The Riviera (31 page)

Chapter 32

Lizzie was still half asleep when she realised her phone was buzzing beside her. She grabbed it, and seeing the name on the screen instantly created a jolt in her belly. She swung her legs out of bed.

‘Cal?’ Her heart drummed so loud she could hardly hear.

‘It’s Jack.’

Her mouth parched. ‘Oh. Hello, Jack. How are you?’

‘Sorry it’s early but I’m just so excited. I just went online and got my results. I got an awesome pass and, as it’s my last day at college too, I want to celebrate later. Can you guys come?’

‘Jack, that’s great news. Congratulations! Yes. That would be great. My mother and Michael are here. Would you mind if they come along too?’

‘Yeah, cool. I’m gonna ring Gran. Could you ask Sophie, Charles and Angus? I’ll text you the details.’

‘Yes, of course, but Angus is in Scotland’

‘Oh.’ Disappointment sank his voice. ‘Real shame.’

‘He may be back some time later in the week. Jack, I’m so pleased for you. Makes up for the disappointment about the antiques too. We’ll see you later.’

Excited but let down all in one fell swoop, she leapt from her bed knowing at least she would see Cal later. He must be so relieved Jack had done so well, and so proud. One thing did light her candle though: Cal must have agreed to come along knowing she would be there.

In the salon, Lizzie couldn’t wait to find Sophie and relay the good news. Sophie said she was keen to join them and would tell Charles. She also supported Lizzie’s change of heart to speak to Cal to try to patch things up.

‘You seem like a new person today. Why don’t you see who is free this afternoon and have a pampering session? You deserve it, sweet.’

Lizzie’s eyes sparkled back at Sophie. ‘Do you know what? I might just do that.’ She worked until two and then spent the remainder of the afternoon treating herself to a face and neck massage, manicure, and a much needed haircut and styling. After trying several times, she spoke to Caroline on the mobile. Her mother and Michael would be along later. They had taken a trip out to Saint-Paul-de-Vence so, she told them to meet at her apartment at six-thirty. Marie-Claire had said she would try to get Thierry to have a sleep so that he could stay up a little longer. Lizzie suddenly felt so much more alive and was really looking forward to having her close friends and family back together. And Cal. Although, she guessed the evening could be tense. He hadn’t called her back last night nor this morning. Ideally, she wanted to clear the air before she saw him. On the other hand, if she managed to upset him before Jack’s celebration, she could risk upsetting the whole evening. She decided it was best to leave well alone and see how things panned out later.

They strolled along Rue d’Antibes and Rue Félix Faure before making the climb to Le Suquet and into Charly’s Bar. Jack greeted them as they arrived, beaming from ear to ear as each of them congratulated him. Lizzie handed him his gift and hugged him.

‘Well done, I had every confidence in you of course so it didn’t come as a great surprise you scored well,’ she told him, feeling his body tremble. A few of his student friends sat along benches by the bar. Lizzie peered around the cave-like room searching for Cal. She had to hand it to him, Jack had made an excellent choice for the mixed-age group. The music varied from sixties to nineties which seemed to put a smile on Caroline and Michael’s faces.

Jack swiftly swept up Thierry and took him along to meet his college friends. Thierry soon entertained them with his rucksack full of super-heroes. Marie-Claire joined the students, leaving the more seniors, Caroline and Michael, to tuck themselves in on the more comfortable bench along the wall. Lizzie stood at the bar.

‘Is Cal bringing Rose?’ Lizzie asked Jack.

‘Yes, they should be here soon.’

‘OK.’ Lizzie glanced at the table which contained a few empty glasses and wondered if she had enough cash. ‘What does everyone want to drink?’

‘Here, I’ll get these.’ Michael rose to his feet.

‘No. Just tell me what you want.’

As Lizzie ordered the drinks for Marie-Claire, Jack and his friends, her gaze crept repeatedly to the entrance. As she passed drinks across from the bar, she took a quick glance each time. Her nerves were beginning to fray. It was a concoction she likened to a roller coaster, exhilaration one minute and absolute fear the next. She searched the screen on her phone. Ten minutes had passed since they’d arrived. The next time she peeked up, Rose was slowly meandering into the cave.

‘Jack, go and see Rose through. It’s dark in here.’

‘Gran.’ He absently slammed his glass on the table and dashed to meet her.

Rose’s face brightened as she captured the sight of her grandson.

‘I’m so proud of you, my darling,’ she told him throwing her handbag over his shoulder as she embraced him.

