What does the vacation house in France represent to Frances in the novel, Conversations with Friends?

Melissa and Nick's ability to take regular vacations also symbolizes their possession of an upper middle class socioeconomic status Frances lacks. More importantly though, the vacation house symbolizes Frances' joyful and painful feelings about her increasing emotional and sexual intimacy with Nick. Because he feels less self-conscious in the vacation house, Nick is openly physically affectionate towards Frances, casually putting his arm on the back of her chair and leaning in to sensuously light her cigarette. After Frances' best friend, Bobbi, reveals Nick's attraction to Frances to Nick's wife, Melissa, and the other house guests, Frances fears that Nick will prioritize his relationship with Melissa when he is no longer in the permissive setting of the vacation house. Her relationships with both Bobbi and Nick are clarified for her in this setting.