A chance meeting.

He sat on the café terrace sipping his coffee and watching the world go by. He favoured this time of year best. The air was filled with the scent of all the wonderful blooms that nature bestowed upon the region. Here in this part of France, his part as he liked to think of it, the rolling hills were the growing grounds for all sorts of wonderful plants. He had just spent the afternoon in one of the high meadows sketching the landscape, he's pad lay open on the table and he was wondering if maybe he should do this one in water colours at some later stage.

His attention was pulled from the page as the smell of lavender tickled his nostrils. It rose above the scents of the blooms wafting over the terrace. Yes a lady's perfume he thought. He turned his head to see a woman who he placed in her late twenties take a seat four tables over from him. She wore a light long flowing summer dress that was fitting to the warm evening. She removed her hat and shook her dark red hair loose it cascaded down over her shoulders as she settled in her seat.

The waiter came over and she ordered a drink.
Watching from his table a smile crossed the man's lips, her school French was spoken with an English accent, but admired her for trying. Not like some of the tourists would thought that by speaking loud in their own language would help the poor waiter or waitress
understand. No she had tried her best to use the little French that she had, he found that polite and respectful. The waiter too seemed pleased, but as with most French waiters it helped that she was young and very good looking. He soon whisked back with her order severing her with a smile, at the same time drinking in her pleasing form. She sipped at her drink and took out a book from her shoulder bag and began to read.
Few minutes later she looked round and their eyes met. He tipped his drink to her a form of saying hello and she nodded in return. She then coyly looked away. He thought he caught that look in her eye, a look he knew well from a type of woman he hoped she was.
He waited a few more minutes then motioned the waiter over and ordered another coffee for himself and also sent a drink to the lovely young lady. The waiter seemed only to happy to have the chance to serve her again. He hurried off and brought the man his coffee and then moved between the tables to the object of his desires for that evening. The man was sure that tomorrow another young woman would take the waiters fancy.
She seemed confused when the waiter set the drink down before her, giving him with a questioning look. The waiter motioned to the man and she look over mouthing merci.
The man nodded as he sipped his coffee. The young lady blushed and looked down and away. His heart leaped in his chest. She had just given him the sign he was hoping for. He let her enjoy her drink and read a bit more before approaching her.

He stood and walked to her table, she was engrossed in her book and didn't notice him approach. He gave a little cough and she jumped in surprise. He spoke to her in English.

''Oh I'm so sorry I didn't mean to startle you''
'' I'm sorry for jumping, I was lost in my book, please sit down, and thank you for buying me a drink''
''You're welcome, that's what we French men do when we encounter a beautiful lady like you''.
She blushed. He took the seat across from her and introduced himself.
'' I'm Jean and it's my pleasure to meet such an enchanting lady like you''.
'' Oh please don't make me blush, I'm Abigail but my friends all call me Abby''.
''May I be so bold as to ask if I can call you Abby too''.
''Yes you may''.

''So tell me Abby what brings you here to this part of France''.
''Well I loved French in school, not that you can tell by the way I speak it''.
'' What is important is that you try, we French like that. I know people say we are arrogant and don't try to speak English, German or whatever for the tourists, but it's our way. If people try a little with French then we warm to them quite quickly''.
''Yes I noticed, I've been here three weeks now and I haven't met any one I would call arrogant''.
''That's because you try to use the little bit of French that you have, I find that very respectful''.
''I was always thought to be polite, my Mother always said '' Good manners will bring you a long way in life''.
''A very wise woman your Mother. So you were going to tell me why you're here in Catarrah country''.

''Well like I said I liked French very much in school and read many books about your wonderful country. After reading about the medieval history of this part of France it had been a dream of mine to come here and see it for myself''.
''I see so you're traveling alone I take it''.
''Yes I am, I just broke up with my boyfriend of three years after he decided that football and drinks down the pub with his mates was more important than us''.
''Ah the English men with their passion for beer and football. We French too like football and our wine, but we like our women more''.
'' Yes I think that is right, relationship, wine and football in that order''.
Jean was studying Abby with great interest he was now sure from her gestures that she might indeed be what he was looking for.
He decided to preform a little test to see if he was right.
''So tell me Abby what do you think a relationship is built on, from your point of view''.
Abby couldn't put her finger on it but there was something very appealing about this hansom older man who had joined her. He seemed to command respect, not forcibly, but there was an air about him that said he was always in control. He didn't like most French men speak more with his hands than with his mouth. he sat quite still and spoke in a low even voice. She had his full attention like she was the only woman in the world. He looked deep into her eyes with his dark blue orbs, she felt like he was reading her soul, and she was turning the pages for him.
''A relationship, what would I know about a real relationship. Trust I suppose more than anything else''.
''You mean knowing that the man you're with wont be doing things behind your back, like seeing other women. You know we French men are famous for that''.

