The French Retreat (Falling for France Book 1) Read Free

‘Hello, Poppy! Have you missed me? I’ve missed you too.’
    ‘Did you get that roof fixed?’ asked Will.
    ‘Yep, all done,’ said Ben. ‘Until the next time. The whole roof is going to need replacing in the next couple of years.’
    From her crouched position, Marcie looked up at the former farmhouse her brother had bought several years ago. It looked a bit different now after spending almost eighteen months renovating it. Rustic was the word that sprang to mind. The two hundred year old building was draped in Wisteria, the purple flower of summer long since dropped, leaving naked branches staked to the walls. The house was still beautiful even without the flower, as the granite stone and soft sand coloured pointing was now clearly visible. The Breton red window frames and front door, despite faded from the summer sun, stood out as the only splash of colour against the grey overcast palette of the day.
    Marcie loved coming here, the house was stuck in the middle of rural Brittany, well off the beaten track with only a scattering of neighbours in the commune . The tranquil location of The Retreat attracted artists, writers, photographers and walkers all year round. Basically, anyone who wanted to get away from it all.
    ‘Come on in,’ said Ben, leading the way into the farmhouse. ‘Lisa’s prepared a salad. French stick, cheese, ham, that type thing. She’s doing a big homemade chilli for tea.’
    ‘Ooh, sounds great,’ said Marcie standing up. She turned to Will. ‘Lisa’s chillies are legendary.’
    ‘In that case, I shall look forward to it,’ he said.
    ‘At last,’ said Lisa as Marcie entered the kitchen. ‘Some female company. I was beginning to despair of any.’ She embraced her sister-in-law. ‘You’ve picked a good time to come over, we’ve only got Will with us at the moment. In fact, it’s been me and the lads for the last month. So glad you decided to come.’
    ‘Not as glad as I am to be here,’ said Marcie. Unexpected tears flooded her eyes.
    ‘Hey, don’t be crying,’ said Lisa. She hugged Marcie tighter. ‘It’s okay. You’re here now.’
    Marcie wiped her eyes. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m not sure what happened there. Totally didn’t expect to cry.’
    Ben opened a bottle of wine and pouring four glasses, handed one to Marcie. ‘Here, get that down you,’ he said. ‘Just chill. After all, this is The Retreat. Let the place work its magic.’
    Marcie smiled gratefully at Ben and then, looking round, saw Will standing there, observing the scene. God, what must he think of her?
    ‘I’m just pleased to see you both,’ she said. ‘Ignore me.’ Marcie raised her glass. ‘To The Retreat.’
    ‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Will. He had the most serious look on his face which didn’t match the joviality of the kitchen. He looked steadily back at Marcie as he raised his glass in her direction. Not for the first time she wondered what had brought him here.
    After lunch, the weather took a dip and the grey clouds that arrived with Marcie finally burst open.
    ‘I’ll go and get some logs in to light the fire,’ said Ben.
    ‘I’ll come with you,’ said Marcie jumping up. Taking the wax cotton jacket Ben handed her, she followed him out of the house and down to the wood store in the garden. ‘So, what’s the story with Will?’ she asked as Ben began to pick out some bigger logs for splitting.
    ‘What do mean?’
    ‘He’s not exactly the life and soul, is he?’
    Ben placed a large log on the ground and picked up the axe which was resting on top of the log pile. He looked at his sister.
    ‘I can’t say too much, you know, guest confidentiality and all that,’ he raised the axe above his shoulder and then swung it down onto the log, jamming the blade in the wood. Then lifting the axe and the log together, tapped the axe all the way through, splitting the wood completely. ‘He had a rough time on his last tour of Afghanistan but he’s getting himself sorted