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

We walk into town, past the clearing by the river, carrying the cakes carefully between us. Just a few people are there, a couple playing chess, all sitting in the shade of the big pine tree.

‘Bonjour,’ they greet us.

‘Bonjour,’ I say. This time Stephanie doesn’t hurry past but greets the group with a small smile. The smile of someone who has found a little bit of contentment.

After dropping off the desserts and drinking a coffee with Henri, we head back to Le Petit Mas. Stephanie spends the afternoon cleaning the gypsy caravan and there are moments when I think I hear her singing. I sit in the shade outside and wonder what else I’m going to do. I’m making desserts and biscuits for Henri and the stall, but will it be enough? I look at Le Petit Mas. Could I make a go of this place as a chambre d’hôte? A place for people to stay and benefit in the way Stephanie, Tomas and I have?

I sit down with a pen and some paper, looking out over the bare field that undulates away from the farmhouse to the river that is the boundary to our land. Across the valley, sunflowers nod, and the field of lavender is so purple it seems unreal.

As I’m sitting there, notebook in hand, I hear a car pull into the drive and Ralph’s enthusiastic greeting. Who’s he knocked over now?

I stand and walk quickly around the corner. To my annoyance my stomach flick-flacks when I see Fabien’s truck and Ralph sitting up smartly as Fabien pats him.

Carine slides out of the cab, dusting herself down with a glance of disgust at her mode of transport. She comes over to me and kisses me. I look at Fabien, just behind her, and he leans towards me to greet me. I haven’t seen him since he found me yesterday with Henri, having lunch, and it feels weird that I haven’t explained why it happened. But I’m pleased Carine’s there as Fabien leans in to kiss me, without touching me. My skin leaps at the smell of his.

‘I brought the table back. All fixed,’ he says.

‘That’s so kind of you. Henri says I can leave it in the restaurant from now on,’ I say. ‘Save you bringing it to and fro.’

‘Henri?’ Fabien raises his eyebrows and I think he’s going to follow it up with ‘Again?’ But he doesn’t. I have to explain that Henri is just a friend. I’m not looking for a partner. But now isn’t the time. ‘I’ll drop the table there, then,’ he says.

‘And I just came for the ride to see how you were settling in and if you’d thought any more about my idea of the chambre d’hôte,’ says Carine.