Chloe looked down, swinging her legs more slowly. ‘I know… but I didn’t. And I guess you have insurance, so…’ She rubbed her bump. ‘All I’m asking is that you hear me out. Woman to woman… mum to mum. I can’t go inside. I can’t get a record. Not with this little one in here.’ Chloe cradled her tummy this time. ‘He hasn’t got a dad, one that wants him anyway. It’s justme. And all I want now is for my life to be a success for this little bundle.’ Her eyes started to fill as she said quietly, ‘They’ll take him away.’
The breeze tugged at Rita’s jacket, carrying the briny tang of seaweed and salt across the harbour. A fishing boat’s engine rumbled somewhere, and the gulls cried again, circling above.
Rita’s anger eased slightly, replaced by a sharp knot of worry. ‘How did the police leave it with you?’
‘They said they’d be in touch,’ Chloe whispered. ‘I’ve never been good at much, but I want to be good at this. At being a mum, you know. And running the wedding business. Please… please, I beg of you, give me the chance.’
Caught between fury and empathy, Rita’s heart thudded. She could feel Chloe’s desperation, the love for her unborn baby, and something soft inside her began to shift.
Chloe’s lips trembled as she added quietly, ‘Babies… they don’t care about your past. They don’t know your mistakes. They just look at you like you’re their universe. And if I can start out right, then well, I… we’ve got a chance here.’
Rita stayed silent, letting the sea wind and gulls fill the space between them. Finally, with a huge sigh and holding her head up high, she said, ‘I need some time to think.’
Chloe nodded, eyes soft, legs swinging again. ‘If not for me, please think of him.’ She pointed down.
Without another word, Rita climbed back into the car, the engine humming softly. She sat for a moment, staring at the tide and the wheeling seabirds, letting Chloe’s words settle. She didn’t know what she would do yet, but looking at that poor, helpless girl on the wall, she found herself imagining a baby’s early years… and the thought of them without the love of a mother sent a pang through her chest.
FORTY-FOUR
‘Darling Reet, the London cavalry has arrived.’ An excitable Kelly flew out of her car and ran towards Rita, who was reaching in the back seat for pastries. ‘And oh my God look at your belly, aw… I’m so happy for you.’ Kelly hugged her tightly.
‘Shit, Kel, not too tight. You’ll crush the buns.’
‘Ha! I will, that; you’ve got two of ’em cooking in that oven of yours now.’ Kelly then looked to the empty space where the Cosy Café had been. ‘Flipping ’eck, you were lucky the barn, farmhouse and annexe didn’t all go up too.’
Rita nodded. ‘I know, someone was looking out for us, that’s for sure.’
Inside, the Nook was already humming. Tea was being drunk and voices overlapping, in expectation of Sennen taking command of the pre-event debrief.
Zenya was curled into a beanbag, both hands wrapped around her mug, with Teo leaning against the newly placed jukebox beside her, bracing himself for the next two days to come. Priya hovered close, ostensibly there to help, but really, and no one was fooled, to spend time with Zenya.
‘Right,’ Kelly announced, dumping her huge tote bag by the door. ‘Who’s panicking and who’s pretending not to?’
Rita was just putting the pastries out for everyone to help themselves when Jago appeared, striding towards them with an enormous bouquet of flowers. Stan swiftly followed.
‘Good luck, special ladies.’ He handed the flowers to Rita with a grin that softened the whole room. ‘Not that you and Sennen will need it. Me and Stan are on hand to fetch, carry, lift, shift, anything you need.’ He winked at Rita. ‘Definitely no lifting for you, madam.’
Rita’s eyes shone. ‘I’m pregnant, not incapable.’
‘Pregnant and very precious, that’s what you are.’ Jago kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Rita felt a little warm flush creep up her neck. ‘Oh, get a room, you two.’ Kelly smirked.
Sennen smiled. ‘Thank you, Jago, that’s lovely. But you do realise the wedding’s not until tomorrow.’
‘I know, I know,’ Jago said quickly. ‘But tomorrow will likely be madness.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Anyway, I need to get back. The coach and horse are arriving at midday.’
‘The horse?’ Kelly perked up.
‘Yep, just to up the drama, the bride is arriving in a Cinderella coach, pulled by a white horse… down the uneven drive.’ Rita managed a smile. ‘I can’t wait to meet her; with all this pageantry, she’s bound to be something else!’
Sennen reddened. ‘She really is and I already know you will love her, Mum.’
‘Jesus, I was happy in the registry office in Hackney with two strangers we dragged off the street for witnesses, when I married my old man,’ Kelly muttered.
‘I’ve even put extra hay in the stable,’ Jago added proudly. ‘And its name is Lucky Star, so that’s got to be a good sign.’
Sennen was already back in work mode, notebook open, pen poised.
