Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Rita’s eyes blinked against the soft morning light streaming through the windows of Jago’s sea-facing lounge.
She was out of the hospital, wrapped in a blanket on his sofa, the events of last night still feeling unreal.
Jago hovered nearby, fussing over cups of tea and making sure she wasn’t moving too quickly.
Elodie, and everything she had stirred, lingered at the edges of Rita’s mind, but for now, none of it mattered.
When he came in for the tenth time, she sat up.
‘I’ve finally managed to get through to the ward Hilda is on. She was sleeping so I told them not to disturb her.’
‘How is she?’
‘Weak, understandably. Her chest was bad anyway, so they’re keeping her another night for observation. She has a burn on her left hand, but thankfully it’s only surface level.’
Rita’s voice wobbled. ‘Did you send my love? I need to see her, Jago.’
‘Of course, I sent everyone’s love and if she’s not out tomorrow I will take you. I promise.’
Rita thought aloud. ‘Maybe Sennen and Thom can go later.’
‘That’s a really good idea.’ Jago nodded. ‘I went to your farm and saw Teo and Zenya when you were sleeping earlier, too.’
Rita screwed up her face. ‘How are they; how is everything over there? I’m too scared to go home in a way.’
‘The animals are fine. The barn has a slight scorch on the front door. The café is gone, marquee totally obliterated, I’m afraid. Oh, and the fire inspector is coming at three.’
‘That was your marquee. I’m so sorry.’
‘That’s irrelevant. I’m only glad nobody was badly hurt or, worst of all, killed.’
The doorbell rang. Jago shot her a questioning look.
‘I’ll get it.’ He scurried off.
It was Thom, carrying a bunch of flowers.
Jago smiled. ‘Hey, mate, she’s in the lounge.’
Then, suddenly, Elodie was at the door. Immaculate as ever, dark hair falling in glossy waves, olive skin flawless, as though she’d stepped out of a magazine.
‘What are you doing here?’ Jago looked confused.
Thom stayed in the kitchen. ‘It’s the last day of the month, mate.’ He added seriously, raising his eyebrows, ‘You owe her something.’
Jago, clearly not prepared for this, stuttered, ‘Elodie, there was a fire at Seahaven Farm… and I haven’t been to the bank yet.’
Thom raised his eyebrows. ‘Jago, what are you doing, man? Just put her straight before I do.’
Rita got to her feet, hobbling into the kitchen with her hospital crutches. ‘What’s going on?’
Elodie smirked, challenge in her eyes. ‘Yes. You tell your mummy what’s going on, Thomas. Like a good boy.’
Rita froze. Jago squirmed. Just then, Poppy and Sennen arrived, timing impeccable. Before Thom could stop himself, it was out.
‘I slept with her,’ he said, sharp and unapologetic. ‘Oh, and it’s a good job for everyone concerned that I did.’
The words hit Rita like a thunderclap. She wobbled on her crutches.
‘Rita, go back and lie down, or at least please sit,’ Jago said, worry in his voice.
Thom’s eyes widened. ‘That’s just the start…
sorry, Mum.’ He turned to Poppy, who stood still, completely open-mouthed, as if in shock.
He screwed his face up like a child about to be told off.
‘I’m so sorry.’ Poppy let out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a wounded howl as Thom tried again, ‘I’ve made a terrible mistake. ’
‘Sorry?’ she shrieked. ‘Sorry?’ She pointed to Elodie. ‘You mean you slept with her?’ She clutched her chest as if physically struck. ‘Do you know what, Thomas Jory, I have stood by you through everything. Everything. I… I even bought a pair of wellies and got some tablets for my chicken allergy!’
She spun on her heel, grabbing her bag. ‘It’s clearly me who has made a terrible mistake. I never want to see you again! Do you hear me? Never.’
She stormed outside, voice still echoing back into the house. ‘You complete and utter bastard!’
‘Go with her,’ Thom urged his sister.
Hesitantly, Sennen did as she was told.
Rita sat herself down clumsily at the kitchen table.
‘Tell everyone what I overheard you saying in the hotel bathroom,’ Thom said to Elodie, voice hard as steel. ‘Actually, Jago already knows, so it’s just Mum you need to enlighten.’
Rita suddenly realised now why Thom had been spotted locally more than once, including pulling into Hawthorn Acre. Her stomach twisted. Why didn’t they tell me? she thought, sharp and incredulous. Why am I the last to know, as if my opinion doesn’t matter, as if I’m not part of this at all?
Elodie went pale. ‘I… I… never want to see you again either!’ she screamed, pushing past him to the door, but Thom blocked her.
‘Say it!’ Jago barked.
‘It’s fine. I’m leaving. Goodbye, au revoir, arrivederci, auf Wiedersehen! You can carry on with your own little incestuous affair right here!’
But Thom wasn’t letting her go.
