Just another day.
So, it’s just you and me, I sigh, another day, another endless night, I glance at my lap top, he doesn’t agree, he flashes me wonderful photographs of the beautiful Libourne region in south west of France. I know his game! It’s in anticipation that something will catch my eye and make me reach out and click on one of these wonderful chateaux, or maybe a gastronomic restaurant that could offer me real French cuisine and wine?
No! I shout at Lappi (the nick name I have given my lap top since we have been locked down together because of this awful COVID virus) no way will I look at those again. However I do sneak a peek at the screen - oh no! the advert comes up for the agency I had booked my tour with. I give in and sit down to torcher myself again.
I was so excited to go on this tour, I love France, I love food, I love wine….and……well the tour guide was sooooooo handsome and charming, with his sexy French accent. “Je suis Marcel” was the introduction. I floated home thinking how lucky I was to have met him while I was in the agency looking for a short French tour to book. He convinced me to take the tour in south west France, he conjured up magical Chateaux by the Gironde river, restaurants and picnics near these grounds, wine tours and well we just kept talking until Marcel said “we shall ‘ave many hours together to talk of this magical region, maybe avec un bouteille, ou deux of zee marvolous Merlot. Eet originated from zis area around 1784, but I ‘ave to keep zee stories until I ‘ave you at le Chateau.” No more hesitating, yes, yes, oh yes! I signed on the dotted line and handed over my credit card. I couldn’t wait till ee ad me at the chateaux!
Now I am staring at the cancellation from the agency trying to take in the information on how to get my refund. I don’t want a refund, I want Marcel, I shouted at Lappi.
Blink went Lappi, I like to think blinking away the tears for me in my disappointment, then ting a message has dropped into my box! Why bother to read it? Nothing good can happen only someone else bemoaning their lot, even mum and dad have run out of things to say on whats app!
I make a cup of tea and more toast. I try to get excited at the prospect of shopping for groceries tomorrow. Maybe I should make a list…hmmm my mind wanders back to Richard my boyfriend, oops, ex boyfriend, why did he break up with me and leave me here all alone? When I think that two months ago I had a live in lover and we were planning a trip of a lifetime, where I was sure he would propose to me…. then…..then what? That bloody stupid job in Scotland, when I told him I didn’t want to go to Scotland 'cos I would have to find a new job, he was furious and said my job wasn’t that important I could work in any hotel or restaurant. I was so angry I told him to leave if that’s how much he truly thought of me?
He did, he left! No matter how much everyone said “better to find out now than when its too late”, whatever that’s supposed to mean? I really didn’t feel better, but maybe I could make myself feel better, yes that’s it, I decided to go on a trip myself and show him how I could create an exciting life for myself, how well I could cope, that’s when I met Marcel, booking that trip, was it fate? It certainly gave me hope, a new hair do, new clothes and I was watching what I was eating and - oh dear, all for COVID lockdown. I must remember to buy a big bottle of plonk at the supermarket tomorrow, now I’m going to bed, at least I still have a book to finish.
I'll just check the lap top and say night night to Lappi. I may as well look at the emails and chat box. Wait! get my glasses, there is something from the agency …….. no its from Marcel.
Hi Catarina, I am so sad our trip is cancelled. Our trip, he says our trip. I had such a wonderful time speaking with you and had many hopes for showing you the magical region of France where I was born. Maybe, if you want we can keep contact with each other and when this horrible COVID is over we can take this trip together? Please do not be angry with me I have found your home address and have left outside the door a small token from my heart. If you are happy you can answer this and I will be happy to.
Oh my God when did he send this? how long ago? Will he think I am not happy? Outside Catarina, go outside and look.
A picnic basket full of yummy food from France and look two bottles of Merlot dark rich wine and a note:
please keep one bottle for when we can enjoy this together. Together he said!
I get back in the house and sit down with Lappi, so happy, a glass of Merlot in one hand, I take a photo and send it to Marcel "Here's to our first date, can’t wait". Catarina
About the Creator
Nicci Forte
I am Scottish/Italian, living in France. It's time for me to write, After dancing all over the world & experiencing many different people and cultures, some nice, or great, or horrible. Most of all, I'm here to tell these stories to you.
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.