Thinking she might be late home to make lunch Florence persuades Laurent to try and flag down a passing camion, rather than walking down the beach back to Dame Marie. Fortunately one is returning from Cap Matelot and they get back to Dame Marie with plenty of time. Given how long the passengers have been on the bus from Cap Matelot and with the midday sun beating down on them, the ride back is even worse than the one out and neither feel too hungry by the time they disembark.
When Florence returns home Lusette and her girls are already busying themselves around the fire out the back of the house. Fabrice and Pierre have returned and are sitting around talking to Lusette's husband Daniel, who's also a fisherman. Ginette is helping out the older girls while Rosalie flits back and forth between the women and the men, eavesdropping. Marise sits apart from the others, listless and uncommunicative.
Despite their queasy stomachs both Florence and Laurent feel their mouths water at the smell of the freshly cooking meal.
