Harry's second sense when it came to curved balls, bounced into the ring within moments of them being invited to sit down in the Notaire's office. Where Valerie his secretary, told them that their options when it came to renting a property in a rural location between now and the end of March, were limited to a small number. Because owners almost always preferred to rent out their houses in the summer months, when the revenue far outweighed any damage that might be done. That muddy boots on furniture and parties over Christmas and New Year, barely scratched the surface of the list of complaints that had come in over the years. Not that she thought for one moment, that they'd behave in a way that was anything other than respectful.

A statement which temporarily took the wind out of their sails and based on her disappointment, Ruth responded by saying, 'perhaps we should just buy somewhere,' to which Harry who was still riding on a wave of optimism, replied, 'no we'll stick to what we agreed.' With the yet to be disclosed ace up his sleeve, that they were looking for a property with an option to buy clause and as convenient as renting in the centre of the village might be, that they didn't want to move twice in the space of six months. Their proof of identity and the required reference that they'd already decided they'd ask Paul for, the only things they didn't come with a tag that said vaguely complicated, still not deterring him from pressing on.

'Can you at least mark the properties on here, so that we can go and have a look at them from the outside?' he asked Valerie, when she produced three sets of details. Properties, which if buying did turn out to be their only option, looked, if only on paper, more than just interesting. Opening up their map and looking at Valerie in a way that suggested he was a puppy dog rather than a lion.

Not that he needed too, because Valerie who was in her forties and had worked her way up to being indispensable to her boss, had seen all sorts come and go over the years. People who were on holiday and just wanted to see the inside of a French house, others who had decided to move to France on a whim and after a couple of years had realised that it was one thing to come on holiday, but living there was another matter entirely. Besides she spoke fluent English, so had recognised the disappointment in Harry and Ruth's voices and seen it in their eyes. She also liked this couple, enough that she handed Harry the details, but with the instruction to be discreet. Quite sure that she'd see them again and sooner rather than later.

Which once they were outside, left them with an hour to spare before the shops closed for lunch and where they resisted jumping into the car and going in search of the properties that they might or might not be what they wanted in a forever home. Instead, in an effort to regain some sort of perspective, they set off to have a proper look at the village. Which at first glance, looked as though everything of note was in the high street. The bank and post office which were on the opposite side to where they'd parked under the trees, were separated by a veterinary practice, a florist and two butchers. On the side where they were standing was a boulangerie, an open fronted fruit and vegetable shop and a newsagent's, which when they went inside to buy a local paper, they discovered was far larger than it looked. With a warren of shelves that sold everything that you'd need for a home office, paperback books and cards for all occasions.

That were just for starters, because when they turned down one of what were several alleyways that led to a road that ran parallel with the high street, there was a shop dedicated to selling cheeses and cold meats, a hairdresser and a pottery. Cutting through again, into yet another road, they passed the church, one of the three schools that Pascale had mentioned and last but by no means least and overlooking the river, the Medieval Chateau.

Living here maybe not, but as a base and where to come shopping on a daily or weekly basis, this village had everything they could possibly want. All of which, was certainly toughening their resolve to make this happen. Not though until they'd had something to eat.

'You're taking this very calmly,' said Ruth, as Harry poured her a glass of water, after they'd ordered omelettes and a side salad, in a small restaurant that had tables alongside the river wall. The buzz of the other diners adding to the atmosphere and Harry with the details of the three properties in the order that they were going to look at them, now tucked in his pocket.

'You know me, I'm always calm,' he told her, then smiled. Combined with a look that he hoped would reassure her as he continued. 'Even we don't find something that we like before the end of the week, then then we'll keep looking until we do.'

Meaning it and still maintaining his upbeat attitude when they drove to the first property, on a road with more twists than a plate of spaghetti. A road which on the valley side had substantial crash barriers and for good reason. Roads that if you'd lived there all your life, which as they were about to find out when they reached their destination, had been upgraded to accommodate large vehicles. When having followed Valerie's directions, they'd turned off down an even narrower road which then petered out into what amounted to a rough track. Well worth the drive, because they were now able to see the opposite side of the valley. Where the tiny stick like figures who were picking grapes along terraces packed with vines, looked like characters from a Lowry painting.

The village way below them and the first house a few metres from where Harry was parking up, now realising how difficult it would be to do a three plus turn to get out again in deep snow, not filling him with confidence. Still, they were here and not wanting to dismiss the house out of hand, he locked the car. A habit not a necessity he soon realised, as they did as Valerie had asked and said nothing other than, 'bonjour' to the elderly farmer who was strimming in a temperature that only those who had been born into that life, or alternatively were out of their minds would attempt. Instead, giving him the chance to tell who he presumed to be tourists who had got lost, that he looked after the land for the absentee owners. That he lived over a mile away and that he walked everywhere. More than that they didn't find out, other than he took them on a tour of the outside, before getting on with his strimming. Leaving them with what was an easy decision, that this particular property, as nice as was, wasn't for them.

Time though wasn't an issue when they had nothing else planned, other than getting back to the hotel in time for a cold beer before dinner, so instead of heading back down to the valley bottom, they turned right and drove even higher. Finally arriving at a hilltop village where the landscape plateaued out. Two thousand metres up, according to the notice board that was outside the café in the centre of the village. A café with a sign that said why wait until dinner time, have a cold drink now. Worth stopping as it gave them not only a chance to get their breath back but it gave them a view with a totally different perspective. For one thing, the hills on the other side of what had to be the gorge, were far higher, the varieties of trees more stunning and where somewhere amongst them, the other two houses were hidden.

