Villa of Sun and Secrets

by Jennifer Bohnet

  As for Josette, would the acknowledgement of their mother–daughter relationship today, destroy forever the easy comradeship that Carla had hoped and believed had been beginning to develop between them when they’d merely been aunt and niece? More to the point, did she still want to get to know Josette better? What if there were still untold secrets to be discovered?

  Josette was unable to stop the violent shaking that overtook her body as she left the villa. Ignoring her protests that she was fine and just wanted to go home, Gordon took her to his apartment. ‘It’s about time you saw where I live,’ he said. ‘I warn you, there are a few stairs involved.’

  Gordon’s top floor apartment was in one of the four storey houses situated in the old town with a view out over the Mediterranean. As Gordon led her through to the rooftop terrace, Josette ran her hand along the white grand piano that dominated the apartment.

  ‘Do you write your music on this? Getting it up the stairs must have been a nightmare!’

  Gordon nodded. ‘I do. And it was. Had to come in through the window in the end. I had a lot of apologising to do the next day for the crane blocking the road for so long. Cost me a fortune in chocolates and wine for everybody. Even now I’m extra polite to the local gendarmes.’

  While Gordon poured her the small medicinal brandy he insisted she needed, Josette stood on the rooftop terrace getting her breath back after the climb and taking in the view right across the bay to the distant mountains behind Nice.

  ‘It’s a lovely apartment. I thought you might live in one of the modern complexes by the marina,’ Josette said.

  Gordon shook his head. ‘All glass and elevators? Not for me.’

  Handing her the drink, Gordon watched and waited as she sipped it and the shaking calmed before stopping altogether.

  Josette managed a smile and a quiet ‘Thank you.’

  ‘You’re not going to forget today’s birthday in a hurry, are you?’ Gordon said.

  ‘It’s definitely one of the most memorable I’ve ever had,’ Josette agreed with a wry smile. ‘I don’t know what possessed me to blurt out the truth today. I’d had such a lovely time with you all in Cannes, being thoroughly spoiled. You talking about honesty in the taxi got me thinking – not that I’m blaming you for anything of course,’ she added quickly, looking at him. ‘It’s just that I realised I wanted a chance to forgive myself for the past and for Carla to know the truth so that we could go forward to an honest, open future together.’ She finished the last of her drink before saying, ‘But blurting out the truth like I did will not have helped to achieve that. In fact, right at this moment I wouldn’t mind betting she hates me.’

  ‘I think right now her mind will be going round and round with several emotions. Love. Anger. Hate. You do realise she’s going to want the answers to lots of questions she’s bound to ask you?’

  Josette nodded. ‘I also know the answers to those questions are likely to raise even more difficult, hurtful ones. I’m going to have to dig deep to find the courage to talk to Carla and pray she’ll forgive me.’

  ‘I expect Maddy will also want to talk to her grandmother,’ Gordon said, looking at her.

  Josette sighed. ‘What have I done? Talk about Pandora’s box. I don’t want to be cast as the outsider again.’

  ‘I can understand that. May I ask you a question?’

  Josette nodded. ‘Bien sûr.’

  ‘You went white and very quiet when Carla introduced Bruno Grimaud. I was wondering why?’

  Josette, surprised he’d registered her reaction, hesitated before answering. ‘The Grimaud name was very common down here when I was growing up, you rarely hear it now. I suspect the older generation have died out and most of the young people have moved away for work. Hearing it was a shock – it brought back more memories of the past.’

  ‘Good ones or bad ones?’

  ‘Oh, you know what teenage memories are like – a real mixture,’ Josette said, hoping that Gordon wouldn’t probe any further.

  Gordon nodded. ‘I do. Now, how do you feel about going to the cinema this evening and then coming back here for supper?’

  Josette, about to protest that she’d rather go home and be alone to think about things, changed her mind. She didn’t really want to be alone with her thoughts. It was still her birthday, a visit to the cinema would be a treat and she enjoyed Gordon’s company.

  ‘Supper out here under the stars?’

  ‘If you want.’

