Breathing out a big sigh, Evie said, ‘I can honestly say, this last week had been a total whirlwind. Despite starting with a near-death experience, my week has been the best ever.’
‘What? What near-death…?’
‘Come in. I’ll get us a drink and tell you about it.’ Evie beckoned her sister inside and followed her over the threshold.’
‘I forgot how gorgeous this place is. I can understand why you were so tempted.’
Evie cleared her throat. She didn’t feel comfortable talking about the past. ‘Actually, I still have some wine that Seb left here last week, it’s not too early is it?’
Evie led her sister down the hall.
‘Wine! You won’t hear me complain.’
‘I just need to keep an eye on the cake. It’s in the oven. Do you want to take your bags up?’
‘Good idea.’
‘First room on the left,’ Evie said, looking searchingly at her sister and thinking Cally had expanded a few inches.
Cally unhooked her handbag from her shoulder and tossed it onto the hall chair before hauling her small case up the wide marble stairs. A magazine dropped to the floor from Cally’s handbag. Evie scooped it up; it was an in-flight magazine and as she flicked the pages, it opened at an article titled ‘Highlights of the Canal Du Midi’. As she padded down the hall to the kitchen, she began to read it through with interest.
‘Drink, Mummy?’ Charlotte cried from the sofa in the living area at the other end of the kitchen.
‘Oh sorry, cherub, did Mummy and Auntie Cally wake you?’ Evie threw the magazine onto an armchair as she dashed to the coffee table to retrieve the beaker of water for her daughter, settling her again with the drink and one of her picture books.
Cally entered the room directly from the hall by the sofa and immediately opened her arms, reaching out for Charlotte.
‘Oh, my goodness, haven’t you grown, you little beauty.’ She sat down beside her niece, who eyed her with suspicion.
‘Charlotte, this is Auntie Cally, do you remember when she came to your last birthday?’ Of course she didn’t, Evie didn’t know why she felt it necessary to humour her sister.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed even further.
Cally gave Charlotte her sweetest smile. ‘I think I’ve just made her cross.’
‘She’s just woken up and isn’t sure who you are yet. Give her half an hour and she’ll be all over you.’
Poor Cally, Evie thought, but it was weird to think that, for once, she had more knowledge about something than her big sister.
‘Show Auntie Cally the picture of the ball.’
Charlotte sucked her bottom lip and shook her blonde curls.
‘Ok Auntie Cally. Come with me and we’ll get a drink. Charlotte, you can come and see us when you want to say hello.’
‘Mummy.’
‘I’m going to get Auntie Cally a drink. You can come too if you want.’
They left Charlotte on the sofa pondering and observing them with caution, book on her lap and cup in hand.
‘She’s so gorgeous.’ Cally clutched her heart as she followed Evie back to the kitchen.
‘Thank you. Have you heard from Mum?’
‘Oh, yes. I was going to text you yesterday, she’s fine. Probably drugged up to the eyeballs, but sounding so much better.’ Cally picked up the in-flight magazine from the chair, her mane of chocolate-brown hair tumbled to one side. ‘I’ve got one of these in my bag,’ she said holding up the magazine as Evie uncorked a bottle of white wine.
Evie glanced over. ‘It is yours. It fell onto the floor. I was reading… well, I started the article about the Canal du Midi. There’s barely anything interesting about the history or the local people who live and work around the canal, more about the village restaurants and cafes they can stroll to from their boat. I’ve learned so much about it since I’ve been living here, it’s fascinating.’
Cally heaved herself up on a stool at the shiny granite breakfast bar, watching her sister pour the cool golden liquid into two glasses. ‘I suspect that’s about it. Keeping the advertisers happy – they’ll want people to be off their boats and spending money in the villages rather than digging into its past.’
Evie placed the bottle back in the fridge and handed her sister a glass. ‘Unfortunately, you’re probably right. It would have been better to have added something of historical interest too. I mean, I’ve been delving deeper into the canal’s history and, flicking through this, there’s lots of potential for travel articles. Maybe I should submit something.’ Evie gasped, quite stunned at herself.
‘Go for it.’
‘Oh… I think I’m dreaming,’ she said whisking her hand to her mouth and chewing her nails. Could she really? She would certainly give it some thought. Though without a computer, she doubted it.
‘I’m surprised you haven’t been continuing with your writing.’
‘I’d like to, food for thought anyway. Thanks for coming.’ She raised her glass. ‘And here’s to us and a fresh start. Cheers.’
They chinked glasses.
‘Cheers.’
The oven buzzer sounded and Evie slammed down her glass and dashed for her oven gloves.
Cally sipped her wine. ‘Mmm, lovely, thanks. Well, perhaps that’s what you should be doing, sending out travel pieces on the area. Using those skills you got while you were at college, seems a waste not to. I’ve been thinking about re-training.’
‘What, give up DJ-ing?’ Evie said opening the oven door.
‘Well I can’t do it forever. I’ve been mixing and producing some stuff, but I don’t know. I think I should start planning a more solid future. Maybe go and teach Maths, or become an accountant. Get a real life. A bit like you and your writing; we’ve done the graft and the qualifications. What is it they say? Use it or lose it.’
‘The trouble is, I never really built up many contacts. I don’t know that I could start again.’
‘Well you’ve nothing to lose,’ Cally insisted.
As Evie took the cake and eased it gently out of the tin onto the cooling tray, she explained to her sister her new challenge.
‘Actually, I’m really excited. I’ve begun doing some research for a film about Pierre-Paul Riquet, the man who built the Canal du Midi.’
‘Really. How fascinating. How did that come about?’
After she told her about the accident at the bridge and the subsequent conversations with Ben, Cally looked horrified. ‘Jesus, Evie.’
Clutching her chest, Evie had to laugh. ‘But I am alive and grateful. In fact, it has been the wake-up call I needed.’ Evie then peeled greaseproof paper off the two sponges. It really had made her re-evaluate what was important, she realised.
‘What a relief you are ok. Bloody hell, Evie, what would you have done if you’d been killed? Charlotte would have been without a mother. I hope you have me down as your next-of-kin. Would Seb look after her? Don’t ever think Charlotte would be alone in this world, I’ll always be there for her. Jesus, that’s given me goosebumps.’
‘Well, thankfully it’s passed, but thank you. It’s something I need to discuss with Seb in more detail. Being nearby, I’ve asked my neighbour Suzanne to help if there