The Riviera

by Karen Aldous

  Good luck and my email is above.

  ‘Oh, my God, Cal look at this.’ Her heart thumped. ‘She could be alive!’ Lizzie could only hope. It sounded plausible, and such a mound of information to work with. Immediately she Googled the name. Fordlock. She began researching on further listings, and at last began gathering momentum. Luckily it was an unusual surname and some company records showed a C T Fordlock, G R Fordlock, then she spotted the J&E Fordlock registered in Hythe on the Kent coast but it was only an old business.

  Cal tore his attention from Thierry. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Annie, this could be Annie. Or Angela, she may be now. I’ve received a really interesting response from a lady and her father with possible names for my mum’s aunt.’

  ‘Lizzie, don’t get too excited. It may not be her.’

  ‘But he said she was found at the same church,’ she said looking up at Cal who was now leaning over her and reading, displaying a guarded expression, and then it hit her. ‘Mmm, there could have been several babies. Oh no, what if they were at a mother and baby group?’ Her throat thickened. ‘Arrgh,’ her hand rushed to her mouth. ‘How tragic.’

  ‘And would she have been adopted? Didn’t she have family?’

  ‘Yes, but…’

  ‘Follow it up with research by all means but just don’t raise your hopes.’ Cal rubbed her shoulder. ‘It could get painful. It’s not just your hopes.’

  Lizzie contemplated the lives of these poor souls. What carnage the bombings left emotionally. Inside, she wanted to cry. What if this was her aunt? ‘I have to try.’

  ‘Well, gather the information and try to piece some of it together so that if you do get in contact, you can ask the right questions with some solid foundation.’

  ‘There’s a registration of both initials on a company in Hythe. A haberdashery. It ceased in 2000. But that’s good, I have a possibility.’

  ‘Great. But find out more.’

  ‘Oh, but that was years ago. Oh, I hope she is still alive.’

  ‘And, if they are, I wonder if she even knows.’

  ‘I’m sure her brothers would have said something. According to this man who played with them, they were old enough to know, so it’s unlikely to have been kept a secret.’

  Cal’s phone gave out a loud ping. ‘Oh, sounds like Kelly,’ he said reaching for his phone and levering it from his pocket.

  Lizzie tried to concentrate on her task, seeking out more information but found herself increasingly intrigued by Cal’s conversation. Things didn’t sound good. In fact, there seemed to be more going on than she’d realised. She caught the word ‘lawyer’ and swung round with a frown. She watched Cal march up and down the room. He was then telling Kelly not to leave the house but to seek advice through a lawyer if Reuben wasn’t communicating. After half an hour repeating himself, he finally managed to get off the phone.

  ‘That sounds serious,’ Lizzie said, glancing up at Cal.

  ‘Yep, now she wants to run away from Nantucket. She’s not thinking about her son at all. We are talking just a few weeks here. She’ll never get him to stay if she leaves.’

  ‘Why is she so desperate?’ she asked as Cal began stomping the room.

  He shook his head. ‘I don’t know, Lizzie, Reuben, no, both of them, their marriage. I think it’s come to the end of its life. I don’t know the full story. I don’t care, if I’m honest. I just want her to think about how it will affect Jack. She can’t just announce his parents are divorcing and then up and leave when he has exams in a few weeks.’

  Lizzie felt the blood drain from her face. Kelly would need Cal more than ever now.

  Cal stood at the doors looking across the buildings in the square although Lizzie knew he was searching his mind for solutions. That is what Cal did. He had an in-built capacity to block emotion or pain and think about a way forward. He turned to face her.

  ‘Please don’t mention any of this to Jack.’

  Lizzie shook her head. ‘No. Of course not. Listen, I’ll go have a quick shower and we’ll try and relax for a few hours,’ she said closing down her laptop and taking it to the drawer.

  ‘Yes, sounds like a good idea.’ He thrust out a deep sigh. ‘Will we get into La Toque d’Or?’ he asked grabbing her as she turned from the drawer.

  ‘Hmm, should do,’ she said slipping into his grasp. She tried to keep her tone upbeat but inside, the discordant tones of mistrust stung the pit of her stomach; the thought of Cal out in Nantucket with the now single and needy Kelly.

