The Road Trip_A feel-good romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud!

by Susanne O’Leary

  Maddy laughed. ‘True.’

  They had arrived outside the cathedral, and they both craned their necks to look at the towers soaring above them. A car horn tore into their quiet contemplation.

  ‘Shit, we have to park,’ Leanne exclaimed, glancing in the rear-view mirror. ‘We’re causing a huge traffic jam. And there’s a cute French policeman trying to wave us through.’ She stuck her head out the window. ‘We’ll be outta here in a sec, sweetheart,’ she shouted at the angry policeman and surged forward, taking the corner on two wheels.

  Bridget started to bark, scratching on the window with her paws. Leanne pulled up at the kerb. ‘Let her out, willya? She needs to pee. Could you take care of that while I text my dad?’

  ‘Okay.’ Maddy scrambled out, clipped the lead to Bridget’s collar and walked out into the warm sunshine. They were on the edge of a small park, and she walked Bridget a bit down the way, which was perfect for little dog. Maddy let her off the lead, and she scampered away between the bushes. Minutes later, she scampered back, tongue lolling in a huge doggy smile. Maddy pulled her phone from her pocket and took a shot. A voice behind her made her jump.

  ‘Very cute.’

  Maddy twirled around and saw Erik approaching on the path. ‘Oh. Hello.’

  ‘Hi there.’ He was even more handsome than before, the tension of yesterday replaced by a huge grin and a glint in the blue-green eyes that made her cheeks flush. ‘Leanne told me you were here, so I came to fetch you. Lunch, then the cathedral. How does that sound?’

  ‘Perfect,’ Maddy squeaked. What was happening to her voice? It was him. He had this incredible charisma she couldn’t resist. Could anyone? she wondered, confused by her reaction. Even though this was only the second time they had met, she could feel vibes between them that spelled trouble and complications. She didn’t need this right now.

  He scooped Bridget into his arms, and she immediately started to lick his face. Another victim of that northern charm. Maddy shook her head and laughed. ‘She’s such a tart.’

  ‘She’s adorable,’ Erik declared, ruffling Bridget’s fur. ‘But come on, Leanne’s waiting. She found a great spot to park just outside the restaurant. Nice and cool, so we can leave Bridget there after lunch while we look round the cathedral.’

  ‘Grand,’ Maddy said, not trusting her voice while her heart did a strange somersault in her chest.

  They walked along the path, crossed the little square and continued down a leafy street, where Maddy spotted the car parked under a large plane tree in front of a restaurant with tables both outside and in. Leanne was already sitting at a table outside, taking shots of the car and the street with her phone. She aimed the phone at them and shouted, ‘Smile!’

  Erik stopped and pulled Maddy closer, the dog still in his arms. ‘This okay?’

  ‘Fabulous,’ Leanne shouted back. ‘“Close encounter with handsome man in mediaeval town” will be the caption. You’re a huge improvement on Sir Horace, Dad. Hope you don’t mind adding a little sex appeal to our blog.’

  ‘Only if you mention my firm,’ Erik shot back. ‘I’ll take every chance to get some exposure for my products.’

  Leanne made a face. ‘That’s my dad. Ever the opportunist.’

  Ever the flirt, Maddy thought, as she detached herself from his grip. But she smiled at him, suddenly realising how alive she felt. And young and beautiful. With a newfound pep in her step, she bounced forward, her head up and her back straight, smiling for no particular reason.

  Leanne smirked and put her phone on the table. ‘Do you two actually need lunch? It seems like you’ve got some kind of energy already.’

  ‘We need lunch,’ Erik declared and kissed Leanne’s cheek. He put Bridget down and pulled a chair out for Maddy. ‘Voilà, madame.’

  ‘Merci, kind sir.’ Maddy sat down and picked up the menu. ‘What’s for lunch?’

  ‘I’ve already ordered,’ Leanne informed her. ‘Salade Niçoise for me.’

  Erik nodded. ‘Good choice. But I’ll have a croque monsieur. No wine, I hope. We have a long road ahead.’

  ‘Omelette for me,’ Maddy said.

  ‘Good.’ Erik gave the orders when the waitress arrived at their table.

  ‘Where to next?’ Maddy asked. ‘I mean, if we’re going to Gordes first, perhaps we should spend the night somewhere?’

