However after my husband Ron sadly died, my life changed of course. I decided to buy a flat in Aix-en-Provence and rented a studio there whilst it was being built.
Most Sunday mornings I went to mass at the local Roman Catholic Church. A man who seemed very friendly, always sat by me. One Sunday he said that his wife, who was very ill, wanted to meet me, so I agreed to go to their flat.
On the way I bought three cakes, as I thought we would be having coffee. Wrong! The man let me in and then, to my concern, locked the door and put the key in his pocket. Alarm bells rang! I was shown into a bedroom where his wife was sat up in bed. Immediately both of them started to demand money. I had told the man in church that I was waiting to buy a flat! I tried to leave but he wouldn’t open the door.
Very luckily for me, the door bell rang. He told me to keep quiet, but I shouted! Reluctantly he opened the door a tiny bit, but the person outside pushed it open. It was a doctor whom I knew. He said, “Leave with me Esmé”. Once outside, he told me that they were crooks. The wife wasn’t ill, but was pretending in order to gain money. He had called to tell them that he wouldn’t sign to say that she was unwell.
Needless to say I never saw the man again. I was so grateful to that doctor for rescuing me!
I hope that you all have a scare free August.
Esmé