Aubrey/Biebe/Skinner/Thorne: Summer Sojourn
The direct continuation of Skinner/Thorne: A New Year
By Atonia Walpole
Part 1:
It was the back end of June and Bonnieux, looking like a wedding cake perched on the hillside, baked in the noonday sun. Max Skinner shifted his chair around the table following the shade of the limp umbrella at the outdoor café. It was market day and tourist season was full on in the Luberon valley. Finding the table at all had been a piece of luck. He glanced at his watch again and picked up the newspaper he’d been reading. He was in Bonnieux waiting on his brother John Biebe and his wife Donna who were coming for a two-week vacation.
Connie Skinner wove her way through the crowd with her packages and dumped them on the table.
“What have you got there?” Max asked, summoning a waitress over to order Connie a cool drink.
“This and that,” she answered, sitting down and removing her straw hat and placing it on the little mounded belly she was growing. Connie was five months pregnant and dressed in a loose fitting cotton shift that skimmed her knees. “I bought some ham for sandwiches and some cheeses. No sign of them yet?”
“No, we have got the day, right, haven’t we?”
“Yes, dear. Does John speak French at all?”
“A smattering of French Canadian, and I don’t think that will help him much here in the valley. He looked up and folded his paper. “Could that possibly be…” Max wandered out into the crowd.
“Max, man, am I glad to see you!” John gave him a big bear hug.
“Bonjour, John, Donna.” He kissed her cheeks in the French fashion. “I have a table over there and Connie is waiting to see you.”
They walked over to the table and took a seat after kisses and hellos. “Did you get lost?” Connie asked.
“We’ve been lost since we left the airport,” Donna replied.
“No, we haven’t. We made it to Bonnieux.” John glanced in her direction.
Max called the waitress over again and ordered drinks, cool crisp chardonnay and a basket of pistachios.
“How far is La Siroque from here?” John asked.
“Less than ten miles out. It’s not far but there are crossroads to confuse you.”
“What have you done with your children? It would have been nice to have them here, too.” Connie asked.
“Mrs. Pickering has them or they have her. John and I haven’t had a vacation without kids in forever. It was time we thought.”
“Quite right, too,” Max nodded.
“You may as well get used to having children about, Max,” Connie smiled, patting her tummy.
“Ours will be seldom seen and heard.”
“I doubt that, Max,” John replied. “Kids take over.”
“He’s only kidding.” Connie had seen Max with Toni and Terry’s Jacky. She knew what he would be like as a father.
“Well, I’m about ready to go see that place of yours, Max, and get out of some of these clothes. It’s hot over here...and crowded. Is it always like this?”
“It’s tourist season and it’s market day today. There’s a market every day in a different village around here so it’s continuous shopping. It's summer, John, and it’s supposed to be hot.” Max paid for their drinks and led them out of Bonnieux to his chateau.
“Oh, wow, John! Look at this place!” Donna exclaimed when they pulled up to the chateau.
“Yeah, it’s nice, Donna.”
Connie took them upstairs to their bedroom and John changed out of his jeans into a pair of shorts and a tee shirt. He found Max outside in the garden.
“This is a big place, Max.”
“Yeah, it’s quite extensive. The vineyards are in that direction and over there beyond is where my vinegon lives. His wife Ludivine cleans and cooks sometimes for us. He looks after my vines.”
“I expanded my place a little, too, bought the rest of the cove where we live.”
“Did you?” Max turned. “I wondered what you’d do.”
“Bought a fishing boat, too. Well, my tenant used to own one and he’s all arthritic now but he can still boss everybody around. I sell a little lobster and fish.” He grinned, taking a seat at the patio table.
Max pulled out a chair. “Your stocks and investments are doing well. I keep up with them.”
“I really appreciate that, Max. You know that ain’t my strong point. It sure has made a difference, you know. It took a while for me and Donna to realize what we could do.”
“Connie said you went back to Alaska.”
