8 years in the life

Chapter 39 - Lourmarin

Rory was bewitched by the beautiful landscape of villages hidden on green hills, the old plane trees along the roads. It was her first time in Provence, and Robert didn't exaggerate when he told her that she would love the scent of lavender and rosemary, the old stones, the colors of Luberon and the songs of cicadas. Driving in an old red Triumph Spitfire convertible seemed surreal to Rory, but apparently, it was the most natural thing to Robert. When they arrived at the Marseille airport, he went straight to the car and already had the key.

"It's Antoine's," he just said, and she didn't pry for more fearing another breakdown, but Robert seemed cool and thrilled to be there. He put their luggage in the trunk and opened the door for her. She relished the comfort of the old leather seat and buckled up.

"Open roof or closed?" he asked her.

"Open," she answered enthusiastically, she had never been in a convertible, much less a vintage one.

"Then I would suggest finding a way to hold your hair."

While he was pulling the hood, she found a rubber band in her purse and pulled her hair in a ponytail. Robert sat in the driver seat smiled at her and leaned to kiss her.

"Ready?" he asked. He looked different but happy different. Maybe Rory shouldn't be apprehensive meeting people from the part of his life that she didn't know.

After a 45 minute drive, Robert turned in a small road bordered with poplars alternating with bland walls. He stopped the car in front of an ancient iron gate of a property surrounded by an endless wall of old stones. He walked to buzz the intercom and came back in the car while the gate was opening.

"I feel like we're in an old French movie and that Alain Delon would be laying by the pool," Rory said, dazzled by the beautiful garden composed of thickets surrounded by wildflower beds, an unkempt lawn, olive trees, and an azure ceramic pool. It was an ancient property around the main building and two guests houses, full of charm shaded by old oak and cedar trees.

Robert frowned at her.

"You know that Delon should be almost eighty now and is a huge douchebag, right?"

Rory smiled and kissed him on the cheek. They heard a woman yell from the house.

"Ils sont là !!!" [they are here]

A gorgeous tanned brunette wearing a yellow sundress burst out of the house.

"Robert!!"

He barely had time to step out of the car before she had thrown her arms around his neck and was kissing his cheeks. Robert welcomed her embrace cheerfully and squeezed her with a content smile showing he had missed her.

"Oh! Sorry, Rory," Odette walked fast to the other side of the car. "I'm so glad to meet you finally. I'm Odette." She leaned to kiss Rory on the cheek which startled her at first but then she relaxed immediately at the friendly vibe she was getting.

"Enchantée," Rory replied trying to remember her French from high school.

"I've heard so much about you sometimes I think I already know you." Odette genuinely smiled at her.

Rory tried not to stare at her too much, but she was quite curious to meet the woman who had been for so long in her boyfriend's life and that she knew he loved deeply, but also that had developed a friendship with her ex. What immediately caught the American's attention was the fascinating gaze of the French brunette, in particular, the green of fresh cut grass, a color that she had never seen before on a person.

An elegant white-haired woman walked toward them, and Robert went to hug her. Rory could see that she tightened her embrace.

"I'm so glad to see you, it's been too long," Robert said, clearly a little emotional.