Follow Your Star (7 page)

Angela looked at Ralph in distress.

‘How would my children survive if I ended up with a rifle in my mouth?’

Early on Sunday morning, pit lane passes hanging around their necks, Nanette and the twins crossed the Boulevard Albert 1st at a designated crossing place between the barriers, and made their way to the area where Jean-Claude was
fine-tuning
his Lotus before the race.

Pierre was excited at seeing all the old cars close up, but Olivia was already bored. Mathieu and Florence were busy preparing the apartment for the lunch party and had gently suggested Nanette took the twins out of the way. Olivia had protested saying she’d rather stay in her room, but Mathieu had insisted.

‘Papa Jean-Claude’s down there getting ready. Go and wish him good luck. He’d love to see you all,’ and Mathieu had
practically pushed them out of the apartment.

Along the pit lane the cars with their curiously
old-fashioned
looks were the star attractions. Pierre was fascinated to see a car that had raced in the very first Monaco Grand Prix over sixty years ago on display at the end of the pit lane enclosure.

And even Olivia was impressed when Jean-Claude told them how well his qualifying laps had gone.

‘Can’t believe the old girl went so well. Fourth on the grid. Just have to hope she keeps going now.’ He patted the dark green bonnet of the car gently. ‘Imagine I’m alongside Stirling on the third row,’ he said, looking at Nanette.

Nanette smiled at his boyish enthusiasm. ‘Good luck,’ she said, leaving Jean-Claude and his mechanic to finish their adjustments to the car.

Strolling along the pit lane with the twins, Nanette remembered the countless times she’d been involved in preparations for Grand Prix races with Zac all over the world, but there was something different about this pit lane. It took her several minutes to realize exactly what it was.

There were crowds of people milling around and there was the usual frenzy of mechanics preparing cars for racing but it was all rather subdued and, like the cars, old-fashioned. The razzamatazz atmosphere of a modern Formula 1 grand prix was missing. Next week Monaco would be in the grip of twenty-first-century racing car fever as the modern Formula 1 road-show took over and Monaco turned itself into the most glamorous race-track in the world, but this Sunday morning, it was all about nostalgia.

Knowing that once the racing started they wouldn’t be able to leave the pit lane, Nanette ushered the twins across the
road and they made their way slowly home.

Back in the apartment, Pierre grabbed Mathieu’s binoculars and took up his position on the balcony where he had a good view of both the starting grid and the pit lane exit. Guests were starting to arrive, at one of whom, a tall lanky teenager, Olivia took one look and gasped.

‘Dad didn’t say
he
was coming,’ she said. Nanette laughed at the expression on her face.

‘Who is he?’

Olivia looked at her in disbelief. ‘You must recognize him. It’s Foxey. He’s the lead singer with a really, really cool band. Les Grenouille’s.’

‘Oh,’ Nanette said, watching as Olivia ran to her room to change into her ‘best’ jeans – the ones with the tear in the knee – and to fetch her autograph book.

‘Be really cool if he’d sign it for me,’ she said. ‘Do you think he will?’

‘Don’t see why not,’ Nanette said.

Nanette was less than thrilled to see the next person who arrived – Boris. Accompanied by a group of six men and the blonde woman Nanette had seen with him in the restaurant, he walked confidently into the apartment. After a cursory glance in her direction and a polite ‘
Bonjour
’, he went through to join Mathieu.

Nanette stood undecided. She didn’t fancy going out on to the balcony and making small talk to Boris and his cronies until other guests arrived. When the doorbell rang, she quickly called out to Florence, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get it,’ and opened the door to find Evie and her boss, Luc, standing there.

Together they went through to the balcony where Mathieu
was supervising pre-lunch nibbles and drinks. Accepting a glass and taking an hors d’oeuvre Nanette and Evie edged their way along towards Pierre.

‘It’s Papa Jean-Claude’s race next,’ he said. ‘Look here he comes out of the pits,’ and he trained the binoculars down on the pit lane exit.

‘Gosh, from up here they look like the Dinky toys my kid brother used to play with,’ Evie said, leaning over to get a better look.

Several of the cars were already on the grid having driven around the circuit to get to their starting positions and their mechanics were once again thronging around giving them final checks in the last twenty minutes before the formation lap.