  ‘Sounds like the perfect end to my birthday,’ Josette said. Standing on the rooftop terrace looking out to sea as Gordon placed his arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze, Josette sighed. Although the last few hours could never be undone and there would be repercussions, both known and unforeseen, from telling Carla and Maddy the truth, her heart felt strangely lighter. This time she wouldn’t be banished as punishment. This time she would stand and face the music.

  24

  After waving goodbye to Maddy and Sam the next day as they left to catch an evening flight home from Nice, Carla felt her spirits plummeting. What a weekend it had turned out to be. She and Maddy had talked and talked about Josette and the situation they found themselves in. Maddy, still in a daze about the news, had wanted to go round and see Josette and learn more details, but Carla had persuaded her to leave it until her next visit.

  ‘I’ll have spoken to Josette by then and hopefully have more of an idea as to what happened,’ she’d said.

  While Maddy was dazed by the revelations, Carla was stunned and angry. Her whole life she’d been living a lie, believing she was her parents’ true daughter. To discover she was Josette’s illegitimate daughter – because however you looked at it, that’s what she was – had blown her mind. No wonder Amelia had conspired to keep them apart. Or was that Josette’s doing? She’d always fought against them having close contact with that ‘if it’s an emergency’ attitude of hers.

  There were so many unanswered questions about the past, her childhood and what, in her own mind, she’d begun to call her false life as a dutiful daughter, that Carla didn’t know where to start. Before she went to see Josette she’d have to make a list of questions. Tick them off one by one. Not that she was up to facing Josette yet despite promising Maddy she would go and see her soon.

  When her mobile rang, Carla merely glanced at the caller ID, expecting to see David’s number. He’d taken to ringing her on a Sunday evening and she’d taken to ignoring it. To her surprise it was Ed. Carla smothered a sigh. Clearly, Maddy had phoned her brother with the news. Carla herself had been hoping to wait until she’d sorted things out in her own mind before telephoning her son.

  ‘What’s going on, Mum? I got some garbled version from Mads about Granny not being granny.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. Seemingly Tante Josette is your granny. I’m sorry you had to find out this way. It’s been a bit of a shock to Maddy and me,’ Carla said before taking a deep breath and telling Ed what little she knew about the family drama that had unfolded. ‘I’ll be able to tell you more when you come home,’ she said. ‘I’ll have more details from Josette by then.’

  Typical of Ed, he was more concerned with how she was than hearing about ancient family rifts. ‘Must have been one hell of a shock for you,’ he said. ‘Is Josette going gaga, blurting it out at the party? She could have at least told you in private.’

  ‘Josette is most definitely in full control of all her faculties, but several glasses of champagne possibly had something to do with the timing of the revelation,’ Carla said. ‘Tell me your news. Are you still enjoying life over there?’

  ‘Yes, but I’m looking forward to coming home, although with you and Dad divorcing I’m not sure where I’ll be based for a bit.’

  ‘Dad’s kept the house, so your room is still there. I know he’ll welcome you as usual,’ Carla said quietly. ‘And, of course, you’re more than welcome here at the Villa Mimosa.’

  ‘Mads says it’s a real South of France villa. I c
an’t wait to see it, which will definitely be sometime this year.’

  After a few more minutes’ conversation centred around Ed’s work and how much he was enjoying being a locum in South Africa, it was time to say goodbye.

  ‘Don’t worry too much about the Josette situation. Probably be a nine day wonder and then fade into the background of our family history. Look after yourself Mum,’ Ed said.

  ‘You too, Love you,’ Carla said, knowing she could get away with being a bit soppy over the phone. ‘Thanks for phoning.’

  Carla wandered out through the sitting room to the terrace and sat looking out over the garden. Was Ed right, that discovering her family was not the traditional homogenous one she’d believe it to be, would be a mere nine days’ wonder? She supposed, in time, it would stop dominating her thoughts and she’d come to terms with it, simply because there was nothing she could do to change things. But there was an awful lot of talking to be done before that happened.

  Joel emerged from his room, towel in hand, ready to for his evening swim. He hesitated, looking at her, before saying, ‘Exercise is good for clearing the head. Perhaps you swim too?’

