The Riviera

The journey is only as good as its end…

It’s been a hard journey, but Lizzie Lambert’s life is a Provençal dream come true. Her business is wildly successful, and with her little boy and the love of her life, Cal, she is making a beautiful home on the vineyard for their blended family.

But when Cal goes to America to support his son through a teenage crisis, it becomes clear the kid’s not the only one with some growing up to do: Cal’s glamorous ex-wife wants to get her claws in him again. As Cal spends longer and longer away, Lizzie wonders, was it all too good to be true?

Escape to Provence with Karen Aldous’ The Riviera, the perfect read for an idyllic summer.

Also by Karen Aldous

The Vineyard

The Chateau

The Riviera

Karen Aldous

Copyright

HQ

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2015

Copyright © Karen Aldous 2015

Karen Aldous asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © July 2015 ISBN: 9781474036504

Version date: 2018-09-19

KAREN ALDOUS

Inspired by novelists such as Jilly Cooper and Barbara Taylor Bradford, many moons ago, Karen never lost her passion for writing. It always got put on the back burner though with stories and articles fuelling the Aga rather than popped in the mail box. Gaining life experience and confidence has been crucial though, so she feels raising her three children along with being in the property and travel industries have not only brought material for her writing but have allowed her to indulge in her favourite pastimes.

Karen currently lives on the edge of the North Downs in Kent and owns a website design business so is able to use her skills and creativity but she craves nothing other than earning a living from writing romance. Her dream! Her friends call it Karen’s world, and why not? Her teachers always said she had an overactive imagination so it makes sense to put it to good use!

She still gets a kick from travelling and seeking that property bargain but her husband and family, particularly her three grandchildren, continue to steal her affections – along with Bertie, her golden lab. There’s barely enough time to go round, she admits, but their love and support never wavers and without them, and that from fellow writers at ‘The Write Place’ and the RNA, her aspirations may never have flourished!

Special thanks and best wishes to Lucy Gilmour, my Editor, Charlotte Mursell, Clio Cornish, Victoria Oundjian and all the wonderful Team at HQ Digital.

Thank you also to all the beautiful establishments featured in this book - you may not know it but you’ve provided my characters with some truly memorable moments to share with the readers.

To Glyn for your constant love and strength xx

Contents

Cover

Blurb

Book List

Title Page

Copyright

Author Bio

Acknowledgement

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Extract

Endpages

About the Publisher

Chapter 1

Lizzie Lambert rushed from the bedroom tailing Cal McLaren. She had never seen him move so fast.

‘You admitted yourself you thought Kelly was a drama queen,’ Lizzie said.

‘It was you who said she was a drama queen.’ He charged across the living area to his laptop on the dining table and tossed Lizzie an accusing glance.

‘Yes, but you agreed,’ she said glaring at him. He was obviously concerned. This wasn’t the time to begin an argument. They’d not argued in the four months they’d been together. She peered down at her feet on the cool marble floor wishing she had grabbed her slippers.

‘OK, so usually she is,’ Cal conceded hauling out an iron-framed chair. Lizzie squeezed into the one beside him, her eyes roving over his taut body and approving of the pert bum snuggled into his CK briefs. She waited as he opened the laptop and hit the start button. He tapped his fingers on the table as the machine fired up. ‘Come on.’

‘What do you think the email means?’ Lizzie asked, scooping chestnut brown hair back with her fingers and tying it up loosely. Then realised the stupidity of her question.

‘I really don’t know. I want to check on here in case I’ve missed something on my phone screen,’ he told her entering his password and clicking a few times. ‘Oh come on.’ He scratched his head and checked the time. ‘It must be about six o’clock in the evening in Nantucket.’

‘Yes, I should think so,’ Lizzie said pausing to check her own phone. ‘Yes, it’s now ten after midnight.’

Faintly listening, Cal clicked once more at the brief email. ‘Here it is.’

Dad,

Please, please, come and get me. Take me away from this horrible town! I can’t talk about it here but come quick. I can’t stay.

Jack

‘Nothing else,’ he said catching his breath and scrolling his mouse down to check he’d not missed any other emails. ‘That was sent an hour ago. Shit. I’ll ring.’ He then quickly typed ‘On my way. Xxx’ and pressed send.

‘Bloody hell. He sounds desperate,’ Lizzie said gazing at dark-grey sumptuous eyes but observing a panic in them she’d rarely seen. Feeling the urge to hold him close, she covered his free trembling hand with hers, yearning to brush his dark hair with her fingers.

‘Yes, very. I need to go.’ He finished punching the screen on his phone and pushed back his chair, swiping his hand away as he stood. Lizzie’s eyes followed him as he mindlessly began pacing towards the full-length terrace doors and back, phone tight to his ear. She scampered to the kitchen and reached for the kettle. She stopped.

