I see her to the door and reflect on the fact that family members are so often the cause of our problems. But I know only too well that it’s hard to walk away from them, even when their actions cause nothing but pain.
‘Let me know when the tables and chairs arrive, and I’ll come straight out and give you a hand. Remember, there will be a lot of people here tomorrow, by the sound of it, and help will be at hand if needed. It’s your special day and I’m sure he will respect that. You are his daughter, and he loves you – that’s why it’s hard for him to accept your new life here in Versailles. When he sees how happy you are it will change everything.’
She looks at me, putting on a brave face, but I can see she isn’t convinced. ‘I hope you are right, Lexie. I can’t thank you enough for your support; it means so much to me.’
‘Just in time,’ I call out, as Ronan steps in through the gates.
He hurries over, leaning in for a kiss as he gives me one of his wicked smiles. The look we exchange is an intimate one, as his hands slide around my waist. I kiss him back, closing my eyes for one brief moment and remembering last night.
‘Hmm. Right. What can I do to help?’
‘We have to clear this mountain of flowers. They weren’t due to be delivered until tomorrow morning, but at least they’re here. These big branches of cherry blossom need to be trimmed into stems of about ten inches. The jars are in that box and the bucket of water is under this table. If you can give a hand with that, I can start cutting the burlap into narrow strips to tie in bows to pretty them up.’
Ronan rolls up the sleeves of his pale blue cotton shirt. He looks rather smart today, but then he did have that trip to Paris.
‘Is the camera good to go?’
‘Yep. The bank transfer went through immediately, thanks, and I didn’t have to wait around. So, I’m just using these and cutting about here?’ He checks, picking up the secateurs and a three-foot-long branch, moving them down one of the stems covered in glorious blossom.
‘That’s fine. No longer than that though, or the jam jars could topple over as they’ll be top heavy with the weight of the blossoms. Two or three stems per jar. You are my hero!’
‘Hi, Ronan, thanks for helping out.’ Solange appears with a pile of bunting, a hammer and some tacks and he stops to kiss her on each cheek. ‘I’ll give you a hand with the burlap, Lexie, as it will need two people to put these up. One to hold the ladder as it’s going to be a bit wobbly on the cobbles.’
We form a production line and, once the jars are done, we put some gorgeous white lilies into tall metal containers and fill them with water.
‘We’ll put these out tomorrow, but for now they can be placed under the tables. We don’t want anything blowing over if the wind picks up during the night,’ Solange says. But looking up at the red-streaked sky as the sun begins to dip, I think it bodes well.
‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight is what they say, so fingers crossed. And there’s hardly a breeze at the moment, too. But doesn’t everything smell wonderful? Fresh, clean and sparkly,’ I remark, gazing around. The timing of the rain couldn’t have been better.
Just then, a handsome guy with dark hair and a bushy beard appears and hurries towards Solange, wrapping her in his arms. He kisses her on the mouth, and she squeals. Pulling back, I notice that she has no intention of letting him go and she turns towards me, her face beaming.
‘Lexie, this is my Philippe.’
He eases himself away from her, then steps forward to kiss me on alternate cheeks.
‘I ’ave heard so much about you, Lexie. Thank you for ’elping with the water leak and now… our party!’
‘My pleasure, Philippe, and it’s lovely to finally meet you.’
He immediately turns to Ronan and they shake hands.
‘What can I do to ’elp?’ Philippe asks enthusiastically.
Solange takes him off to sort out the bunting, leaving Ronan and I to finish off, then begin assembling the small tables and chairs ready to set them out.
‘How was your day? It all went smoothly?’ I turn to look at Ronan, who breaks out into a sardonic smile.
‘Yes. But it wasn’t any fun hanging around on my own. I did get some work done this afternoon, though.’
‘Oh, that reminds me. How many of the notebooks do you have? I thought there were fifteen, but I can only find twelve.’
He wrinkles his brow. ‘I’ll check. I must admit I haven’t had much spare time, but I know I’m still only part way through September. Sorry I’ve been so slow.’
Obviously, Ronan is now intent on wrapping up his own work so he can begin making plans. It’s time-consuming reading Grandma’s notes and maybe it’s something I’m best doing on my own anyway. But it did achieve one thing and that’s to bring Ronan and me together. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?
Renée appears with a tray of cold drinks and some little apricot tarts. We quickly assemble two of the tables and five chairs, then sit around for a while enjoying the ambience of a fine evening. Life couldn’t be more thrilling than it is right now, with so much to look forward to, and Ronan isn’t the only one desperate for everything to fall into place as quickly as possible.
24
Let the Party Begin!
When I awaken, Ronan isn’t lying next to me, but I can hear the sound of china chinking downstairs and several minutes later he appears with a breakfast tray.
‘Croissant and coffee for the love of my life.’
I push back the thin cotton sheet and pull myself up into a sitting position so he can place the tray on my lap. As he does so he stoops to steal a kiss, hovering for a few seconds and making me laugh.
‘Stop – we’re going to tip the tray over! What have I done to deserve breakfast in bed?’
‘Well, you’ve turned my life upside down, for one. I’ve been mulling over what to do about the house and I don’t think it’s the right decision to sell it. Not because I have any doubts at all about moving back to the UK, but—’
‘I’m relieved to hear you say that, Ronan. The house isn’t just bricks and mortar to you – it holds so many memories. It’s been in your family for too long to cut all ties with it just like that.’
He gingerly slides onto the bed next to me, resting one hand against my thigh. Leaning over to grab a croissant, he bites off the end, thinking as he chews.
‘The problem is that I need the money to tide me over when I move back to the UK. I don’t know how long it will take me to get a job. I suppose I could get an agent to list the house as a holiday let, but I don’t want you to feel that I’m not ready to make a firm commitment. I want us to be in a position to start afresh in a new place, together.’
I raise my hand to run it down the side of his stubbly cheek and he leans in to kiss me, this time more passionately. Sitting back, I don’t take my eyes off him.
‘I’m actually relieved you’re really taking time to think this through. What’s important is that you don’t make rash decisions you’ll regret at a later stage. Your dilemma, like mine, doesn’t change how we feel for each other. But we’re a couple now so you’ll move in with me, obviously, and we’ll manage until you’re settled workwise. Two can live as cheaply as one. Then we can look at getting a place together that we can afford maybe, so that you can keep the house here, too. That works for me, how about you?’