The Riviera. Karen Aldous

days,’ he said.

      After the initial sinking, Lizzie warmed as she imagined the smile in his voice. ‘And, I’m not interfering. It’s just that your mother was in the salon earlier, and obviously I told her you’d flown out to Jack because he was upset. She mentioned Jack saying something to her about a girl being nasty to him. I thought it may be relevant. That’s all. She didn’t know any more.’

      ‘Oh shhh-it. I should have rung her. Did she get panicky?’

      ‘Concerned. I didn’t dramatise if that’s what you’re wondering.’

      ‘Mmm, OK. Thanks. It may be significant. I’d better get back. I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He paused. ‘I love you, Lizzie and, give Thierry a big hug from me.’

      Lizzie would have preferred to sit and talk longer but Cal sounded occupied. Jack, it seemed, was still volatile. If only she could be there to help.

      ‘Cal, will it help if I came over? Business is manageable. Just a few days,’ she blurted. It wasn’t really the right time but she didn’t know how long she’d have to wait to speak to him again.

      ‘Give me the weekend and…actually, no. Having Thierry around might be just the tonic for Jack. I’ll sort somewhere for us to stay. I don’t really want to stay here. Maybe Jack could come and stay with us. Yes, why not? There’s no rush. Maybe early next week.’

      ‘I’ll sort out some travel for Tuesday or Wednesday and let you know. I’ll text you details. I’ll take Thierry back on the ferry this time. It will be more of an adventure for him.’

      ‘Great. All being well, I’ll come over to Boston and meet you.’

      After saying their goodbyes, Lizzie’s heart wrenched as she picked up her coffee. He’d been gone just twenty-four hours but she really needed to hold him and snuggle into his chest. But then elation muscled in. It seemed a long way off, but she would be with him in less than a week and suddenly she wanted to dance. To see him and touch him, just to be there for him and support him was making her heart sing. Glancing momentarily at Thierry’s toys, she only hoped Jack would be in a better place emotionally.

      She understood so well the traumas of being a teenager. God, she’d had her share. Having to suddenly face grown up problems she didn’t really understand or know how to deal with. Believing she was adult enough to make choices and decisions which she just wasn’t emotionally equipped to deal with. It was a very lonely place.

      Sipping her drink which was now luke-warm, she recalled the torment and humiliation she’d suffered when her first love, Hugo, two-timed her during their relationship in her first year at university. It was excruciatingly painful. She’d imagined every student was sniggering and talking about her behind her back. She’d dreaded facing people for fear of ridicule. She couldn’t even trust her friends. She swore they must have hidden the truth from her or worse, lied to cover up. It was so embarrassing. How could she ever have trusted them again? And she couldn’t ever imagine trusting a man again, not after Hugo. She’d just wanted to curl up and die.

      Instead, she’d hit on an alternative. Her defence mechanism was to flee. Just seven months into uni, she had taken flight to free herself from people she could no longer trust. Fortunately for Cal, Jack hadn’t run. He’d cried for help and Cal had acted immediately. He’d listened. That’s what a parent should do. Unlike her mother who was always quick to judge. Or so she imagined at the time. Nonetheless, she’d run, not just from Hugo, her friends and uni, but from her family. Her mother and grandfather. She didn’t even have the sense to tell someone; well, she’d posted a note to her mother from England before landing in France. She’d believed her mother would have been angry and shamed. Angry because she’d always said Hugo was no good and shamed because her daughter had failed her. Her promise of being a vet fell at the first hurdle. And then there was Anton. She downed the last mouthful from her mug.

      She’d been so glitzed with Anton’s glamour when she’d arrived in Cannes. Thought herself so madly in love. Such a charmer and then, whoosh, she’d discovered yet another cheat. The worst playboy in Cannes in fact. And, unfortunately, a drugged-up control freak who could never have been a father to Thierry. Well thankfully, that was all in the past. Now, as a mother, it was impossible to conceive the notion that her child would disappear and not get in touch for five years. How did she never realise her own mother’s heartache? Thanks to Cal, in the last twelve months she’d grown up faster than ever, just by taking time to get to know her mother and find an amazing man she could trust.

      ‘Fuck,’ she burst out, crashing back to the moment. Cal at Kelly’s!

      By ten o’clock the following morning at the office, Lizzie had looked up the flights. Most flew via London, so she rang her mother so she could make a visit on her return then booked her and Thierry’s flights to Boston. She was just reading through a few CVs Josephine had forwarded for the new male grooming section when a whoosh of energy flew into her room.

      ‘Good morning, Lizzie. I’ve some great news.’ A contagious smile spread across Sophie’s face. ‘I am going to Los Angeles on the eighth of April to meet Professor Eckhart and demonstrate my new procedure. They’ll also get the substance rigorously tested as fast as they can. Would you like to come with me?’

      ‘Oh wow, exciting!

      ‘It’s brilliant isn’t it? If it all tests OK, we’re going to patent it in as much of the world as we can.’

      Lizzie jumped up and threw her arms around her friend. ‘You are amazing. I’m sure it will test fine. Ha! I know you too well – you’ll not have gone this far without checking everything a million times.’

      ‘Well, not quite that many but, yes, you know me well – due diligence is my middle name.’ Sophie pulled a face and then resumed her huge smile.

      Lizzie felt rather gutted. She’d have loved to be there with Sophie and supporting her. This really wasn’t very good timing, just as she was about to tell her her own plans.

      ‘I’d love to come with you but I’ve just booked a trip to join Cal in Nantucket. I’m flying out to Boston on Tuesday for a week.’

      Sophie’s smile dropped. ‘Oh, I was hoping…not to worry.’

      A deflated breath escaped Lizzie before she had an idea. ‘Why don’t you ask Charles? You’ve both been working hard. You could make it a holiday.’

      Sophie pursed her lips. ‘Hmm! If only I could prise him away from his desk! What are the chances of that?’

      ‘Oh, I’m sure you could sell it better. There’s bound to be sailing in Los Angeles.’

      ‘Ha! Brilliant. Good point.’ Sophie slipped her hands to her waist creating a pondering stance. ‘Mmm, yes. I’ll have a look. Oh, and Angus is going to come along on Saturday morning if that’s OK with you. I’m sure you’ll love him but be sure to tell me if you’re not convinced. He’s certainly a talented cosmetic and plastic surgeon.’

      ‘I look forward to meeting him. I hope you can convince Charles too. It would alleviate my guilt.’

      ‘Why guilt? Don’t be. It would have been nice.’

      Lizzie checked the time on her phone. She would have to leave soon to meet Thierry and Marie-Claire.

      ‘It would, but we’ll research the sailing when I get back. I’m just going to meet Marie-Claire and watch Thierry swim. I’ll be back in an hour or so.’

      ‘Aww, really? He loves the water doesn’t he? What a shame I have a treatment, I’d have come with you.’

      Lizzie rushed along to Avenue de Benefiat to the pool where Marie-Claire and Thierry waited.

      After changing, Thierry couldn’t wait to show off his new skill and he jumped up and down as he waited for the girls to get changed and deposit their clothes in the locker. Once they reached the water, Lizzie was surprised when Thierry just jumped in without warning. At once she followed in panic but Thierry’s small