Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Two days later, the early morning air was crisp and fragrant.
Rita strode with purpose up to the High Meadow to greet the guests for the planned Seal Watching Walk along the cliff path.
Zenya was already there, delivering the Easter baskets Rita had been late in preparing thanks to everything life had thrown at her, while Teo was busy giving the inside of the barn a fresh coat of white paint in preparation for the wedding of the year.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see yet another of Jago’s messages. Reassurances stacking up faster than she could ignore them, all of which she had been refusing to reply to:
Hope you’re OK. Amélie is my priority for now, whilst I sort out what’s best. Just her, nobody else. But I’m thinking of you ALL the time x.
Rita stared at the screen. Priority. Just how much did she matter to him?
And how carefully should she guard her own heart?
And yet, the kiss at the end… it tugged at something she couldn’t ignore.
God, love was a tricky fish. One minute it swam quietly beside you, the next it thrashed about, leaving you soaked and unsure where you stood.
She hovered over the reply button, fingers poised, mind spinning.
Should she just reassure him? Should she let him know she was fine?
Should she just continue not acknowledging him at all until he was back banging her door down?
Each option felt like opening a door she wasn’t sure she wanted open, not yet.
He needed to be certain of her because this time it wasn’t just about her anymore. She came as a package now. As did he.
With a sharp exhale, she dropped her thumb. Not today. Not now. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, letting the annoyance prick at her chest. He could think of her often if he wanted, but she was not going to be pulled into his orbit again, not while she tried to hold on to herself.
She lifted her face to the sunlight and managed a smile.
It was a relief that her morning sickness had subsided.
Instead of fish fingers and Nutella topping her craving wish list, she had taken to oranges and apples.
She also couldn’t get enough of gherkins, which she ate straight from the jar.
She had had the same hunger for gherkins with Sennen and Thom.
She put her hand to her tummy, wondering, two girls, two boys, or one of each like before?
She found herself quietly hoping for a matching pair, imagining them playing side by side instead of the endless girl-and-boy bickering she remembered, and still encountered.
The refereeing, the negotiations, the lifelong argument over whose turn it was.
And then there were names. Twins needed names that belonged together, that sat comfortably side by side without one outshining the other.
Thomas had always been their first choice.
A strong name. Whilst Sennen was true to Cornwall.
In Rita’s mind, they felt like balance. Like land and tide.
None of this lark was easy, was it? People went on as if having twins was all double prams and novelty outfits, but really it was double the thinking, double the work, double the worrying, and already her mind was doing cartwheels with what was to come.
When she was minutes away from reaching Yurt Avenue, she stopped to catch her breath.
It was quite a climb up and from here the ocean stretched in endless blue, sunlight scattering across it in glittering diamonds, waves rolling rhythmically toward the rocks below.
Seabirds wheeled overhead, their cries sharp against the surf, swooping and diving with effortless grace.
The scent of salt and wildflowers mingled with the faint tang of seaweed clinging to the rocks far below.
‘This is incredible,’ Rita murmured to herself, taking in a huge, exaggerated breath of clean air.
Awash with self-doubt and sadness about Jago, breathing in nature was just what she needed.
It had always helped to take her mind away from itself.
And it felt good to keep fit. Especially as she knew she was going to need every ounce of stamina she could muster with two little munchkins to run after.
‘All right, let’s go,’ Rita shouted once the group had finally emerged from their yurts. Zenya lifted her arm and started to lead the way along the narrow cliff path.
‘No Imogen again?’ Rita looked to Zenya.
Odette intervened. ‘I don’t know why she bothered to come away at all, to be honest.’
‘She has a headache,’ Zenya added.
Odette tutted. ‘Not bloody surprising if you stick your head in a tablet twenty-four hours a day! It sounds like she’s typing a novel!’
Cass fell in step beside Rita, scanning the edge of the cliff with quiet intensity. Then he laughed, a little embarrassed.
‘I haven’t been avoiding you, honest.’ Rita didn’t admit that she’d been doing exactly that.
‘Sorry about the kiss,’ he said, glancing at her. ‘I mean… I am. But I’m not taking back that I think you’re hot.’
Rita shot him a look, half mortified, half amused. ‘I’m old enough to be your mother.’
His grin widened. ‘Makes it hotter.’
‘Still not happening.’ Rita laughed, suddenly feeling a spring in her step. She needed this, needed to feel desirable again, properly seen, not just useful, maternal, or sensible.
Zenya was now leading the way alongside Priya, as the path started to level down slightly and get narrower. ‘Everyone OK?’ she shouted, to be met by a united, ‘YES!’
Rita couldn’t help noticing how protective Cass was, slipping his hand out at the steeper, uneven stretches of the path, ready to steady her or anyone else if they needed it.
No motive now, she thought, other than being a genuinely well-brought-up lad.
Odette strode ahead in proper walking boots, confidence in every step, while Davie lagged slightly behind, sucking in his fear at some of the sheer drops along the cliffside.
The path opened out suddenly, and a breathtaking clearing came into view.
The cliffs soared beside them, raw and golden in the sunlight, plunging into the turquoise sea far below.
Waves smashed against the rocks with a rhythmic, hypnotic roar, while bright yellow gorse splashed the landscape with unexpected colour, scenting the air with its sharp, sweet tang.
‘Let’s sit for a second,’ Zenya instructed.
‘Have a look in those Easter baskets; there’s some right good treats in there.
