The Riviera. Karen Aldous

      Lizzie caught his tired wet torso as he puffed and spluttered water from his mouth and nose. She knelt down, standing him against her thighs.

      ‘Well done, Thierry. I’ve got you but…’ She turned to his nanny now behind her. ‘Jesus, I can hardly breathe. He just went and I could hardly keep up with him. You’ll have to keep a really close eye on him. Phew. I wasn’t expecting that.’ She pinched his nose and wiped the mucus with her hand.

      ‘Yes, he is fearless. And, of course, I watch him close. With my life.’

      Thierry began jumping up and down, ready to go again. Lizzie allowed him to jump and splash as she swirled him around. He laughed and giggled.

      ‘I want to swim again, Mummy.’

      As Lizzie nodded, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a familiar figure being led by an older woman. It was Anton, Thierry’s father. The woman was instructing him to move his legs to walk in the water. Lizzie swallowed hard. It was difficult to believe he was still going through some basic rehabilitation. Her concern now however was to get out of the water and out of his sight. The last thing she wanted was for Marie-Claire to see him. And Thierry. She didn’t know if his father’s face and the attempt to abduct him still haunted his mind. She was sure it would still spook Marie-Claire. She knew she’d created a lot of damage soon after she’d struck him over the head with the champagne bottle six months ago. Seeing him now could bring another trauma on.

      ‘Marie-Claire, I’m so sorry. I feel extremely dizzy. Could we please go back to the changing room? Take Thierry please and turn and I’ll hold your shoulder in case I slip.’

      ‘Lizzie, oh yes, yes, of course.’ She took the boy in her arms and gripped his arms around her shoulder.

      ‘More swimming. I want to do more swimming, Mummy,’ Thierry protested, attracting more attention than Lizzie would have hoped.

      ‘Just ignore him, Marie-Claire. We’ll calm him down once we’re out,’ Lizzie told her as they climbed the pool steps and passed a parked wheelchair. She just prayed Anton wouldn’t spot them. ‘I’m right behind you and I’m OK. I’ll hold your shoulder. Keep walking.’

      Marie-Claire did as she was told and did her best to control the wriggling, wailing Thierry as she led Lizzie through to the changing room.

      Lizzie continued her faking performance for as long as necessary as they changed and made their way out of the building, which seemed cruel to Marie-Claire trying to console the teary Thierry and, once clear of the building, sped up her pace as they walked back to her apartment.

      ‘Oh, so sorry. I feel a little better now though. I’m really sorry, Thierry darling. We’ll go again another day. Mummy felt very sick and you wouldn’t like Mummy to be sick in the pool would you?’

      When Lizzie got back to the office, she dashed to the cloakroom to tidy her hair and face. The mirror confirmed her inner state. She took out her make-up bag and rubbed in some moisturiser before adding her usual light foundation and blusher to her cheeks. After brushing her hair, she waltzed with some relief to Sophie’s consulting room. As she stepped into the doorway, she stopped as a tall male figure stood by her friend’s desk.

      ‘Oh, I’ll come back later, Soph.’

      Sophie jumped up and called out, ‘No. Lizzie, come back. Your timing is good actually. Come in and meet Angus.’

      Lizzie gripped the doorframe for a few seconds. ‘Angus. Oh, you’re Sophie’s colleague, er, associate?’ She peered directly at the tall figure holding out a hand and glaring at her with bright, cornflower-blue eyes and golden hair. ‘Very nice to meet you.’ She shook his hand.

      ‘Yes, well, we both lecture at the same college part-time. I was also practising in Belgium before I decided I needed a change so until I sort out where I want to put down roots, I’m at your disposal, ladies.’

      Lizzie was immediately captivated by his Scottish accent. ‘Well, I’ve heard good things about you from Sophie whom I trust with my life.’

      He threw out a warm smile which dimpled the sides of his mouth and a few laughter lines creased his eyes. Lizzie guessed he was close to his mid-thirties, a similar age to Cal and, she considered, good looking as well as, on first impression, charming.

      ‘Why don’t we sit down? My next client is not for twenty minutes,’ Sophie said pulling over another chair for them both and sitting back at her desk.

      Angus pinched up his trousers at his knees before he sat. ‘I’m only too pleased to help out. The money, of course, always comes in handy. Actually, I was shopping and couldn’t resist popping in. It caught my eye, and Sophie just gave me a quick tour. It’s quite a set up you have here. Very impressive in fact. Sophie says you set up a few years ago in the beauty industry?’

      Lizzie relayed some history of her buying the business about four years ago when Thierry was born and how luck and support from her best friend had secured her future.

      ‘That’s admirable. Shrewd too.’

      ‘More of a necessity really,’ she told him, trying to hide her blush. ‘Tell me more about what you’ve done?’ she asked, crossing her legs.

      Both she and Sophie listened as he clarified his original Edinburgh accent and revealed his study background from Glasgow University to Europe, to America, Canada, Australia and back to Europe. Sophie had heard it all before, it seemed, but Lizzie was impressed that he’d done so much work reconstructing breast cancer patients as well as working in many cosmetic clinics with various procedures and support staff.

      ‘Well, we’re strictly day cases but you will have assistants,’ Lizzie said, comfortable that he sounded more than capable. ‘So feel free to come back Saturday with any further questions or to get more familiar with the place and the staff.’

      Sophie smiled. ‘Good idea. The staff and consultants here are fantastic. And you’ll love Josephine, the Manager who you met. Oh but now I’m repeating myself.’

      Angus chuckled. ‘That’s great, I love the enthusiasm.’

      ‘You’ll love Betty the cleaner too. She’s such a sweetie. And we may even have some male groomers by April too. A little expansion programme we’re doing.’

      ‘Yes. It’s pretty much an all-female institution at the moment,’ Sophie added.

      As soon as Angus left reception, Sophie asked, ‘Well?’

      Lizzie smiled. ‘Good choice, Sophie. He seems to have loads of experience. Very presentable, charming, so I’ll take your word he can do the job. It will be interesting to see how our clients respond. Eye candy for the ladies.’

      Sophie’s arm wrapped over Lizzie’s shoulder. ‘I knew you would like him. Excellent.’

      ‘Yes, he’s very nice. Is he married?’

       Chapter 6

      After settling back in the tiny loft, Cal’s breathing quickened as his son peered up to him. Was Jack assessing his trust? He could wait. As hard as it was not to speak, he wanted the boy’s version. What he’d learned from Lizzie was just hearsay as far as he was concerned. He wanted the facts. The nuts and bolts of the grief Jack had built inside him. He wanted him to deconstruct it piece by piece to him and replace it by building trust. Jack had spent his life wrapped in cotton wool. He’d never wanted for anything, nor anyone as far as he was aware. He’d had family and friends within a close community to watch out for him and provide for every need. He was a bright, athletic boy who was more than capable at anything he put his mind to. What the hell was troubling him? Cal scratched his head.

      Jack licked his lips repeatedly, his eyes now peering down to a wooden rafter.

      ‘It’s difficult, Dad. You wouldn’t understand.’

      ‘I