  He held her for a few seconds. His lips, warm against the skin of her neck, sent gurgling lust spiralling through her body. Just as she was about to turn around, Marie-Claire’s voice shot out from the bedroom door.

  ‘Thierry, have you eaten your dinner?’ she said emerging from the doorway. ‘It’s nearly time for your bath.’

  Lizzie arrived at the salon just before seven in the hope of getting some work done before joining Cal, Rose and Jack at Domaine Margot.

  ‘Good morning,’ she called, entering the busy reception.

  Betty the cleaner sung cheerily as she did her last-minute buffing of the glass. Aimée the hair stylist and Margaux, a make-up artist, were discussing the finer details of a bride and her bridesmaids whilst Sylvie, the second receptionist, was listening to messages on the answerphone. Then, following just behind her, a deep Scottish voice boomed.

  ‘Morning, ladies, bonjour.’ Female eyes fluttered in his direction.

  Lizzie jumped, clutched her chest, then stretched out a smile as she turned. ‘Good morning,’ she managed, noting how utterly smart he looked in a beautifully cut suit and his chin, clean-shaven. More disturbing was the way his eyes lifted and smiled. They shone bright blue this morning with an endearingly familiar warmth.

  ‘I spoke to my mother last night and she will be getting back to me later today. I can assure you she has no problem with the request, she will simply juggle as she usually does.’

  ‘Excellent, Angus. Tell her thank you.’

  Grabbing a coffee, Lizzie went up to her office and began wading through her inbox and in-tray trying to stay focused, her mind continually wandering to Cal. They had spent a lovely evening together at the restaurant and, on their return, chatted until the small hours. He’d told her that Kelly had mentioned her marriage was a farce nowadays but he hadn’t expected it to blow up right now. Not with Jack going through such a difficult time. This made Lizzie wonder if Kelly was seeking an escape through Cal. And, of course, if he was returning for several weeks, what more would she be expecting from Cal?

  Sinking lower within herself, memories of her previous humiliation wrenched her physically and mentally. She really wasn’t comfortable with the situation, but how could she say anything when he had a highly volatile Jack to tend to? Cal was getting notably stressed as it was. Hell, she thought. She could lose him either way. Scare him off with accusations and sulky jealous bouts, or let him slip away into Kelly’s open arms. What then was even more alarming was that Thierry would be the one who got hurt the most.

  Trying to get her mind back on her work, Lizzie picked up her summer marketing schedule then checked the volume of bookings in place. They hadn’t been in Rue d’Antibes last summer and so it was difficult to predict how many passing tourists would take time out to stop in for treatment. Deciding she would have to create some sort of Summer Special campaign, she wrote it on her list for ideas to be generated.

  A tap on the door alerted her to Angus.

  ‘Hi, come in.’

  ‘All sorted. She’s now coming over the last week of May. After that, I’m free all summer.’

  ‘Oh that’s brilliant. I really appreciate that,’ she said and he turned and left. Why can’t everything be so easily resolved? She checked the time and immediately shut down her computer.

  After collecting Rose and Jack, they drove to Domaine Margot. Rose had definitely lifted Jack’s spirits and, when they arrived, he gave her a tour of the house like he’d just w
on top prize for estate agent of the year. He was babbling excitedly about the pool and the rooms with a view and then the Jacuzzi to be fitted outside his room where they now stood on the terrace.

  ‘Cal, this is absolutely stunning.’ She beamed at her son. ‘Goodness, this really is a dream. You’ve done really well to find this.’

  Cal slid his sunglasses up as he observed his mother ‘A lot of work to do but, yes. I’m so pleased you like it.’ He pulled Lizzie towards him. ‘This will be our family home.’

  ‘Maybe Jack can help if he is here in the summer?’ Rose chanted. ‘That would be wonderful wouldn’t it, Jack?’

  ‘I would love him to…’ Cal stopped as Jack bolted a glance his way. ‘But we’ll see.’

  ‘Some of it, sure,’ Jack nodded.

  Rose took Lizzie’s other arm. ‘The house will be beautiful when it’s done. Jack seems to love it too. Do you know, Jack was saying yesterday how impressed he was with the salon. Isn’t that right, Jack?’

