Listening to Max explaining about what he would be doing, Belinda tried hard to concentrate. Difficult when all she could think of was ‘this time next year they’ll have left’. Apparently, Max would be going over on his own for a few weeks, coming back at weekends to help Chloe pack the house up. Their actual move to France would happen in the autumn. Max brought up the website on his laptop and showed her pictures of the marina and the big yachts that were based there already. One photo showed the large hotel that was part of the complex. If she went perhaps she’d be able to get a job there. Mentally she dismissed the thought as soon as it arrived. With Max overseeing things at the marina she wouldn’t want the question of nepotism being raised.

As she left, Chloe gave her a tight hug. ‘Please come with us, Mum.’

Belinda hugged her back but didn’t answer her daughter.

On the way home, her thoughts went round and round in circles. Why was she surprised at this turn of events? Max was ambitious and determined to give his family a good life. She should have anticipated the possibility of Max and Chloe moving away. She’d missed the twins so much the last few weeks while she’d been in France – how was she going to cope with longer separations? Missing milestones in their lives. Not birthdays and Christmas because she’d definitely join them for those important dates. No, it was things like their first day at nursery, visits from the tooth fairy, learning to ride a bike, teaching them to bake biscuits. Everyday things she would still be part of if she went with them. She wanted to be a part of their young lives like Mami had been in hers and her own mum had been with Chloe.

Belinda brushed the tears away as she climbed the stairs to her flat. Talk about being at a major crossroads in her life with NO idea which way to turn. Embrace yet another new beginning like Chloe wanted and go with them? Or stay put and… and what?

26

Tuesday afternoon and Anouk’s move to the auberge was underway. After a week of toing and froing, her possessions were installed in the large downstairs bedroom at the back overlooking the countryside that she’d chosen, rather than an upstairs room. Fern had done her best to make it more than just a bedroom. She wanted Anouk to feel it was her own space with some of her own things around her. The cane chair, the three-drawer modern chest, the bedside tables and the small dressing table had all been removed. Fern knew she was indebted to Scott for his help in carrying them out into the garage for storage. Not an ideal place, but it would do for now until she could find somewhere else.