Karen Aldous - The Vineyard

Her mother would always complain about the mess animals made and was dead against another dog. Not that she was ever there anyway to clear up the mess, preferring her job and social life. Thank God she had her grandfather. Lizzie’s eyes filled again as she thought about her grandfather and the memories and regrets that overflowed in her head.

It was a long time before Lizzie finally relaxed into a much-needed sleep and very early when she awoke. Thierry was jumping all over her. She gave him a big kiss and explained to him that she and Aunty Sophie would be taking him on a holiday in the mountains. She then drew her child into her arms, brushed his dark hair with her hands, then held him closer to her and gave him a huge hug.

‘Mummy loves you so, so much. We will be just fine. You and me.’

‘Bonjour, Lizzie. Ca va?’ Marie-Claire stood at her bedroom door and Lizzie greeted her with a beaming smile.

‘Bonjour, Marie-Claire. Thank you, yes I’m ok. The trip was a little shorter than anticipated but I’m pleased to be home. The salon aren’t expecting me today so I’ll spend the day with Thierry – that is, if there’s nothing you have planned with him?’

‘Non. Nothing that cannot wait,’ replied Marie-Claire and she turned to make her way to the kitchen. ‘I’ll make the breakfast.’ She left mother and son in their loving embrace.

‘Come on Thierry, we can be getting washed and dressed. Let’s have a day out.’

***

Lizzie drove to Aix-en-Provence and parked her car.

‘Come on little man, we will have a walk round the market and look for some goodies and then I’ll take you to have a special lunch.’

The market was brimming with stalls containing appetising, fresh local produce such as vegetables, cheeses, nuts, breads, fine patisseries, cold meats, sweets, as well as beautiful fabrics. Thierry immediately spotted the sweet stall and both he and Lizzie had fun choosing from the delicious selection. Happy with his little mix of sweets, bagged by Lizzie as a small pacifier, they walked on to a cheese stall. Lizzie selected some Gruyere, Emmental and Reblochon, her favourite mountain cheeses, and they walked on through a narrow street to the wider Avenue of Aix town.

Thierry toddled along, joyfully clutching his mother’s hand as they reached the vintage clothes market stalls on the Cours Mirabeau: Lizzie’s heaven when she needed some escapism. She loved the wide selection of classic or haute couture from which to browse and choose, children’s as well as adults’. She found a beautifully tailored wool-mix suit, perfect to wear separately as well as chicly together with a plain top. For Thierry, she spotted some brightly coloured trousers and married it with a funky t-shirt. Her son gave an approving nod then immediately tucked his little hand back into his bag to select his next sweet.

‘Make that your last one sweetheart, we’ll stop for lunch soon and you won’t want to ruin your pizza, it’s your favourite,’ Lizzie said as they crossed the Cours Mirabeau.

‘Pizza?’ Thierry repeated. But before she could answer, Lizzie was stunned by a figure walking in their direction.

‘Errr… yes we can go to Chez Jo….’ She trailed off, tightening her grip on Thierry’s tiny hand. It was too late. The figure was approaching them. Her heart both pounded and whirled at once. Her throat dried, her head told her to flee, she could only hope he didn’t recognise her but he was in front of her now and there was no escape.

‘Hi, Lizzie isn’t it?’ Cal quizzed as she stared at him in disbelief. Not only had he recognised her but had remembered her name. Lizzie wanted to pinch herself, if only to calm her nerves. Without her brain’s consent she became instantly mesmerised by seductive eyes melting her like chocolate. His alluring scent threw her senses sideways. It was hard not to be weakened by his tall, strong body with its screaming presence. A confidence emanated from him as he spoke while hers, along with her mouth, went dry as she replied cautiously.

‘Yes. Hi.’

What on earth was he doing here and why? Her feelings were mixed. On the one hand she didn’t want anything to do with her mother’s toy boy. But she couldn’t ignore her attraction to him. Perhaps he was hoping to muscle in on her life as well as her mother’s. But surely he didn’t know she was here in Aix. Or did he? Surely her mother hasn’t sent him to follow her around. No. Her mother was many things, but surely not that desperate to have her followed. For goodness, sake she told herself, she was becoming paranoid now. But how strange!

‘Wow, I can’t believe my luck bumping into you like this. I’m in Aix on business but I was intending to head down to Cannes to look for you in the beauty salons. Your mother said you have a salon in Cannes so I thought I would take the opportunity to find you.

‘Why? Is my mother with you?’ Lizzie’s suspicions surfaced immediately.

‘Sorry no! But listen, I do have an appointment to keep now. Can I meet you tonight or tomorrow maybe? I would like to talk to you.’

Lizzie’s defences sprung up like a coil of wire had been released.

‘No, and to be honest, we have nothing to talk about. My mother and I have nothing to say to one another. In fact the further away I am from her the better. She has all she wants! No doubt she has sent you here.’ It wasn’t a question, rather a statement of fact. She spoke with such fierce animosity that Cal stood momentarily speechless. His eyes captured hers, weakening her. She squeezed Thierry’s hand tightly.

‘I have to go,’ she said.

‘But I thought you’d returned home to make amends.’

‘I don’t wish to talk about it.’

‘Lizzie, I want to help. Your mother was pretty upset when you left.’ He shifted his weight from one leg to the other in a gesture to stop her moving forward.

‘I doubt that. Anyway, we have nothing to say so, thank you for your concern. Goodbye.’

Lizzie moved forward to leave and could only drop her eyes down in shame with her outburst. She wasn’t usually so rude. Nor aggressive, her anger surprised her – she was angry with him just for helping her mother.

‘Lizzie, please, a moment of your time?’ One hand brushed her forearm very softly but the magnitude of the effect jarred her. Her body radiated an intense heat, an instant chemical reaction. She looked up at him, embarrassed, and searched his eyes. She wondered if he felt that fire too. He reached inside his jacket and was just about to speak again when she broke in.

‘I…don’t want…’ she stuttered, trying to get past.

‘It’s just my number in case…’

‘I don’t see any point. You’ll waste your time.’

‘Ok. Ok. That’s fine’. He said as he drew out a small card and pushed it deep into her handbag. ‘Give me a call if you change your mind. I’ll be here until Sunday afternoon’. Lizzie grabbed her bag to retrieve the card but Cal turned and left.

‘Come along sweetheart.’ She squeezed Thierry’s hand and strode off as quickly as she could, with Thierry almost running, in the direction of Le Rue Espariat. Briefly she halted to watch Cal as he crossed the Cours Mirabeau.

All through lunch at Chez Jo, Lizzie was on edge. She couldn’t believe how much Cal affected her. She cursed herself for being attracted to him. Why had she allowed him to get to her like this? What did he intend to do anyway? Did he really think she would forgive her mother? Did he know the full story, she wondered. After all he would only be aware of her mother’s version of events. Surely, their cosy little set up didn’t need her in their way anyway?

When they returned home, Marie-Claire was still out so Lizzie made some gingerbread men with her son before bathing him and dressing him for bed. After reading him a story, she was tired too and took herself off to bed. It was impossible to sleep though with so much playing on her mind.