and crept out the apartment to the bakery on Rue des Artisans. She choose some delicious pastries to cheer up her mother, which the assistant boxed them and handed to her along with a small baguette.
‘Merci, au revoir,’ she said and turned to leave. As she stepped out into the street, her heart lurched. Her legs began edging towards a car a couple were climbing into. She began to run across the road towards it.
‘Dad, Dad,’ she screamed as loud as her vocal chords could manage and started to chase it as it pulled away and up Rue Gambetta. ‘Dad,’ she shrieked, her legs almost buckling beneath her as she ran faster. But the car gained speed as it climbed the hill. Defeat shot into her stomach. ‘Shit.’ She slowed and had to rest to catch her breath. She was sure he had heard her. She felt the swelling in her throat and, heading back to the path, released a torrent of tears. ‘You bastard, I know you saw me,’ she cried as the car disappeared.
What sort of man had he suddenly become, she asked herself wiping her eyes. Wasn’t it bad enough he didn’t answer his phone. Now it felt like he’d just twisted the knife. Phone, she thought, she quickly pulled it out and checked the time before turning around to head home.
She found it difficult to believe he would just drive off like that, ignore his own daughter. And it was hard to imagine he was living so close to home. If he was? He could have just been using the café across the road. But, Gina recalled her glimpse, the woman who got into the car with him was younger than she’d envisaged, closer to her own age than his. Jesus Christ. How could he? Anger pinched her cheeks as the realisation dawned. He really was with another woman. She wiped her forehead feeling hot. What on earth had gotten into him? She couldn’t tell her mother about this. Or should she? If it was her she would want to know. If only she could discuss it. But with whom? Aunt Bernie would know what to do but Adrienne had been adamant she didn’t want her to know yet. Max. She would ring Max. She pulled out her phone and hit his number. It went to voicemail.
Arriving back at the apartment, she prepared coffee and laid out bread and pastries. She heard her mother in the shower. Thank God for that, she told herself hoping her mother was feeling a little better. She quickly got out her phone and rang Ollie.
‘I was just about to ring you,’ he said. ‘I thought it was a bit early though.’
‘Oh,’ Gina sounded surprised. ‘Well, no it’s fine but listen, I need your help. Can we meet later?’
‘I was going to ask you, well, my mother has invited you and your mother over later this afternoon. Dad’s in Basel until tomorrow so I thought it might be an opportunity for your mother and mine to get together. They are neighbours so it should be relatively easy. My mother’s keen on the idea.’
‘But you didn’t say anything about my parents did you?’ Exasperation spurt from her.
‘Only what you told me, why?’
‘It’s just that I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Mum obviously doesn’t want anyone to know and is worried James will hear and get wrong information from another source. She hasn’t said anything to him yet because he’s still on his honeymoon. Well, there may be nothing to tell but I’m just asking you not to discuss it with anyone.’
‘Look, don’t worry. I’ll make sure my mother keeps it to herself. She’s not one to gossip anyway.’
Gina blew out a sigh of relief. ‘Well, yes, please. Tell her it’s rather delicate just now. And, my mum may need a bit of persuading to go out at all at the moment. So while it’s a great idea, I’m not sure she’s ready to socialise. I’ll let her know. I’ve got to go. Speak to you later.’ She rang off.
Adrienne appeared robed in her dressing gown, her face pale and her wet hair brushed back. Gina had to admit that she did look brighter despite her lack of make-up.
‘Morning, Mum. Did you sleep better last night?’
‘Not too bad. Probably slept too much yesterday though. Who were you talking to?’
‘Ollie. He asked us to go over, well, his mother invited us to hers later.’
‘I’m really not…’ Adrienne began.
‘Mum, we don’t need to go for long. It would just be Ollie and his mother. His father’s in Basel.’
‘I don’t have the energy to chat to strangers,’ Adrienne said, then peered at the table lain with confectionary and bread, her eyes, Gina observed, drooling over the pastries. ‘Oh, they look nice. You’ve been out already,’ she added as she scooped up an almond slice.
Gina flashed a warm smile. ‘I woke early,’ she said, delighted food was finally reaching her mother’s mouth. ‘I was hungry.’
‘Mmm, gorgeous,’ Adrienne said as she munched on the sweet pastry. ‘I do fancy a walk this morning, if you’d like?’
‘Great with me.’ Gina tried to hide her smile. ‘Perfect. Fresh air will do you good.’
After breakfast they strolled along the lake towards the centre of town, Adrienne’s arm looped through her daughter’s. The mist curled mysteriously and slowly over the water for a while until the sun eagerly burned through.
Gina breathed with some satisfaction that her mother had made some progress from yesterday. She was washed and fed with even wore a touch of make-up. As they neared the centre, a steamboat moored up and passengers disembarked along the gangplank, herding along to the well-known statue of Freddie Mercury. They walked past the tourists hovering around the statue and a Japanese couple stopped them.
‘Please, photo,’ they asked.
Visitors often came from the other side of the world to pay homage to the Queen star and take the Freddie Mercury tour. Gina took the camera while the couple stood below the statue, freezing their faces in eager smiles. Then an English couple made a similar request and Gina obliged. As she dashed back to where her mother stood she peered up and felt her heart skip. Ollie and his mother emerged from the other side of the market square, clutching supermarket bags and heading towards them. As they approached Gina gave a shudder, grabbing her right arm suddenly with the other hand. It felt like someone had gripped it with a freezing cold hand then let go leaving an imprint. Not again!
‘Are you OK?’ her mother asked, peering at her.
Gina furrowed her brow as she lifted her elbow to inspect it. ‘Yes, I’ve got an itch, that’s all.’
She tried to remain cool but internally her mind was racing. A pressure remained on the arm as though someone was leaning on it. She dropped her eyes to her sleeve and brushed it hard trying to erase the pressure. God, what on earth was this? She wanted to scream, to run. Something or somebody was around her, she was sure. Maybe the lake was haunted.
Ollie came up beside her and kissed her cheeks. Gina immediately felt a warm flush run through her veins. The pressure eased off. Ollie introduced his mother and Gina recognised her from James’s wedding. Adrienne gave a smile.
‘Good morning, ladies, this is my mother Celine Martin,’ Ollie announced.
‘Bonjour, Adrienne, Gina.’ Celine Martin gleaned a bright smile and greeted them both.
‘Bonjour, Celine. Yes, I remember you. And, we, George and I, met you and Didier at the golf club party a couple of years
