“I got the job, I got the job I got the job,” Halley crowed delightedly, circling her arms over her head as she did an impromptu booty dance in the middle of the tree-shaded outdoor car park. When a good-looking blond-haired man who had just alighted from a beat up Citroën 2CV stared at her from across the far side of the parked cars she smiled and repeated the phrase in French and then Mandarin, while continuing her dance.
He smiled across the space, “I understood you the first time," he called, “but I do appreciate the repeats. Bonjour. Nǐ hǎo. And congratulations to you.” He waved a muscular arm before he walked off down a narrow lane and disappeared around the corner.
“Mmmm,” Halley purred, “I want that one.”
“Down girl, down,” Darcy patted her arm. “You just got a job, perhaps we could leave the man for a week or two.”
Halley pouted, “I can multitask. I’m a woman, a mother and a hotel manager –oops, make that junior apprentice chocolatier,” she amended. She’d taken Darcy’s advice the night before and had written an abbreviated CV, which she had printed on Darcy’s printer, omitting several of her higher qualifications while accentuating her considerable on-the-job experience. Along with her disarming personality, it had done the trick, -that and the fact that Madame Petit the proprietor had a growing business and a desperate need for more staff.
They’d been on the Chocolatier’s doorstep that morning shortly after its opening and it had taken very little time for Mademoiselle Petit, to realise that in Halley, she had found the perfect mix of personality and skills for the job. She was hired on the spot, with the proviso that she could start work first thing Monday morning –something that neither Darcy nor Halley; in their rush to apply for the job, had factored in.
Halley had been expecting that she and Alicia would return to London for a week or so to pack up and rent her apartment but when Mademoiselle Petit –Chantelle- told her that her mother lived in the apartment above the shop and would be more than happy to mind Alicia while Halley worked the deal was almost clinched.
Darcy, who had introduced Halley to the chocolatier and had been present, at Chantelle’s smiling request, during the short interview, -little of which she had understood as it had been conducted in French- had immediately added her own offer for Halley to stay with her at the stable cottage until she had her own place.
The conversation went to and fro in English and French for several minutes, dependent upon who Halley was speaking with, but by the time it was done Halley had made up her mind that she would stay with Darcy for the interim, begin work Monday morning and call in an agency to organise the rental of her home until such time as Peppermint Cottage was ready to move into.
While all this had been taking place Connor, Rosie and Alicia had been sitting at one of the pretty pale blue shop tables in the front window, occupied with hot chocolates and handmade marshmallows. The adults joined them for another round of drinks and chocolates in celebration. They left Chantelle looking happy and relieved with a casual à bientôt and a promise from Halley to be back first thing Monday morning.