‘Kelly, it’s Cal, can I speak to Jack?’ he asked.

Lizzie remained still gripping the kettle in her hand. Teenagers were such vulnerable creatures. It didn’t make sense. Jack seemed so happy just two months ago when they visited him at the New Year. Cal’s brows, she observed, were joining up. She feared for him as his eyes turned steely hard and his face paled.

Cal signalled to the pen and Lizzie grabbed it at the ready and wrote down the number as he called out.

‘And you’ve no idea why he’s been quiet or hiding away?’ he snarled at Kelly. Lizzie saw his face scowl as his head shook.

Finishing the call, he picked up the bookmark and tapped in the long number. Lizzie followed his figure as he paced almost naked back and forth. Staying silent, she walked over and checked the door to Thierry and Marie-Claire’s rooms the other side of the living room. It was slightly ajar, so she gently pulled it to. Cal’s face was now almost white as he finished and hit the end button with his thumb.

‘Jack and his friend have gone out apparently, and they don’t have a phone. Shit! I don’t like this. I’m booking a flight.’

Lizzie, wanting to comfort him, snuggled up to him as he searched the internet on his phone. His skin felt clammy and his heart was drumming into her ear as it nestled into his chest. His left arm pulled her close as he brushed his lips on her forehead.

Feeling his fear penetrate through her, she said, ‘I can come with you. I’d like to help.’

After a pause, he kissed her forehead once more. ‘I’d love you to, but I think I need some one-to-one time with Jack. Maybe, if and when I get to the bottom of it, you can join us. It wouldn’t be fair on you or Thierry if I’m not around.’

Lizzie’s face dropped as a wave of gloom swept through her. She couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Cal. Since he’d moved into her apartment after their trip to the States, they hadn’t been apart. It had been nearly two months of utter bliss but she suspected she would react exactly the same if it were Thierry.

Cal scrolled down the screen at his travel options. ‘Jee-sus. OK. I’ll drive to Lyon.’

‘What?’ Lizzie stepped back.’

‘Oh, times, prices, options. Right. I’ve got this one at seven, so I think it best if I get packing now and be on my way,’ Cal said, confirming his booking.

‘Now! Right, well…do you want me to drive you?’

‘Pretty lady, you go back to bed. Give those beautiful green eyes some rest. I’ll have time to park, collect my ticket and, yeah, all good thank you.’ He got to his feet, easing her up beside him. ‘Actually, I’d love a coffee if you don’t mind while I make a start packing. And, the biggest goodbye kiss you can muster,’ he said taking her arm and drawing her into his torso. He slid his fingers through her long chestnut hair as Lizzie allowed his lusty scent to linger in her. ‘I need to go to him. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

‘Yes, oh I understand. Oh, the house. Annatia and Jean-Luc. You’ve booked them in for Friday. It’s only some renovation ideas. Shall I hold them off until you get back?’ Lizzie asked, knowing how excited he was to have now finally got the keys and how much he was looking forward to visiting his very own Provençal house and vineyard. His life-long dream.

‘Well, why don’t you go along and show them around? The keys are still in the envelope, I’ll put them on the hook.’

‘I don’t know the first thing about what your plans are. I’d rather we go together. We’ll postpone it. I’m sure they won’t mind.’ Lizzie kissed him lightly on the lips feeling disappointment hiding behind them.

‘Our plans. Don’t you forget that! Besides, I barely looked at the house. It looked about the right size, but I was focusing on the vineyards.’ As he held her, his seductive eyes bored hungrily into her before his lips pressed harder onto hers, his arms wrapping tightly around her sending whirls of lust through her. Before she knew it, he’d lifted her and placed her on the bed, firmly closing the door behind him.

‘Just remember I love you,’ he told her stroking her now loosened hair.

‘I love you too,’ she told him, finding his lips and savouring every second she could as they made love. She would miss him dreadfully. As Cal pulled away, she held onto a lock of hair. She sighed. ‘You stay safe. I couldn’t bear anything happening to you. I just hope everything goes well with Jack.’

‘I’m sure it will be fine. God, I hope it will. Just for once, I feel he really needs me,’ Cal said jumping up from the bed and sliding into the shower room. ‘I can’t let him down.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘You won’t.’ She padded out to the kitchen and pressed the button on the kettle and shot back for her slippers.

‘So,’ Cal added switching on the shower, ‘why don’t you meet Annatia and Jean-Luc anyway so that they can work on some ideas whilst I’m away? At least you can get the ball rolling.’

‘I just don’t like to feel I’m interfering in your project. And you have only just got the keys. It can wait.’

‘Lizzie, it’s not mine it’s ours,’ Cal shouted from the shower. ‘It will be our home.’

