‘Now you’re talking, Mumsie.’ Mother and son exchanged a smile.
Poppy noticed. ‘I can’t see us coming down here much…’
Rita arched an eyebrow. ‘Ah, I see. Becauseyou’reallergic to chickens?’
Poppy rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Nah, cos Thomas is allergic to hard work.’
‘Oi!’ Thom patted her hand with his.
Poppy laughed. ‘You should have heard the moaning after him having to hold the ladder in the rain last night. My poor little bubba.’ She squeezed his cheek.
Sennen repeated in a baby voice, ‘Yeah, poor little bubba, having to get his hair wet.’
Rita’s annoyance hit. ‘Thom was always a great help around the farm when his father was alive.’
‘Exactly!’ Sennen fired. ‘He really was,then!’
‘I don’t see you ever offering to muck out the goats,’ Thom spat back.
‘I’m busy.’
‘What? Ringing up wedding venues that let you down.’
‘Children! Stop it!’ Rita shouted at such a level that Poppy spilled her tea then, without anyone noticing, let out a little smirk at the commotion she had caused.
Rita, sensing further escalating sibling chaos ahead, cleared her throat. ‘Sennen, after breakfast, can we do some wedding chat in the barn, please?’
Rita and Sennen headed outside. After the weather’s tantrum the night before, everything felt strangely calm. The air still smelled of rain and sea salt, fresh and alive. The sky looked scrubbed clean, with a few stubborn grey clouds drifting about, slowly giving way to blue and the promise of a sunny spring day.
Rita looked up. ‘What a glorious day ahead.’
‘Thank goodness. Hopefully, the trains will be running normally later on.’
‘Hopefully,’ Sennen huffed. ‘Thom owes me one for giving up my seat in the car home. I guess at least he and Her Majesty can discuss their upcoming nuptials on the journey back to London.’
Rita visibly gasped. ‘Don’t! Do you think he would marry her, Sen?’
‘Mum, did you not see his face? It was smattered with,I don’t.’
‘Yes, but she is very persuasive.’
‘You know what he’s like. He usually has at least two women on the go.’
‘Hmm, but he has never introduced me toanyof them before.’
‘And you heard what Betty said about him the other day. I didn’t even know Jago had an ex-wife. You kept that one quiet.’
Rita was secretly relieved they were interrupted by the barn door flying open and Teo appearing, carrying a handful of damp yoga mats.
‘Ah, Rita. You OK? The goats and chickens, they missed you this morning. Maa, maa, baa, baa, cluck, cluck.’ Teo burst out laughing. ‘But do ask me again when you have the family here, as I am always happy to help.’
‘I really appreciate it, thank you, Teo.’ She nodded at the mats. ‘Where are you going with those?’
‘I hang them on the washing line at the back of your place, OK?’
As Teo headed off, Rita’s gaze drifted towards the outhouse adjoining the barn where they kept crafting supplies for the Nook. The door, the one that was always bolted, was hanging slightly open. She frowned. She was certain she had shut it properly yesterday morning. But she had been tired and upset, so maybe she had just not closed it properly. Or maybe the storm had rattled it open somehow. Even so, a slow prickle crept up the back of her neck. Thinking she would ask Teo to check it later, Rita followed Sennen into the barn where they were greeted by a buzz of activity. And it was not just Zenya hard at work; Cass, Davie, Imogen, and Priya were pitching in too.
The huge back door, which opened onto the glorious view of the cliffs and horizon, was wide open, allowing a calm breeze to drift through. Where the rain had poured in through the roof, debris was being swept away, and soggy carpets were being rolled up to take outside and dry. Cushions were being checked for damp, and Cass was up on a ladder, precariously held steady by Davie, checking the lighting and making sure the inside of the roof was secure.
