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Back The Lollipop Shoes
Chapters (96)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Book
  3. The Lollipop Shoes
  4. Dedication
  5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  6. PART ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. PART TWO
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. 6
  19. 7
  20. 8
  21. PART THREE
  22. 1
  23. 2
  24. 3
  25. 4
  26. 5
  27. 6
  28. PART FOUR
  29. 1
  30. 2
  31. 3
  32. 4
  33. 5
  34. 6
  35. 7
  36. 8
  37. 9
  38. PART FIVE
  39. 1
  40. 2
  41. 3
  42. 4
  43. 5
  44. 6
  45. 7
  46. 8
  47. 9
  48. 10
  49. 11
  50. 12
  51. PART SIX
  52. 1
  53. 2
  54. 3
  55. 4
  56. 5
  57. 6
  58. 7
  59. 8
  60. 9
  61. 10
  62. 11
  63. 12
  64. PART SEVEN
  65. 1
  66. 2
  67. 3
  68. 4
  69. 5
  70. 6
  71. 7
  72. 8
  73. 9
  74. PART EIGHT
  75. 1
  76. 2
  77. 3
  78. 4
  79. 5
  80. 6
  81. 7
  82. 8
  83. 9
  84. 10
  85. 11
  86. 12
  87. 13
  88. 14
  89. 15
  90. 16
  91. 17
  92. 18
  93. 19
  94. Epilogue
  95. About the Author
  96. Also by Joanne Harris

I laughed. ‘Well, for one, it isn’t my shop. And for another – I might just consider sitting for you – but only if you try my hot chocolate.’

Well, that was that, as Anouk might say. Another victory for the chocolaterie. Jean-Louis and Paupaul both came in; bought chocolate and stayed for an hour, during which time Jean-Louis had not only finished my portrait, but also two more – one of a young woman who came in to buy truffles and quickly succumbed to his blandishments, the second a portrait of Alice, commissioned on impulse by Nico, dropping in for his usual.

‘Any room for an artist in residence?’ said Jean-Louis as he stood up to leave. ‘This place is amazing. It’s changed so much.’

I smiled. ‘I’m glad you like it, Jean-Louis. I hope everyone feels the same.’

Well, of course, I haven’t forgotten that Thierry comes back from his trip on Saturday. I’m afraid he’ll find things very different – poor, romantic Thierry, with his money and his quaint ideas about women.

It’s the orphan quality in Vianne that first attracted him, you know; the brave young widow fighting alone. Fighting, but not successfully; spirited, but ultimately vulnerable, Cinderella waiting for her prince to come.

That’s what he loves about her, of course. He fantasizes about rescuing her – from what, exactly? Does he know? Not that he would ever say so, or admit it, even to himself. It’s there in his colours: a supreme self-confidence – a good-natured but unshakeable belief in the combined power of his money and his charm – that Vianne mistakes for humility.

I wonder what he’ll make of it, now that her chocolaterie is a success?

I hope he won’t be disappointed.

9

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Saturday, 1st December

TEXT MESSAGE FROM Thierry last night.

I’ve seen 100 fireplaces, but not 1 of them has warmed my heart. Could it B that I’m missing U?

See you tomorrow,

Love, T xx

It’s raining today; a fine ghostly rain turning to mist on the skirts of the Butte, but Le Rocher de Montmartre looks almost fairylike, gleaming out from the still, wet streets. Sales today surpassed all expectations, topping a dozen customers in a single morning, most of them occasionals, but with a few of our regulars as well.

It’s happened so fast – barely a fortnight – and already the change is astonishing. Perhaps it’s just the shop’s new look; or the scent of melting chocolate; or the window display that catches the eye.

In any case, our clientèle has multiplied, bringing in locals and tourists alike, and what began as an exercise to keep myself in practice is starting to become a serious occupation as Zozie and I try to meet the growing demand for my range of hand-made chocolates.