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

I grab a T-shirt and shorts, and rummage for my phone charger. I can’t see it in my case or my handbag. I slap my forehead. Must have left it on my desk in my hurry to leave the office. I’ll deal with it later. I know I won’t hear anything about the promotion until Monday at the earliest. Right now, I want to be sitting in the sun with my coffee. I hurry downstairs, leaving my phone by my bed. My tired brain and body are craving Nonna’s coffee. Two weeks here was exactly what I needed. I’m so glad I came. I can see for myself that Nonno is doing well and I’m glad I didn’t put off coming just because the promotion will be announced next week. It’ll make no difference that I’m away, Anthony said, and insisted I take my annual two weeks’ leave.

‘Come, sit, tell me more about life back in Wales,’ says Nonna, as I kiss her and Nonno, then sit down and let the sun do its job, massaging my tight shoulders. I can feel them loosening as I hold my face up to its warmth.

‘How is your work?’ asks Nonno.

‘What he really means is, have you found a young man yet?’ Nonna laughs.

I laugh too. It’s one of their first questions every time I speak to them, and no matter how they try to wrap it up or hold off asking, it’s never far behind.

‘No boyfriends. Nothing serious anyway.’ Actually nothing at all, but I don’t say that. ‘There’s never time, really. Maybe once I get this promotion.’ I remember my phone upstairs. I’ll need to buy a charger. But after I’d messaged Mum last night to say I’d arrived, I’d promised her I’d switch it off and not look at it, at least until Monday, and have some proper time off. And that is what I intend to do. Have some proper time off.

‘I can come into the restaurant and help out today,’ I say, as Nonna puts down a basket of bread, a dish of butter and a pot of homemade orange marmalade.

‘I’d like that.’ Nonno smiles. I can’t help but notice he looks tired again today. ‘But only if you want. You’re on holiday, remember!’

The smell hits me before the plate arrives at the table. ‘Sfogliatelle!’ I exclaim. ‘My favourite!’

‘That’s why I sent Nonno out early to get them. Now, eat,’ Nonna commands.

I help myself to one of the shell-shaped flaky pastries. ‘You can stay here and rest if you like,’ I offer, sinking my teeth into the pastry and reaching the creamy ricotta filling. Oh, heaven! ‘I’ve missed these,’ I say, reaching for the thick, black coffee Nonna has poured for me. ‘It’s soooo good to be back!’

Nonno chuckles.