A Riviera Retreat. Jennifer Bohnet

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      7

      After Matilda had left, Amy tidied the kitchen, happy that everyone appeared to be settling in. Hopefully, barriers would start to break down during the day and dinner this evening would be a more relaxed affair as they all started to bond and become friends.

      Once the kitchen was tidy, Amy made her way to her bedroom, intent on doing her normal exercise routine at the barre in her room before catching up on some paperwork. She might not be a professional ballet dancer these days but she still adored dancing and was determined to stay as supple as possible for as long as possible.

      She was checking through bookings for the retreat in August when her phone rang.

      ‘Hi, Mum,’ Amy said, pressing the speaker button. ‘How you doing?’

      ‘Fine. Dad and I were planning to come over sometime this summer. Any dates to avoid when you’re full?’

      Amy quickly skimmed through the bookings chart. ‘First week in July is currently free. After that, there’s only one weekend free in late August. Shall I pencil you in for the July week?’

      ‘Please.’

      ‘Done – already looking forward to it.’

      ‘So how are the competition winners?’ Fleur asked.

      ‘All three are really nice,’ Amy said, knowing her mum had been sceptical at the wisdom of giving three people a free holiday.

      ‘Good. Glad it’s working out. Heard anything recently from…?’ Fleur said, leaving the question hovering in the air.

      ‘No. Why should I? All communications go to you. He doesn’t know where I am. Besides, it’s in the past. Over,’ Amy sighed. She knew Fleur couldn’t help bringing up the subject of her ex-husband every time she phoned, but she wished she wouldn’t.

      ‘Darling, you know that’s not true. It’s unfinished business,’ Fleur said gently. ‘You need proper closure so you can move on with your life.’

      ‘I have moved on – or doesn’t moving to France count?’

      ‘You know what I mean. You’re still young, I hate to think of you on your own forever. Apart from running away to France, you’ve done nothing about anything. I’m surprised he hasn’t really put the pressure on yet, remembering how forceful he could be. It’s not good, the way you’ve ignored things. It’s been five years now. You need to get closure.’

      ‘I know how long it’s been, Mum,’ Amy said. She also knew how much Fleur herself had been hurt when things had gone wrong for her. ‘I promise by the end of this summer I’ll have looked into sorting out all the legal stuff. All the paperwork is here – including a letter from the notaire who has agreed to act for me. I just haven’t had the energy to kickstart things.’ Or the inclination if she were honest. It was easier to let things drift.

      ‘Good. You owe it to yourself to sort things. We’ll talk about it more in July when we see you.’

      After a few more minutes’ general chat, Amy said goodbye and put her phone down on the desk. She loved her mum dearly and deep down knew she was right about getting closure on the past, but ignoring it and hoping it would all miraculously sort itself out had been the easier option. It wasn’t as if she’d met anyone new and needed to have the past all tidied up and pushed away into the recess of her mind. Somehow, she couldn’t see herself ever forgetting how hurt she’d been at what had happened.

      Amy took a deep breath. She’d concentrate on Belle Vue for the summer months and then, come September, she’d start to organise things to bring an end to the biggest mistake of her life. For the next week or so, though, she was going to enjoy having the three competition winners here and giving them a good holiday. She’d enjoy taking them to Monaco later this week – it had always been a favourite place of hers and was full of happy memories. It had been too long since she’d spent time there.