A shard of warmth shot to her heart. Our home, he’d said. Not only was Cal the most amazing man she’d ever met, but he just happened to have bought a sizeable vineyard with a house; a home which could potentially be for their future family. What more could a girl want, she asked herself. To love, be loved and to share, to belong. She could only pray Jack was OK then Cal would be happy and return soon.

‘I can wait,’ she repeated as he appeared wrapping a towel around his naked body. Criminal! ‘Heesh,’ her breath escaped trying to resist. ‘I’d rather we share the occasion.’

‘I’ll leave it up to you,’ he said softly, his eyes beckoning her.

‘Coffee.’ She turned before she stalled him further.

Once Cal was packed, and after a long lingering kiss, Lizzie waved him goodbye from her apartment terrace wiping a stray tear from her cheek. There was no way she could go back to bed right now. Her own heart was still thumping with fear. Whether it was fear for Jack and his crisis, for Cal, having to rush to Nantucket, or fear for herself now alone, she couldn’t be sure. Quite possibly it was all three. Stupid, she told herself. You’ve got Thierry here safely tucked up in bed, a child you’ve had from birth. Cal will probably be a few days at the most and he only sees Jack twice a year.

Stepping back into the living room, she pushed the solid-glass terrace door to. She began to imagine what was going on in Cal’s mind. He’d never had much say in his son’s life and he had to trust that Kelly and her husband Reuben made the right decisions on a daily basis. She couldn’t imagine how Cal must have felt discovering his pregnant girlfriend was marrying someone else. And to think Kelly was trying to pretend it was Reuben’s child. That was just such an evil thing to do. Ironic really, she had always imagined herself cruel for failing to reveal her pregnancy to Thierry’s father about their son, but at least she had good reason. Cal was not a fucked-up druggy like Anton. Hmm, huge difference, she consoled herself.

Having fallen asleep on the sofa, it was Thierry who woke her. First she’d felt the tiny fingers tickling her neck then, as he wasn’t getting the response he expected, he climbed up and jumped onto her torso beginning to bounce. His nanny, Marie-Claire was close behind.

‘Thierry, no.’ Marie-Claire cussed him in her stern French accent and reached out to him.

Lizzie forced her eyes open and swung her body round. ‘It’s OK, Marie-Claire, I’m sure it must be time to get up. Hello, my darling,’ she said hugging Thierry to her chest and then tickling him back. He chuckled, displaying shiny milk teeth.

‘It’s seven-fifteen. I’ll make coffee,’ Marie-Claire said, turning towards the kitchen.

‘Oh lovely, thank you, and, just one. Cal had to catch a flight this morning.’

Thierry’s laughing eyes suddenly frowned. ‘Where’s Cal gone?’

‘He has gone on an aeroplane to see Jack. Do you remember Jack?’

Thierry’s eyes opened wide. ‘Jack, my friend Jack. Can we go and see Jack? And Harry and Bea?’

‘Yes, maybe. His daddy has some important work to do and then he’ll let us know. What do you think would make Jack smile? Would you like to draw Jack a picture to take with us?’

Thierry jumped up with a new burst of energy and waited as Lizzie unfurled slender legs from the sofa and took his hand to lead him to the dining table. After their awful year last year, she prayed that this would just be a minor incident. She felt so blessed right now.

‘Yes, I can draw Sulley and Mike. Jack likes Monsters Inc.,’ he said, climbing up on a chair.

Lizzie giggled knowing how much her son adored the film. ‘Of course he does. I’ll get you some paper to make a start. He’ll want one of each character you know.’

Yawning, Lizzie collected her phone as she uncovered Thierry’s colouring pencils and some fresh A4 sheets from her printer. She saw the text message from Cal. He’d obviously got his flight, and on time.

‘We’ll do just one now because Marie-Claire will have your breakfast ready and be taking you to nursery soon.’

After a quick shower, Lizzie arrived at Beauté Dedans and Sophie, her best friend and business partner, was just unlocking the door.

‘Morning, Soph. Aren’t you supposed to be at school today?’ Lizzie always called it school but Dr Sophie Pitou was not only the cosmetic surgeon at their new beauty clinic, she also lectured and continued research at the University two days a week.

Sophie hurled a shining smile. ‘Yes. I’m running late but I need to collect a few photographs of a client I worked on last week. It seems the procedure I carried out, based on my trials, of course, has caught some industry attention.’

‘What, in a good way?’ Lizzie held the door as Sophie dropped the keys in her bag.

Sophie grinned. ‘Yes. It’s quite exciting. I’ll show you quickly,’ she said racing up the stairs. ‘Won’t be a mo.’

Lizzie switched on the lights and immediately she saw her reflection in Betty, her cleaner’s, highly polished window and mirrors. The familiar freshly used cleaning products wafted to Lizzie’s nostrils as she placed her bag down on the chair behind the reception desk. She quickly checked Lucie’s call list just in case anyone needed contacting but couldn’t see anything particularly urgent.