  Carla shook her head. ‘Not tonight.’

  Joel shrugged. ‘Okay.’

  Carla watched as he walked to the far end of the pool and dived in smoothly with barely a splash before coming up to the surface halfway down the pool and swimming to the end. She didn’t feel like swimming, but Joel’s company for supper would be good.

  As Joel climbed out of the water ten minutes later, Carla stood up. ‘Join me for supper tonight? Nothing fancy. Something with sauté potatoes because I feel like comfort food.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ll be about five minutes,’ Joel said.

  Carla peeled some potatoes and set them to boil before looking in the fridge for inspiration. She pulled out some lettuce, rocket leaves, tomatoes and olives. That was the healthy bit sorted. She found a tray of coquilles Saint-Jacques in the freezer and switched the oven on ready to pop them in as she sautéd the potatoes.

  Five minutes later as she strained the potatoes, her hand slipped and she splashed boiling water over a couple of her fingers. Joel heard her anguished cry as he came into the kitchen, took in what she’d done and ran out, saying, ‘Hold your hand under running cold water until I get back.’

  Seconds later he was back with a broken cactus-like leaf. After gently drying her hand with some kitchen paper, he cut the leaf open and spread the cooling pulp over her hand.

  ‘What is it?’ Carla asked.

  ‘Aloe vera – you know, that large plant down by the plumbago. If you’re going to make a habit of burning yourself, I’ll pot you up a small one to keep on the kitchen windowsill. Good for sunburn as well. Feel better?’

  Carla nodded. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Shall I cut the potatoes into sauté-sized pieces and pop them in the pan?’ Joel said.

  ‘Thanks.’

  Once the coquilles Saint-Jacques were in the oven and the potatoes were in the pan sautéing, Carla set the buzzer and they both went out onto the terrace with a glass of wine while supper finished cooking.

  ‘Maddy and Sam get off all right today?’ Joel asked.

  ‘Yes. They’re promising to return within a couple of weeks. Mainly because I think Maddy wants to talk to Josette.’ Carla sighed. ‘I have to say, she is keener than me. I know I have to but…’ her voice trailed away and she shook her head.

  ‘You will ’ave a lot of things you want to say, and ask, Josette,’ Joel said. ‘For what it’s worth, my advice is don’t rush things while you’re still feeling so emotional. Better to talk when you’ve got used to, and accepted, the fact that you and Josette are related in a way you never imagined.’

  ‘Right now acceptance is a long way off,’ Carla said. ‘I’ve got so many questions that need answering.’

  Joel was silent for a few seconds. ‘It might ’elp to remember that women’s rights in France were a long time coming. They didn’t get the vote until 1944 – twenty years after England. Even in the late sixties, women were still very much at the mercy of their families – particularly their papas. Which means that probablement Josette was not given a lot of choice in ’ow her pregnancy was dealt with.’

  ‘I can understand that, but what I can’t get my head around is why wasn’t I told the truth after my grandparents died or when I was eighteen?’ Before Joel could answer, Carla stood up. ‘That’s enough of my problems for now. Let’s see how supper is doing. Have you seen kitten-cat today by the way?’

  Joel pointed in the direction of the cherry tree. ‘He likes to hide up there. Probably sitting on a branch out of sight right now watching us. He’s definitely un chat who likes to climb and be le roi of all he surveys!’

  ‘Le roi means king doesn’t it?’ Carla said thoughtfully.

  Joel looked at her, startled. ‘Oui.’

  ‘We could call him king, but it sounds too English,’ Carla said. ‘But I think the name Leroy will be perfect. Yes?’

  Joel burst out laughing. ‘Je adore your pronunciation! Leroy it is.’

  25

  When Josette phoned Gordon to cancel her Tuesday lunch with him, he refused to let her.

  ‘And leave you to wallow at home? No. Besides, I’ve told you, I have organised your birthday present for afterwards.’

  ‘I’m not exactly good company at the moment, I warn you,’ Josette said, wincing inwardly at the memory of her birthday.

