Page 15 of The Girlfriend
L AURA TWEAKED THE VASE OF FLOWERS IN DANIEL’S—WHAT WOULD be Cherry and Daniel’s—bedroom.
Provence was renowned for its early-summer blossoms, and the fields of poppies spilled out into the roads.
She’d picked great bunches, along with honeysuckle-scented brilliant yellow broom.
The bed was made with crisp broderie anglaise sheets and she looked at the final effect, pleased.
There was food in the fridge and a bottle of wine chilling, ready for when they arrived in about, she looked at her watch, twenty minutes or so.
She moved around the villa, a typical Provencal-style house, checking that everything was tidy and welcoming.
Finally satisfied, she went out onto the sunny terrace, from which she could see the whole of the Saint-Tropez peninsula.
She gazed out at the gleaming white yachts, tiny dots in the distance, some moored, some gently drifting in the breeze.
She felt different when she was here. The house in London was Howard’s; this was her escape and over the years it had been a place of refuge when things had gotten on top of her at home.
Since she’d gone back to work, she only got here a few weeks a year; whenever she did, it was like coming back to an old friend.
It was particularly gratifying to be here now because their neighbors in London had started construction the day she left.
They were embarking on their own basement extension and the excavator was deafening; vibrations were throbbing right through their house.
The builders had already tripped a power cut and it had been a relief to get on the plane.
It seemed the whole of Kensington was digging underground.
A labyrinth of tunnels and vast chambers.
Laura had visions of whole sections of London collapsing into one great big pit.
A brief thought crossed her mind: How would Howard cope with the disruption?
He hadn’t been able to come to France due to work commitments.
The answer came just as quickly. She knew he wouldn’t be staying at the house; he’d be at Marianne’s.
She quickly brushed this painful thought away.
For two weeks at least, she could escape everything, and Daniel, no doubt, was pleased to be coming here as well.
She knew he had lots of studying to do and there wasn’t much chance of getting it done with the cacophony next door.
Cherry would be with them until Monday night, and Laura had lots of plans for her visit.
She really wanted to show her around and get to know her a bit.
She was looking forward to making this trip special for her, wanted the villa to be a place she could relax too.
Laura had an idea they might bond, become friendly. It would be nice.
Hearing a car on the gravel drive, she turned and went back through the house, opening the front door wide. Daniel had parked the rental car and was hauling out the luggage from the trunk. Laura opened her arms and went to hug Cherry. “Welcome! So glad you could get the time off!”
“Me too,” said Cherry.
“Come in. Are you tired? Do you need a drink?”
It was early evening and gloriously warm.
Cherry looked up at the house. The shutters and windows were open and gauzy white cotton curtains were caught against window frames.
She was already liking what she saw. She let herself be taken inside and fussed over.
She took in the large, airy reception rooms, with their big, open fireplaces, and the French country-chic kitchen, with gleaming teak worktops.
She accepted a glass of chilled sauvignon .
“How was your flight?” asked Laura.
“Good, thanks.”
Cherry’s attention was taken by her surroundings and she didn’t really engage with Laura’s polite conversation.
She continued to gaze around the kitchen and was struck by a painting on the wall above her, a vivid oil color of russet-roofed buildings around a sandy-colored square, with yachts on an azure sea in the background.
“What a beautiful painting!” she exclaimed.
“Isn’t it?” said Laura. “A local artist.”
“Is it of Saint-Tropez?”
“Yes. Of course, there are stacks of painters down in the village, all excellent, but this one, he’s one of the best. We’ve got a few more dotted around the house.”
“My absolute favorite is on the landing,” said Daniel, coming in behind them and putting his arm around Cherry. “‘Les Pins.’”
“‘The Pines.’ Sounds wonderful.”
Daniel looked up at the picture. “It’s fantastic, isn’t it?
I’ve always loved this artist. She’s got good taste, eh, Mum?
These are worth quite a bit now. He’s become pretty famous.
I love them. One day, I might buy a painting for myself, if there’s ever one available.
Most of the time, they have sold stickers on them. ”
“Would you like to see outside?” asked Laura.
Cherry followed her hostess through some large glass doors onto the terrace and caught her breath.
Beyond the large, gleaming pool was the blue of the Mediterranean, a heart-soaring expanse that fused into the hazy sky.
