll ground me indefinitely and he’ll want me to go to the police.’

  ‘Which you should,’ Rosie said. ‘Even if you don’t want to press charges, he should be made known to the police in case he does the same to another girl. Or even attacks you again.’

  Saskia shook her head. ‘I’ll stay away from him in future.’

  Rosie shook her head in despair.

  The two of them walked together along the bord de mer to the café. Rosie did offer to ring for a taxi but Saskia said she’d rather walk. ‘It’s a beautiful morning. Besides, it delays the moment of facing Dad.’

  ‘Do you want some breakfast before you go to the hotel?’

  Saskia shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I’d better get it over and done with. I’ll see you later.’

  Rosie watched her walk across the car park and disappear into the hotel and wondered what would happen next.

  Half an hour later Seb appeared in the kitchen, engulfing her in a bear hug and placing a kiss on her head.

  ‘You OK, ma cherie? That’s some bruise Saskia has on her face. Tiki is beside himself with anger. Made worse because Saskia just keeps saying she walked into a door and won’t tell him what really happened. It’s obvious to him she’s been assaulted.’

  ‘My sister appears to be a very stubborn girl,’ Rosie said. ‘I did try to get her to change her mind and tell him the truth.’

  ‘Tiki was wondering whether there were witnesses who could tell him the truth and report it to the police.’ Seb raised his eyebrows as he looked at her.

  Rosie stiffened. ‘There was only me and I promised Saskia I wouldn’t tell either Terry or the gendarmes.’

  ‘How much did you see?’

  ‘All of it,’ Rosie said quietly. ‘Horrible.’

  Seb hugged her tightly. ‘Maybe it’s a promise you shouldn’t have made?’

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Eight o’clock in the morning and GeeGee stood in the empty office watching the agency printer spewing out her new business handouts. A stack of business cards was already neatly boxed up on her desk.

  Waiting for the printer to do its stuff, she glanced around the office. As a shop window for an upmarket, modern, successful business, t
he sparse black-and-white style worked but she’d never felt really comfortable here. Too intimidating. She definitely wasn’t going to miss coming here. She’d miss the printer, though.

  She picked up one of the business cards. Dark-green printing on white card simply stated her mobile number and the words ‘Georgina George. Home and Property Management Consultant’. Plain and professional. Carefully she placed it on top of the envelope marked ‘Jay’ she had on her desk. The printer finished and GeeGee began to place the last batch of handouts into one of her new files.

  She took a deep breath as she heard the door being unlocked. Jay? Or one of her co-workers? She’d hoped to have finished and left before anyone turned up.

  ‘Morning, GeeGee. You’re early. Couldn’t sleep?’ Jay said as he walked towards her.

  GeeGee put on a bright smile as she looked up at him as she continued to pick up her printouts. Showdown time. She picked up all her bulging files, put her bag over her shoulder, and handed Jay the envelope and card before picking up the boxed business cards.

  ‘What’s this then?’ Jay said, looking at the card. ‘A spot of moonlighting?’

  ‘There’s a cheque for the rent I owe you in the envelope.’ She held up her hand to silence him as he went to speak. ‘I’m out of here as of now.’

  ‘You can’t just walk,’ Jay said. ‘What about the clients? And I want a month’s rent in lieu of notice.’

  ‘My clients. I’ll continue to deal with them. As for money in lieu of notice – forget it.’ GeeGee began to walk towards the door. The last thing she wanted was a scene or an outright row with Jay. She just wanted to get on with her life and new business.

  ‘I’ve left the office keys on the desk. I guess I’ll see you around.’ She stopped herself from slamming the door closed. That would be just plain childish.

  Whoo. She’d done it. Suddenly she felt light-headed at the enormity of it all. She glanced at her watch. She’d love to go and have breakfast down on the beach but she had an airport run booked in an hour’s time. A party of twelve guests for a wedding that needed both Bruno’s large people carrier and her car to go to one of the big hotels in Antibes, Eden Roc. Breakfast at the airport would be better. She’d treat herself to a paperback or glossy magazine to read while she ate.