Bonjour Cherie Read online

  I lost myself in misty, rosy dreams of sharing a glass or two of Bordeaux, and then his lips gently touching mine, our kiss deepening and … what the hell was Zach Mills doing in my day dream! It was André who was supposed to be kissing me and not Mr High and Mighty, who thought he was God’s gift to women.

  Annoyed, I got up and scrapped my barely touched breakfast in the bin. Damn that man, he managed to ruin my breakfast and he wasn’t even here. Work was what I needed so I plunged myself into doing the laundry and a few other household tasks.

  A couple of hours later I felt much better and ready to flick on the DVD. It was overcast and almost cool for this time of year. Couldn’t have been a more perfect day to snuggle up on the couch and veg out. I had only just gotten past the credits when my iPhone rang.

  ‘Beth, what are you doing?’ It was Lisa, probably the only person from work who was still talking to me. Oh, and Jake. I still felt guilty about Derek. And really, if I had let him take me home last night, it couldn’t have been nearly as disastrous as letting Zach drive me. Perhaps I should have introduced Zach to Kirsty after all.

  ‘Nothing much. I was just going to watch a DVD. Why? You want to come over.’ It might be nice to have someone to distract me from my thoughts.

  ‘Yeah … maybe. Or we could do something.’

  ‘What did you have in mind?’

  ‘Let’s go for a coffee.’

  I thought of the couple of places in town where we could go and none of them appealed to me. ‘Hmm, I dunno.’

  ‘Not here. Let’s go for a drive somewhere. How about Maleny? There are a few nice cafés there. It’s not too far to drive.’

  I thought of the small, scenic town that had a lot of specialty stores, including a really great cheese shop where I could pick up some brie or camembert. ‘Sure, sounds a plan.’

  ‘Great. I’ll pick you up in about an hour. We’ll go in my car.’

  Not even my friends had much confidence in my battered vehicle. But, perhaps a break would be good. I put my original Sunday plans on hold. At least I wouldn’t be thinking about a certain person and how annoyed he made me feel.

  An hour later we were heading up in the mountains to Maleny. The sun had decided to show and it was turning out to be a beautiful afternoon. Lisa and I sang along to a pop song on the radio, belting out the chorus and laughing in between. I really liked Lisa. She was uncomplicated and fun. I liked Kirsty too, but she was more high maintenance. She was a gym junkie with a perfect figure and an iron will. Coffee with her would be black and decaffeinated with absolutely nothing else. With Lisa, I knew I could enjoy a brownie or caramel slice with my cappuccino and not receive a full breakdown of its unhealthy ingredients and how many hours of cardio I would need to do to work it off. While not exactly fat, Lisa was a comfortable size, which fit with her comfortable personality. I was slim, but not racehorse fit like Kirsty. As we neared Maleny, Lisa turned down the radio and asked. ‘What happened with Derek last night? He seemed in a really ratty mood after you left.’

  I debated how much I should tell Lisa. ‘He was annoyed that I didn’t go home with him, I think.’

  ‘Why didn’t you?’

  ‘I was tired and wanted to go home, but I didn’t feel making him leave early.’

  ‘You know he wouldn’t have minded. He’s got a thing for you.’

  ‘So I discovered last night. He’s a nice guy and all, but I just don’t feel that way about him.’

  Lisa nodded sympathetically. ‘That’s too bad, for Derek that is. What about the other guy you were dancing with? Zach, is it? Anything going on there? I promise, I won’t tell Kirsty.’ She shot a grin at me.

  I took a moment to think. Nope. I decided I wouldn’t mention everything that had happened with Zach last night, even to kind, non-judgmental Lisa. She might think I was interested in him, which I definitely wasn’t.

  ‘Nothing to tell,’ I said. ‘He’s in my French class, that’s all. But he has an ego the size of an entire footy team after they’ve won a Grand Final. He’s not my type at all.’

  Lisa sighed and then said, ‘He sure is hot, though. No wonder Kirsty wanted an introduction.’

  ‘Is she still mad at me?’