As she neared Lizzie at the bar, Rose’s floral perfume hit the air. Lizzie kissed her and introduced her to Caroline and Michael. They shuffled along so that Rose could sit down beside Caroline. Lizzie’s eyes resumed their watch on the door waiting, she assumed, for Cal to park his car. The moments stretched to minutes.

‘Rose, what would you like to drink?’ she asked and immediately Cal’s presence was evident. He was at the entrance with Charles and Sophie. Her heart was thudding in dissonance to the music. He walked towards the bar, his hands in his jeans pockets, his light turquoise polo shirt stark against the bronzed hues of his skin. Her hands began quivering as she tried to keep a grip of her purse. As he came closer, Lizzie got the full force of his familiar scent, which immediately whirled her to dizziness. She yearned to fall into his arms there and then. There was no mistake the power this man had over her. She stood facing him, waiting. She was smiling, anticipating his acknowledgement, but he continued talking to Charles.

Sophie skipped past him. ‘You look gorgeous,’ she told Lizzie throwing her a quick hug and kissing her cheek. ‘God, you’re stiff, and trembling,’ she whispered.

Lizzie nodded, then realising he wasn’t intending to make this easy, she blinked. ‘Rose, sorry. What did you want to drink? Sorry. Hi, Sophie.’ She turned and listened to Rose’s request.

‘One rosé wine,’ she yelled to the barman, ‘for Rose. Sophie, what are you drinking?’

‘Shall we get a bottle of Prosecco?’

‘Yes. And, Charles and Cal, what are you drinking?’ She raised her voice again as the chatter increased.

‘Oh er, yah, a beer for me.’ Charles rubbed his cheek and motioned his hand for Cal to respond.

‘Same.’ His head barely turned and Lizzie’s head fell along with her chest.

She faced the barman once more and gave the additional orders. ‘And an orange juice. A small glass please.’

Sophie rubbed her shoulder. ‘Give him time. He’ll be fine after a few beers.’

‘God, I don’t know what I was expecting. I’m being naïve to think he would be nice to me after last week.’

Sophie kept her voice low. ‘Oh, I told you, he knows Angus’s mother is sick. Charles was talking to him the other night.’

Lizzie was now opening her purse and counting out her cash.

‘Here, I’ll go halves with you,’ Sophie said taking out her purse.

Barman paid, Sophie took the glass of rosé and the glass of orange and placed them on the table for Rose and Thierry. As Lizzie handed out the beers, both Charles and Cal made a nod and a polite ‘Thank you’.

Lizzie and Sophie took their bottle and glasses to a tall table next to the bench seats and perched on their chairs. Lizzie could hardly concentrate on Sophie’s conversation being in such close proximity to Cal. What was so important that he couldn’t make an effort?

She took a deep breath. ‘Excuse me a moment, Sophie.’ She jumped down from the chair and boldly approached him.

‘Cal, everyone has drinks. Shall we make a toast?’

If looks could kill, she thought, as his eyebrows raised to her indignantly. Her skin crawled at his evident distaste. She stepped away and back onto her chair feeling like a wounded child. She rolled her eyes to Sophie waiting for his announcement.

‘I’m guessing one is still extremely mad.’

‘Be patient.’ Sophie shared her words of wisdom.

‘Lizzie, Lizzie,’ Rose was calling and Lizzie jumped down again to hear her.

‘I’m not interfering, sweetheart, but I hope you two are going to make up. You do realise he hates that Kelly girl and he wouldn’t hurt you. That’s all I’m saying.’

Lizzie’s lips curled up as she bit her lip. ‘Oh, bless you, Rose, I think I may have some explaining to do.’

‘I hate to see you both so bloomin’ miserable.’

Lizzie heaved. Was anyone on her side? It was best she didn’t say any more to Cal’s mother. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that her son wasn’t even interested. Rose smiled and with a wink turned her head back to Caroline. Michael looked as though he was looking to escape to the man’s quarters. Lizzie then felt Cal’s eyes resting on her and she moved rigidly back to her seat. He seemed so cold. Maybe she’d approached him all wrong. Perhaps she should take him to one side and make an apology. Or maybe she shouldn’t have come. Perhaps he hoped she wouldn’t.

Jack and his friends were getting louder and more animated which attracted Cal’s attention. His head turned and then he swung round. He signalled to the barman who duly sent out a waiter with a tray of slender champagne flutes filled with sparking liquid. As soon as the waiter had served them all, the music was turned low. Lizzie squirmed inside. She really should have known better. She remembered so clearly, this was of course, Cal’s style.

