Page 8 of Don't Believe A Word

‘Have you heard from your children yet?’ Richard shouted in Cristy’s ear.

‘Just,’ she shouted back.

Laughing, Richard, who was very like David to look at, only shorter, greyer and stockier, raised his glass to ‘absent friends’ as his wife leaned in to say, ‘I saw you talking to Juliette earlier. How did it go?’

Having struck up an easy rapport with Astrid over Christmas, Cristy was able to say, dryly, ‘To quote David,Elle est très française.’

Astrid threw back her head as she laughed, while Cynthia said, ‘She’s a canny one is Juliette, and frankly, I’m not too sure she’s happy about you being here.’

‘She’s not,’ Cristy confirmed, but decided not to elaborate. Juliette, with her swanlike neck, voluptuous mouth and boyish cap of sleek dark hair, could have stepped straight from the pages ofVogue.And this evening she was all chic sophistication and supreme elegance in a black silk sheath dress that showed the toned perfection of her shapely body to an annoying degree. It was no wonder David had been captivated by her, she was sensational and sensual to an almost indecent extreme.

‘You look stunning,’ Cristy had told her, trying to be friends, while already knowing it wasn’t going to happen.

‘Sank you,’ Juliette had responded in a throaty French accent. ‘David has always had good taste in women.’ She hadn’t even tried to temper the immodesty with a smile, unless of course it was meant as a compliment to Cristy as well. ‘How long are you staying?’ she’d asked, her eyes holding to Cristy’s as she took a sip of her drink.

‘I’m not sure,’ Cristy replied, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of knowing she was planning to leave in the morning, weather permitting.

‘I do hope we have some time to get to know one another,’ Juliette smiled. ‘I hear you’re quite fascinating.’

Cristy wanted to laugh, so she did. ‘It’s lovely of you to come and see the New Year in with Laurent,’ she said.

Juliette’s pretty head tilted to one side. ‘How could I not when David was so insistent?’

Touché,Cristy thought, feeling the warmth drain from her smile.

‘He gets very lonely here all alone on this island,’ Juliette continued. ‘I feel bad for ’im, but it was not possible for me to stay. I adoreParis, it is in my blood, and there is too little here in the way of sophistication. I am sure you have found the same,non?’

‘Not really,’ Cristy replied smoothly. ‘I think it has a lot going for it.’

Appearing surprised, Juliette said, ‘So will he persuade you to stay?’ Before Cristy could reply she leaned in closer and whispered, ‘I sink it is only fair to tell you that ’e ’as asked me, only today, if I’d reconsider moving back here. Not only for Laurent’s sake, you understand, for his too. You see, we still have a strong connection, and neither of us can quite break it, though I am not sure that we try very ’ard.’ She drew back to gaze deeply into Cristy’s eyes before raising her glass to her lips again and turning to greet someone close by.

There was no sign of her now, not that Cristy was keen to find her. However, with David also missing she couldn’t help wondering …

‘OK, everyone!’ Richard shouted above the din. ‘Time to get your coats if you’re going outside. Heating’s on in the garden room if you want to watch from there. Three minutes to go!’

‘Garden room?’ Astrid invited, linking Cristy’s arm.

Allowing herself to be ushered along with the others, Cristy looked around for David again, but there was still no sign of him. Deciding he must still be down at the lake she took the frosted flute of champagne Astrid was passing and followed Cynthia to the huge picture windows. Though it was inky dark outside there was a small sea of torchlights bobbing about in the valley, reflecting on the water and making everything seem spectral and enticing.

‘Where’s David?’ Cynthia cried in Cristy’s ear.

‘I’ve no idea,’ Cristy shouted back.

‘He should be here. Oh, will you look at Rosie out there without a coat.’

It was only when everyone was yelling ‘Happy New Year’ and the first fireworks soared and exploded into the sky that Cristy finally spotted him outside, walking quickly towards the house.Then she saw Juliette, watching him from the entrance of a gazebo, and it was impossible not to think that they’d just stolen some moments together.

Feeling the phone buzz in her hand she checked the screen. It was Matthew, her ex-husband, wishing her Happy New Year in spite of it still being only four in the afternoon where he was, in LA.Can we talk?I need you. Mx

‘Cristy! Happy New Year!’

She looked up to find Sadie and Anna bearing down on her, both slopping champagne over their fingers, eyes bright with excitement.

‘I’ve found some more,’ Sadie told her as they embraced. ‘It’s only a few pages, but it’s definitely the same story.’

‘There you are!’ David cried, taking Cristy’s arm and turning her around. ‘I’m sorry for missing the big moment, but Happy New Year.’

‘Oh God, they’re going to snog,’ Anna groaned. ‘There’s something really ick when it’s your father.’