‘Miss Blunt here… was conning Jago.’ He sounded like a barrister’s closing comments, carrying the weight of truth.
‘She is still very much with Donal, and they’re moving to Ireland together.
Her pitiful little plan aimed to extract twenty thousand pounds out of Jago.
And… that’s not all; Amélie isn’t his either.
The poor child has been used as a bargaining chip in their game. ’
Without even daring to look at Rita, Jago ran his hands through his hair. ‘You’re an evil woman, Elodie Blunt. Now get out of my house and don’t ever return.’
Elodie swished to the door, then looked back. ‘Why wait to tell me now? I’ve been stuck at my dad’s a week longer than I needed to be!’
‘Yes, you have. Poor Elodie. Not nice, is it, someone tricking you?’
With a huge harrumph the Frenchwoman flew out of the door.
As the Mini screeched off down the drive, Jago rushed to Rita’s side. ‘I’m so sorry I put you through this… I’ve been a complete and utter fool.’
Sennen came in. ‘Jesus, she nearly ran me over!’
‘Where’s Poppy?’ Thom sighed.
‘I tried to calm her, but she’s stormed back to the farm. I gave her my key, so she can get her things. She’s taking the first train back to London.’
Thom put his head in his hands. ‘There isn’t a bad bone in that girl’s body.’
Rita sat at the kitchen table. ‘Actually, whilst you are both here, sit down, please.’
Sennen bit her lip, shooting a worried glance at her brother. ‘This sounds serious.’
Rita looked to Jago; she was still reeling from what had just happened. ‘It is and it isn’t, but it seems an apt time for further revelations and at least this one I am fully party to.’ She took a huge breath. ‘I’m not sugarcoating this, kids: I’m pregnant. Pregnant, with twins.’
Thom’s eyes widened. ‘What the…?’ He looked at Jago, who raised his eyebrows.
‘Guilty as charged.’
‘I knew something was up!’ Sennen exclaimed, rushing to her mum. ‘Shit, Mum… that’s incredible news. I think. Well, if you’re happy, I mean.’
‘I’m at peace with it now.’ Rita smiled weakly.
Thom grabbed Jago’s hand and shook it. ‘Well done, mate.’
Sennen put her hand gently to her mum’s tummy. ‘When are you due?’
‘Not until November. Hilda of course guessed without me even telling her.’
Jago smiled. ‘Makes sense then that she insisted I leave her in the flames and come to you, because you were pregnant.’
Rita burst into tears. ‘Bless Hilda, but sorry you had to hear it from her first.’
‘Mum, don’t cry.’ Thom looked like he wasn’t sure where to put himself.
Sennen’s eyes were brimming, too. ‘I’m just so happy you’re safe after last night… it was so scary.’
‘How is Granny?’ the twins said in unison.
Rita managed a watery smile. ‘She rose from the ashes like a phoenix, clearly, but is in hospital recovering. I don’t know the extent of things, but she is stable and was sleeping when Jago called earlier.’
‘Go, Granny! I want to be just like her when I grow up.’ Sennen clocked the shocked looks bouncing between them. ‘What? Don’t be mean about her.’
‘And you were both so brave.’ Rita sniffed. ‘How do you two think it might have started?’
‘No clue,’ they replied in unison. Thom laughed. ‘Maybe Granny was having a cheeky smoke.’
‘Don’t say that.’ Rita looked concerned. ‘No, it was gone midnight and she’d been tucked up so early with this lingering chest infection.’
‘Yes, it was strange I found her inside the marquee.’ Jago’s forehead crinkled. ‘Hopefully the fire investigator will reveal all.’ He sounded upbeat. ‘Thank God the barn only got a bit scorched. All hands on deck tomorrow; we’ve got a wedding in what… just four days.’
Sennen looked pained. ‘I hadn’t even wanted to think about that. Some of the guests are arriving to stay in the yurts the day before that!’
‘I won’t be able to do much,’ Rita said, dejected.
‘You won’t be doing anything other than resting,’ Jago directed firmly.
‘We will get it all sorted in plenty of time,’ Jago replied confidently. ‘Me and your mum discussed it, Sen. The caterers can use the farmhouse kitchen, and Hilda’s annexe is near enough if we need another oven. I’ve got a huge fridge here if anything needs storing. How many guests are we talking?’
‘Just twenty,’ Sennen said, sounding slightly brighter.
‘Pah. It’ll be a doddle.’ Jago smiled.
Sennen gave him the look she saved for people who thought event management was ‘just booking a venue and some food’. ‘You clearly have no idea,’ she harrumphed.
‘I’ll take some leave,’ Thom added.
‘Thank you.’ Sennen then let out a little laugh, a cheeky grin on her face. ‘Well, it certainly won’t be Thomas getting married for a while, will it? What was it you were saying about nobody ever dumping Thomas Jory? Looks like you’ve been unceremoniously dumped twice in one day!’
