LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER TEN

      She gave the butterflies in her stomach a stern talking to as she crept along the hall. They had absolutely nothing to get in a tizz about. Now all she had to do was pray that she could leave the house before Jade woke up and she had to answer any awkward questions.

      Of course, no one paid the least bit attention to her prayers.

      ‘Carrie, wait! Where you going?’

      She’d taken two scant steps out of the front door. Her heart sank like lead weight plummeting to the absolute depths of the ocean. Seriously? Was someone having a laugh?

      ‘I thought I’d pop out for an early-morning drive, perhaps bring us some fresh croissants back.’ Carrie kept walking, the car keys in her hand. ‘Quick explore.’

      ‘Great idea. I’m starving. Get me to la boulangerie. That’s French for bread shop isn’t it? Ooh they’ll have chocolate croissants. Pain au chocolat. I’ll come with you.’ Jade stooped down and slipped on her flip-flops and padded down the steps.

      ‘You don’t want to do that. Stay here. I might be a while.’

      This was as bad as that time when she was eighteen and almost at the front of the queue in Boots with a pack of condoms and her mother bearing down despite arranging to meet outside Woolworths.

      ‘That’s okay, I don’t mind.’

      ‘Yes, but I might stop somewhere. A market.’ Carrie had reached the car door, narrowly averting disaster by remembering at the last minute not to get in on the passenger side. ‘Visit a couple of churches,’ she said, with the flourish of a poker player producing a Royal flush. There, the C-word. If that didn’t put her off, nothing would.’

      ‘No worries. I’ve got my phone, my sunnies.’ She waggled her sunglasses up and down from where they’d been perched on top of her head as she drew level with Carrie on the other side of the car. With a sudden grin, she added, ‘And I can scrounge some cash from you if I need anything.’

      ‘What about your Mum? You can’t leave her on her own all day.’

      ‘It won’t be all day, will it?’ replied Jade, with infuriatingly correct logic. ‘Besides she’s happy as anything in that kitchen. She’s not going to miss me. Probably like having the place to herself.’

      Jade swung open the passenger door and plonked herself in the seat, reminding Carrie of an over-eager family dog in anticipation of a day out.

      This was going to be a disaster. If she did stumble across the film crew by some incredibly happy and coincidental accident, how the hell would she get rid of Jade? These days a Mars Bar and illicit Coca Cola wouldn’t cut it as a bribe. They weren’t quite as alluring as they’d once been. Jade’s taste had broadened as well as going up dramatically in price, although these days you needed to take out a loan for a simple chocolate fix.

      ‘I think we should wait for your mum to get up and see if she wants to come too. At least tell her we’re going out.’

      ‘That’s dull. Where’s your sense of adventure? Carte blanche. Seize the menu. We should go now. Mum won’t mind.’

      Carrie paused. Her sense of adventure had long since got up, packed its rucksack and two-man tent and hiked out of Dodge. Seizing a menu was much more her style. Sadly.

      ‘It’s carpe diem—’

      ‘Duh! I know that. Anyway it’s too late because there’s Mum.’

      ‘Morning! You two running away already.’

      ‘Hi, I’m heading off to see if I could find a bakery and bring back some fresh croissants but Jade stopped me. Would you like to come too? We can wait if you want to get ready.’

      Angela immediately understood.

      ‘That sounds lovely. Jade, have you switched off your hair straighteners?’

      ‘Yeah.’

      ‘Are you sure?’

      Jade shrugged.

      ‘I thought not. Go back and check them now.’

      ‘Mummm!’ She slouched back into the house.

      Carrie shook her head. ‘Your daughter’s a blinking limpet. I thought I’d never shake her off.’

      ‘If I come with you, you can ditch both us and you can check out the market.’

      ‘Or I could do a runner now?’

      ‘And what … your life would be worth living for the next few days?’ Angela laughed. ‘Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready. You can treat us to those croissants for breakfast.’

      Carrie took it slowly. It was a gorgeous morning and the views around each bend were distracting, with their frequent glimpses of sea, when she needed to focus on the task of changing gears with the wrong hand.

      ‘It’s mega-blue. Do you think its bluer than other places?’ asked Jade from the back seat. ‘Is that why they call it Côte D’Azur? Azure’s a posh word for blue.’

      ‘I’ve no idea, but it’s lovely.’ Carrie was concentrating on the road, to be honest.

      The drive didn’t take very long at all and suddenly they were on the outskirts of the village.

      ‘Sing out if you see a car park,’ said Carrie, manoeuvring carefully as the streets closed in, the high kerbs and unfamiliar position on the road making her slightly nervous. And there was traffic, lots of it, some of which demonstrated an unnerving style of driving. A horn blared from the Mercedes behind them when she slammed on her brakes to avoid a small white van veering out of a side street, cutting right in front of them. It wasn’t even her fault. She glared in the mirror, not that the owner of the great white beast behind them could see. Angela’s hands twisted on her lap and she shrank back from the door, her shoulder touching Carrie’s.

      ‘I did read in one of the guide books that you take your life in your hands driving on the Riviera.’

      ‘You did, did you? Thanks for the heads’ up.’

      Angela coloured. ‘I didn’t …’

      ‘I’m teasing.’ Carrie reassured her, knowing that her sister would worry that her comment had been misconstrued. It had the potential to worry Angela for days. ‘The drive from the airport turned out absolutely fine. You get idiots like that at home.’

      Angela relaxed and Carrie heaved an internal sigh.

      ‘Let me entertain you, leeet meeee …’ Jade burst into song, thrusting her arm through the gap between the front seats to indicate a blue parking sign pointing to the left. ‘Let meeee spot the car park for you.’

      ‘Oh dear god,’ muttered Carrie. ‘Thanks, Jade, for your timely directions.’

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