Chapter Eleven
1102 Words
When we walked into the restaurant, they must have been expecting us because they were all there waiting for us. I hadn't met Jocelyne before, but she was exactly what I expected her to be from what the boys had said about her. She reminded me of Mamma despite being at least ten years younger. They had the same mannerisms and she pulled Luca into an embrace the second he got close enough. Her voice seemed so loud and turned heads as she admonished him for not coming to see them more often.
Her mothering ways were where the similarities ended. Jocelyne was very tall, just like Julia, and she was about as skinny too. Her outfit screamed Paris fashion week to me and seemed a little much for working in the restaurant. Then again, from what Luca said, she didn't really work in the restaurant. He called her role smozzing. Her auburn hair was curly enough that she wouldn't have looked out of place at an 80s themed night. Despite the signs of age that were evident on her face, she was still very pretty and I couldn't help but wonder how Timothée had managed to con her into marriage.
When she released Luca and headed in my direction, I expected her to pluck Isabella from my arms. I was completely wrong and apparently was misjudging everything. "Rylie, I'm so glad you are finally here. It honestly feels like I have been waiting for this day for years." She pulled me more carefully into a hug than she had with Luca, which was for Isabella's benefit. "Luca said you are working on bringing tourism to the vineyard, so maybe when that happens we can come and visit you for once."
"We would love that. I'm working on it with Aurora. We had a bit of a set back but we're hoping to be up and running within six months. I'm sure Timothée would love to come and check out the restaurant once it's finished too."
"Restaurant?" She looked at Luca and he was staring at the floor. It was clear he hadn't mentioned it at all.
"We've found a site to put a restaurant on the edge of the vineyard. It will work alongside the tourism element of the vineyard as well as the vineyard tours. Although, I hope it will get its own traffic too. I've already discussed with Aurora about offering a deal on a vineyard tour followed by a three-course meal with wine tasting. The three elements work well together. Luca would also be providing breakfast for the people staying in the cabins." I felt like I had to fill the silence because it was clear Luca didn't want to.
"It's funny how you never mentioned that, Luca. You really do need to learn to celebrate your own successes," Timothée piped up.
"I wasn't hiding it. It's early days yet." Luca clearly felt a need to defend himself. I knew just like everyone else in the group that Luca still didn't believe he would get it off the ground or that it would be successful. We all knew better. I knew once people tried his food they would flock to the restaurant. He was too good a chef for them not to.
"So, where are you two going tonight?"
"Tonight?" I was completely clueless about what Julia was referring to.
"Oh for goodness sake, Luca. Do you not tell anyone anything?" Julia admonished him and it made me laugh slightly.
"I was going to surprise her, that's all." He moved his attention to me. "We're having dinner here tonight. Julia has offered to babysit here to start with while we're here. I thought it would help you feel happier about leaving her. Then, if you're comfortable with it, Julia will take Isabella back to the apartment and stay with her while we go out. She can sleep over at the apartment so it won't matter what time we get back." I thought it over and loved that he had considered that I might not be ready to leave her. I was happy to do the meal, but not so sure about going out partying.
"Sounds like a well thought out plan. I'll give it my best shot."
"Hey, I'm not sure I want to leave her yet either. Want is so the wrong word. I don't want to leave her, I'm not sure I am capable of leaving her."
"I know what you mean. At least I'm not alone."
Julia linked her arm through mine and started pulling me away. "Come on. Let's go and gossip while the boys talk shop. You can fill me in on Isabella's routine." I laughed a little nervously. It felt a little like a kidnapping. We headed up two flights of stairs and into the apartment that took up the whole top floor. It was much bigger than I expected. Similar to the apartment that we were staying in, in terms of it all being painted white. Back in England I would have expected rooms painted all in white to be quite stark, but it seemed different somehow. More refreshing than jarring.
That was where the similarities ended. Everywhere I looked, the room was full of colour. The sofa was a bold teal and a velvety material, dotted along it were the most bright yellow cushions. There was artwork on nearly every wall, all filled with colour and in the impressionist style. It felt so classy and modern, nothing at all what I had expected. Not that I had really considered what to expect. Julia hadn't let her grasp of me lapse even for a second and was busy dragging me to sit on the sofa. Jocelyne seated herself beside me and I was sandwiched between them. I could tell they had something on their mind.
Jocelyne reached behind the sofa and produced a beautifully wrapped pink gift box with cream ribbons holding it closed. She looked so eager for me to open it and I started slowly pulling at the ribbon. When I lifted the lid, it revealed a little cream coloured lamb, lovingly nestled in pink tissue paper. "It was mine as a girl. My father brought it for me on a work trip to Germany. I passed it on to Julia and now we would like Isabella to have it." I looked closer and realised it was a Stieff stuffed toy and must be worth a fortune if it was vintage.
"I couldn't possibly, it's too much. It's a family heirloom."
"We know. You, Luca and Isabella are family."
- Writer
