Chapter Thirty eight

The day of the trip finally arrived and after kissing her husband and children goodbye Kay was ready to climb in to the back seat of the Pomfrey's chauffeur driven car.

The family had retained the services of John long after he had officially retired and now he was their most trusted driver. Piers was very particular about who drove his wife when he couldn't accompany her, and as such John was driving Susan and Kay to Folkestone to catch the Eurotunnel.

"Are you excited?" asked Sue. She was beaming and once again Kay found her enthusiasm was infectious.

"Yes I am. I'm nervous and excited all rolled in to one."

"Nothing to be nervous about I promise… but excited, you definitely should be. Now you've got your passport to hand and you remembered your Platinum cards?"

"Yes and yes. Brendan said I wasn't allowed to look at price tags and was just to have fun."

"Good." Sue smiled, "That reminds me of the time Piers took me shopping for my first evening dress. I spent ages looking at price tags and then he swept me off my feet and bought so may dresses I had trouble choosing which one to wear!"

"I remember that too."

"You came over and did my hair and makeup for me."

Kay sighed, "A lot of water under the bridge since then."

"I still love you though."

"Yeah, and I love you too. Now tell me any thoughts on what you will be wearing in July?"

"Something Parisian, let's just wait and see what we see that we like."

"A hat or a fascinator?" asked Kay, allowing herself to be momentarily distracted.

"You'll wear a hat; they always look good on you. I can't wear hats so probably a fascinator… I'll need you to help me with that."

Kay grew more and more fidgety the closer they got to the tunnel entrance and by the time it was time to get out of the car she was pale and trembling.

"Breathe Kay!" said Sue when they got out of the car.

"I am breathing!"

"And shaking, and you are pale."

"I'm fine let's just get on the bloody thing and I can sort myself out."

A short while later, a still pale and trembling Kay and a beaming and happy Sue had found their seats and were waiting for the train to leave. Sue had seen to their luggage while Kay sat very still and quiet and hugged her handbag to her chest.

"It's not a security blanket you know." Sue whispered to her, "Why not have a look at the magazine?"

"It's all in French and we haven't even left the UK yet!"

"Look at the pictures then!"

"I need a drink."

"Really? If it will help I'll get you one." Sue made to get up and found herself dragged back down and in to her seat.

"Don't leave me!"

Sue sat back down and sighed, "Alright alright! I'm not going anywhere and we will be there soon anyway. The first thing we shall do when we arrive at the hotel is go to the bar OK?"

A tense journey followed with Sue pointing out all that she could to distract Kay. She gave up after a while and just watched the countryside rush by. As they got close to Gare du Nord Sue suggested to Kay that they collect their luggage early and wait by the exits to avoid all the back packers collecting their packs. Kay readily agreed, the sooner she was off this carriage the better. She put out of her mind that in a few days she'd have to do all this again to get home.

"Will we be met by the driver?"

"Yes. He'll have a sign with my name on it. In fact there he is come on" Sue hauled Kay forwards by the arm and as they approached him the man swept forwards and took their bags from them.

Only when they were seated in the back of the black Mercedes did Kay begin to relax but as they wound their way through the city Sue observed that with each siren that echoed through the city she became more and more tense. Susan always loved hearing those sirens. They were part of the sound of Paris and she always felt happy when she heard them because she knew she was back.

"If you don't calm down you are going to blow a blood vessel!"

"I'm trying!"

"Yes very, now please breathe and relax we will be there in just a few minutes."

Susan was right and in no time at all she had checked them both in and their bags had been taken to their room while she and Kay relaxed in the hotels bar.

After several glasses of champagne some colour had returned to Kay's cheeks and they went up to their suite. Their bags had been unpacked and everything hung up and put neatly away.

"Who did all this?" Kay asked.

"Oh I expect Piers booked a butler for our arrival." she opened the mini bar and smiled, "Yes he did and look in here."

Kay looked and replied, "Our favourite tipples, he looks after you well."

"So does Brendan look after you, but yes Piers does like to make me smile and those I love." smiled Sue as she passed Kay another drink.

Kay took and gulped at her drink.

"Steady! I don't want to have to pour you in to bed."

"Sorry, just my nerves."

"We are here in one piece. Just relax. After dinner we'll go for a good long walk, stretch our legs and tire ourselves out a bit and tomorrow we hit the shops hard."

"Sounds good, I think I'll have a shower before dinner I feel a bit grubby."

"You have one first and then I will. I'll text our men while you are in there."

Kay nodded her agreement and left to wash up. They both dressed up for dinner and afterwards returned to their room to change in to something more appropriate for walking, and after a lengthy stroll they returned to the hotel and retired for the night.