BooksBarbecue
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

‘Fabian had another go at me about the auberge being half his and wanting to live here.’ Fern sighed. ‘It does seem unfair when you look at it from his point of view.’ She pushed a piece of broccoli around her plate before glancing at Belinda. ‘Can I run something past you? And please will you give me your honest opinion?’

Belinda nodded. ‘Of course.’

‘I’m thinking of suggesting that Anouk moves in with me. And Fabian takes over her house. I’m not even sure that she’ll agree. I know she’d prefer to spend the rest of her days in her own home, so the chances are she’s going to say no.’

‘Do you get on with her?’

‘Yes. Anouk is lovely. She is getting increasingly frail though, and I know at some point in the future, if she does come and live with me, I’d end up as her carer. Which is something I’m happy to do.’

‘Would you still run the auberge?’

‘Yes, but more like a B&B – no evening meals. I have to keep some income coming in and there would still be five bedrooms available for guests.’

‘Would Fabian be happy about moving into Anouk’s house and not this one?’

‘He’s already suggested we house-share. He’ll inherit his grandmother’s house in due course,’ Fern said quietly. ‘As well as this one.’

‘It’s a colossal decision to make, which will impact hugely on your life, as well as Anouk’s,’ Belinda said as she studied her friend. ‘I know you’d be doing this for Anouk, someone you’re very fond of, but it’s one hell of a commitment to take on someone you’re not technically related to. She could live for another ten years. What happens to your own life in that time? You put it on hold?’

17

Waiting for the first woman to turn up for her interview about the receptionist’s job, Belinda began to tick things off her action plan. The shop cleaned and spruced up, tick. All current painting jobs done, tick. Picnic tables pressure-washed and placed in position, tick. Boules pitch down by the entertainment area, tick. Manager’s house clean and tidy, tick. Office ready for action, tick. Not that there would be a lot of action, Easter would be like a dry-run experiment for the season when, hopefully, everything would be in tip-top condition. Information board, tick. She glanced across at it in position already by the door.