  ‘I’ll risk it,’ Gordon said. ‘I’ll pick you up at twelve thirty. Wear sensible shoes.’

  Too tired to argue, Josette had given in. Since her birthday she’d barely slept. Even when Gordon had escorted her home exhausted at one o’clock on Sunday morning after the cinema and supper on his rooftop terrace, she’d not slept. Last night, she had tossed and turned, going over and over things in her mind until she heard the sounds of the town waking up as the sun rose and then she’d perversely fallen asleep, only to be woken a mere hour later by the strident boom of the town hall clock at seven.

  As the night-time hours dragged by, Josette berated herself for even thinking about breaking the pact she’d made all those years ago. She should have taken the secret to her grave like she’d always planned to. All she’d done now was ruin the good relationship she and Carla had been building as aunt and niece. She’d already realised there were uncontrollable consequences of her action which were going to reverberate for a long time. But as she’d released the whole sordid mess out into the world, it was up to her to try and repair things. If only she could think how.

  Going upstairs to get ready for lunch with Gordon, she wondered where they were going. Remembering his instruction about wearing comfortable shoes, she decided to team her favourite blue capri trousers with her deck shoes and wear a white long-sleeved T-shirt. Looking at the bags under her eyes, she reached for the concealer and did her best to banish the ‘Je n’ai pas dormi depuis des jours’ look.

  Gordon knocked the door as she rubbed some gloss into her lips and she ran downstairs.

  ‘Will I do for whatever you’ve got planned?’ she asked as Gordon greeted her with a kiss on each cheek.

  ‘You’re dressed perfectly, both for lunch and afterwards.’

  As they walked along the bord de mer, Gordon said, ‘I thought we’d have lunch on the beach. It’s such a perfect day.’

  Ten minutes later, sitting at table under a large parasol a metre or two away from the waves lapping the shore, Josette looked around her. Out on the horizon, the Îles de Lérins were bathed in sunlight, boats of all sizes were sailing in the bay. Overhead, hang-gliders drifted past and, higher above them, aeroplane vapour trails criss-crossed the sky. Josette sighed. She realised, in that moment, whatever the future might hold, she was glad to be living back here.

  To Josette’s surprise, instead of asking for a bottle of rosé to go with their food, Gordon simply ordered a glass each. ‘I want us both to be fully compos mentis to enjoy the afternoon. Too much wine could
take the edge off,’ he explained. ‘So make it last. We’ll celebrate afterwards.’

  ‘Are you going to give me a clue before whatever it is happens?’ Josette said.

  ‘Well, I’m fairly certain you’re going to like what I’ve planned. It’s something to lift you out of yourself that’s for sure.’ Gordon raised his glass in a mock salute.

  ‘I like surprises normally, but I’m getting concerned about this particular one, you’re being so cloak and dagger about it.’ Josette said.

  ‘Relax. We’ve got over an hour before our appointment.’

  Three quarters of an hour later, the obligatory beach meal of mussels et frites eaten, Gordon stood up and held out his hand to Josette.

  ‘Come on. A short walk along the beach and then it’s time for your birthday treat.’

  Fifty metres on, he stopped by the kiosk for boat trips out to the Îles de Lérins.

  ‘We’re having a boat trip out to the islands?’ Josette queried.

  ‘Not a boat trip as such,’ Gordon said. ‘But we will see the islands,’ and he led her down to a boat waiting by the pontoon.

  ‘We’re not going parasailing, are we?’ Josette asked, suddenly realising what the boat was. She laughed with delight when Gordon nodded. ‘Oh, what fun.’

  Minutes later, the pair of them were sitting on the back of the boat, pulling on life jackets and doing up numerous safety harness catches. Josette squeezed Gordon’s hand as the boat engine started and they moved away from the shore into open water. As they gained speed, one of the crew let out the cable and the parachutes began to pull them up and up until they were flying high above the sea.

  ‘I love flying and this is so good,’ she said. Excitedly, she clutched Gordon’s arm. ‘Look. I can see Villa Mimosa. How wonderful is that.’