“Yeah, we took a trip out there with the kids, visited with some old friends…I miss some of it, you know, but we’re happy where we are. Got a good life goin’ you know.”
“That’s what counts, the only thing that matters,” Max smiled and looked over towards the door. Donna and Connie were coming out with a tray.
“Ludivine left us lunch. How nice is that!” Connie set the tray down.
“I love your kitchen, Max. Connie said you designed it.”
“I’m glad you like it, Donna. I’s not all my design,” he looked at Connie, “I had help.” Max opened the bottle of wine Connie brought out and filled the glasses.
“I’ve never been much of a wine drinker.” John reached for his glass and smelled the contents.
“You’re in the land of wine now. You’d better get used to it.”
“Is this some of yours?”
“Yes, it is. I hope you enjoy it, and here’s hoping you have a good holiday.” Max toasted his brother and sister-in-law.
John sipped the wine and then took another. “Max, did you get an e-mail from Terry?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t looked lately. Why?”
“You ought to check it out.”
“What’s Terry up to?” Connie asked.
John studied the lunch tray and didn’t answer.
Terry Thorne entered the front door of his house and walked through. Seeing his wife and son in the back garden he ran up the stairs and into their bedroom. He pulled the necessary things he would need and packed them in the duffle bag that had been in the back of the closet since his trip to Paris in February. He brought the bag downstairs and dumped it in front of the door. He’d put it off as long as he could. He knew he was a coward where Toni was concerned. He walked to the balcony and imprinted that picture of them in his mind before he descended the steps and walked over to the bench where Toni sat watching Jacky in his sandbox.
“Terry, you’re home early! Do you have the rest of the day off?”
Terry sat down on the bench next to her. “No, luv.” He picked up Jacky’s pail and tossed it back to him. “I have a trip I have to take. I have to be on site.”
“A trip…on site? What are you talking about?”
Terry met her eyes. “I’m going to Albania. There’s no one else. I have to handle this one. I don’t know how long I'll be gone.”
Toni jumped off the bench. “You’re going back into the field…? Terry Thorne, you promised me!”
“I promised I would not put myself in danger and I won’t, but this is something I have to do, Toni. That’s the way it is.”
“No, that’s the way you want it to be…I can’t believe…after all we’ve been through…Terry.” She turned and ran into the house, tears streaming down her face.
Terry picked up Jacky from the sandbox and followed her in the house. He found her in the foyer holding on to the banister of the staircase.
“You’re leaving NOW! You had this planned.”
“No, luv, I didn’t know until this morning it would be today. I have to go. There’s a plane waiting for me. I don’t want to leave you like this.” He held onto Jacky, kissing him and looking at his mother.
“Well, this is how you’re going to leave me.” She went to take Jacky from his arms and his right arm went around her, holding her tightly to him and Jacky.
“I love you, Toni. Please try and understand, honey. I have to do this one.” He released Jacky to her. “Toni…”
“Just go!” She turned her hot, wet, angry eyes on him. “Oh Terry…come back to me.”
“That’s a promise I will make to you. I will come back.” He kissed her, picked up his bag and went to the waiting car and driver that would take him to the airport.
Toni sat down on the bottom step and sobbed. Her cries and Jacky’s discomfort brought Wiggins up the steps from the kitchen where she was preparing lunch. She took one look at Toni and took Jacky from her.
“What’s this then?” she wanted to know.
“Terry’s gone, gone to Albania on a job.”
“Well then, tha’s all right. He’s a man and tha’s what they do. Where’s Miss Anna? Is she to come in today?”
“No.”
“I’ll be callin’ her then. You go have a lie down.” Wiggins took Jacky down to the kitchen.
Toni stumbled up the stairs to her room and gave in to her misery. What a difference twenty minutes had made in her day. She couldn’t believe he’d left like that, walk in and walk out. She was angry and hurt and above all afraid for him. Memories of the last time he went into the field and came back without his memory flooded her senses.
