A French Pirouette Read Online Free PDF Page A

Dan’s to do this together but on your own?” Helen shook her head, a worried frown on her face.
    “I know,” Libby said. “But I have to do something and I’m a big girl now—I’m sure I’ll cope on my own. Chloe will be there for the summer too, don’t forget.” She’d smiled reassuringly.
    When Helen failed to look convinced Libby said, “Helen, please don’t worry. I can’t tell you how energised I feel about this move. After the last couple of years I feel like I’m waking up again. I’m ninety-nine per cent certain I’m doing the right thing. If I’m not, and it all goes wrong, I can always sell up and come home but at least I’ll have tried to do something with my life.”
    “Well, I wish you all the luck in the world,” Helen said. “Can I come and visit?”
    “Of course. Give me a week or two to settle in and you’ll be more than welcome.”
    Now, alone in the auberge bedroom, which she and Dan had occupied together so often, she could only pray that she’d done the right thing coming to France on her own. Thoughtfully Libby put Dan’s photograph back down on the floor. “I’ll make our dream come true,” she whispered.
    “Morning, Mum.” Chloe pushed open the bedroom door with her foot. “Brought you breakfast,” she said, carefully placing a tray on the bed.
    “Goodness,” Libby said, looking at the fresh croissants on the tray. “You’re up and about early.”
    “Did my run to the village.” Chloe grinned. “Where the
boulangerie
just happened to be open. So I’ve earned my
pain au chocolate
—you’ll have to work yours off later!”
    “That won’t be hard,” Libby said. “With this place to be sorted. Lots of unpacking to do today. Mmm, I’d forgotten how good these are,” she added, dunking her
pain au chocolate
in the bowl of coffee in true French style.
    The sudden noisy crowing of a cockerel startled them. “Napoleon,” Chloe said. “Wants his breakfast.”
    Libby looked at her blankly.
    “You remember, Mum. Brigitte told you she was leaving the hens and ducks for you. Napoleon the cockerel comes with them. I’ll go and let them out if you like, while you shower.”
    “Thanks.”
    Libby sighed as Chloe left the room. She was going to miss having her around so much when she left for college, leaving her to live alone for the first time ever. Running her shower and standing under the hot invigorating water, Libby pushed all thoughts of Chloe leaving away. She wouldn’t start worrying about it now. There was a whole summer to enjoy before she left.
    “Mum! Come here quickly.” Chloe’s urgent shout broke into her thoughts as she towelled herself dry. Quickly she pulled on some clothes and ran downstairs.
    “Whatever is the matter…?” she asked, her voice trailing away as she saw exactly what the matter was. The kitchen was flooded and water was pouring out through the back door and down the steps.
    “Thought I’d put some washing on but the machine won’t stop taking in water,” Chloe said. “Even though I’ve turned it off.”
    “We need to turn off the stopcock,” Libby said. “And I have no idea where that is. I’ll phone Brigitte. But first I’ll turn the electricity off at the mains—I think the switch for that is in this cupboard by the door. Yes!” She pushed the big switch on the right down to the off position.
    She picked up the phone and dialled Brigitte’s number. After quickly explaining the situation she listened intently as Brigitte told her where the stopcock was.
    “Outside by the gîte. I send Bruno to help you. He knows what to do.”
    Libby ran outside, found the stopcock under a large metal cover and turned the water off. By the time Bruno arrived carrying his bag of tools, she and Chloe were busy mopping up the water in the kitchen.
    Bruno dragged the machine out to reach the pipes behind and pulled out a piece of perished rubber hose. “The machine is old. It happens occasionally,” he said. “I fix it for now