  Leanne picked up a piece of bread. ‘Yes, that’s what I thought, too. Let’s find a nice country inn a couple of hours’ drive from here.’

  ‘Gordes?’ Erik asked. ‘Why do you want to go there?’

  ‘It’s Maddy who does,’ Leanne explained. ‘She’s looking for someone. And she has just got a clue that leads to Gordes.’

  Erik directed his blue-green gaze at Maddy. ‘Someone you lost contact with?’

  Maddy fiddled with the cutlery, not sure she wanted to share her story with a total stranger. ‘Yes,’ she said after a moment’s hesitation. ‘In a way. Long story. I need to find out why we never—’

  He touched her hand. ‘It’s okay. No need to go into details. I can see this is very hard for you.’

  Suddenly tongue-tied, Maddy nodded.

  ‘Closure,’ Leanne remarked. ‘That’s what she needs. And so do I.’ She darted a glance at her father. ‘But let’s not rush it, okay? Or jump to conclusions.’

  ‘Or be quick to judge,’ Erik added. ‘There are always at least two sides to every story.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Leanne remarked in a breezy tone, as if to break the tension. ‘We need to crack on after seeing the cathedral. We’re really on the wrong side of Paris, so we should continue to Orléans, then cut across and get the A6 to Lyon and then pick up the A7 that goes all the way to Marseille. I’ll book us a room at a country inn on the way. What about you, Dad?’

  Erik shrugged. ‘I hadn’t really made any plans. But I’ll find somewhere. We can liaise by phone on the way tomorrow.’ He glanced at Maddy. ‘I’d love to help in your search, if I can.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Maddy put her napkin in her lap. ‘That’s kind of you.’

  ‘Kindness has nothing to do with it,’ Leanne said dryly. ‘He just can’t resist a pretty woman.’

  ‘I’d be grateful if you’d stop sniping, Leanne,’ Erik said, looking annoyed. ‘It’s not very pleasant for Maddy.’

  ‘Okay,’ Leanne mumbled. ‘Sorry.’

  Maddy looked at them and tried not to laugh at how Erik had immediately fallen into the father role. But a child will always be a child in the eyes of a parent, whatever their age, she knew from experience. Their order arrived, and they all fell on the food, eating in silence for a while, Maddy enjoying the light and creamy omelette and the crisp salad that accompanied it. French restaurants managed to make even the simplest meal a treat, she reflected. But the tension between father and daughter was palpable, and Maddy soon found herself wishing Erik would leave them alone. Or that she could travel on her own to Gordes. Why did they have to pick up these awkward travel companions? First Horace and now this Norse god with eyes of steel and a body to die for. He made her feel as if she was walking on a tight wire when he looked at her, and she felt a strange tug towards him she couldn’t explain. She swallowed a mouthful and tried to shove aside her feelings for him, instead focusing on her quest to find Ludo.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The cathedral of Chartres was mind-blowing to Maddy. Not expecting anything more than an old Gothic church, she nearly stopped breathing when she looked up and saw the vast stained-glass windows, their jewel colours glowing in the dim light, throwing splashes of red, green and blue on the stone floor. She had read in the guidebook that the cathedral was built in 1260 on the foundations of an earlier church that had burnt down in the previous century, but she had had no idea of its magnificence. Awestruck, she stood there, looking up and marvelling at the still vivid hues and beautiful shapes.

  Maddy walked around the cathedral, until, in the dim light, she found a little side chapel, where candles flickered in front of a stat
ue of the Virgin. She dug in her handbag, found a euro and put it in the slot under the stand. Then she lit a candle, like she always did when she was in a church, and stood there for a while, deep in thought. Then that familiar sense of loss hit her again. She wished she could talk to her mum, ask her advice, or simply feel her arms around her. ‘I made a mess of it, didn’t I, Mum?’ she whispered into the darkness. ‘My life didn’t work out the way I planned. What am I going to do?’

  Blinking away tears, she looked at the sweet face of the Virgin and felt, like a soft breeze, someone, somewhere telling her that everyone makes mistakes and that all would be well in the end. ‘It’ll get worse before it gets better,’ someone had said when her mother died, and now it seemed to be true. There would be storms but then everything would settle and life would continue down a different, and perhaps smoother path than before. Oddly comforted, Maddy walked away, looking up at the amazing windows again, even more awestruck by their beauty and spirituality.

