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

‘Now, à table, dinner is served,’ says Henri, one last time, and rings a little brass bell by the counter. The diners slowly move towards the serving hatch. And Fabien comes to me. Is he upset that I’ve decided to stay? Cross that he will have to see me, after I’ve hurt him?

‘Del!’ It’s Lou and Alain, hand in hand. She’s waving at me. She barely has a scrap of makeup on, her face tanned, freckled and happy.

‘Del!’

Fabien stops in his tracks. I just hope he’ll still be there when I’ve spoken to Lou. I owe him an apology and must tell him I’ll try to stay out of his way.

‘You two look happy!’ I smile.

‘We are!’ Lou says, and Alain’s beautiful smooth face beams too. ‘Alain and I, we’re … Well, I’m going to stay on in France.’

‘Oh, that’s lovely news,’ I say and hug her.

‘Not with you. We’re going to get somewhere of our own. And we’ll look for a business. A small house with some land, so we can grow things and sell at market.’

For a moment I’m dumbstruck. Lou, my friend who hasn’t committed to any relationship since her husband died and who hasn’t worked in years, let alone ever got her hands really dirty, is going to look for a smallholding to buy with Alain.

‘Aren’t you pleased?’ She seems crestfallen.

‘Pleased? I’m stunned and delighted!’ I throw my arms around her again and the fragrant-smelling Alain.

‘He’s loved working on the lavender plants so much that we want to do something ourselves,’ she says. I can’t believe how much my dear friend has changed in such a short time. ‘We’ll be neighbours. We don’t want to go too far,’ she says.

‘And you’re welcome to stay on at Le Petit Mas until you’re sorted,’ I say. ‘In the barn or the house, whichever suits.’

Alain smiles. ‘I’d like that. In the house would be very acceptable, thank you,’ he says.

He’s finally able to move back into a bed, alongside Lou, and they’re making a new life for themselves, putting the hurt of the past behind them.

‘Now go and eat,’ I tell them. ‘If I know Henri, there’ll be plenty.’

Fabien is talking to the mayor. He sees me and beckons for me to join him on the river path once more. I nod. And as I do, Carine is there. ‘Chérie!’ she says. ‘I’ve found you at last!’

‘Carine!’ I look for Fabien, who shakes his head and laughs.