‘OK, if I can have your attention for a minute please. I just want to boost my son’s ego a little bit more and I know some of you are keen to remind me of my duties as a father.’ His eyes slid across to Lizzie. ‘So I’d just like to say firstly a few words about Jack. He obviously knows how I feel because I couldn’t hold back this morning, but I do wish to express to everyone else how very proud I am of him.

‘He had been through some pretty tough months and gruelling challenges, but, throughout, he has got his head down and stayed focused. And, in the process, grown tremendously as a person. Not only has it been a pleasure to spend time with him after years of brief visits, but to be with him at such a monumental time in his life has been both rewarding and enlightening.

‘We have learned a lot about each other, and he’s even had the opportunity to learn about himself and what he wants for the future. So now Jack has achieved this outstanding result, he has printed his ticket to any college he desires, well, virtually. So Jack, our huge congratulations. I’m sure I speak for everyone here in wishing you everything you wish yourself. Join me please,’ he lifted his glass, ‘in a toast to…Jack!’

‘To Jack,’ everyone cheered raising their glasses. And, like many others, Lizzie sniffed and wiped her eyes.

She peered over at Rose who was sobbing her little heart out and searching her bag for more tissues, tears streaming to her chin. Caroline soothed her, circling her hand on her back. Michael whispered to Caroline and headed for Cal.

Immediately Cal acknowledged him he stepped forward to greet him.

‘Michael, good to see you. Oh, and Caroline. I must apologise. How are you both?’ He reached over to greet Caroline with a kiss. Lizzie kept a vigil as he embroiled himself in conversation with them. Meanwhile, Charles joined Lizzie and Sophie.

‘Thank you again for hiring out your apartment to Mum and Michael. I promise they’ll leave it spick and span,’ Lizzie assured Charles.

He put down his empty champagne flute. ‘My pleasure. It looks so much brighter since you gave it a paint makeover. I heard the girls were a little messy.’

Lizzie laughed. ‘Yes but it’s all sorted. Cal and Jack’s room was immaculate.’

‘Bloody good job if he’s moving in next week.’

Lizzie gasped, feeling a kick in her stomach ‘What’s wrong with his place?’

Charles switched his glance to Sophie and back at her. ‘You’d best speak to him.’

Oh, no, he couldn’t be moving out of Domaine Margot permanently. Blood rushed to her head. His dream. His Provençal vineyard. Had she now destroyed all that too? Maybe he had decided to sell up and go to London. She needed to speak to him. The thought of losing him was unbearable. She felt physically sick. Observing him from her chair, she waited for an opportune moment. She was determined not to get this wrong. She had to approach him with caution and use the same logic. They shouldn’t discuss their relationship here. It was Jack’s well-deserved celebratory night. She sipped the last of her champagne as the waiter collected the glasses. Cal and Michael obviously had a lot to chat about. Thierry was quite happy, she noted, still entertaining his new student friends as well as Jack, Rose, and her mother. She poured herself another drink and when she looked back, Cal was at the bar ordering more drinks.
Damn!
Michael was with him. They were still deeply engrossed in conversation. She shook her head and held up her glass as he asked what she wanted, her heart melting just meeting his eyes. As soon as he walked clear of the bar, she approached him. Michael took a step back as she drew close. She cleared her throat feeling her chest pound.

‘Excuse me, Michael. Cal, could I have a quick word?’

Cal shot Michael a smile. ‘Be back in a tick.’ He took her elbow and led her to a chair across the room. Just his touch on her skin sent shivers surging through her.

She climbed onto the chair. ‘Look. I don’t want to go into a full-scale discussion here. I really wanted to ask if we can meet up at some point. To talk about us.’

‘Is there any us?’

Her blood ran cold making her shudder. She looked down at his arms, the yearning she felt to be in them almost bringing her to tears. What did he mean exactly?

‘I want there to be, and I’m hoping you do.’ She searched his sultry eyes for clues.

He sat back and folded his arms. Lizzie couldn’t tell if he was teasing or if he was just showing contempt. She ran her hand over her lips unsure whether to speak.
Stay quiet!

He’d lost interest she could tell. He couldn’t decide, that was for sure. The silence was cutting but it was a simple question, either he did or he didn’t! Her eyes locked on his while his scent swooned into her with each inhalation.