  ‘I wouldn’t say mad, just, well you know Kirsty…’

  ‘So, she’s still mad. Oh well, she’ll get over it.’ I shrugged, not really too bothered. Kirsty arced up quickly, but she also got over things after a while. And she didn’t hold a grudge. There were some good points about her.

  We were approaching the main street of the town with its restaurants, gift shops and art galleries. We spotted a café that overlooked the valley. I’d been there once before and I knew the coffee was good and the cakes were even better. Lisa pulled into a parking spot and within a few minutes we were seated on the back balcony with its picture postcard view. We were lucky to get a seat at all as the place was nearly full.

  My hardly touched breakfast seemed a long time ago, so I eyed the menu eagerly. After I made my selection—chocolate gâteau and a latte—I glanced up and nearly dropped the menu. André and another guy had entered and were looking around the now full café. I caught his eye and he smiled.

  ‘Hello, Beth, how are you?’ he said in that charming French accent.

  ‘André, what a lovely surprise to see you here.’ I tried, I really did, not to gush.

  ‘Yes, we came up for a drive and thought we’d stop for coffee, but it seems full.’

  He looked around.

  I had a sudden inspiration. Lisa and I were sitting at a table for four. I was sensing that she would not exactly be averse to sharing our table with two very attractive men.

  ‘Why don’t you join us?’

  He hesitated, ‘I could not impose.’

  Lisa—wonderful Lisa—chirped, ‘Please do. We’ve loads of room.’

  André looked at his friend, who shrugged and said, ‘Why not.’

  ‘Thank you, that’s very kind. Please, let me introduce you to Paul. He also works at the Tafe.’

  Paul was a little shorter than André, sandy haired and cut. He would not have looked out of place as a trainer on The Biggest Loser. I could sense Lisa’s interest already.

  ‘Hi, pleased to meet you. This is my friend, Lisa.’

  As they sat down I glanced over at Lisa, who flashed a wide smile at me. How sweet was this afternoon turning out! And how glad I was that I had taken Lisa up on her suggestion to come here!

  ‘So, Paul, what do you teach at Tafe?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘Motor Mechanics,’ he said.

  I looked at him in surprise and wondered what on earth he and someone as cultured as André would have in common. But then, probably André didn’t know many people yet and after all, they did work at the same place.

  ‘I’ve been practicing my French on some of those interactive websites,’ I said, turning to André.

  ‘You certainly are one of my most enthusiastic students.’ He gave me a warm smile.

  ‘Beth loves all things French,’ Lisa said.

  ‘Is that so?’

  ‘Yes, one day I’m going to travel there. I’ve been planning it for quite a while.’ No need to mention my meagre savings, and the timing wasn’t quite right to tell him I planned on us going together—that could wait for when we got to know each other a little better.

  ‘It is a beautiful country, but then so is Australia.’

  ‘Too right,’ Paul said. ‘I’ve been telling Andy here he should see a bit more of our lucky country.’

  ‘I plan to, as soon as the vacances, sorry, holidays come. I would love to see the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach.’

  ‘Sunshine Coast, mate, go there first. Noosa’s better than any beach you’ll see down south. Isn’t that right, girls?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Lisa said, seeming to hang on every word that came out of Paul’s rather broad mouth.

  ‘Australia is beautiful,’ I conceded. ‘However, every Aussie needs to get out and see a bit more of the world an
d France is such a cultured place.’ I looked over at André for his agreement.

  To my surprise, he said, ‘Well, I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the gate. I couldn’t wait to come to Australia. It is so clean and I love these wide spaces and lovely people.’ He smiled at me most charmingly. I have to admit my heart did a little dance.

  ‘You’ve got the right of it, mate,’ Paul said, clapping him on the back. ‘No better place in the world. Now I’m sure France is a fine place. But give me steak any day over frog legs. No offence, Andy.’ He laughed at his own terrible joke and André gave him a polite smile.

  I thought Zach was a Neanderthal? Paul made Zach look like one of those nerdy scientists from The Big Bang in comparison. I looked over at Lisa, who was still rapt. Obviously, the stars in her eyes interfered with her sense of hearing and taste.

