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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

He nods, with a small smile, says he’ll be back when he’s seen Henri, then walks over to Stephanie and kisses her on each cheek, like he kissed me. He kisses Tomas, who is delighted to see his friend and hugs him. Then Fabien shakes JB’s hand and puts his other arm around his shoulders in a brotherly way. He’s asking him to mind the brocante, pointing. JB looks at Stephanie, who nods and shoos them away, laughing. My heart swells, as Fabien and JB walk up the cobbled street towards the main road and across to the brocante. Fabien still has his arm around JB. They see me and wave.

Lou and Rhi are at Le Petit Mas. Rhi has a surprise for Alain, she told me last night, and will meet me at the riverside clearing this evening.

After the lunchtime rush, Stephanie packs up the stall and becomes the waitress at the bistro. Tomas delivers bread to the tables and brings a smile to everyone’s face. Especially when he helps himself to a piece of bread before delivering the basket, or drops a piece on the floor and tries to return it to the basket. Stephanie intervenes to the customer’s amusement. Each plate goes out with a little sprig of lavender from the bunch I brought from home. A little nod to the old recipe book, which has lavender at the heart of every dish.

Then coffees are served, after I’ve wrestled with the machine and finally worked it out with the help of a friendly customer. The place is filled with good wishes for Henri, and I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt so tired, so happy and so at home. After the washing-up has been done, Stephanie, Tomas and I sit down to eat together, in front of the window, with a small carafe of wine, and watch the world go by. Anyone looking at us would be forgiven for thinking we were a family finishing our day’s work and eating together. I feel so lucky to have come here, stayed and met these people. And I’m going to make sure I keep this bistro going until Henri is home and ready to take over. I feel blessed to be surrounded by such love. I know Mum would be very proud of what I did today. I could hear her as I cooked, right beside me, watching over me, guiding me, just like I did with Stephanie when she was learning to make the biscuits. I may never have children of my own but I feel as if I passed on the love in that kitchen, from Mum, to me, to Stephanie, who will pass it on to Tomas. That kitchen helped us all to find our way in life again.