Chapter 5

Fran Childs was indeed in the lounge, giving her son a kiss and hug.

Josette looked on until Fran stood and opened her arms to the young girl. Josette looked across to her mother who gave an imperceptible nod, before Josette walked across shyly into the embrace of Stephen's mother. Then all three embraced before returning to seats in the lounge.

"How? Why? I didn't expect this."

"No, of course not; but I couldn't leave you for ten days after the trauma you faced. As you will see, I had to tidy up some loose ends before being able to join you here."

(Jeanne translated the story as it unfolded to her daughter)

"So how have you been able to come now?" Stephen asked.

"It is a bit of a long story, but I will go through it slowly. Firstly, I am on holiday as you are. I have been in daily contact with Jeanne to make sure you were OK. Jeanne invited me to come and stay.

"I also had an ulterior motive for allowing you to come to this part of France with the Grays. I had no idea what sort of people they were, but I wanted you to see this area without my interference."

"Why?" Stephen asked incredulously.

"You know I work for a large DIY chain in Britain as a manager. Well, from time to time managers from our French subsidiary come to receive further training at Head Office. One French manager came on a three month placement and that placement is coming to a close now. We met and fell in love."

"That's brilliant" Stephen said. "You have needed someone special for years since Dad left, and you got divorced from him."

"The next thing you need to know is that I have been accepted as a District Manager for our French subsidiary initially for a probationary period. This will be for a group of DIY stores in, and around Perpignan."

"That's brilliant, Mum. Does that mean that we will be moving to this area for a time at least?", he said looking across at Josette who was looking elated.

"Yes", she said, "and Jeanne has agreed to rent us the gite for the whole of the winter period for my probationary period at a very generous rate. After that, if all has gone well we will buy a property near here."

"So what about this partner? Stephen asked with a catch in his voice."

"You have seen your father at his worst when you were younger. He hurt you and he hurt me. You have also been hurt so recently that it would be unforgivable for me to introduce a new man into your life before the wounds have healed for you, so do not worry."

"Why, shouldn't I worry about a new step-father that I have never met before", Stephen asked with a very obvious tremble in his voice."

"You will have to make your decision about worrying or not, after you meet my partner this evening. I have booked a table at a local restaurant on Jeanne's recommendation, but you do not need to worry about a new step-father because my new partner is a woman!"

The air could have been cut with a knife at that point. Stephen looked at his mother, then at Jeanne and as Josette. He stretched out his hand to Josette who crossed the floor to sit beside him on the armchair. He put his head onto her breast for no more than half a minute as the room held its collective breath.

His head rose displaying a modest smile. "I shall be delighted to meet your lover this evening, but I also have a revelation to make. Josette has become most precious to me in recent days. I need her to be with me when I meet your new life's partner. I love her so much I could burst."

"Josette wiped a tear from her eye as Fran Childs gathered both children into her arms once more."

"Of course Josette may come. Jeanne has been saying how you two have been bringing sunlight into their lives here, and I am delighted that you also have a good, no, not good; brilliant reason for staying here now."

"So, have you a photograph of this woman who has grabbed your heart?"

"Not just a woman. Her name is Frédérique, and this is her photo."

Stephen and Josette looked at a woman dressed stylishly in a trouser suit that emphasised her bust and masked her hips... Her hair was dark and well cut. She looked a little taller than Mum's 5 ft 5in and perhaps slightly younger. "Frédérique you say. I think she looks like a Frédérique."... and everyone laughed.

Fran tapped the sofa on either side of her and Josette and Stephen sat either side of her. Now tell me what has been going on between this son of mine and this delightful French Miss since I last saw you. Having read French at University, Fran was happy to listen to Josette's tale in French and Stephen's in English. Somehow neither of them seemed to mention the valley and neither thought it strange at all!

The shadows were drawing out as the tales finished. Jeanne had passed drinks and snacks round at appropriate intervals, but had otherwise kept in the background. Marianne had arrived during the afternoon, but had been shooed out until Jeanne had explained to her what was going on.

"We must get ready to go out", Fran said, "looking at her watch. The table is booked for 8pm."

Josette went off with her mother, first for a shower, and then to get dressed for this special occasion.

Fran showed Stephen that she had bought him a new shirt, tie, slacks and shoes for the occasion. So, one shower later, new clothes and some careful treatment with hair gel and a brush and he was ready.

When he hurried downstairs there was no one to be seen, so he sat expectantly in Jeanne's lounge waiting for something to happen.