’ On top of the mini eggs, Rita had added some home-made shortbread, the wildlife book, a cinnamon bun from Betty’s and chocolate bunnies.
Zenya had also added flasks of coffee. She looked to Rita and smiled. ‘You OK?’
‘I’m fine. Glad of a little rest, you know.’
Zenya gave a little wink. Davie then shrieked, ‘Oh yeah, Lindt bunnies, now you’re talking.’
Cass walked over as near to the edge of the cliff as he dared, came back to sit with the group, and muttered under his breath, ‘Imagine just… jumping off here. He must have been so unwell and brave, thinking there was no other way out.’
‘Yes,’ Rita agreed softly. ‘You did what you could, Cass.’
Davie suddenly looked serious. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss, mate.
Nobody special has carked it my end yet, but I do get a feeling of emptiness, when those fuckers start trolling me.
I really do. It’s scary.’ Before Rita could respond, Davie hiccupped and sniffled, and then all of a sudden let out a high-pitched sob.
‘Fuck them, fuck them all,’ he blurted, tears streaming down his cheeks.
‘Faceless keyboard warriors, you don’t even know me.
’ And then he hiccupped again, and again, each word setting off another fit of uncontrollable crying.
The group moved in to console him, arms around shoulders, gentle pats on backs, soft murmurs of reassurance. And yet, despite the emotion, it was impossible not to smile at the utter theatricality of it all.
Rita suddenly felt a warmth inside. Davie Travers was messy, loud, beautiful and entirely human.
And if this was how the Seahaven Bay Retreat could help people, by giving them space to be themselves, away from screens and schedules, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature, breathing in the sea air, just being, while discovering an unexpected camaraderie with a group of strangers they would probably never meet in the real world, then she was all in.
With tears wiped and snacks eaten, they rounded the final bend.
Below them the rugged cliffs fell away to a sheltered cove.
And there they were… seals, sleek and glistening, sunning themselves on a flat rock at the water’s edge.
Some lifted their heads lazily, sniffing the sea breeze, while others flopped back with a gentle splash, sliding into the turquoise water.
A few bobbed nearby, noses breaking the surface, watching the world with quiet, curious eyes.
‘See them?’ Rita whispered. ‘Those are grey seals, common along the Cornish and Devon coasts. They can grow quite big, up to three metres. Shame we are too early in the year for pups. They are adorable. Born with silvery fur which darkens as they age.’
The guests looked down in awe. Even Priya, usually quiet, let out a small whistle of admiration. Rita smiled at the sight, a small thrill of pride in showing them a secret piece of Seahaven Bay.
‘They’re amazing, aren’t they? And yes, Davie, of course take a photo if you want to.’
He quickly reached for his phone. ‘I do get it, though.’ He looked to Rita. ‘I can enjoy this moment, without having to take one. It will be forever etched on my memory.’
‘Yes, yes, it will.’ Rita squeezed his shoulder, lovingly.
‘But I will allow photos of the seals. My Archie used to donate to the Seal Research Trust. They encourage everyone to send in their seal sightings – even just one seal in the sea or on land – with a date and location from anywhere around the south-west.’
‘I’m all up for that.’ Davie angled his phone again.
‘And I can write about them, so that it’s etched on a hell of a lot of people’s memories.’ Rita didn’t think she’d ever seen Odette smile so openly.
‘Oh, if you’re writing a book, can I be in it?’ Davie laughed.
‘Maybe. Although I usually kill off the people I put in who annoy me.’
Davie was open-mouthed in shock. Odette left a comically timed break. ‘But you’re not one of those, so you’re all right.’
Those in earshot laughed.
‘Can you call me something hot, like Montague or Raven?’ Davie added.
Odette laughed. ‘I should imagine there will be a bit of all your characters merged in there somewhere.’
‘Is that how you work, then?’ Priya asked. ‘I thought the character development in your trilogy was sublime.’
Rita saw the change in Odette again. ‘Aw. Thanks so much.’
Priya noticed too. ‘You’re a brilliant writer, Odette. And I, for one, will read any new stuff you put out without question.’
Odette coughed to hide her emotion. ‘I appreciate that.’
‘The Wild Remedy book, the one in your basket is a lovely read too,’ Rita added. ‘The May chapter with the brilliant photo of bluebells is a tonic all on its own.’
Priya smiled. ‘Thank you, Rita. You really do go above and beyond to make things so wonderful here.’
‘Good. I’m pleased. There’s method in my madness. I want you all to come back one day.’
‘Oh, I’ll definitely be coming back,’ Priya said, her gaze lingering on Zenya for just a heartbeat. Rita felt a surge of happiness at the sight of Zenya’s lips curving into a quiet, knowing smile.
As they started their walk back to the retreat, Priya and Zenya fell to the rear, chatting incessantly, their voices drifting over the cliff path like a gentle current.
The sea stretched out to their right, waves thrumming against the rocks far below.
Davie was still letting out the odd hiccup, though quieter now, each a small reminder of the pent-up anger he was finally letting go of.
Odette suddenly pulled out her phone, tapping into her Notes frantically, eyebrows knitting in concentration. Davie leaned over her shoulder to try and see what she was writing. Cass walked a few paces ahead of her, shoulders slightly hunched, deep in thought.
The trail wound around the headland, bodies together, minds in completely different spaces. And for Rita, the chaos of Elodie, Amélie, Jago and everything else seemed to slip away for a moment, replaced by the quiet rhythm of the cliffs, the wind, and the sea.