‘I got your message and I thought… why wait.’ He smiled hesitantly.
Rita tilted her head, a wry smirk playing on her lips. ‘You’d better come in, then.’
She ushered him through the open door.
‘Sorry I didn’t warn you.’
‘It’s fine; I hear the scarecrow look is very in at the moment.’ Rita pulled a couple of bits of straw out of her hair.
He stepped into the kitchen, glancing around. It was a bit awkward; he sat down at the kitchen table and started fiddling with a stray napkin. ‘I believe you about kissing the builder.’
‘That statement doesn’t even warrant a reply.’ Rita sat down opposite and shifted in her seat with a little groan.
‘Are you all right, Rita?’
‘Just a bit knackered, that’s all. I want to make sure everything perfect for Sennen’s wedding.’
‘You’re a great mum, you know.’
Rita thought she might be sick in her mouth, but this wasn’t the time, not yet, not until she knew what was going on.
‘How’s it all going your end?’ Rita was curt, not really wanting to know but also wanting to know everything.
‘She’s still in Polheron but has found a place to rent back in Surrey. I’m getting the money together for the end of the month. She wants it all in cash, so Donal isn’t able to get hold of it. I cannot believe a man can treat a woman in this way.’
‘Oh,’ was all Rita could be bothered to reply, but nonetheless felt relieved that it wouldn’t be long before the French tart would no longer be circling the bay.
‘She’s given me a choice,’ Jago said, folding his arms defensively. ‘If I want to see Amélie, I can only see her if Elodie is with her and only in Surrey, or not at all.’ Jago ran a hand through his hair.
Rita shook her head in disbelief. ‘How very fair of her.’
‘The maintenance she’s demanding is high, too.’
Rita fought to stay calm, her voice level. ‘Jago, as much as I care for you, none of this is my problem. I don’t have to fix everything. And I don’t want to hear about all the intricacies of this sorry affair.’
‘But it is your problem if we are going to work things out between us. Amélie is my daughter, Rita. And will be in my life forever from now on.’
‘And with her comes an unreasonable sociopath, who appears to have a purse with a knack of emptying itself.’
‘I know, I know. She’s left me in an impossible situation. It’s a good eight-to-ten-hour round trip to Surrey, traffic dependent and I can’t keep leaving the animals to go there. It wouldn’t be fair on Stan.’
‘Wake up and smell the coffee, Jago. What if Amélie isn’t yours? She could be playing you. In fact, I think she is.’
Jago ran his hands through his hair. ‘And short of asking for a DNA test what am I supposed to do, Rita? Tell me.’
Rita didn’t let her strength wane. ‘OK. I appreciate this is difficult, but if this is the route you are choosing to take, then you have to work this through yourself. I am never going to be Amélie’s mum or even pretend to be.’ Jago bit his lip anxiously. ‘I wouldneverstop you seeing her, obviously,’ Rita huffed. ‘But if were you I would want proof before I changed my life and that poor little girl’s too. And I do need some kind of boundary here with Elodie.’ Even saying her name felt like poison in Rita’s mouth.
Jago swallowed, looking at her like she’d already built an invisible wall between them.
Rita softened. ‘Come to me on June the fourth as planned, with a sensible solution, that’s all. It would be the best birthday present you could give me,’ she added firmly.
Jago nodded, a little defeated, and turned to leave. Rita walked him to the door.
‘Think of that poor little girl.’ She rested a hand on his arm for a brief second. ‘Minutes ago, she was calling someone else daddy. She’s young, she’s confused, and she needs both of you to find your way without dragging her into it. Love her enough to do that, Jago.’
He swallowed, looking down. ‘We… we haven’t told her yet,’ he admitted.
Rita raised an eyebrow. ‘No?’
