Little Kiosk By The Sea (30 page)

Bruno had promised he’d clean out the old pond and restock it with some fish. Maybe they’d even get some visiting frogs. Many a summer night, Brigitte had gone to sleep listening to the croaking of the canal frogs.

Outside the kitchen door the old granite trough was filled with compost waiting for her to plant it up with the herbs she wanted. Basil, parsley, chives, sage and thyme were all on order down at the garden centre.

‘Brigitte. Ready to go to the
pépinière
in five minutes?’ As if reading her thoughts, Bruno’s voice startled her out of her daydreaming. She’d forgotten the herbs were ready for collecting today.

‘Better make it ten,’ she said, hurrying indoors to wash her hands and change her shoes.

The garden centre was buzzing as they drove in. Spring-like weather over the past few days had infused people with the enthusiasm for sorting out their winter-ravaged gardens.

While Bruno went to pay for the herbs and put them in the car, Brigitte wandered down through the
pépinière
to where the large shrubs and trees were. She was standing looking at a willow tree when Bruno found her.

‘Do you think we could plant a willow? It would look wonderful by the pond,’ she said. ‘It would be a real statement in that part of the garden. They’re such an elegant trees. I love the way everything moves in a gentle breeze – like they’re dancing.’

‘Let’s go and find Pascal and see whether he thinks we have the right conditions.’

‘He’s here today?’ Brigitte said, surprised. Only last week they’d attended the funeral of Gilles de Guesclin, Pascal’s father and Bruno’s childhood friend, and one of the biggest landowners in the area. As his only son, Pascal had inherited the estate, which included a small château, a couple of farms and the garden centre, which had always been Pascal’s responsibility. ‘I’d have thought he’d be too busy sorting everything else out.’

Bruno nodded. ‘You know how much he’s always loved this place. Was saying just now how being down here with the plants helps him to think straight. It’s his sanctuary from the world – and his mother I think!’

‘Where is he now? Still in the office?’ Brigitte said.

Bruno nodded and they began to make their way up through an enormous polytunnel to the office area where they found Pascal busy checking off a delivery of plants with an assistant, his small dog Lola watching him from her basket under the desk.

‘Brigitte,’ Pascal kissed her cheek. ‘How are you?’

‘Ça va,’
Brigitte said. ‘You? How are you coping?’ she asked gently. ‘Your mother too?’

‘She’s not good but she copes. Now, what can I do for you?’

When he heard what they were interested in buying he left his assistant to finish with the delivery and walked down to help them decide which willow tree would be the best for their garden.

When they’d settled on a well-established one at about six feet tall, Brigitte said, ‘I have a fancy for an olive tree too. I know it’s a Mediterranean tree but there is a very sheltered part of the garden that gets lots of sun – an olive tree would be just perfect there.’

‘I’m sorry, Brigitte, but I don’t have an olive tree in stock. I can get you one and there is no reason why it wouldn’t prosper in the spot you describe. You’d have to protect its roots in winter from frost, of course, but they can survive temperatures of minus seven degrees Celsius.’

‘How long to wait for one?’ Brigitte asked.

Pascal shrugged. ‘Two, maybe three weeks. Leave the willow tree here and I deliver them both together, yes?’

‘Perfect,’ Brigitte said. ‘Thank you.’

Leaving Pascal to return to work, Brigitte and Bruno made their way back to the car.

‘Such a shame Pascal has never married,’ Brigitte said. ‘He should really have a wife and family by now. He has to think about his own inheritance too. Perhaps his father dying will finally encourage him to find someone. I would like to see him happy.’

‘You’re forgetting about his mother,’ Bruno said. ‘It will take someone special to cope with her. Someone who is strong enough to stand up for herself.

Brigitte glanced at Bruno. Sometimes he still surprised her with his insight. ‘Ah yes, I’d forgotten how she likes to control the lives of the men in her family. Poor Pascal will now be the sole receiver of her attention!’

CARINA™

ISBN: 978-1-474-03806-5

The Little Kiosk by the Sea

Copyright © 2015 Jennifer Bohnet

Published in Great Britain (2015)

by Carina, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

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