For two days she barely left her room, and then only for Jacky. He’d lost his daddy; he couldn’t lose his mummy, too. Alone in her room she ranted and raved and cried. Later that evening she received a call from him.
“Toni, I can’t talk long, luv. I just wanted to let you know I’m in Greece right now and I’m okay. How are you, honey?”
“How do you think I am, Terry? I want you home…I can’t do this, I can’t. We didn’t need this right now, Terry. Please, please come back.”
“I can’t do that, luv. You know I can’t. Don’t be angry with me. I don’t think I can take that. Do you want to go to Max, or to John?”
“No, I don’t want to go anywhere!” She was crying again, just hearing his voice so far away. “You’re too far away.”
“I know. I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’m sorry I…”
“I understand, luv, I do. I have to go now. I’ll try and call again tomorrow or the next day and then I don’t know when I’ll be able to contact you, but I’ll be home soon, believe that…I’ll do what I can for you, luv.”
He was busy and would not allow the thought into his mind until he was finished. His ship was in a repair dock in Plymouth in a ragged condition after battle and he had papers to sign. His cabin cleared out only to have someone else come with something for him. It was hours after the message had entered his mind before he had time to think about it.
“Terry,” he said aloud but quietly. He had been summoned. “Killick! Killick, there, light along a pot of coffee.” He bent his head over his papers and finished what he needed to.
“Which it is ready,” Killick brought his coffee in a small cup.
“Inquire as to the fastest passage to London.” While he waited he tidied up the bundles of papers and books on his table, gave orders where needed and essentially prepared himself for a trip. Jack Aubrey had no idea why he had been summoned only that it had come from Terry Thorne, his brother. Summoning was not something done lightly between the brothers. It usually meant someone was in trouble. Had it come from John he would have been surprised, but Terry…if anyone of them ever was in some fix, it would be him. He turned impatiently as Killick came back in his cabin.
“Mr. Mowett says there is a packet at four bells, sir.”
“Four bells it is then. Make ready for an extended trip and, Killick, we shall be crossing over.”
Killick knew what this meant and a sour look took over his face. He never questioned it. It was just something that happened with his Captain from time to time. However for him, there would be no whoring and drunken fun on the other side. Morosely he moved about the cabin muttering to himself while he packed for Jack.
Toni came down the stairs. She’d been with Jacky while he went down for his nap. A brief phone call from Terry earlier in the day had left her feeling empty; it would last until he came home. His calls instead of boosting her up made her worse. She couldn’t touch him or feel his touch he may as well have been on the moon.
Someone was at her doorknocker and she opened the door.
“Jack!” She fell into him and he righted her, half carrying her across the threshold.
It was nice sitting by the pool in Cucuron. Max knew it well. Oh, not the way it looked today, but with a movie screen and piano player and…Fannie. He sat quietly sipping a glass of wine while John was taking pictures. Donna and Connie had walked up the street looking in and out of the shops. He wasn’t thinking anything in particular, just letting his mind wander when something entered. He tried to get John’s attention, but John was in full tourist mode.
John noticed him waving and came back over to the table. “I got some great shots, and this place is wonderful.”
“John, Jack has been summoned.”
“Jack?” John sat down. “By whom…you?”
“No, Terry.”
“Ah, shit, Max! I’m on fucking vacation.” John looked out over the pool. “Why didn’t I get a jolt?”
“Because, you’re on fucking vacation,” he mimicked John. “Something is up.”
“I’m callin’ Toni and find out what. Wouldn’t you know this would happen.” John pulled out his phone and hit her speed dial number.
“Hey, Toni, it’s John… just wondered what’s going on. Max said Jack had been summoned by Terry.”
“Well, he’s here, John. Got here about fifteen minutes ago. I don’t know anything except Terry’s gone back in the field again. He’s in Albania or about to be there.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I know you didn’t want that again. So Jack’s there?”