‘I’ll be in the kitchen,’ she shouted up.

Sophie rushed in behind her as she poured hot water into a cup.

‘I took these in stages and it probably won’t mean much to you, but this was how I Pitou’d her.’

‘Ha! The Pitou method, your own.’ She peered at the photo, frowning. ‘Wow, no, it doesn’t quite make sense, but maybe when you get more time you can explain it.’

‘Anyway,’ Sophie flicked to the latest, ‘this is the photo the client selfie’d yesterday. I showed my professor who has been in touch with his associate in Los Angeles. I think he must have been up half the night. Apparently the guy is really impressed and has asked to see these.’

‘Oh Sophie, brilliant, well done.’

‘Thank you. Anyway, I’d better get going. Are you and Cal around later, a drink or something to eat?’

Lizzie shook her head as she placed the milk back in the fridge. ‘No. Well, I am. Cal’s flown over this morning to see Jack. Jack’s not happy and he’s gone to find out what it’s all about.’

Sophie pulled a face. ‘Ooh, hope it sorts itself out. Teenagers eh! Wouldn’t want to be back there.’

‘No, me neither,’ Lizzie said, leaning on the worktop and observing her friend.

Sophie tucked her photos into her bag and chewed on her lip. ‘Look, I know it’s early days, but I was thinking if I do have to go to the States, hopefully it wouldn’t be for long, but I wondered how you’d feel if I enlisted some help. I mean, I wouldn’t want to leave you high and dry and there’s a few really good people I know. I thought I should be prepared, just to keep everything ticking over.’

‘Proper little girl scout aren’t you? Fine, yes. If you feel they are up to your standard.’

‘Of course. I’m not saying it would come to that but…’

‘Go, you’ll be late.’ Lizzie stepped forward and hugged her friend. ‘Sounds exciting. I hope it goes well.’

‘Good. I’ll speak to Angus today, just prime him.’

‘Angus, a man?’

Chapter 2

Cal paced anxiously at the back of the boarding hall sipping yet another coffee. The flight to Boston had been long. What hadn’t gone through his head the last few hours? He was dizzy through lack of sleep but that hour he had dozed off had made him feel even worse. Now he’d been waiting another hour he swore he would lose his mind. He just wanted to see his son. Ensure he was safe. The frustration was his phone had lost power and needed charging. In his panic he’d taken it off charge and forgotten to recharge. Finally, the doors opened and he boarded the next flight to Nantucket. Jack would soon be home from school.

He let out a sigh of relief as the taxi turned into Main Street and pulled up outside Jack’s home. Kelly and Reuben owned a traditional New England, grey-shingled house fronted by the obligatory white picket fence and, although built only seven years, it blended well with the seventeenth-century properties lining Main Street. The driver edged to the kerb just missing one of numerous elm trees still naked of any buds.

‘Thanks,’ he said handing the driver a twenty dollar note.

Kelly pulled back the door just as he rang the bell. Immediately panic struck him. The girl he once loved was red-eyed and bare of her usual make-up. She heaved deeply before choking out the words.

‘Jack hasn’t come home, I don’t know where…’ Her voice broke away as she sobbed.

Any blood that was left in his cheeks was now sapped right out. Cal swallowed hard, blinking back tears. ‘Kelly, why didn’t you collect him last night?’

‘I was alone here with the kids. Reuben was still in New York. He’s on a flight home now. But, Jack often walks or cycles back on his own. It’s just along the road.’

‘Christ.’ Cal rubbed his forehead. ‘So where had he been? When was he last seen and where? Have you searched the house, the garage, the garden?’

‘Hell, yeah,’ Kelly snapped rubbing her eyes and nose, then standing back she ushered him in. He followed blindly, waiting for her response. His instinct was to run through the house and rip up every piece of pristine furniture and every door and every wardrobe – anywhere he could to check she hadn’t missed something. ‘Have you checked the loft?’

‘Yeah, attic, summerhouse. Maria’s been here checking too,’ she said wiping a tissue under her nose. ‘Brett says they were at the harbour last night. He said they began walking back about ten. Brett went straight home. He was sure Jack wasn’t in any trouble. I’d waited, well, I thought, no wait until ten-thirty, but when he still wasn’t in, I rang Maria just after. She and Bob came up and from what I gather Bob has been out all night with some of the others. They took the boat out to scour the coast and beaches. No one has reported a boat missing, so it’s, well, who knows? I rang the police, they are looking.’

‘Fuck. I need to put my phone on charge. I need to check my messages and emails.’

Kelly raced to the kitchen and pulled a plug from a drawer. ‘Here.’ She plugged the USB lead into the power socket as Cal handed it over.

As soon as Cal powered it up, he checked every text message, every email and Whatsapp. ‘Nothing new, but read this and tell me anything you know,’ he said opening up his email and showing Kelly the message he’d received from Jack.