BooksBarbecue
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

‘Good. I’m glad. She deserves some luck,’ he says, turning his back to the window and leaning against the work surface. I can feel him watching me. My hands are shaking as I season the sauce with sprinkles of sea salt and a grind of pepper. Heat rushes up my neck and into my cheeks. He’s still watching me as I carry the pot to the oven. There are so many unspoken words hanging in the air. I feel so distracted that I nearly drop the pot but Fabien steps in and steadies it. I can smell his aftershave, which reminds me of the lavender fields and pine trees, of being here, of home. I can feel him next to me and think my legs might give way. Fabien is here. When I need him, he’s always here. And right now I want nothing more than to give in to all the feelings that are consuming my body and mind. I turn slowly towards him and look into his green eyes. I look at his lips. He’s so much younger than I am, a voice says in my head. Why would he be interested in me? The nagging doubts swirl in my mind.

We look at each other, holding the big terracotta pot between us, wondering where this is going and searching each other’s face for answers.

‘Any more wine?’ says Lou, coming into the kitchen. I take the heavy pot from Fabien and slide it into the oven.

‘Of course,’ says Fabien, his usual charming self.

‘You’ll make someone a great husband one day,’ says Lou. ‘If only I were ten years younger!’ I blush.

‘And that you hadn’t sworn off men for life!’ I tease her.

‘I think Fabien could convince me there’s a second chance out there for me!’

Out of the window JB and Stephanie are laughing as they begin to relax in each other’s company, with Tomas’s help. Tomas is showing JB his rocking horse and how Ralph and he play chase together. Oh, and he’s moved on to his frog impression! Stephanie is about to burst with pride and happiness. This is her second chance! Fabien made it happen. It’s what he does, gives broken things new life. But, will there be one for me? I think of Ollie, his new life, his baby. Did he ever love me?

Fabien is holding the bottle and tops up my glass. ‘You made this happen, Del,’ he says, pointing to JB and Stephanie. ‘You brought this little family back together.’

‘You did! You were there for them this afternoon.’

‘None of us would be here if not for you. You are a very special lady and a beautiful one at that. You just have to realize it yourself,’ says Fabien. ‘Love yourself, and let yourself be loved.’

‘Come on, let’s join the others,’ I say, leading him outside, batting off his words.