Lured by what she could see, Cherry walked toward the garden wall, dotted with red geraniums and leaned over to get a better look.
Far below her lay the tops of the russet roofs of Saint-Tropez, which she’d just been admiring in the painting.
And the yachts! There were so many of them.
It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
“Bit of a rubbish view, eh?” said Daniel, joining her.
Cherry blinked. Speechless, she burst out laughing.
“We can go and explore later,” Laura said enthusiastically. “Show you around. And we’ve got an invitation from Isabella for dinner. ”
“Mum’s oldest friend,” explained Daniel. “Is Brigitte here?”
“Yes,” said Laura. “Brigitte is Isabella’s daughter,” she added for Cherry.
Cherry smiled politely.
“Hope you’ve got lots of stamina,” said Laura.
“I’ve got loads of ideas for your stay. Thought you might like to go and take a look at some of the vineyards, it’s so beautiful up in the hills.
And, of course, a little tour of the village here—it’s classified as one of France’s ‘plus beau villages, ’ and we can go to the beach, obviously, and I thought maybe you’d like to take a drive up the coast to Cannes?
Anyway, there’s loads to do, you can just go at your pace. ”
Cherry smiled along, but she inwardly prayed that she didn’t have to share her entire weekend with her boyfriend’s mother.
* * *
The first event was dinner at Isabella’s villa down in Saint-Tropez itself.
Cherry had just had enough time to shower and change and spent a stressful ten minutes wondering what she should put on.
Did the moneyed dress up? Or did they just do expensive casual?
Cherry didn’t know and eventually settled on a fairly simple—and cheap—cotton dress.
She couldn’t afford much of a vacation wardrobe and the dress was something she’d bought when she was in Australia. She hoped it didn’t look too faded.
Cherry noticed Isabella’s eyes went to her first as she opened her wooden front door, even though she was busy helloing those she knew.
“Oh, you darling boy,” said Isabella, embracing him tightly. “I don’t see you for months and then you spring this”—she turned to Cherry and beamed—“lovely surprise on me.” She wasn’t unfriendly, but her gaze was most definitely one of assessment, of ego-laden curiosity, thought Cherry.
“Brigitte’s going to be devastated, you know. . . .”
Daniel laughed. “I think she’s got better taste.”
“Nonsense. Still, what’s done is done, and what a wonderful couple you make! And I, for one, am delighted to meet you, Cherry.”
“Likewise,” said Cherry, although she mistrusted the jovial lament.
She didn’t really want to be meeting a load of strangers that included a girl who, it seemed, might hold a candle for Daniel.
She was already feeling tired at having to fake smiles.
And who was this girl, anyway? Was she some kind of ex? Cherry felt vulnerable not knowing.
“So, shall we come in, Izzy?” asked Laura, raising a stern eyebrow.
Daniel held Cherry’s hand as they were led into the garden, where she was greeted by another breathtaking view.
A curved infinity pool hugged the edge of the hillside, beyond which was the sea, its azure blue broken up every now and then with spray from the tufts of gentle waves.
Lying by the pool were two svelte, perfectly tanned girls.
“Look who’s here, Brigitte,” called Isabella, and the tawny brunette squealed in delight.
She jumped up from her sunbed, her small, pert breasts jiggling in their bikini top.
As she came over, she threw her arms around Daniel, pressing her breasts against his shirt.
Cherry stiffened, taking an instant dislike to her.
“It’s so good to see you. We missed you at Courchevel this year. Where were you?”
“Studying,” said Daniel briskly, “as I was the year before that, and the one before that.” He took Cherry’s hand. “This is Cherry.”
Cherry found herself moving in closer to Daniel and clutching his arm.
“Hi,” said Brigitte, noting her move. “You don’t have to worry about me, we’re like brother and sister.”
Cherry smiled tightly, feeling awkward.
“Hello, Auntie Laura!” Brigitte called, and waved. “This is Nicole,” she said, gesturing toward the long-limbed girl still on the lounger, who Cherry noticed had been watching the introductions.
Nicole slowly got up from the sunbed and made her way over at a speed that meant everyone had to watch and wait for her arrival. She kissed Cherry coolly on the cheek, but her greeting was far more friendly for Daniel. “It eez very nice to meet you,” she said with a lingering smile .