Rita raised an eyebrow, heart hammering. Be a good girl! Her mouth took over her mind. ‘Oh yes,totally, Madame Bonjour-I-Swear-It’s-Not-What-It-Looks-Like,’ she said, her words tripping over each other in a mix of French imitation, fury and panic.
Ignoring Rita’s outburst entirely, Elodie turned and followed her grizzling daughter through the kitchen. Jago stood shaking his head as Rita marched off towards her car.
‘Come back.’ Jago was now in pursuit. ‘You know I will follow you.’
‘Just leave me alone!’ Rita shouted, eyes burning, her stomach tight with fear and confusion. She braced herself, ready for the excuses, the pleading, knowing that whatever he said next wouldn’t change a thing. But he didn’t say anything. And that silence told her everything. Baby father or not, she was done listening to Jago Jenken’s lies.
FIFTEEN
Rita screeched away down the drive, and trying to do anything other than think, turned on the radio. It burst into Ronan Keating’s ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’.
‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ she cried.
Instead of turning it off, hormones surging like a rogue tide, she found herself half shouting, half howling along to the chorus. Tears streamed down her cheeks, chest heaving. She hated the sound of her own voice, but it felt necessary, like letting some of the grief for Archie and the raw disappointment in Jago spill out.
By the time she lurched into the courtyard, she was already mid-sob. And, because life clearly hated her, there stood Imogen Hamilton-Clark, head to toe in designer workout gear, complete with matching wrist sweatbands, looking like she had been waiting to greet her.
As Imogen started walking towards the car, Rita ducked her head and pretended to rummage in the glove compartment. She groaned. This was mortifying. So unprofessional to be snotting and wailing when she was supposed to be the very picture of calm and sophistication for her retreat guests. And if Jago had meant what he had said about following her, he would be roaring down the drive any second.
‘Um… Rita? Hi. Hello. Are you OK?’
Rita popped her head up like a meerkat, wiping under her eyes with the heel of her palm. ‘Yes. Yes. I’m fine. It’s just…’ She gestured vaguely at the radio. ‘This is the song my husband wanted played at his funeral.’
Imogen looked bemused. ‘He… he… liked Ronan Keating?’
‘Yes. Yes,’ Rita puffed. ‘Anyway. Are you lost? Can I help you?’
The immaculate guest smiled sweetly. ‘I’ve got yoga in the barn with Teo, but I think I must have missed a turning.’
Grateful that Imogen was clearly bereft of all empathy, Rita pointed beyond. ‘You’re not far off. It’s that huge brick building back there.’
Imogen shifted into faux-casual mode. ‘I just heard on the grapevine that you’re hosting a wedding here in June. I didn’t realise this place was a venue as well… Do you have a licence and everything?’
The mood she was in, Rita felt her hackles rise. Something about Imogen’s tone felt calculated. ‘Well, not quite officially yet…’ she said slowly, studying her. Why the sudden interest?
Imogen tucked a blonde curl behind her ear. ‘Oh, just a friend of mine might be looking for somewhere to get hitched, you know. Cornwall is quite the “in” place to do it these days. Thought I’d ask, as it’s so beautiful here.’
‘Ah, OK.’ Rita folded her arms. ‘… It might just be a one-off. I’m not sure yet. Rosecliff Barns let my daughter down, you see.’
‘Oh,’ Imogen said. ‘What happened there, then? Must have been short notice, too, I guess. How very unprofessional of them.’
‘Yes. It caused a lot of upset.’ Rita’s tension eased slightly when Teo appeared. With mascara-streaked cheeks, she gave him a small, tentative smile.
‘Oh, Rita, what is it? What has happened? You look so… so sad.’
‘Life is a rollercoaster,’ Imogen added knowingly.
‘Sí, sí, it really is. But what’s the matter with you?’
‘I’m fine, Teo.’ Rita almost laughed at the absurdity, then, wanting to goad the nosy woman in front of her a little further, offered, ‘I was just having a moment about your papa.’
Teo’s bottom lip stuck out. ‘I’m so sorry.’ He tipped her chin. ‘He loved you. I love you. We all love you,’ he recited dramatically.
Rita noticed Imogen’s intrigue but before the young woman had a chance to question her further, Rita snapped back into professional mode. ‘Enjoy your yoga session, Imogen; you’ll be floating when you come out of that barn. And Teo, when you’re done, could you check for parcels at the annexe, please? Hilda was expecting some stuff. By the way, do you still have the Ring camera app on your phone?’
‘Sí, sí. Is that OK?’
‘Of course. Let’s chat later.’