“Yeah, I guess Terry sent him to me. He doesn’t know anything except that.”
John held the phone over his chest a minute. “Max, Terry’s gone back into the field, gone to Albania or someplace. He’s sent Jack to Toni. What if you asked her to come here?”
“Let me have the phone.” Max sat up in his chair. “Toni, it’s Max, darling. So he’s done it again? Look, why don’t you come over here? John and Donna are here for another week. Well, bring him with you.”
“Jack don’t fly,” John said.
Toni turned and asked Jack. His first response was no but she kept looking at him saying nothing and he gave in.
“He’ll do it for me, Max. Isn’t he sweet?”
“Sweet? Um, not a word I would apply to Jack. Let me know when you’re coming, love.” Max handed the phone back to John.
“Hey, Toni, if you need any help getting that overgrown sailor on a plane let me .know, I’ll come and help.”
“Thanks, John. I may need you if I can’t drug him. I’ll make the arrangements and call back.”
John folded his phone. “That’s why I asked you to look at your email. He sent me one before I left to come over here, letting me know he had a job. It was a heads-up kinda thing. I guess to let me know if he didn’t make it back I’d know why.”
“Bollocks! He was over here in February training an elite team. I see now it was his. He’s known about this for a while. Why does he do it, John? The man’s a millionaire. He doesn’t have to do a damn thing!”
“I dunno, Max. Maybe the same reason I’m still working part-time at the sheriff’s department. Terry’s like that, though. He likes living on the edge.”
“I think he’s pretty close to the edge with Toni right now, the bastard.”
Toni called back and said give her a couple of days. She had to arrange for a passport for Jack.
“I didn’t think about that. How the hell is she gonna get Jack a passport?” John wondered.
“She knows people at SI. Wyatt will probably help her out.”
Connie and Donna came back with packages and joined Max and John at the table.
“Darling, we’re having houseguests again, Toni, Jack, Jacky and their entourage.”
“Oh, my goodness! Connie where will you put them all?” Donna asked.
Connie laughed, “Donna you see the way we live. What’s two more adults, a child and a couple of servants?”
“You and Max make it all seem so easy. I’d be in a panic.”
“It’s not a problem for us. We have the room and I like having guests,” Max said.
“Are we ordering food? I’m about ready and so is little Maxi here.” Connie patted her tummy.
“Of course.” Max went to find a waitress.
While he was gone John explained to Connie and Donna what was going on with Toni. “She gets in a state when he’s gone, especially for something like this.”
“I think I would, too. What he does is dangerous. I’m glad she’s coming…and Jack, too.” Connie glanced at Donna, who blinked her bright eyes and smiled.
Jack walked out on Toni’s balcony while she was on the phone with Max and John. He was half angry with Terry over this, especially the way he left, giving her no notice or time to prepare herself. Now he was wondering what he’d gotten himself into, flying…and to France, of all places. But he would do it for her; he would do anything for her.
Toni finished up her phone calls and walked out into the afternoon sunshine on her balcony. “Jack, we’ll have to go to SI to get your passport. It’s not legal but should get you into France and back. Wyatt is taking care of it.
“I’m not sure why it is necessary to go?”
“It would be good for me, not that you aren’t a distraction, Jack, but I need people around me, people I love.”
“You know I would not even contemplate such a thing as flying for anyone but you, Pet.”
Toni smiled, “I know.” She walked over to him and he put his arm around her.
“Where is my namesake?”
“Taking a nap. He should be up within the hour; Anna’s here. I’m so glad you’ve come.”
“I was summoned, my lady, by your husband.”
Toni teared up again. “He said he would do what he could for me and that’s you. He’s sent you to me.”
“He loves you very much, Toni, and he knows how what he’s done has affected you.”
They turned to see a red-faced Wiggins standing in the doorway. “Madam, I’ve come to ask what’s to be done with ‘im in the kitchen.”