Rita smiled. Even Thom laughed. ‘I’ll let you have that one… for now. Poor Poppy, she showed her beautiful colours last night, too and look how I treated her.’
Rita smiled faintly. ‘Yes… she did. She was certainly there for me.’
‘And she went straight to Hilda on the stretcher,’ Jago added seriously.
‘Go after her, Thom,’ Rita said softly.
Thom hesitated. ‘I’ve slept with someone else, Mum. I’m not sure I could forgive her if she did the same.’
‘Say sorry and mean it, love. Forgiveness goes hand in hand with love. It’s her choice what she does with it, but at least you will have been responsible and faced the mess you’ve made.’
Thom screwed up his face. ‘Oh God, OK. I don’t know… I…’
Jago reached for Rita’s hand, a quiet squeeze passing between them.
‘I walked down with Poppy, so I’ll hop in with you, bruv. Bye, Mum.’ Sennen kissed Rita on the cheek. ‘And take it easy, promise.’
Rita smiled. ‘Bye, darlings. Take care and I’ll see you later.’
Sennen’s voice lifted. ‘Actually, I’m going to get my van and go and see Granny. Where is she exactly?’
‘Trevellen General,’ Jago piped up. ‘I’d avoid the coast road today, though; it will be busy.’
‘Good idea. I’ll come with you,’ Thom added.
‘Casanova needs to sort out his love life first.’ Sennen grinned.
‘Thinking on it, I think I’d rather face a cage full of snakes than a scorned Poppy Wallis, so let’s see.’
‘Thomas!’ Rita gave him the look only a mother can give and get away with.
Once alone, Jago pulled Rita into a tight embrace, holding her for a few minutes, saying nothing.
‘I’m so sorry again for putting you through this, Rita, and so sorry you had to be in the middle of all this drama today.’
‘If life were straight, we’d never learn how to bend without breaking, would we?’
Jago let that sit with him for a second. ‘You’re amazing, Rita Jory.’
She pulled away and grinned. ‘I know.’ Her face fell. ‘And I’m so sorry you thought Amélie was yours, if only for a split second. But I can’t say I’m sorry we never have to see that duplicitous bitch again. And that son of mine… what is he like?’
‘He’s twenty-four, that’s what he’s like’ – Jago smirked – ‘and he clearly wasn’t thinking with his brain, let’s just say that.’
‘Good job he did overhear.’ Rita yawned. ‘Or you’d be twenty grand down, paying maintenance for a child you were never going to see. That’s the worst kind of wickedness. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me as soon as Thom told you.’
Jago looked pained. ‘I probably got that wrong too. I wanted to make her wait, be uncomfortable at her dad’s when I knew all she wanted was to be back with her family. I also wanted to be able to say to you that she’d gone forever.’
‘It’s better I saw it all first-hand then,’ Rita sighed, yawning.
‘I so wanted the fourth of June to be special.’ Jago sighed. ‘It seems a lifetime away when we were excited for our proper loved-up reunion.’
‘Well, you messed that up, Jago Jenken. Big style, didn’t you?
’ Rita clocked his downturned face. ‘But you were doing what you thought was right. You just didn’t do it the way I would have done, which doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
You just did you.’ She sighed deeply. ‘If it had just been her needing a place to stay, and not a little girl in the equation then things would be very different now, though, I can assure you.’
‘I love it when you get all assertive.’ Jago grinned.
‘I’m not joking, Jago, I have boundaries and they are not to be overstepped.’
Jago put his thumb to his index finger. ‘Not even a teeny tiny bit.’
Rita made a huge effort not to smile.
‘I’m joking.’ Jago was now sincere. ‘And I respect that and you so much, I really do.’ Jago kissed her tenderly on the lips.
‘The making up is going to be spectacular, I promise you,’ Jago said, eyes glinting.
‘If you thought me wooing you before with “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” was good… then… well, let’s just say I’ve been saving my best for last.’
Rita rolled her eyes, though a crooked smile tugged at her lips. ‘Promises, promises.’
Funny how, when faced with her own mortality, all her carefully hoarded anger and indignation seemed to vanish.
Her heart was doing somersaults, her mind alight with thrilling little thoughts, how charming he was, how completely she wanted to be caught up in whatever he had planned next.
Jago leaned closer, brushing a stray hair from her face.
‘This time, I’m going to do something incredible. Something you’ll never forget.’
‘Incredible, huh?’ She fluttered her eyes. ‘You do realise you’re setting the bar dangerously high, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ he replied confidently. ‘You know how much I like a challenge. And talking of that, do you think we could somehow manoeuvre you and that ankle of yours into the bedroom.’
‘No!’ Rita laughed. ‘Actually, can we go back to mine? I want to be there when the fire people arrive.’
‘Spoilsport.’ Jago winked. ‘But my queen’s wish is my command.’ Jago helped her up onto her crutches, giving her bum a gentle squeeze as if to underline the promise behind his words.