you are,” Malik said. “Promise me no more ignoring my calls.”
“I promise,” Suzette said. “Just don’t hound me. I really and truly need the time and space to decide what the future holds for me.”
Chapter Eleven
Libby
Libby had to admit having Helen around to lend a hand with the routine auberge chores was a big help. With so many breakfasts to prepare, serve and clear up afterwards though, it was nearly eleven o’clock Sunday morning before Libby was able to begin to relax for the day. She’d promised to show Helen around a local beauty spot followed by lunch at a riverside restaurant.
Libby took the sight of the sun trying to break through the clouds just as they were leaving for Châteauneuf-du-Faou as an auspicious sign and folded down the roof on Bella before they set off.
“This holiday is going so quickly,” Helen said as Libby negotiated one of the many bends in the road leading down to the small town.
“That’s probably because I’ve been working you so hard,” Libby said. “I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a beautiful part of France. Oh look at that chateau across the valley,” Helen said. “It’s pink.”
Libby laughed. “That’s Trévarez—known locally as The Pink Chateau for obvious reasons. Don’t think we’ve got time to go there today. Next time you’re over we’ll go. You’ll love exploring the grounds. Peter would be interested in the chateau’s wartime history too I think.”
Libby parked in the centre of the small town and they had a coffee at a flower-decorated pavement café before returning to the car and heading down the long hill to the river. Before starting their walk alongside the river, Libby booked a table for lunch at one of the waterside restaurants.
“Right—let’s work up an appetite,” she said, moving to one side of the path to let a woman with two excited border collies on leads pass. “We’ll go this way.”
They stopped to watch a group of young boys launch canoes and, with lots of encouraging shouts to each other, begin to head upstream. Libby and Helen stood for a few moments longer, letting two cyclists and a jogger pass before moving on. As the path followed the river and wound away from the houses they heard a series of barks and yapping in a field bordering the path. A large notice by the entrance proclaimed it to be the local dog-training session.
A dozen or so women were standing in a long line, each with a dog at their side. One by one the dogs were paraded up and down the line in an effort to try and convince the instructor they were well behaved.
“Isn’t that your vet boyfriend?” Helen asked indicating the instructor, who was standing apart from the line watching and occasionally offering a quiet word of advice. “Think he’s got quite a fan club going there with women of a certain age. There isn’t another man in sight.”
Libby nodded. “Yes it’s Lucas. But he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Well he did ask you out,” Helen said. “Still can’t understand why you didn’t accept.”
“Like I told you and him—I’m too busy.” Libby laughed as a young border collie slipped its collar and made straight for Lucas, jumping up and down and running around him. “I’d love a dog again,” she said, watching the collie and remembering Tess, the dog who’d been a part of their family for over fourteen years. She, Chloe and Dan had all been devastated when Tess had died—just six months before Dan himself. “Maybe I’ll look out for one when summer is over and I’ve got more time.”
“Then you can join this class and Lucas can help you train it,” Helen teased her. “Look he’s seen us.”
Acknowledging Lucas’s wave with one of her own and a friendly smile Libby said, “Come on, let’s leave them to it and get back to the restaurant.” She wished Helen would stop going on about her getting together with Lucas. As far as she was concerned that was
“I promise,” Suzette said. “Just don’t hound me. I really and truly need the time and space to decide what the future holds for me.”
Chapter Eleven
Libby
Libby had to admit having Helen around to lend a hand with the routine auberge chores was a big help. With so many breakfasts to prepare, serve and clear up afterwards though, it was nearly eleven o’clock Sunday morning before Libby was able to begin to relax for the day. She’d promised to show Helen around a local beauty spot followed by lunch at a riverside restaurant.
Libby took the sight of the sun trying to break through the clouds just as they were leaving for Châteauneuf-du-Faou as an auspicious sign and folded down the roof on Bella before they set off.
“This holiday is going so quickly,” Helen said as Libby negotiated one of the many bends in the road leading down to the small town.
“That’s probably because I’ve been working you so hard,” Libby said. “I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a beautiful part of France. Oh look at that chateau across the valley,” Helen said. “It’s pink.”
Libby laughed. “That’s Trévarez—known locally as The Pink Chateau for obvious reasons. Don’t think we’ve got time to go there today. Next time you’re over we’ll go. You’ll love exploring the grounds. Peter would be interested in the chateau’s wartime history too I think.”
Libby parked in the centre of the small town and they had a coffee at a flower-decorated pavement café before returning to the car and heading down the long hill to the river. Before starting their walk alongside the river, Libby booked a table for lunch at one of the waterside restaurants.
“Right—let’s work up an appetite,” she said, moving to one side of the path to let a woman with two excited border collies on leads pass. “We’ll go this way.”
They stopped to watch a group of young boys launch canoes and, with lots of encouraging shouts to each other, begin to head upstream. Libby and Helen stood for a few moments longer, letting two cyclists and a jogger pass before moving on. As the path followed the river and wound away from the houses they heard a series of barks and yapping in a field bordering the path. A large notice by the entrance proclaimed it to be the local dog-training session.
A dozen or so women were standing in a long line, each with a dog at their side. One by one the dogs were paraded up and down the line in an effort to try and convince the instructor they were well behaved.
“Isn’t that your vet boyfriend?” Helen asked indicating the instructor, who was standing apart from the line watching and occasionally offering a quiet word of advice. “Think he’s got quite a fan club going there with women of a certain age. There isn’t another man in sight.”
Libby nodded. “Yes it’s Lucas. But he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Well he did ask you out,” Helen said. “Still can’t understand why you didn’t accept.”
“Like I told you and him—I’m too busy.” Libby laughed as a young border collie slipped its collar and made straight for Lucas, jumping up and down and running around him. “I’d love a dog again,” she said, watching the collie and remembering Tess, the dog who’d been a part of their family for over fourteen years. She, Chloe and Dan had all been devastated when Tess had died—just six months before Dan himself. “Maybe I’ll look out for one when summer is over and I’ve got more time.”
“Then you can join this class and Lucas can help you train it,” Helen teased her. “Look he’s seen us.”
Acknowledging Lucas’s wave with one of her own and a friendly smile Libby said, “Come on, let’s leave them to it and get back to the restaurant.” She wished Helen would stop going on about her getting together with Lucas. As far as she was concerned that was
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