“He is my servant. I would expect you to find work for him to do,” Jack answered her.
“Aye, I will an all. Something for him to do with ‘is ‘ands tha’s what. ‘Ow many for dinner, Madam?”
“Two, Wiggins. Captain Aubrey will be staying for a few days and then we’re off to France.”
“Wi ye be takin’ the bairn?”
“Yes, Jacky and Anna.”
“’Ow about ‘im’ in tha kitchen?”
“Him, too. If there’s a problem, Wiggins, Captain Aubrey can sort it out.”
“I’ll be sortin’ I will.” She turned and went back inside.
“Oh dear!” Toni looked up at a smiling Jack. “She’s upset, never calls me Madam.”
It was over dinner that Toni brought up Jack’s wardrobe. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. You can’t wear the same jeans and shirt the whole time you’re here.”
“I’m beginning to feel very much like a kept man.”
Toni smiled playing with her fork. “You are a kept man, and I’m keeping you.”
“I’ll let you, Pet.”
The look he gave her across the table went all the way down to her toes. Oh, this was going to be difficult. She thought she’d better get this out front.
“When we were at Max’s in February we sort of made a decision, Max, Terry and I, that Max and I would no longer…”
“Toni, do you think Terry sent me to you to hold your hand? I’m not Max. Our situation is different. By the way, this lamb is excellent. My compliments to your cook.”
“I’ll tell her.” Toni moved food around in her plate. He’d just taken it out of her hands and closed the subject.
Toni took Jack shopping and outfitted him for the trip to France. They stopped by SI and he had his photo taken for the passport. It would be picked up the next day and they would head for the airport. Jack hadn’t mentioned the flight. In fact he preferred not to even think about it. Toni had gone by their bank and withdrawn some money for Jack and he actually surprised her by stopping by a store and picking up a few things for Killick.
“Well, it’s getting him to wear them now, but he cannot go about in what he’s brought with him.”
“You are very thoughtful, Jack. I hadn’t even thought about him.”
“It’s not your place to think about my steward.”
The next day after picking up Jack’s passport they went to the airport. They had a little time to kill and she walked him through, hoping the number of people about who had flown or were about to fly would put his mind at ease. It didn’t turn out quite like she’d hoped. Killick found a bar; he wasn’t keen on flying either. Jack dragged him out of the bar and sent him over to the seats at the gate with Anna and Jacky Then he proceeded to order and down shots as fast as they could pour for him.
“Jack, they won’t let you fly if you’re intoxicated.”
“That is a good thing,” he smiled.
“No, it’s not…they’ve called our flight.”
Slightly benumbed he took her hand. “If I do not survive this, Pet, I have loved you dearly.”
“There they are,” John said as he and Max waited for them to come through customs.
“Oh, yes, our brother looks a little pale, and he’s grown a beard. I wonder if that happened during the flight.”
John chuckled and noticed Toni appeared to be leading him along. “He looks like he did when he came to Maine.”
“Oh, damn! Look at Killick, ha-ha!”
“I’ll bet that was some flight. Poor Toni.”
“Hello, Jack.” Max stepped up to get their luggage sorted and into the vehicles.
“Max, I have flown.”
“Yes, Jack, you have and made it all of a piece. We’ve brought two vehicles. Will you ride with me?”
“Ah, yes, and Killick.”
“Hello, Toni.” Max gave her a hug and a kiss. “How was your flight?”
“Oh, there were a few white knuckle moments. He’s, um, had a few drinks before the flight and on board.”
“He didn’t get airsick, did he? He looks pale.”
“No, he got amorous.” Toni turned to see John putting Jacky’s car seat in his vehicle. “Times of stress, you know. There was nothing to fight so… hi, John.” Toni got a hug and a kiss.
“Are we all sorted? Can we go?” John asked.
John had asked Toni about Terry leaving. “Are you okay now? That was a bad scene, Toni. He shouldn’t have done it like that.”