Harry's expression now saying this is one of the happiest days of my life. What he actually said, because a couple of cyclists had pulled up, was, 'wow it's like being on the top of the world.' A fairly obvious comment to have made, but she knew what he meant.

As did he, when Ruth replied, 'pin drop countryside, it's taking my breath away.'

Both of them knowing that were saying more than just about the current surroundings. That it was as much about what they'd left behind in their lives, as it was about the possibilities that lay ahead for them. Their map folded for the moment as they sat there in the warm autumn sunshine and relaxed. Having agreed that worrying about it wouldn't solve anything and worse still, would take away the enjoyment of what was still part holiday, as well as looking or a home.

.

'This is better isn't it.' Was Harry referring to the fact that after they'd driven back down to the main road, within a couple of kilometres, they'd turned off onto a road that had signposts. Ruth with the directions to the second house on her lap and with regained optimism. Optimism that only grew as they drove higher and where the canopy of trees was casting a shadow across the road. Bringing the temperature down to a level that was easier to cope with. Until they stopped a point where they were able to see the village where they'd stopped on the opposite side. But now according to Valerie's directions, were driving on a road which would see them passing through what were listed as small hamlets, as opposed to villages. Hamlets where the houses had been occupied by different generations of the same family for decades. Some still working farms with acres of land that changed with the seasons and had done since time began. Where the current children, never missed a day off school, even in the bleakest of winters. Other properties split up into individually owned houses as the younger generations had moved away. Tempted by the bright lights of the cities, or to go to university, but never forgot their roots.

Until, 'next on the left,' said Ruth, spotting the sign at the last moment, to a side road that looped in a semi- circle, eventually re-joining the road they were on. But within that loop was a group of five houses. One of which in her imagination already had their name on it. The first, which as they parked at the bottom of what was quite a steep drive, was in an elevated position, which in the description she was holding didn't do justice to the panoramic view that was causing her heart rate to soar. Only to increase when they took the final steps onto slate covered patio. The tidy and not over large garden wrapping itself around the house and with what looked to be an orchard at one end. Interspersed with flowerpots and a rockery.

Harry watching on and waiting for Ruth to speak before he said anything, could see by the expression on her face what she was thinking. That she was right, there were pin drop moments and this particular location, would if they were lucky enough to live here, be sure to create hundreds more.

.

A decision and only after they'd seen the interior, would have to wait until the morning, was a good thing they'd told themselves. Because it gave them an entire evening and night to talk it over, when with the key to the back door, they walked back into the cool atmosphere of the hotel unseen and up to wide staircase to their room. Harry appearing calm on the outside, anything but at the thought that nothing was signed and sealed yet, but as Ruth who was buzzing with excitement and unable to hide it, he wasn't about to dampen her spirits. Ruth disappearing into the bathroom for a shower, for what he estimated to be about ten minutes and gave him time to make a call.

'Harry, good to hear from you, how are you both?' asked Paul who had arrived home only a few moments earlier and was changing out of his uniform. Planning on going for a swim to help him to relax. Surprised, but pleased to hear Harry's voice.

'Fine, we're both fine, but I have a favour to ask,' he told him, going on to explain that he would be approached to give them a reference. With another statement, spanning the airways between France and Cyprus as though they were standing in the same room. A statement that Paul hadn't expected as soon as this, or with the added invitation. 'I'm going to ask Ruth to marry me and I wondered if you'd be my best man?'

'That's wonderful, when's the wedding?' Paul asked him. A question which Harry didn't have an answer because he hadn't actually asked Ruth yet and he only had a few more moments before she'd come out of the bathroom and be expecting a cup of tea.

'December,' Harry suggested, picturing a small and intermit wedding, but didn't want to have to drag strangers in off the street to be witnesses. That and when it was over, that celebrating on their own, wouldn't give Ruth the day she deserved.

'I'm being posted to Germany next month, almost on your doorstep,' Paul told him. Following it up by saying, 'he presumed the invitation included the family?' A statement that brought Catherine and Graham to the forefront of Harry's mind and immediately dismissed the idea. Coinciding with a towel wrapped Ruth appearing behind him and putting an end to the conversation, but not before he promised Paul, that he'd call him back at the weekend.

Resulting in one of Ruth's, 'you look flustered,' comments, which Harry neatly sidestepped by talking about references and needing to have a shower himself.

.

'We've been invited to a wedding,' Paul told Elly, when they were walking down to the beach with Maddie skipping between them. 'Harry and Ruth's, although he hasn't asked her yet.'

'She'll say yes though, won't she?'

'Oh absolutely. Harry was suggesting December, between Christmas and New Year. They've found a house that they like, which has additional accommodation apparently and he said he'd like us to stay on afterwards and celebrate with them.

'What no honeymoon in Paris?'

'He didn't mention it.'

'My uncle Harry?' asked Maddie who hadn't got a clue what they'd been talking about, but had picked up on the name. By which time they reached the water's edge and were splashing about in the shallows. Before Paul swam out into deeper watch and floated onto his back. Contemplating a long overdue break from work on a new base and in another country. That Harry's offer that they could stay on after the wedding, was him returning the favour. Two families who in the most extraordinary of circumstances had met and were now bound together.