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

It’s been a few days since we visited Serge and we seem to have found a rhythm to our working day. Stephanie is taking the desserts into town to deliver to Henri, and picks up payment. Delighted to be trusted, she gives me the money in full. After lunch, we turn the page in the old book and study the next recipe. I read it aloud in French and she translates, if necessary. Then I work out what we need to buy and how we’ll make whatever it is, adjusting our techniques to fit with the quirks of the oven. She and Tomas go back into town and pick up the ingredients, ready for baking the following morning. She brings me the change, showing me the receipt, making sure every cent is accounted for.

Fabien seems to find more and more reasons to come to the house. He likes to check on the lavender, he tells me. Every time he arrives, my stomach flips, hard though I try to stop it.

‘Fabien!’ Tomas greets him like an old friend, as Fabien scoops him up and kisses him on each cheek, as I imagine he does with his nephews and nieces. Ralph sits obediently, at Fabien’s word, when he puts Tomas down.

‘Bonjour, Fabien. How’s the brocante?’ I make polite conversation.

‘It’s busy,’ he says. ‘How are the plants?’

We all walk to the field, which is filling gradually with purple flowers, Tomas never leaving Fabien’s side and Stephanie close behind. We talk about the plants and the cakes Stephanie and I have made. It’s the only way I can distract myself and stop myself falling for him. He’s so good with Tomas, and Stephanie seems to adore him for that. I’m beginning to wonder exactly how she is feeling about Fabien and it’s starting to worry me. I think she may have a crush on him, and I don’t want to see her hurt. He’s too young for me, but too old for Stephanie. Perhaps I should warn him about how she may be feeling.

Monday’s market is much better than it was last week. We set up our stall and watch people pass between the two marketplaces, barely seeing us in the shadows. Again I offer samples, but the French, out early, aren’t interested. Seeing this, Stephanie pulls back the hoodie she hides behind in public and talks to people as they pass, telling them about the farmhouse, how we’re growing lavender again, and they turn to welcome me. Some even stop and buy from me.