Page 99 of The Missing Sister

‘There you are.’ Ginette handed her an old envelope on which she’d jotted down the names and numbers of threeimmobiliers.

‘Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. The food was amazing.’

‘Merci, Ally, I am happy you enjoyed yourself,’ she said as she led Ally to the front door. ‘You and Jack seemed to be getting on very well,’ she added, opening the door.

‘Oh, that’s just because we both speak English,’ Ally said, feeling her face getting hot. ‘He seems like a very nice guy, though.’

‘He is, and it was good for him to have someone who spoke his language. I worry he feels left out from our conversations over dinner, but what can you do?Bonne nuit, Ally.’

‘Bonne nuit, Ginette, and thank you again.’

Ally woke up the following morning, rolled over to check the time on the old clock radio, and was stunned to see it was past ten o’clock.

She rolled onto her back, spread out her arms and legs and enjoyed the sensation of feeling rested – albeit with a slight headache from too much wine. Reaching for her mobile, she checked there had been no overnight messages from Atlantis, then saw a text from Star saying,Call me!

Not inclined quite yet to break the feeling of peace, she got out of bed to make coffee, then sat cross-legged on the soft mattress, sipping it and looking out of the window across the vineyard. She couldn’t remember when she’d last enjoyed an evening more than last night. The gorgeous setting, combined with the convivial and welcoming company, had been a joy. There’d been lots of laughter around the table, and of course, her conversation with Jack had been a minefield, but still, a pleasure too.

They’d spoken so openly, like she used to with Theo, yet the two men could not have been more different: Theo, an intellectual at heart, despite his ‘day job’ as a sailor, and Jack, intelligent and obviously thoughtful, but a less complex soul than her fiancé. Even in the looks department, Theo had not been tall, even though he was strong, and his tanned skin and dark hair contrasted completely with Jack’s height and fair features. ‘Ally, honestly!’ she chided herself, feeling almost as if she was betraying Theo by enjoying another man’s company. But it was the first time she had done so since his death, and it was okay to make a new friend, whether they be male or female, surely?

Is that all it is, though...?

‘So why didn’t you tell him about Bear, or come clean about why you’re really here?’ she murmured as she stood to top up her coffee.

The truth was, she didn’t know – or maybe didn’twantto know – the reason just now.

Her mobile rang on the bed next to her, and having checked it wasn’t Atlantis but Star again, Ally didn’t feel up to speaking to her until she’d got her thoughts in order. Her feelings of guilt intensified as she thought about Jack’s honesty, when she was here under completely false pretences.

Sighing, she picked up the mobile and placed a call to Atlantis. ‘Hi, Ma, how’s Bear?’

‘He is perfect, Ally. I’ve just taken him for a walk, and now he is sleeping peacefully in his pram in the shade of the oak tree just beyond the terrace—’

‘Where you used to put all of us,’ Ally finished for her with a smile.

‘And how are you,chérie? How is my beautiful Provence?’

‘Beautiful indeed. Thecaveowners I’m staying with are lovely too and I slept really well last night. So thanks to both you and Maia for persuading me to come. How is she, by the way?’

‘Oh, the same,’ Ma said, ‘but... well, it is the way these things are,n’est-ce pas?’

Ma knows Maia is pregnant, Ally thought instantly.

‘She is in her Pavilion, sorting through a few things she wishes to take back to Brazil,’ Ma continued, ‘and making it ready for when Floriano and Valentina arrive. She has her mobile if you wish to speak to her, but I should tell you that Star is eager to get in touch with you. Perhaps you can call her?’

‘Of course.’

‘When do you think you will be back, Ally?’

‘As soon as possible, but I’ve still got some information to gather.’

‘Take as long as you wish,chérie, I am loving my time beinggrandmèreto your dear little boy.’

‘Thanks, Ma. Give him the biggest hug from me, won’t you?’

‘Of course. Goodbye, Ally.’

Having dressed in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, Ally munched on some now rather stale baguette with butter, and decided she must go and find the nearest supermarket to buy supplies. Pulling on a cap and sunglasses to try to stop the incessant march of the freckles across her already pink-tinged face, she went and sat outside to enjoy the mellow morning breeze while she spoke to Star.

‘Hi, Ally, how are you?’