  ‘Have you seen the rose windows?’ a voice mumbled in her ear. ‘The north rose is the most beautiful.’

  She knew without looking that it was Erik, the faint floral scent from his clothes filling her nostrils. ‘No, not yet. I went to light a candle in front of that little statue of the Virgin.’

  ‘For your mother?’ he asked, his voice gentle. ‘Leanne told me you lost her when you were very young.’

  Maddy nodded. ‘Yes. I like doing that when I’m in a church. I feel she’s there, somewhere watching over me. Then I don’t miss her so much.’

  ‘A lovely thought.’

  ‘But where is that window you mentioned? I’d love to see it.’

  ‘It’s over there.’ He took her elbow, steered her in the right direction and pointed upwards.

  She followed his gaze and suddenly felt as if she had been touched by an angel’s wings as she looked up at the huge round window and its religious scenes depicted in glowing colours. She shivered. ‘Still so vivid. As if it was made yesterday.’

  ‘It was a gift from Queen Blanche of Castile in 1230. And it would have looked exactly like this. Incredible. The Blue Virgin window is even older. 1150, it says in this leaflet.’

  ‘It’s almost too much to take in.’ Maddy stepped away to one of the pews. She looked up at him. ‘I’m going to sit down for a while. I need to… gather my thoughts a little. Things have been a little overwhelming lately.’

  He nodded. ‘Of course. For me too. I’ll leave you alone. See you later.’ He disappeared into the shadows and Maddy instantly felt a peace settle on her as she sat looking up at the windows and breathed in the smell of candles and incense. She closed her eyes and thought of what she had been through during the past few days. Arriving in Paris had jolted her back to her youth and her brief love affair. She hoped she would meet Ludo again, but he seemed as elusive as a wisp of smoke from an extinguished candle. She couldn’t get a grasp of what had happened to him, but she knew instinctively that he was out there somewhere, waiting to be found. She closed her eyes and prayed that was the case.

  * * *

  Erik chased after her as she was leaving the cathedral. He caught her arm. ‘We won’t see each other again before we meet up in Provence. I’m going straight to Orange for a meeting. We’re setting up a little shop there. You’ll be stopping there tomorrow to see the Roman remains, Leanne said.’

  She squinted up at him against the bright sun. ‘Straight to Orange? That’s a long drive.’

  ‘I’m used to long drives.’ He steered her around to get her out of the glare. ‘There. Better?’

  His light touch on her arm unnerved her. ‘Yes. Thanks.’ She stepped away.

  ‘I just wanted to say that if there’s anything I can do to help you find the person you’re looking for, let me know. I have friends and contacts in the Gordes area. We get all our lavender for our perfumes from there.’

  ‘I don’t know much. Only a name, that’s all.’ She hesitated. Saying Ludo’s name to this man felt like sharing a very intimate secret. But she had to find him, and if he could get some clues, it would be worth it. ‘His name is… Ludovic Maximilian de Montrouge,’ she said. ‘He’s about my age, maybe a little older. I’m forty-four, by the way.’

  Erik nodded and typed something into his phone. ‘I’m putting all this into my notes, so I’ll remember.’ He smiled. ‘Forty-four? So much younger than me.’

  ‘I suppose,’ Maddy said flatly.

  Erik looked embarrassed. ‘Sorry. That was too personal. Anything else you can tell me?’

  ‘No, but—’ A thought struck Maddy. ‘I have a photo.’ She rummaged around in her handbag, and after a little searching, found the old photo-booth picture she had carried with her all those years like a lucky charm. ‘Here. An old photo of us. One of those silly ones we used to take.’ It felt strange to show it to him. She had never showed it to anyone else. But if it would help to find Ludo…

  Erik laughed tenderly as he took the photo and looked at it. ‘Two young kids. So sweet. I’ll take a shot of it, if you don’t mind.’ He clicked his phone and handed the photo back. ‘Might be a help if he hasn’t changed much. You haven’t, in any case. Except for—’

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ Maddy said with a derisory laugh. ‘Wrinkles and bags under the eyes.’

