Two Days in Biarritz Read Online Free PDF

neo-Gothic church. They passed an antique merry-go-round that had been entertaining children since bygone days. Every side street was dotted with patisserie shops, chocolate ateliers and boutiques.
    “Shall we?” said Kate as she held open the glass doors of the huge department store.
    A cornucopia of delights awaited them on entering. Displays of exquisite handbags and scarves took up their interest for much too long.
    “If we stay here any longer we’ll never get upstairs to try anything on,” Annabel said, ushering her friend up to the escalator.
    But Kate was distracted en route. “What do you think of this?” Kate held a stripy multicoloured wrap up to her face.
    “Very Bohemian and art college – you are tapping the door of the big four-O, may I remind you!”
    “There you go, taking the wind out of my sa ils. Come on, onward and upward!”
    Kate was only joking but Annabel winced at the comment. Yes, she was the more conservative half of the relationship but that’s the way they always had been.
    They finally made it to the moving stairs. The women’s New Season range was waiting for them on the first floor. Annabel rummaged through a rail of early season shirts and tops. She threw the turquoise and rich-sienna garments over her shoulder.
    “Are you in the fitting room yet?” she called out.
    “Yes, Mum,” Kate replied.
    “This should do you for starters,” Annabel smiled, passing the clothes through the gap at the side of the curtain.
    “I hope you are going to try something on?” Kate called from under her cotton cover.
    “Plenty of time for that when you’re sorted out,” said Annabel.
    She grabbed at a pair of chocolate-brown Capri pants. They would be perfect.
    “Are you still a size 12 in jeans?” she asked Kate.
    “You are too cruel, Annabel Hamilton! I resorted to a 14 earlier in the year. I can’t stand people who lose weight when they get divorced. I ate tons of chocolate for weeks.”
    It was ironic, Annabel thought. In their twenties it was Annabel who was fighting off the pounds but now she was the trimmer and fitter of the pair. But those extra pounds somehow only served to make Kate even more voluptuous than usual. Life was never fair!
    “You’re not going to make me put these on?” Kate said with a gasp.
    “Trust me,” Annabel replied.
    When Kate emerged, Annabel applauded her own powers of colour-coordination. It was one of the paradoxes of their relationship that the artist looked better when dressed by the pragmatist and it was some consolation to Annabel for having such a seductive friend
    “I have to say I love it and in a million years I’d never have picked them off the rail for myself,” Kate said. “Do you remember that time in Prisunic – it was one of our later trips to France? You got me to try on that floral sundress? I wore it for years.”
    Annabel smiled. She remembered that holiday well. That was the summer of ’85 and that trip to France was the most special journey in her life. How could she forget it?
    “Annabel, what’s up? You’re in a trance. What do you think? Am I deluding myself here?” Kate asked with her hands in the air she gave a twirl, displaying her new ensemble. The contrast of the patterned blouse and brown pants was flattering. 
    “No, no, not at all– you look fabulous. And I’m going to buy it for your birthday present.”
    “Well, then you’d better get looking for something yourself, so I can buy it for you!”
    Annabel sifted through the next rail trying to yank her thoughts back from 1985 with each slide of the coat hanger. “You know, I don’t see anything here at the moment. We can come back tomorrow or we might see something somewhere else.”
    “Are you sure?” Kate asked.
    “Positive,” Annabel assured her. “Let’s go for a coffee or a drink in one of the cafés that we passed on the main street.”
    When they got out on to the main street they were spoilt for choice. The thoroughfare was littered with