“He said he didn’t know until that morning that was the day he had to go. I’m okay now. I would have probably been okay own my own. I was just upset.”
“No, you wouldn’t have been. That’s why he summoned Jack. You know it’s up to us to do what we can for you when you need us. I can’t…with Donna… I can’t…”
“I know, John, and that’s okay.”
“Well, sometimes it ain’t okay, you know. I don’t do my part. I’m glad you’re here.” He reached over and took her hand.
Donna had been watching out one of the front windows and saw the lights coming in the drive. “They’re here!” she called out and Connie opened the front door and stepped out.
Jack rolled out of Max’s car, saw Connie and came over and hugged her, giving her a lengthy kiss, leaving her a little breathless. “Hello, Jack.” She stepped back.
“Connie, how good to see you, and Donna.” He moved onto Donna.
Toni caught sight of him and with Jacky on her hip she walked over. “Hi, Connie. Thanks so much for having us. Jack?”
“Yes, Pet?” He turned and slid his arm around her back.
“Jack is a little under the weather,” she smiled.
“I am not under the weather.” He kissed Jacky and then Toni’s cheek.
“Post flight stress,” Toni said and moved into the house. Jacky needed feeding and she took him through to the kitchen with Anna in tow.
Jacky, tired of car seats and being held, wanted down, and Toni put him down while she prepared his food. “Just follow him, Anna. He’s tired of traveling.”
Connie was a little intrigued with Jack and Toni. She walked into the kitchen. “Toni, I put Jack in a room. Should I have put him in with you?”
Toni gave her a sharp look. “No, Connie, he’s not my husband. Terry sent him to me; he was summoned. I think you know what that means.”
Donna came in, leading Jacky, who wanted his mummy. Toni sat down at the table and fed him.
“If you’re that curious, Connie, Jack is my lover. Does that shock you, Donna?”
“No, I’m kind of envious,” she grinned. “Oh, come on, Connie, so are you! We’ve been talking about him.”
“Oh, you have?” Toni wiped Jacky’s face and spooned in another. “I have no claim on him. If you want to shag him, have at it. I think this little man is ready for bed. I hope Anna has it ready.” Toni picked Jacky up and smiled at her sister-in-laws. “You’ve obviously thought about it, haven’t you?”
Max and John had Jack outside on the patio. “Do you want a drink, Jack, or coffee?”
“No coffee. Perhaps a small drink?”
Max brought out the cognac. “What do you think about this Terry business?”
“It was something he felt he had to do. Other than that I cannot say. I do not like the way he left her.”
“Neither do I. It wasn’t just something that came up, Jack. He was training in February.”
Jack drank his cognac. “I’ll admit I was angry with him at first, but Terry is duty bound. He will do what he thinks he must.”
Toni put Jacky to bed and went to her room. She was tired and began unpacking her bag. She pulled out one of Terry’s old tee shirts to sleep in and held it to her. Walking over to the window, she opened it and closed her eyes, thinking about him and sending him love, wherever he was.
He felt it come around him and through him like a warm wind…Love. He smiled, understanding what it was.
“You find something to amuse you tonight?” Jean Paul said, shifting his rifle.
“The love of a good woman, my wife.”
“Ah…does she have a sister?”
“No, she’s one of a kind.”
“Too bad for me. I could use the love of a good woman.”
Terry thought about Penny, Connie’s sister, looking for her Prince Charming. Jean Paul was no prince, but he could be charming. “I’ll see what I can do for you.”
Jean Paul flashed a grin. “You are a good friend, I think.”
They were crossing the border tonight into Albania. Terry was glad they were finally moving. That meant he was closer to the end. The separation was hard on him, too, but he had something to occupy his mind and his talents. He hoped Jack had made it to Toni. Maybe he was crazy, but he did know what she needed. He always did.
ON TO PART 4
BACK TO A NEW YEAR
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