Nanette watched as Jean-Claude took his Lotus up the hill before disappearing from view along the part of the track that went past the Casino.

By the time he emerged from the tunnel and was negotiating the bends by the swimming pool, most of Mathieu’s guests had arrived and the balcony was buzzing.

Nanette, looking out across the harbour, saw Zac on
Pole Position
and breathed a small sigh of relief. He was obviously not planning on joining them for lunch. Since the morning he’d come to the apartment expressing the desire that they should be civil to each other in public, Nanette had been wondering where and when their next encounter would be.

Evie saw her looking at the yachts.

‘Is that
Pole Position
? I’ve been invited to a party on board tomorrow. Do you know Zac Ewart?’

Nanette smiled. Evie was exactly the kind of girl Zac liked to surround himself with. She nodded.

‘Yes I’ve known Zac for years.’

She glanced at Evie as she said this. Evie, being new in town, clearly had no idea of her past relationship with Zac.

Nanette, knowing the way the grapevine worked, knew it wouldn’t be long before someone told Evie all the gory details. She hesitated, perhaps she should get in first with her version – the details she could remember anyway.

‘Oh great, you’ll be going to the party then,’ Evie said, and the opportunity was gone.

‘Not sure,’ Nanette said evasively.

A party on board the boat on which she had organized many a party in the past, full of people who had ostracized her after the accident wasn’t a scenario she fancied. Could she really face it?

‘It’s about to start,’ Pierre said excitedly. ‘The lights are on.’

Watching the old cars take off, Nanette hoped Jean-Claude would do well – or at least finish the race and not break down. In the event he came in second, managing to pass Stirling on the third lap which Nanette knew was a real triumph as the Monaco circuit was a difficult one for overtaking. Watching him take the chequered flag, Nanette and the twins cheered loudly before joining the others at lunch.

It was mid-afternoon before a happy Jean-Claude joined them. ‘Any food left? I’m starving,’ he said.

Nanette, helping Florence in the kitchen, quickly made up a plate of food for him and then followed him into the
sitting-room
where he was receiving congratulations from everyone.

As Jean-Claude tucked into his late lunch, Mathieu turned to Nanette.

‘Are you still planning on spending Grand Prix Sunday up
at the villa? Or now that you and Zac have kissed and made up, are you going to watch from the pit lane?’

‘Mathieu, I don’t know what Zac has told you, but we certainly haven’t kissed and made up – I’ve still got a lot of questions I’d like him to answer,’ Nanette said sharply. ‘Does it matter where I am next Sunday then?’

‘I’ve just agreed that Boris can use the apartment next weekend,’ Mathieu said. ‘Apparently the apartment he was hoping to use isn’t available. I’ve told him Pierre and I will be here and possibly you and Olivia, which isn’t a problem for him.’

‘Pierre definitely wants to watch the race and Olivia would prefer not to,’ Nanette said. ‘So, I’ll take her up to the villa for the day and leave Pierre with you, if that’s OK with you JC?’

‘Fine by me,’ Jean-Claude assured her. He glanced at Mathieu ‘Are you going to Zac’s party tomorrow night?’

‘Of course, and I’m hoping Nanette is coming as my partner,’ Mathieu answered looking at her.

‘Thanks, Mathieu, but I’ve decided not to go,’ Nanette said.

Mathieu looked disappointed but merely said, ‘That’s a shame, but if you change your mind I’ll be leaving here about nine thirty. You know Zac’s parties never take off until late.’

The night of Zac’s party on board his yacht, Monaco Old Port was a mass of twinkling lights from the yachts and the restaurants that lined the harbour. Grand Prix fever was definitely in the air as Monaco slipped into play mode for the biggest week of the year. After the laid back atmosphere of the weekend, it was clear the big boys were now in town ready to party.

Music from several parties already in full swing on various boats floated up on the sultry air. Couples strolled nonchalantly past the luxury yachts, stopping occasionally to gaze inboard in the hope of seeing a famous face or two amongst all the glamorous people.

Standing on the balcony surveying the scene below her, Nanette took in the atmosphere. Whereas it had once been commonplace in her life she was now so detached from the social scene, that watching it held something of a surreal quality for her.

‘I’m off. Sure you won’t change your mind?’ Mathieu asked, appearing unexpectedly at her side.

Nanette shook her head.

