the christmas cocktail – final and fourth part

 Here is the last instalment of the little christmas story that I have been telling you over the past couple of weeks.  Thank you for your patience!

Have to say a big thank you to my family and our friend MT, who all helped me thrash out the ‘plot’ – couldn’t have done it on my own guys, you are stars!

…oo0oo…

The day after the dinner with Frederic, Mathilde was in early for work.  Being on an A&E ward, irregular hours were just part of the job, but she didn’t mind.  The early morning also meant she could home  sooner, admiring Paris in the snow on her way,  and make the most of a relaxing evening in her flat.

She climbed the stairs, sorting through the mail she had collected from her letter box on the way, and almost didn’t see Madame de la Garenne, who appeared to be waiting for her on the second floor landing.

“Ma cherie, you must tell me all about your dinner with Frederic, was it wonderfully romantic?  I heard you got back very late, did you have a wonderful time,”    Mathilde smiled, she could hardly resent the elderly lady’s curiosity, it was so well-meaning, and before she had time to answer, Madame continued, “in any case, to send you such beautiful flowers, the young man must have enjoyed your company very much indeed”

“Flowers?!   What flowers?”

“Oh my dear, I am sorry, I have spoiled the surprise, but I think I saw a beautiful bouquet being delivered to your door this afternoon….”

Mathilde gave Madame a peck on the cheek and promised to come back down later in the evening to tell her all the details of the evening.  Then she trotted upstairs to investigate the flowers.

There was indeed a huge bouquet outside her door “gracious, maybe a little too much” thought Mathilde, but as she leant over and opened the envelope pinned to the wrapper she understood better.

“A house party?  a new year’s party? at a château in Normandy?  …..”  Mathilde hardly knew what to think, but in any case she had little time to reflect calmly because Madame was already standing beside her.  “Well my dear, isn’t this a wonderful invitation!”  Mathilde raised her eyebrows, “Madame, did you read this already?”

Madame just brushed the question aside, “my darling they must think so highly of you, but tell me what is it they are so grateful for?”

Mathilde laughed, and as she opened the door to her flat, she started telling her neighbour all about the dinner and the ‘incident’ and Madame followed her in quite naturally and settled down to hear the details.

The two friends had already got through a glass of wine when there was a knock at the door.  It was Frederic, surprised to find Madame de la Garenne in Mathilde’s apartment, but of course totally charming.  A third glass of wine was poured and Mathilde told him about the bouquet of flowers, and asked his opinion on the invitation to the New Year house-party.

“Well Mathilde, I have heard about de Buisnard’s country manor house, I’d say that if you like the idea of getting out of the city for the new year, then this is a chance not to miss.”

“”But Mathilde, you can’t possibly go alone”, Madame chimed in, looking pointedly at Frederic.  “look at this lovely invitation, my darling,  I’m sure that this manor house is enormous and that there are dozens of rooms, you could both go and enjoy the evening together, you’d have your own rooms and then the next day you drive back here.  Good …. then that is all settled”.

Mathilde went a little pink, as Madame dropped her in this awkward situation “Madame, I am sure that Frederic already has plans for New Year”, but even as she spoke the words, he was smiling and shaking his head.  “If you’re asking, I’d love to accompany you.  I have a car, we can drive out”

And so it was arranged, that on New Years Eve they would drive out to Normandy late afternoon, spend the evening at the château or manor house, or whatever this place was, and return the next day.

The next couple of days flew by, Mathilde was working hard, and wanted to find a suitable gift to take to her hosts.  After much deliberation she settled on a hamper of goodies: champagne, foie gras, biscuits and chocolates from an excellent epicier near to her home.

She packed the hamper with care, and packed her little overnight bag, with a pretty dress for the New Year party (another vintage bijou from Madame’s wardrobe) and  suitable warm country clothes for New Years day when her hosts had told her they planned a country walk and a picnic tea on the estate.

New Year’s eve finally came, and she and Frederic left Paris during the afternoon for the drive out to Normandy.   The address was in deepest Normandy and they expected to take at least two hours to arrive, Mathilde was looking forward to the journey, and another chance for a long chat with Frederic.

The traffic leaving Paris was heavy, cars were leaving the capital en masse to celebrate the new year in the countryside.    With Frederic driving, Mathilde was map reading and when the traffic got too bad she deftly led them off the highway and on to some smaller country roads.   Gradually the towns became smaller and the valleys deeper until as it began to get dark they were driving miles with no sign of houses let alone towns.  Then it began to snow …. heavily.

There was still some snow and ice remaining from the Christmas covering, and this fresh layer quickly took a hold on the roads.   Frederic slowed down, and took the bends in the narrow country lanes with extreme caution, but suddenly the car lurched and spun on the road, the back wheels sliding into a deep snowdrift on the side of the lane.

Mathilde giggled “well this was unexpected!  shall I put on my walking boots and push?”    “Of course not, replied Frederic, I’ll push and you try to steer her gently out of this ditch”.

They persevered for almost half an hour, trying to get the car back on to the middle of the road.  Finally Mathilde called the manor house “Bonsoir, I am very sorry, this is Mathilde.  I am afraid to say that we are stuck! ……….. Excuse me?  I’m sorry I can’t hear you very well …..  no, I don’t know exactly where we are, I don’t think we are very far from you, but the snow is falling hard ….. oh thank you, ….. that is very kind of you ….. yes, don’t worry, we’ll stay here …. merci …… OK I’ll wait for your call”

Frederic looked at Mathilde in the light of his flash light “Alors?  what do they suggest?”

“They think that their park manager will be coming this way later this evening, and if he sees us he will bring us back … but they don’t know how long it will take…”

“Well my dear I think there is nothing for it; we are stuck …. desperate times call for desperate actions!”   And with that Frederic walked around to the back of the car, and pulled out a heavy soft plaid blanket, Mathilde looked surprised and he grinned “I thought it may come in useful for the picnic tomorrow”

They both settled down in the back of the car, with the blanket over their knees.  Conversation suddenly seemed stilted until, at an awkward pause, Frederic put his arm over Mathilde’s shoulders and pulled her towards him.  She looked into his eyes, and he leant over and kissed her gently on the lips.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since the first time I saw you; the minute you opened up the door and saw me waiting there with madame, I fell for you on the spot”

She smiled and leaned against his strong shoulder “And me for you…. Madame has a lot to answer for”

He kissed her again, and said “You know what?  It could take hours for help to get here, and I think this calls for a little celebration….. tell me again?  what did you put in that hamper for our hosts?”

And so it was that as the New Year drew closer, a car could be seen stopped on a quiet lane in Normandy; no lights on, but from inside came the soft glow of a candle with the sound of quiet music and the clink of glasses as two young people popped a bottle of champagne and raised their glasses to love, romance and the wonderful optimism that is the gift of young lovers wherever in the world they may be.

…oo0oo…

click here for the  christmas cocktail story :

part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4