  Erik shook his head. ‘No. I meant the slightly sad look in your eyes.’

  * * *

  Maddy and Leanne continued their journey, staying at a country inn on the way, stopping briefly for lunch the next day and then back on the motorway. They decided against any more sightseeing, despite the lure of mediaeval castles and five-star spa hotels.

  ‘I just want to get as far south as we can before we stop the next time,’ Leanne confessed late the next day as they swept through fields of ripening wheat and bright-yellow rape. ‘How about you?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Maddy replied, giving Bridget a reassuring pat. ‘We’re close to Avignon, anyway. We just have to stop to give Bridget a toilet break and water.’

  ‘Of course. And I need a break too. Driving on French motorways is no pleasure.’

  ‘I’ll take over after we stop,’ Maddy promised.

  ‘Great. There’s a petrol station close to here. Two kilometres away, the sign said. I bet it’s one of those massive affairs with shops and rest rooms and restaurants. The French do the best pit stops in the world.’

  This proved to be true. The huge petrol station could be seen in the distance, with a sign of a petrol pump, coffee cup and crossed knife and fork to signal what was on offer. As they pulled up at the parking area, they saw there was even an enclosure for dogs.

  ‘Look, Bridget,’ Leanne cooed. ‘An open-air ladies’ room especially for you.’

  ‘They thought of everything when they built this place,’ Maddy remarked, happy to stretch her legs and stiff back. ‘I’ll go and get us some sandwiches while you take Bridget for a piddle break.’

  Leanne opened the rear door. ‘Okay. Come on, Bridge.’

  Maddy looked up at the umbrella pines outlined against the blue sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her back. The scent of pine made her feel she was already in Provence, even if they hadn’t yet got close to the coast. But she could see the snow-covered tops of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the distance and knew they had reached the final part of the journey. Soon, she thought, breathing in the warm air, I’ll be in the same town as Ludo. If I manage to find him, how will he react? Her heart fluttered. It wouldn’t be long before she knew. They were near Avignon and, with the stop in Orange, would be in Gordes by early evening. What then? she wondered to herself as she queued at the delicatessen counter where they made up sandwiches to order. How would she go about tracking down Ludo or even anyone who knew him? Apart from an old photograph, she had nothing that pointed to him in any way, other than the word of the chef at the restaurant in Paris. Maybe Erik would come up with something. That was the only hope.

  As she shuffled forward in the queue, her mind on nothing much except wh
at kind of sandwich she wanted, she scrolled idly through Facebook on her phone while she waited. She saw someone had tagged her to a picture and clicked on the link. The photo that came up made her blink. What was this? A couple dancing, their arms around each other, their eyes closed, their mouths meeting in what looked like an intimate kiss. The latest squeeze at the golf club, the caption read. With a sinking heart, Maddy recognised the man. Tom. Kissing some floozy in public. The shock made Maddy’s heart flip, and she felt as if a hand was squeezing her throat. Hot tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them away and looked at the picture again. Who was the woman? Nobody she knew. But who had tagged Maddy to make sure she saw it? She clicked on the Facebook notifications again. Of course. Jacinta. Her sister-in-law. Paying her back for that family row all those years ago, when Tom had stood up against his mother and sister, for the first time in his life. Jacinta had never forgiven Maddy. Now she had got her revenge. And the photo was from the website of the Lahinch local newspaper. Jacinta must have been delighted to find it.

  ‘Madame?’ a voice said. ‘What would you like?’

  As if on autopilot, Maddy ordered sandwiches and two bottles of water and took them outside. She walked slowly to a picnic table in the shade of the umbrella pines, where Leanne was waving at her, Bridget panting at her feet. It’s over, she thought, feeling numb. My marriage has finally come to an end.

  ‘What did you get?’ Leanne asked, holding her hand out. ‘Hope it wasn’t just cheese and ham.’

  ‘No, it’s worse than that.’ Maddy sank down on the seat beside Leanne. ‘Much worse than cheese and ham.’

  Leanne stared at Maddy. ‘What?’

  ‘Jesus, I’ve gone completely bonkers.’ Maddy put the sandwiches and bottles on the table and clicked on her phone. She held it out to Leanne. ‘This is what I just got. Please tell me it’s not my husband snogging some tart on the dance floor.’