‘Enjoy yourself. You look very smart, by the way, in your tuxedo.’

‘Thanks.’ Mathieu hesitated for a second, as though about to say something else, changed his mind and left.

Nanette heard him open the door and was surprised to hear Jean-Claude’s voice saying hello.

‘What are you doing here, Papa?’ Mathieu asked. ‘Aren’t you coming to Zac’s party either?’

‘Thought Nanette might like some company tonight,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘Enjoy the party,’ and he closed the door behind Mathieu.

Joining Nanette on the balcony, Jean-Claude smiled at her.

‘Great atmosphere down there.’

Nanette nodded. ‘Yes. Can I get you a drink or anything?’

‘Maybe in a minute, but first I would like to talk to you.’

Jean-Claude glanced at her before continuing quietly, ‘I think you should make an appearance at Zac’s party tonight. If only for five minutes.’

‘Oh, JC,’ Nanette sighed.

‘Seeing Zac recently was difficult and upset you I know,’ Jean-Claude said, ‘but going tonight would be another step to getting the past behind you. Zac has expressed a desire to be friends, and his guests are unlikely to create a scene or be rude to you in front of him.’

There was silence as Nanette gazed out unseeingly over the harbour. Knowing that Jean-Claude was right didn’t help and she shrugged helplessly as she turned to face him.

‘Why don’t you go and put on a party dress and we’ll go together?’ Jean-Claude said gently. ‘We don’t have to stay long and I promise not to leave your side.’

As Nanette still hesitated, he added, ‘It will be fine. Go and change. I’ll have a word with Florence to keep an ear out for the twins, but I’m sure they’ll be fast asleep by now anyway.’

In her room, Nanette stood uncertainly in front of her wardrobe wondering which dress to wear. She rejected the one she’d worn to accompany Jean-Claude to the Café de Paris as being too dressy and chose instead a sleeveless white one with a lace bolero jacket over the shoulders.

‘Do I look OK?’ she asked Jean-Claude anxiously as she rejoined him in the sitting-room.

‘Nanette, you always look lovely to me whatever you’re wearing,’ Jean-Claude said quietly.

Struck by the sincere intensity in his voice, Nanette looked at him in surprise before smiling at him shyly and leading the way out of the apartment.

Together they walked past yacht after yacht, each one positively humming with revellers. Everywhere there was noise, laughter, music and glamorous women.

The sudden strident noise of police sirens as several police
cars streaked their way along the Boulevard Hercules 1st frightened Nanette and she looked around quickly.

‘Probably heading for the auto-route,’ Jean-Claude said. ‘Hope it’s nothing too serious.’

Slipping her shoes off at the end of the gangplank and stepping on to the teak deck of
Pole Position
, Nanette had a sudden attack of nerves and would have run back down to the embankment, if Jean-Claude hadn’t unexpectedly taken her hand at that moment, making escape impossible.

The main cabin of the boat was bursting with people and, as they squeezed their way through the throng, Nanette saw several people she knew. She returned a quiet ‘hello’ to the ones who acknowledged her and did her best not to mind the ones who deliberately turned their backs.

Jean-Claude took two glasses of champagne from the steward at the small bar and handed her one.

Nanette looked around her curiously as she sipped her drink.

‘What do you think of the makeover Zac had done earlier this year?’ Jean-Claude asked.

‘Umm not sure,’ Nanette replied evasively. ‘Bit too ostentatious for my taste. Wonder where Zac is?’

‘Probably out on deck. Shall we go and look?’ When Nanette nodded, Jean-Claude took her by the hand again and they made their way through one of the open doors on to the side deck.

Outside they could see Zac and Mathieu up in the bow talking to Boris. By mutual, unspoken consent, Nanette and Jean-Claude stayed where they were. Neither of them wanted to have to make small talk with Boris.

As they stood sipping their drinks and watching the other
party guests, Nanette slowly relaxed. Just as they were about to return to the main cabin, Evie came up to speak to them.

‘Hi. I thought it was you. Isn’t it a great party? I’ve been talking to one of the racing drivers, but now he’s looking for Zac. He’s got a message for him from his technical support team. Apparently the police have stopped the Formula 1 car transporters up on the auto-route for a random search.’

‘Nothing unusual in that,’ Nanette said. ‘It happens quite a lot. Never found anything yet.’