''Ah yes the French man his wife and his mistress''.
''It's just the way we are, we love women so much for some of us one is never enough''.
Abby laughed.
''No I don't mean trust in that way, well at least I don't think I do. I think I mean been able to trust someone enough to give over your life to them. I'm confused, I'm not sure that sounds right''.
''Oh I think I understand completely what you mean Abby''.
''You do, well then please explain it to me''.
''If you met the right man would you be prepared to give yourself to him body and soul in all ways''.
Abby thought for a moment then nodded saying, ''Yes I think I would''.
''Do you mind me asking where you're staying''.
''No not at all, there's a lovely old hotel on the other side of the square. I just love it there it's steeped in history''.
''Ah yes Madame DuPont is the owner. She's a very good friend of mine''.
''I must say she's a very beautiful woman and so friendly too''.
''Do you know that Madame DuPont is ten years older than me''.
''Oh now I don't know what to say, I'm going to end up insulting one of you, if I guess how old she or you might be and get it wrong''.
''No No, it's ok I would put such a lovely young lady like you in such a possession, I'm fifty five and the lovely Madame DuPont is well ten years older''.
''Oh god she cant be, I mean she looks so much younger. I would have thought forty five maybe''.
''Yes you see looks can be deceiving. So how long are you planning to stay here for''.
''Oh it's so beautiful here I don't want to ever leave, I just want to stay here for as long as possible, but alas that cant be. If my French was better I would look for work and move here for good''.
''Well you know what they say the best way to learn a language is to live among the people''.
''Yes indeed if only it were possible. I've been meaning to ask, you're English is so good how did you learn to speak it so well''.
''I lived many years in England, when I went there first my English was rotten, I too had school English too, but in time it became much better''.
''I didn't know they taught English in French schools''.
''Yes some do, but don't tell anybody''.
They both laughed. Jean was becoming more sure that Abby was what he thought she was. He decided to put her to the test.
''Abby it would be my great honour if you would join me this evening for dinner and some fine wine, we continue our talk, I'm really enjoying it''.
''Yes I think I might enjoy that very much, thank you very much for the invite''.
''It was my pleasure, shall we say about eight thirty. I'll send a car to pick you up at the hotel at eight fifteen if that's ok with you''.
''A car oh no you don't have to do that, I can take a taxi, after all you're inviting me''.
''No I wouldn't dream of letting you take a taxi, they cost too much and he or she might bring on the scenic route and that would cost even more, no a car will pick you up at the hotel, I insist''.

''Well sir if you insist then who am I to refuse, will there be other people there, how should I dress for the evening''.
''No it will be just you and me this evening, so you dress how you see fit. I will say I have a swimming pool so if you would like to take a dip as you English say then bring a swimsuit with you, don't worry about towels we have plenty at the house''.
''A pool that's sounds wonderful I love to swim. Do you mind if I tell you something very naughty?''.
'' No not at all, please go on''.
'' The other day I was out walking in the woods I came across a wide spot in the rive where the water was deep and still running. I had no swimsuit with me, but I just couldn't resist I hid my clothes and went in naked. Oh it felt like heaven and so very exciting knowing that someone might pass by and see me, oh now I have myself blushing''.

''Abby nature is there to be enjoyed, why not go skinny dipping as our American friends call it. I'll take my leave now. I'm looking forward very much to later and your company''.
''As I am too, thank you once again Jean for your kind invite''
.
They said their goodbye's and Jean walked off home delighted with his find and looking forward very much to the evening ahead.
Abby sat finishing her drink she too looking forward to the evening, but not quite sure why she had accepted his kind invite, she hardly knew him. But there was something about him that drew her to him like a moth to the flame. She shook the thoughts from her head and sipped her drink before going back to the hotel.
Abby arrived at the hotel to find Madame DuPont sitting in her usual place behind the counter sipping red wine from a large glass.
Abby had been staying there for a week and Madame had seemed to take a liking to her. always chatting to her about her day and what she'd done or seen. This evening was no different.
As the door swung closed behind Abby Madame was out from behind the counter to greet her with the French air kissing thing beside both cheeks. She asked how her day had been and what she'd done. Madame DuPont also spoke English, not as good as Jean but good all the same. Abby told of her day wandering the country side, how she'd found a lovely spot to sit and read her book. Then she told her how she'd met Jean, who said he was a friend of hers, and that he had invited her to dinner this evening.
''Oh that is so wonderful. Jean is a very lovely man''.
''I think you mean nice man Madame DuPont''.
'' Yes yes, nice lovely it is all the same''.

''Madame DuPont what do you think I should wear for this evening. I have no idea what your friend Jean is like or how he lives, or more so what he expects from his guests''.
''Yes yes. Jean is just, how do you say, Jean. If he likes you then he wont mind how you dress. Do you think he likes you?''.
''I don't know but he did invite me and asked if I'd like to use the pool''.
''You will bring some swimming suit, not like when you went in the river''.
Abby had told Madame DuPont about her swim naked in the river and they had both giggled like school girls.
Madame DuPont had an idea.
''Why don't you wear your swimsuit under a dress and then you wont feel, how do you say,, embarrassed if you want to swim you can just take the dress off and you are ready for the water''.
''Oh Madame DuPont it's so wonderful here, I would like to stay here forever''.
''Then why not stay here''.
''Oh I cant I have no work and my French is so bad''.
''French you can learn and work you can find''.
''Do you really think so, what would I be able to do here''.
''Well if you speak better French, then you can find work in the tourist, what do you call it, anyway they always search people who can speak English and French. We get a lot of English here. See you are here, many others come too''.
''But how will I make my French better''.
''You stay here with us and learn''.
''But for that I would need somewhere to live and I don't have money to pay rent well not for long enough for me to learn better French and find work''.
''You stay with me, you work here and help me in the hotel you learn French and you learn too hotel. We how you say,, swap rent for work''.
''Oh Madame DuPont thank you so much for your very kind offer. I will think about it''.
''Think, why you need think,, just say yes and make for you a new life here with us''.
Abby hugged Madame thanked her and ran up to her room to get ready for her evening with Jean....