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Back A French Affair
Chapters (54)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. Epilogue
  51. Acknowledgments
  52. More from Jennifer Bohnet
  53. About the Author
  54. About Boldwood Books

‘Good. Fancy a slice of pizza in about five minutes?’

‘Just a small slice. I’m not that hungry,’ Belinda said.

Alain looked at her. ‘Where do you want to eat, out ’ere or in the kitchen?’

‘Here please. I’ll come and get plates and glasses,’ Belinda said.

Five minutes later, Alain placed the pizza on the table and pushed it towards her. ‘Eat.’

Belinda picked up the smallest slice she could see and dutifully started to eat. Three mouthfuls in and she realised she was in fact starving and she devoured two more slices while Alain watched her in amusement.

‘Nigel phoned,’ Belinda said between mouthfuls. ‘Did he tell you he’s sold the other two hotels and probably this place?’

Alain nodded.

‘Apparently the new owners will keep me on in Riverside until the end of the year, if I want to stay. What about here? Are you going to stay and work for the new owners if this place sells?’

‘Definitely.’

Belinda looked at him. ‘Aren’t you worried about them? Don’t expect them to be as easy-going as Nigel has been over everything here,’ Belinda said darkly. ‘And what about Bernie. You’ll have to warn him. Where will he end up if he has to move?’

‘I make sure Bernie will be okay and the village will rally around to ’elp. Don’t worry. Everything will work out,’ Alain said. ‘More pizza?’

Belinda stared at him, puzzled. How could he be so laid-back about this latest turn of events? What if the new owners insisted on major changes like, heaven forbid, Alain’s dreaded pods being installed. No, she figured, Alain hadn’t yet thought it through properly. It was nothing to do with her, she didn’t even live here, but she felt sick at the thought of the possible changes that the new owners would want to make to the campsite. There were sure to be unforeseen effects spreading out like ripples on the river.

37

The next morning, Belinda phoned Chloe and told her about the hotels being sold as well as, probably, the campsite. ‘If I don’t agree to stay on until the end of the year, my job and home will disappear in a few weeks.’

‘Oh, Mum. What are you going to do?’

‘Right this moment, I have no idea.’ Belinda sighed wearily. ‘I hadn’t planned on changing my job or losing my home this year.’

‘If you decide not to stay with the new owners you can come and live here until we move or you could find a new place.’ The hesitation was clear in Chloe’s voice as she added, ‘It would mean you’d be free to come to the Vendée with us without worrying.’