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

For a moment there is silence and I feel guilty. I had a husband, a life, and walked out on both. Not for anyone else, but because I was unhappy. Was I just feeling raw after losing Mum, after the failed IVF? Would we have found our way back into each other’s hearts if I’d stayed with him? Is Ollie showing he still loves me by sending Rhi and Lou over? My head starts to hurt. Just when I thought everything was clear in my mind. I look at Fabien. Did I feel like this when I first met Ollie?

‘Welcome, and how can I help today?’ He is nearly his usual cheery self and I almost can’t bear to hear it. ‘You have come for souvenirs to take home?’

‘Erm, no.’ I clear my throat. ‘Actually, Fabien, I need bedroom furniture, for my guests.’

‘I see.’ He nods. ‘You are staying, ladies? A holiday?’

‘Yes.’ They seem as unsure about why they’re here as I am. ‘Just until everything here is sorted.’

‘Sorted?’ says Fabien.

‘Just until …’ Rhi trails off. What was she going to say? Until they’ve persuaded me to go home? To go back to Ollie? Because he still loves me and this is just a blip?

‘Just for a while,’ I finish the conversation.

‘Then I look forward to seeing you around, ladies, both of you.’ He grins, and Lou smiles warmly while Rhi practically faints at his feet.

‘You look around and I will find what you need,’ he says. ‘Del? Would you like to join me?’ He gestures for me to follow. And I do.

He starts climbing over some furniture at the back of the barn-like building.

‘I have some more beds back here,’ he says loudly, for Lou and Rhi’s benefit, and then, in hushed tones, ‘How is Stephanie?’

‘She’s fine. Just a bit … upset. She thought … She likes you.’

He shrugs kindly. ‘It’s my fault. I should have realized. She is hurting.’ He looks at me and my heart flips over and back again. I turn my head away quickly, unable to find the words or the strength to keep my promise if I’m looking at him.

‘And all because of “a silly kiss”,’ he whispers. And I feel like I’ve been slapped across the face. I look up at him as his chin lifts, his eyes narrow. ‘I got carried away, I’m sorry.’

‘Look at these lamps! Only ten euro!’ Rhi is exclaiming. ‘We’ll take them.’

‘And this,’ says Lou, of a bundle of bedding.

Fabien is still gazing at me, the warmth gone from his eyes. I have no idea what to say.

‘You … agree?’