  Thankfully, our food came and I was spared the sound of Paul’s voice as he tucked into a BLT accompanied by a Coke. André had a pot of Earl Grey tea and a wholegrain muffin. No doubt this would be the last road trip he would take with Mr Motor Mechanic. Perhaps, he would go with me instead. I sent him an inviting smile over the rim of my latte.

  We chatted more about France and he told me he came from a small town just north of Paris and that he had been over here only about three months. He was here for a year and then he would be returning to France. Oh well, a lot can happen in a year and that would give me time to save.

  Perhaps it would have been different had there only been the two of us and we had been able to engage in a real, deep, meaningful conversation. However, he did have to be polite and talk to Paul and Lisa too. In a time too short to be believed, they were getting ready to go and no amount of my trying to prolong the conversation seemed to be working.

  ‘Thank you so much, ladies, for sharing your table. It has been a delight to meet you, Lisa. Beth, I’ll see you in class, eh?’

  I nodded enthusiastically.

  ‘Yeah, thanks girls. See you around,’ Paul said.

  And then they were gone.

  ‘Wow, that Paul. He’s something.’

  ‘Yes, something that should be seen in a freak show.’

  Lisa looked at me reproachfully, ‘That’s a bit harsh.’

  I sighed. ‘I know, but honestly, did you actually listen to him? And that joke about frog legs!’

  ‘Okay, so he’s not Einstein. He’s a good, basic Aussie bloke. Nothing wrong with that.’

  ‘Not Einstein? He couldn’t even spell it.’

  ‘You know, neither of us is exactly a uni graduate.’

  ‘A fact my parents remind me of almost daily when they are home. Yes, I know, but at least we have ambitions.’

  ‘Maybe you do. I know you’re smart and all that. But me? I just want a bit of fun before I settle down, and then I’d like to find someone nice, have children and have a life.’

  I bit my tongue before I said ‘That’s a life?’ Lisa was sweet and uncomplicated and maybe she was right—for her. I knew I could never be happy with anything less than my dream, and I wasn’t giving it up for anything, or anyone.

  We left shortly after that. The afternoon had been better than I expected, so why did I feel such a sense of dissatisfaction? I had spent an hour in André’s company and he had been very nice to me. Yet that spark I had felt sure would ignite when the two of us were together was missing, on his side anyway. Perhaps it was because other people were there and we hadn’t had much one-on-one conversation. Yes, that must be it. Somehow, I would have to get him alone. Then, I was sure, things would certainly heat up.

  Thoughts of how I might accomplish this plan pleasantly filled my mind on the way home.

  Chapter Six

  ‘Spill on aisle four.’ I heard Lisa’s voice on the intercom. Gus, the after-school help, scuttled over with mop and bucket to clean up. I looked at the overweight middle-aged lady waiting to be served. She loaded three bottles of diet Coke, two meat lovers frozen pizzas, a chocolate Bavarian cheese cake and low-fat healthy fries on the counter. A balanced diet, I thought. Jeez, I was becoming a cow.

  ‘Hi, how are you?’ I said, pasting on my plastic smile as I rolled through her purchases.

  I’d had a bad day. Kirsty was still cranky at me and Derek was avoiding me as if I had Swine flu, the Hendra virus and nits rolled into one. Even Lisa was a bit peeved at me, stemming, I think, from my criticism of Motor Mechanic Paul. Bob had put me on an extra shift for Thursday late night shopping and French class this week was cancelled because André was sick. Probably caught something from Paul, whom I noticed had had a sniffle on Sunday. Yet another point in his favour—not. Perhaps it was time to look for another, higher paying job.

  Who was I kidding? Work of any kind was scarce in this town, and I didn’t exactly have a sparkly resume to flash about. I had worked here since high school—going on three years now—and the chance of getting anything else was extremely unlikely.

  Dad was an accountant and Mum was a nurse. Neither one of them was very happy with what I was doing. But they were decent about it. My older sister, Lauren, was the star. She was doing medicine and pretty soon would be qualified as a doctor. Oh well, I guess every family had a black sheep and I was the nominee. I seriously considered a bottle (or two) of French Beaujolais when I got off work. I could watch Chocolat, starring Johnny Depp and make a night of it. After all, I didn’t start work until noon tomorrow.

