BooksBarbecue
Back Escape to the French Farmhouse
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

The walk back to Le Petit Mas is like the longest mile ever. We all feel as though we have lead in our boots. Alain is mortified that someone would treat Henri and the project so disrespectfully and steal the box. I haven’t shared my thoughts about Cora yet. Not until I’ve had a chance to confront her. Tomas is fractious and only wants to be carried by Stephanie. JB takes her bags and she has the little boy in her arms along the path and back up the hill to Le Petit Mas, where Rhi’s waiting, having made a last visit to Henri before his return tomorrow. We’re now going to have to tell him about the missing honesty box and the unpleasant taste it’s left in all of our mouths. Suddenly a town, a community who lived contentedly side by side, is shattered and suspicious.

FIFTY-ONE

The following morning I make my way downstairs to be greeted by Ralph, who looks to be missing his new bed companion, Mimi, as much as I’m missing mine.

I look out of the window to see Lou, in her short dressing-gown, disappearing into the barn with a tray of coffee, croissants and orange juice. It makes me smile. The bakery van has been and there are croissants on the side for us all. I roll up my sleeves and start pulling out the ingredients for the day’s bakes. Stephanie is a little late this morning, but it will do her good to have a lie-in. I look around the kitchen for the book. And then I remember, it’s probably in her bag – she would have brought it back from the bistro. Maybe I should start the day with a new bake. Something from the heart of Provence, I think, and my spirits lift a little. I’m trying not to picture Fabien walking away from me last night, his hand raised in the air.

‘It’s okay, I understand. You don’t want to be with me.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. But I can’t! Fabien helped me remember who I used to be. I’m living in the now, and loving it, not living for the future. But I’m certainly not going back.

Stephanie’s bag is on the side, and I wonder if the book is in there. I can see something bulging and sticking out from the top. Then my blood runs cold.

FIFTY-TWO

‘Sorry I’m late. Tomas is teething.’ She stops and looks at me, as I reach my hand into her bag and pull out the honesty box.

She stares, wide-eyed, in apparent amazement.

I feel sick. I trusted her and thought she trusted me. She can’t have taken it! I know that! But what’s it doing there?