Chapter 19 #2
‘The horses, Teo, the horses.’ Realising he was mimicking an old fashioned saying one of the former retreat guests, Michael, liked to use, Rita laughed aloud which set everyone else laughing with her.
Rita sat in the barn on a dry hay bale and smiled at Sennen, who was sitting opposite her, picking at her gel nails. ‘Wow, peace at last. And leave your fingers alone; they still look great.’
Sennen made a groaning noise at her mum but did as she was told. ‘I’m so happy, Mum, that you’ve set up this retreat. I was worried about you being here on your own without Dad, you know.’
Rita shook her head. ‘And now, ironically, I’d quite like half an hour of my own company.’ She suddenly remembered the little flicker inside of her and realised that certainly wouldn’t be the case by the end of the year. She sighed deeply.
‘Mum? Are you sure you’re OK?’
‘Fine, fine.’
‘Oh God, a Jory fine, that doesn’t sound good.’ Sennen looked into her mum’s eyes to try and read them.
Rita quickly looked towards the huge barn opening and took in the magnificent vista of the sea and cliffs beyond.
‘Right.’ Rita perked up. ‘We have a wedding to sort out. Jago told me you asked if he could store a Cinderella coach in his barn?’
Sennen pulled a small notepad and pen from her pocket. ‘Yes, there’s me thinking that organising an older bride, she might just want something simple. Just lovely flowers and music and…’
‘Sennen, what did I say to you before? Age is just a number, love.’ Rita wagged her finger with mock severity. ‘We still want the hearts and flowers and amazing things. OK, maybe not a reception that bangs on until two a.m., but who knows?’
‘OK, Mother! I hear you. Right, so are the required licences sorted?’
‘Tick. Yes, the wedding one is in hand.’ Rita crossed her fingers behind her back; it was going to be tight, but she had faith in Jago working his magic with his council contact. ‘It takes days for the music one, if you do need one, and I’m getting a temporary one for drinks for now.’
Sennen grinned. ‘You’re amazing, Mother, and we will need a music one! I’ve sorted a celebrant and a harpist, who sounds so beautiful from her online clips. The bride loved her. She wants the Cinderella coach pulled by a white horse.’
Rita’s eyes widened. ‘Does she indeed? We don’t need another bloody licence for that, too, do we?’
Sennen laughed. ‘I figured she can get into the coach down the drive and make her entrance into the courtyard. Then, if we do go the Singing Tree route, we’ll ferry guests up from the barn in the Land Rover. I’m sure we can borrow Jago’s Defender, too, if we ask him nicely.’
Suddenly wondering if she should spill the beans on her current situation, Rita’s brow crinkled. But it was too complicated and she wasn’t ready, not just yet.
‘Aren’t harps heavy? That will need a lift up, surely.’
‘Oh shit. I didn’t think about that.’ Sennen laughed. ‘Weddings by Sennen may have to employ you from now on for your common sense alone.’
Rita shook her head and laughed. ‘I’ve got enough to bloody do, missus!’
‘It will be fine. It’s only twenty guests – small, very intimate – and a few of them will be staying here anyway the night before, so they’ll know their way around.
’ Sennen was thoughtful for a second. ‘So, for food?’ She looked to her mum cautiously.
‘They’ve asked for this. What do you reckon, and should we get in caterers? ’
Sennen went to the back of her notebook and began to read aloud. ‘Starter: prawn cocktail in flat martini glasses with freshly buttered brown bread, served with a flute of champagne.’
Rita nodded. ‘Easy and nice.’
‘Main.’ Sennen grinned and looked at her mother. ‘Fish and chips, served in faux-newspaper-printed cones with the headlines of their choice on them. Served with vintage bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.’
‘Red wine and fish and chips?’ Rita screwed up her nose.
‘It’s what they want.’ Sennen looked down again. ‘And for dessert: sticky toffee pudding, and clotted cream with a cheeky shot of brandy on the side.’
Rita smiled. ‘Fancy, funny, but not over the top. We can easily do that. How about they provide the booze to make life easier. The guy who did my website could design the fish and chip cones, I’m sure.’
‘Aw, thanks, Mum. Shall we charge corkage on the drink, then?’
‘Oh, Sen, that’s up to you, darling. I’m more than happy with the thousand pounds you’re giving me to use the barn.’
Sennen scribbled furiously. ‘And flowers? I haven’t spoken to her about them yet. They’ll be eating down here, wherever the ceremony is, so we could do flower-enhanced garlands along the barn beams, with little fairy lights twinkling amongst them…’
‘I take it the bride-to-be is going to come and see the barn first?’
‘She said she hasn’t got time. I sent her photos and a video of when we first set it up for yoga with twinkling lights, plus the view from the Singing Tree, and she has the resort website. She’s happy.’
‘Well, that’s easy.’ Rita stood up. ‘Make sure to add chairs, tables, the order of ceremony, where the cake is coming from and where it’s going to sit, and whether you might need extra blankets if the evening turns chilly – and what’s she walking down the aisle to, do you know?’
‘“So This Is Love” from Cinderella,’ Sennen replied, whimsically.
‘Of course she is,’ Rita laughed.
‘Talking of love, are you and Jago OK? I’m surprised I haven’t seen him around this weekend and thought for sure he’d be here for you in the storm.’
Rita blew out a lengthy breath. ‘You know Betty mentioned his ex-wife?’
Sennen drew out a long, ‘Ye-e-e-e-e-s.’
‘Well, she’s been staying with him, with her five-year-old daughter in tow. Her boyfriend has kicked her out, evidently.’
‘Ah. And how do you feel about that?’
‘I’m furious, clearly. He says there’s nothing going on, but I want her out of there.’
‘Oh, Mum. He obviously loves you. The way he looks at you, what he does for you. So don’t worry.
And you know what he’s like; he’d give the shirt off his back if someone needed it.
Remember how much he helped you after Dad died.
’ She gave a small, teasing shake of her head.
‘And also, remember what you’ve always told me about being needy? Keep your cool.’
Rita grimaced. ‘A bit too late for that. He’s already had the wrath of a Jory.’
Sennen laughed. ‘He’d have got used to that from Hilda.
’ When Rita had finally told her daughter about the Jenken–Jory feud, Sennen had been equal parts horrified and amused that her mother was now dating…
well, essentially her uncle! ‘I tell you what, why don’t you go to the Winking Pilchard tonight, relax over a large glass of wine, and then work out how you are going to say sorry to him? ’
‘Sorry to him! I’m not sure I want to.’
‘OK, I’m not saying anything further.’ Sennen looked back to her notes.
If only she could escape from her mind for a second with alcohol, Rita thought, wondering when her daughter had got so wise, and why she herself had got so stubborn.
She looked out to sea again and tried to still the restless whirl of thoughts.
Part of her wanted to know exactly what Jago was doing, but another part, the bigger, braver part, knew it was better not to.
He said he would do right by both her and Elodie, and she couldn’t force him to do anything.
This was the test they needed, clearly. But what if he did decide he wanted to be with Elodie?
Ten years younger, radiant, all that effortless beauty.
A familiar, unwelcome pang of jealousy went through her.
And yet, there was that other quieter hope echoing Sennen’s words: he loved her, and he did look at her in a certain way.
There was also the huge blundering Dumbo in the room that she was carrying his child.
A constant reminder that she and Jago were tied together in a way no one else could touch.