Rita yanked off the sunglasses. ‘I’m on a mission. I need to know if Jago’s in Betty’s Café. And who he’s with.’
‘What the…?’ Jilly burst out laughing. ‘If you’re looking for an alibi? Not a chance, kid. I did my stint covering for me auld fella. God rest his dodgy soul.’
‘I’m not the one who’s done something wrong.’ Rita flopped onto the nearest machine, tugging at her scarf. ‘I just need a vantage point. Somewhere he won’t see me.’ She groaned, fanning herself with her hand. ‘Oh God, here we go again. Hot flush. I swear, I’m like a walking radiator.’
Jilly took a sip of tea. ‘You’re too young for all that menopause malarkey, surely.’
‘Forty-six. My periods have been more irregular than the bus service from here to Newquay for the past few months. I keep meaning to see the doctor but it’s not something I’m ready to face yet.’
‘I’m just dreading my fanny drying up, to be honest. Saying that, there’s not been much chance of that lately.’
Rita shook her head. ‘The handsome barman still on the scene, I take it?’
‘He has a name, does my Joel, and he’s twenty-three now.’
Rita smiled. ‘I don’t know how you do it.’
Jilly smirked. ‘He’s hotter than July, so why not, I say.’
Rita laughed. ‘No judgement here, girl. I’m just jealous after my Valentine’s Day disaster.’
‘Maybe that’s what you need? A no-questions-asked seeing-to by a younger man whose abs you could grate cheese on. Saying that Jago is pretty hot himself.’
Rita felt the familiar flutter low in her stomach at the mention of him. ‘He is. Infuriatingly so.’ She paused, her smile softening. ‘I’d be a fool to let him go.’
‘Then don’t!’ Jilly hopped off the Reformer. ‘Why all the secrecy anyway?’
‘I’m probably being paranoid, but Hilda’s Eric said he saw Jago talking to a woman at his gate yesterday. I just went round to try and make peace and stop all this space business and Stan said he was down here withsomeone.’ Rita paused. ‘Oh God, that must mean she stayed the night.’
‘Rita.’ Jilly tipped Rita’s chin and looked into her eyes. ‘Stop now! It could be a family member; it could be anyone! Or it’s most probably work related… you know yourself running a farm is a tricky business.’ Jilly paused and smiled. ‘And if it’s not, we’ll tie him to an anchor and tip him into the harbour.’
Rita shook her head and pulled her scarf back up. ‘Come on. Shield me as we walk past Betty’s. If he’s in there, we’ll see.’
Jilly tutted. ‘And if he’s not, you can stop dressing like a dodgy extra fromLine of Dutyand just call him.’
Rita burst out laughing, muffled behind her scarf. ‘God, we’re being ridiculous.’
‘Sorry, who’s being ridiculous?’ Jilly grinned, tucking her arm through Rita’s as they headed out of the door, then, pushing Rita straight back inside again, Jilly whispered, ‘Shit! Don’t let him see you.’
Rita slid down behind the reception desk, peering over the counter at Jago Jenken, deep in conversation with a striking-looking woman. Rita guessed she must be in her late thirties. She had long, glossy raven hair, and looked effortlessly chic in a tailored dogtooth-check winter coat, a white fur scarf, and red suede knee-length boots.
‘Those boots…’ Jilly drooled.
‘I’m going to confront him,’ Rita said firmly, jumping out from behind the desk as the pair now with their backs to them headed towards the car park.
Jilly held up her hand. ‘Hold your horses, babe. You don’t know what’s going on. Wait. Definitely not now.’
Rita froze mid-step, her heart hammering in her chest as she watched Jago laugh, the woman leaning in slightly. ‘But… he can’t just be… have started something else so quickly,’ Rita said, her voice trembling.
‘Exactly why you wait, love,’ Jilly cut in, gently grabbing her arm. ‘Let’s not make a scene in front of Miss Perfect over there. Breathe. You’ll thank me later.’
Rita peeked again, trying to steady her nerves, wishing she had Jilly’s unflappable confidence. ‘I need to know.’ Her voice was childlike.
‘Patience, babe,’ Jilly comforted. ‘It’s a superpower, and it looks like you’re about to need it.’
THREE
Minutes later, with tears streaming so fiercely she could barely see the road, Rita headed straight back to Hawthorn Acre. Jilly’s advice might well have been the sensible way forward. Give him space, keep her dignity, breathe. But every instinct in Rita’s body was rebelling. She couldn’t do it. Not when her heart was ricocheting around her chest like a trapped sparrow. She had to know who this mysterious woman was and whether Jago Jenken wanted just a little space or a whole vacuum of it.
