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

‘If you want to,’ I say cautiously. It must be her decision. I don’t know JB so I can’t know if this is a good or bad thing. I can only be there for her.

‘I’ve decided. I want to find JB. I want him to meet his son,’ she says. ‘He may not want me, but I hope he’ll want Tomas. I think that’s why I like Fabien so much, because he likes Tomas. I want the best for my boy.’

My heart and stomach lurch at the sound of his name. ‘I know you do. Come on, then. Let’s find JB and see if we can introduce him to Tomas. Do you know where we’re going and how to get there?’

She nods, with an excited smile on her face.

Soon the five of us, including Tomas, are on the bus. Once Rhi and Lou emerged from their long, peaceful night’s sleep, we went into town and we’re on our way. It’s hot outside but the bus is cool. Rhi is checking the salon on her iPad, using the free Wi-Fi, checking bookings and giving clear instructions to her staff about clients she would usually handle and how they like their hair. I know what a sacrifice she has made to come out here. Lou is checking her reflection in the tinted window, thinking I can’t see her doing it but I can.

We travel to a smart, plane-tree-lined neighbouring town. We get off the bus.

‘This is lovely,’ says Rhi. ‘We could have lunch?’ she suggests, and we all frown at her. ‘After we’ve found JB, of course,’ she adds hastily.

‘Why didn’t we just find him on Facebook, like everyone else?’ asks Lou.

‘Stephanie felt, and I agree, that Facebook isn’t the place for this kind of conversation. She’d rather meet him face to face.’ And I’m nervous for her.

It’s a much newer town than Ville de Violet. Small and neat. Everything in its place. There aren’t the older properties of our town, or its quaint cobbled streets, characterful archways and alleys. There is a cream-coloured town hall, and a sparkling fountain in the middle of the main square, a big new chemist, next to a huge supermarket, and floral decorations on the roundabout.

‘This way,’ says Stephanie, holding Tomas close to her.

We follow her off the main street into an estate of small, neat houses. I can tell we’re getting close when her footsteps slow. She seems to be making a different journey of her own.

‘Is this where you grew up, Stephanie?’