  Jack reached up and scratched his head and nodded. Lizzie wasn’t sure if he was just being polite to his gran.

  ‘As he was so keen on the cosmetic surgery side, I thought he would enjoy going to talk to Sophie or that man he met there, helping Sophie, I don’t know his name.’

  ‘Oh, Angus,’ Lizzie said, passing a quizzical glance at Cal.

  ‘Well,’ Rose said steadily, ‘this sounds a bit cheeky, Lizzie, and you can tell me to mind my own business if you’re any way offended, but would Jack be allowed to go along and see what they do? You know, get a better understanding to see if it was something he would like to do.’

  ‘That would be really cool,’ Jack said enthusiastically.

  Lizzie was confused. Jack saying it would be cool? Cal hadn’t mentioned any of this. Of course she could try and help but would have to run it by Angus. And then, it would be difficult with patient confidentiality.

  ‘I’ll certainly discuss it with Angus. I’m sure he’d be delighted to share what knowledge he can.’

  ‘Thanks, Lizzie. Thanks, Gran.’

  ‘It takes a lot of studying and a lot of money to become a plastic surgeon,’ Lizzie pointed out, knowing precisely the years and funding Sophie had endured. ‘Although as a student, at least you can observe the process.’

  ‘Awesome.’

  ‘Yes, it would take some years of study. That’s why it is important to feel it’s right for you.’ Rose pointed a finger at Jack before teasing her grandson further. ‘So tell me, as an architect, Jack, what vision would you have had for this house?’

  Casting her eyes over at Cal, Lizzie wondered where this would lead and whether Cal and his mother had been concocting something. Unable to read Cal’s eyes behind his sunglasses, she gazed at Jack. He took some time before answering.

  ‘OK,’ Rose started. ‘Your dad has asked you here. He is your client. What would you recommend? Would you urge him to pull it down and start again or, being a centuries-old building with lots of original features, would you tell him to sympathetically restore it?’

  Jack perused the question as though it was some sort of trick. ‘I think restore it.’

  Rose persisted. ‘If your dad said to you right now, help me redesign it. What would you suggest?’

  ‘Yes, I’d say yes.’

  ‘No, OK. So, tomorrow, if you got the choice either to come here with a sketch pad and do some drawings to redesign this house, or, go along with Angus and watch how he applies his skills and help him redesign some woman’s face or whatever it is they call it, what choice would you make?’

  Twisting his lips, Jack peered over to his father. ‘If I’m honest, I’d rather go watch Angus. Sorry, Dad. I would help you but…’

  ‘Look at me,’ Rose demanded. ‘Jack. Don’t apologise. You gave the right answer. It’s what your heart is telling you. If cosmetic surgery excites you, you are halfway there. Now all you have to do is to pass exams and gather the skills and knowledge to do it.’

  ‘It does excite me, you’re right.’

  Rose squeezed Lizzie’s arm. ‘You are a lucky young man. If you have discovered what you want at your age and have professionals here to guide you, then you must pursue it.’

  ‘What, you mean stay here, Gran?’

  Chapter 19

  ‘Your mother has definitely beaten the egg well into her ingredients. And, you have to hand it to her, she got the rise in her cake.’

  ‘Yes, I didn’t realise what a schemer she was,’ Cal grinned. ‘I still have my reservations.’

  ‘Well, you won’t, or she won’t convince him immediately but she has certainly lined the cake tin pretty nicely,’ Lizzie said observing Jack and his gran enter the small stone structure. Jack had a strong bond with Rose considering the miles they lived apart. He must love and trust her so much. Maybe her son would have a similar relationship with Jack. They had gelled so well. Although, she was thankful Marie-Clare had taken Thierry to nursery this morning. At least she wasn’t getting panicky and scared out of her wits worrying about him tumbling over that ledge. She returned to the moment as Cal began.

  ‘It’s not going to help short-term though is it? He’ll still want to study in London. There’ll be too much of a language barrier for him to study in France.’

  Lizzie slipped her arm around his, feeling the heat of the spring sunshine on her skin. She peered up to him as he devoured the vista. ‘Unless he takes lessons in the summer. He’s young, bright and already has a good grasp. With an intense course, he’d do really well.’

