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

Nonno stands stiffly. ‘I’m going to the restaurant.’ I pick up my cup to finish my coffee and leave with him. ‘Sit, enjoy your breakfast and the sun. Take your time. We are not on city-lawyer timings here! Help your grandmother. Meet me at the restaurant when you’re ready. You can help me make the pizza dough for tomorrow.’

‘Come sempre! Just like always!’

‘Just like always.’ He smiles.

He looks exactly the same, but the stiffness and tiredness were never there before. I must make sure I help as much as I can while I’m here so that when I leave he’ll be back to his sprightly self. ‘Don’t worry, Nonno. I’m here to help. You’ll be back to your old self in no time. The restaurant won’t know what’s hit it. Everything will be just the way it was.’

He smiles again. ‘Meet me at the restaurant, Lucia. There is something I want to discuss with you,’ he says, and I suddenly feel it’s something serious.

I glance round for Nonna. ‘Ha!’ I try to laugh. ‘As long as you’re not going to tell me you’re planning to do something crazy like retiring!’ I laugh loudly and wait for Nonno to join in. He doesn’t. ‘Nonno?’ Again, I look for Nonna, who’s standing by the door now. She’s not laughing either.

Nonno nods. ‘It’s time, Lucia. It’s time to retire.’

And my whole world rocks on its axis.

THREE

‘But retiring!’ I stand up, away from the work surface in the restaurant, flour and dough on my hands. ‘You? Retiring?’

‘Keep kneading,’ Nonno says. ‘Don’t leave the dough.’ He carries on working it, just as I’ve watched him for years, focused and concentrated on each ball he rolls and kneads.

‘It’s time, lovely,’ he says again, not looking up from the table. Nonno still has Welsh expressions, which he uses even though he hasn’t lived in or visited Wales for more than thirty years.

‘But, Nonno, the doctor said you were fine. A little more rest …’ I roll the ball, then stand and look at him again.

‘Careful with that dough!’ he says. ‘Start it again. You must treat it with respect. Firm but consistent.’

The dough had been rolled out into a long line and cut into pieces ready for my arrival. Now all we have to do is knead it into balls and let it rest. But I’m feeling far from restful.

‘But, Nonno!’

‘I know, I know.’ He holds up a floury hand. ‘We never thought this day would come either. But’ – he looks straight at me – ‘it’s time.’ His eyes fill with tears and so do mine.