Rendez-Vous in Cannes. Jennifer Bohnet

Poppy said, going into the kitchen with its views out over the patio towards the swimming pool.

      Just then Tom ran into the kitchen. ‘Mummy, can I have one last swim before Miss Carson gets here? Oh, you’re here already,’ he added, seeing Anna.

      ‘Tom, please say how do you do to Miss Carson,’ Poppy said. ‘Then go back to the cottage. I’ll be there in a moment to get your supper.’

      Anna held her hand out for Tom to shake. ‘How do you do, Tom? My name is Anna.’

      ‘How do you do, Anna,’ Tom said seriously. ‘Do you like swimming?’

      ‘I do indeed and I guess you do too.’

      Tom nodded. ‘Only now I can’t. Mummy says the pool is yours while you’re here and nobody else can use it ’cause you’re paying for it.’

      ‘Tom!’ Poppy exclaimed.

      Anna bent down to talk to Tom. ‘Ah. Well, I expect my friends will be coming for a swim, so if you’re my friend I can invite you and Mummy won’t mind then.’

      ‘Now?’ Tom asked hopefully.

      ‘No,’ Poppy answered before Anna could say anything. ‘Anna has to settle in this evening. Besides, it’s almost your bedtime. Cottage,’ and she held the kitchen door open for a reluctant Tom to leave. ‘I’m sorry,’ Poppy said, embarrassed. ‘I’ll keep him out of your way while you’re here. I’ll take him to the beach so he can swim.’

      ‘Poppy, it’s not a problem. Please let him come for a swim. I like having children around. Besides, I expect when Leo gets here, we’ll be out and about most days.’

      ‘If you’re sure. Now, I think I’d better leave you in peace to settle in. If you want anything, just come over to the cottage. Bye for now.’

      5

      Closing the door behind Poppy, Anna went upstairs and pulled her swimming costume out of her case. The pool was too tempting to resist. The unpacking could wait.

      The water was warm and inviting and Anna swam ten lengths before turning over and floating lazily on her back, allowing her mind to wander over the upcoming days.

      So far her diary contained just four definite appointments: the gala screening of Future Promises at the weekend; a meeting with her company’s French representative; dinner with the American producer who was keen to come on board for the Agnes Marshall film. The fourth unconfirmed date was for the company party she was planning to hold, sometime during the festival, here at the villa. The actual date would have to be confirmed soon to avoid clashing with one of the big VIP parties. She also needed to talk to Poppy about the catering for it. The fifth entry in the diary ‘Ring Philippe’ would now never happen. Anna smothered a sigh. Telling Daisy she’d never worked with Philippe was true but perhaps she should have admitted to knowing him a long time ago? If his name ever came up in conversation between them again, she’d definitely apologise to Daisy for being economical with the truth.

      The sun had disappeared behind a cloud layer as she made her way indoors to shower and start unpacking. Hanging the evening gown she intended wearing for the weekend premiere in the spacious wardrobe, her attention was caught by a series of postcard-size photographs grouped together on the bedroom wall.

      Moving closer, she saw that some were sepia in colour and showed the beach and harbour before the Croisette was built. Another showed the old casino on the edge of the harbour with figures in Edwardian costume stiffly posing outside.

      The one that caught Anna’s attention was more recent: a black and white photo of a large building with square flat columns and a short flight of wide steps leading up to the entrance. Even as she bent closer to read the faded lettering at the base of the card, Anna had already recognised it as the old ‘Palais des Festivals Cannes’. It had been a lovely building, she thought affectionately. Such a shame it had been deemed too small to host the ever growing festival and conferences that had been encouraged to come to Cannes. It looked so different to the concrete ‘Bunker’ she’d had a glimpse of before Daisy had turned off the Croisette.

      Anna’s mobile phone rang as she finished arranging the rest of her clothes in the closet.

      Pressing the answer button with shaking fingers, she said, ‘Hello, Leo,’ as she ran downstairs to the kitchen.

      ‘Anna, my darling. How was the flight?’

      ‘Late and bumpy,’ Anna answered. ‘But I’m here now. Villa Flora is delightful – worth every euro the company is paying. A real find. You’re going to love it.’

      ‘Are you going out for dinner tonight?’

      ‘No. I’ve just had a swim and I’m about to indulge in a baguette and some cheese with a glass of rosé that Poppy very kindly left for me, before having an early night. Tomorrow I’ll wander down to Cannes and show my face. The office is doing all the major stuff – I just have to show up a couple of times and do as I’m told.’

      ‘Haven’t done any sightseeing yet then?’

      Anna laughed. ‘Leo, I’ve barely got here. I’ll probably have a bit of a mooch around tomorrow, if the crowds aren’t too large. I’ve got to do some food shopping anyway. How are things at your end?’ she asked, knowing that Leo was spending a few days with his daughter and her husband. ‘How’s Alison?’

      ‘She’s blooming,’ Leo laughed down the line. ‘Literally. Told me tonight she’s making me a grandfather before Christmas!’

      ‘How wonderful. You must be so thrilled. Do give her my love and congratulations,’ Anna said. ‘And Luke? Have you managed to speak to him?’

      Leo’s son, Luke, was some sort of troubleshooter for one of the large international banks and was always flying off somewhere. Anna had only met him the once and was in awe of his business acumen.

      ‘He’s fine too. Got some sort of crisis going on at the moment in Dubai. Alison has just called out dinner is ready, so I’d better go. We’ll speak tomorrow. Goodnight, my darling.’

      ‘Goodnight. Enjoy the evening,’ and Anna closed down her phone.

      Thoughtfully she prepared herself a supper tray with the goodies from the welcome basket, poured herself a glass of wine and carried it all out to a small poolside table. The moon was rising in the darkening sky and solar garden lights placed randomly around were starting to illuminate the terrace and garden.

      Sitting there, absently fingering the gold locket she always wore, memories about the past started to float into Anna’s mind. Carefully, she slipped the chain and its locket over her head and pressed the catch. Two photographs, a few strands of hair wedged under the inside rim, were nestling together in the interior.

      Anna brushed her tears away as she looked at the photos. For years she’d kept them as beloved mementoes. Not only were they a link to the past and a life never lived, they’d offered a degree of comfort, tricking her into believing that one day in the future, things would turn around. That past wrongs could be righted. But to make that dream come true, she’d needed to summon up the courage to tell the truth and shame the devil, as the old saying went. Her parents, though, had drummed that other old cliché, ‘we don’t wash our dirty linen in public’, deep into her psyche, making it impossible for Anna to ever contemplate shaming the devil.

      In recent years, every time she opened the locket, she’d always hoped that maybe one day her secret dream would come true of its own free will, without her doing anything. Then, she would replace the photo with a new, modern, colour version.

      Tonight, though, Anna knew she had to accept the facts. The locket photos would never be replaced with modern versions. She’d left it too late and too much time had passed. Nostalgia and regrets were all very well, but it was the future that mattered now. Her future with Leo.

      Leo. Just thinking about Leo brought a