  ‘It depends how much he is motivated doesn’t it? In all honesty, I just don’t know where I am with Jack. I didn’t realise parenting could be this difficult. I suppose I imagined parents just told them what was best for them and the child would listen.’

  ‘To be fair, Cal, you’ve not been allowed to be directly involved. And these are the worst years, I imagine. We’ve all been there, growing into adults with our own take on things. We think we know best but we learn too late. Look at me. Running off to France. How naïve was I?’

  ‘You’ve done extremely well.’ Cal ran his hand through the back of her hair. ‘But, London, he could end up on the streets with the wrong people, as could you have in France. I just don’t think I could handle him being there without me. And, this is going to sound really selfish, but I really would like him to come here. It’s great having him around. I’m enjoying getting to know him, despite the grief.’

  ‘I know where you’re coming from. Maybe deep down he wants to be directed. Maybe the idea of London was just an immediate escape. Now he is seriously getting the chance to see what is out there, and the excitement it creates in him, and not to mention the support and guidance he can get from you, he’ll hopefully figure he can take a much better path.’

  Lizzie thought herself extremely lucky. She’d had Sophie. How would she have managed without her? How would she manage without Cal now? The thought of Cal moving to London was yet another nightmare.

  Rose emerged from the stone structure treading unsteadily over the long grass with an item in her hand closely followed by Jack with a few more. Cal rushed towards her.

  ‘Mum, please be careful, your ankle has only just recovered from a fall. We don’t want you hurt again.’

  ‘I’m fine. Have you seen what’s in here?’ Rose asked. ‘Look at this,’ she said, holding up a gilt ornate sewing box. ‘There are clocks, watches, jewellery boxes, cigar cases. A major stash in there. Three large boxes.’

  Lizzie thought back to the old teddy Thierry had brought home yesterday. ‘I suspect the old man forgot he’d put them there. They could be precious heirlooms.

  Cal stepped forward to his mother’s find. ‘Jack and Thierry mentioned it yesterday but we didn’t look. Yes, they must belong to the old man, Monsieur Giroux? He must have forgotten them.’

  ‘That’s really beautiful isn’t it?’ Lizzie said inspecting it. ‘Aww, they would probably mean something to his children or grandchildren.’

  ‘
It’s so beautiful,’ agreed Rose. ‘And there’s so much more.’

  Jack held out the cigar case and the pocket watch in the other hand, minutely inspecting them. ‘I bet they’re worth some dollars.’

  ‘I still have his mobile, I’ll give him a call.’ Cal said. ‘Wrap them back up and leave them there for now.’

  Lizzie wondered how an earth someone could forget about such a trove of treasure. It was quite sad to learn the sheer amount of antiques which had been left there. The owner must have stored them when he cleared out the house and forgotten all about them. What was strange was, there were no locks on the old stone building. It was nothing more than some little animal or crop shelter. She would have to return the teddy Thierry had taken home too. His family would be missing a small fortune of their inheritance not to mention personal keepsakes such as her great-gran’s locket. Some of those items would certainly mean something to someone.

  After being soaked in the splendour of the Provençal landscape and blossoming trees, Lizzie returned to the bustle of the office. Saturdays were their busiest days so it made sense to spend an hour or two with Josephine, going through the schedules and marketing plans after generally seeing all was running smoothly. She picked up her ‘to do’ list, adding ‘talk to Angus about Jack’ before she forgot. Knowing Angus was with a client, she decided to head back home for the weekend and think about some specials for the summer. She did a last minute check on her emails and forums which had now become quite a habit in her search for her great-aunt. Then as she just about to close down her computer, she put the name of J&E Fordlock back into the search engine. Again, Directors of Fordlocks Haberdashery in Hythe came up. She changed the search and added the area. The business wasn’t listed but an E. Fordlock appeared.

  ‘Whoa,’ she yelled as an address popped up from a site. She quickly noted down the address and rang international directory enquiries.

  ‘I’m sorry, that name isn’t listed for that address,’ she was told.

  Screwing up her face, she asked swiftly, ‘Could you look up the phone number for that address? I know it will be under a different name but…’