Growing Close

He was bursting with new ideas and ambition – but was their new colleague going to come between them after all these years?

- Charlotte Sawdon

Françoise ran barefoot from the room, from the reception, with her brand-new high-heeled shoes clutched tightly in her hand. As she slumped into one of the nearest chairs on the empty vineyard veranda, the offending shoes slipped from her fingers and tears began to wet her cheeks. What have I done? she thought desperately – all she’d wanted to do was impress, but instead she had made herself a laughing stock in front of the assembled gathering – her employers, her workmates, the invited guests. But worst of all, before him.

She and Pierre had been friends at the local village school, and when she got a job at the vineyard his parents owned, she couldn’t have been happier. She couldn’t think of living anywhere else except this beautiful part of Provence, but now her dreams had been shattered. She knew she couldn’t stay, but where could she go?

She and Pierre had left school at the same time and had worked together for the last six years. All day, everyday, they had gradually learnt the job together; learnt everything, from looking after the vines to blending the wine. They had grown close and even Monsieur and Madame Tanguy treated her like the daughter they had never had.

But now, her idyllic life was collapsing around her. When did this all begin? Perhaps it was that morning when Pierre had met her with a broad smile on his face…

‘Françoise! Great news – my parents have arranged for me to go away on a viniculture course.’