  Finally, closing time came and I sorted out my till. Naturally, I was $5.70 short. It had just been one of those days. I didn’t hang around, because, face it, nobody wanted to talk to me. I got into my little car, looking forward to the time, ten minutes later, when I would be home. I decided on a Lean Cuisine meal in the microwave tonight. This was not a time I felt like having a whirl with French cordon bleu.

  Half an hour later I was settled in with my spicy pumpkin risotto and the longed for glass of Beaujolais, watching Master Chef and hoping to pick up a few pointers. I found I wasn’t in the mood for Chocolat after all, no matter that it was a classic.

  My iPhone rang.

  ‘Hi.’ A male voice that sounded awfully like Zach’s shattered my peace.

  ‘Zach?’

  ‘None other. How are you?’

  ‘I’m fine. How did you get my number?’ I hoped my voice indicated that I wasn’t pleased, even though my stupid heart jumped up into my mouth. Jeez, I hated biology.

  ‘Got a list of everyone’s email addresses and numbers in the class when I enrolled. Everyone did.’

  I remembered. It was supposed to be in case we wanted to contact each other about assignments and stuff. At the time I hadn’t given it a second thought. Now, I thought it was a terrible intrusion into people’s private lives. ‘Hmm, what do you want?’ I said ungraciously.

  ‘That doesn’t sound very friendly,’ he said.

  ‘It wasn’t meant to be. What do you want?’ I repeated.

  ‘I thought you could help me catch up with French. After all you did offer to share your notes on Saturday night.’

  There was no way I wanted to be reminded about Saturday night. ‘There isn’t a French class this week,’ I said.

  ‘Yeah, I know. All the more reason to catch up before I get left behind.’

  ‘I think you’ll manage. We haven’t done that much.’

  ‘Come on. I did give you a ride home on Saturday and help you when your car was broken down. An hour, tops, that’s all it will take. Surely you can fit me into your busy schedule.’

  There was no way I wanted anything to do with Zach Mills. He was trouble with a capital T. But, damn it he had come to my rescue when my car was broken down, even though I hadn’t wanted him to. I did kind of owe him a favour. I had a mental image of my mother telling me off for being so rude. Parents have a lot to answer for.

  ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘When do you want to meet?’

  ‘How about tomorrow night? It was supposed to be French class, but since it’s been cancelled, we could meet then.’
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  I sighed. ‘Fine. Where?’

  ‘How about I pick you up and we go to my place. Dave’s been missing you.’

  ‘Yeah right. Haven’t you fed him lately?’

  ‘Now, now, don’t be like that. He’s friendly, that’s all. Wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head.’

  ‘Sure, every dog owner in the world thinks that. Isn’t there somewhere else we could meet?’

  ‘I could come to your place.’

  There was no way I wanted Zach Mills on my territory. At least if I went to his place, I could control when I arrived and when I left. I would give him an hour, no more. ‘No, I’ll come to you around seven tomorrow. I can only give you an hour. I have an early start the next day.’

  ‘Do you want me to pick you up?’

  ‘My car’s fine. I’ll come to you.’

  ‘Great, I look forward to it.’

  ‘Right, see you then.’ I was about to hang up, when he spoke again.

  ‘And Beth, thanks. I probably acted like a jerk on Saturday night, so I appreciate you giving me a second chance.’

  ‘This isn’t a second chance. I’m only catching you up in French, nothing more.’

  ‘Sure, got you.’

  Afterwards, I found myself staring at the TV blankly. Who would have thought Zach Mills would apologise? I didn’t want to go, I shouldn’t go and yet, a small part of me was looking forward to tomorrow night already.

  Nights started to close in early in April, so by the time I rolled up at Zach’s house at 6:45pm it was dark. I was early, keeping with the premise that the sooner I got here, the sooner I could leave. The outside light was on and I looked around warily for Dave. I wasn’t all that convinced by Zach’s assurance that his dog (more like a small horse) was harmless. I stepped out of the car cautiously. No dog in sight. Shifting my French book and notes to the other arm, I closed the car door and headed for the house.