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Back Escape to the French Farmhouse Save as PDF
Chapters (79)
  1. COVER
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Jo Thomas
  4. DEDICATION
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. FORTY-FOUR
  49. FORTY-FIVE
  50. FORTY-SIX
  51. FORTY-SEVEN
  52. FORTY-EIGHT
  53. FORTY-NINE
  54. FIFTY
  55. FIFTY-ONE
  56. FIFTY-TWO
  57. FIFTY-THREE
  58. FIFTY-FOUR
  59. FIFTY-FIVE
  60. FIFTY-SIX
  61. FIFTY-SEVEN
  62. FIFTY-EIGHT
  63. FIFTY-NINE
  64. SIXTY
  65. SIXTY-ONE
  66. SIXTY-TWO
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. RECIPES
  70. Lavender shortbread
  71. Apricot jam sponge cake
  72. Lavender lamb
  73. READ MORE
  74. Prologue
  75. ONE
  76. TWO
  77. THREE
  78. FOUR
  79. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

‘Is what what I really want, Ollie?’ I snap.

‘Is it really over for you? Is there no way we can get over this?’

‘No, Ollie, it’s really over.’

‘You’re sure? I want to be clear that this is what you want.’

‘I’m sure.’ I sigh, needing to get off the phone. ‘We agreed. You get the money in the account and I get the house.’

‘And that’s okay with you, is it?’

‘Yes. If you need me to sign something, just send it on. Now, I’ve really got to go, Ollie.’

‘And you’re staying in France for good,’ he says.

I sigh again. ‘If I can, yes, I’m staying right here in Le Petit Mas.’ My home, I think.

Suddenly there is silence and I wonder if he’s going to say something else. But I really don’t have time. ‘Okay, Ollie? I have to go.’

‘Right, but, Del?’

‘Yes?’ I’m about to press ‘end call’.

‘I’m sorry, okay?’

‘Really, nothing to be sorry about. We just have to be happy in our new lives,’ I say, and mean it. ‘But I have to go.’

‘I feel I should explain,’ Ollie says.

My heart sinks. We’re about to go over old ground. ‘Ollie, I’m sorry. We’ve been over this. No need for any explanations. We’re living our own lives now. I have to go.’

‘Goodbye, Del.’

‘Goodbye, Ollie,’ I say quickly. I throw the phone on to the table and pick up the note again.

‘What’s up?’ says Rhi.

‘Is Ollie okay?’ asks Lou. ‘Did he talk to you? He said he was going to phone. Explain.’

‘It’s not Ollie that’s the problem.’ I look at the two of them, who glance at each other. ‘It’s Stephanie!’ My mouth goes dry. ‘She’s gone!’

TWENTY-NINE

‘Gone?’ they say at the same time.

‘She can’t have gone! Not with Tomas here!’ says Rhi. If they’re looking as devastated as I feel, this must be happening.

‘Look.’ I hold out the note and slowly lower Tomas on to the chair, his ever-faithful companion Ralph by his side. He reaches out and puts one hand on top of his head.

Rhi takes the note and passes it to Lou.

We all look at it, written on a paper bag from the greengrocer.

Dear Del, Thank you for giving me and Tomas a home. Tomas has been so happy since he moved here. This is the kind of life I dreamed of for him. I cannot give it to him. But you can. And so I have decided to leave and let him have a life with someone who can do better than me. Please tell him I love him and have done this because I love him and want the best for him. Do not try to find me. This is for the best. Stephanie. x