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‘She’s an influencer. All designer gear, tits, and teeth-whitening kits. Lives on Instagram.’ Sennen slipped into a high-pitched voice. ‘Oh hi, it’s Lizzie Sanders here from sunny Seahaven Bay. If you use the code NIPPLE then you’ll get a free suck every time you see me in the Winking Pilchard.’
‘Sennen!’ Rita was astounded.
The twins were now laughing.
Jago shook his head. ‘The world’s gone mad.’
Sennen topped up her wine. ‘Anyway, I don’t know what it is about men my age,’ she went on. ‘They either want someone younger for the ego boost or someone older, so they don’t have to commit properly. And I guess the cougars can’t get pregnant so easily, can they?’
Rita laughed. ‘Good job he didn’t come to Miss Fertile Pants here then.’
Jago choked on his drink. ‘Rita Jory! No more wine for you.’
‘And don’t be saying any of that in front of Jilly.’ Rita was firm. ‘She’s really upset.’
‘Mum,’ Sennen tutted. ‘What do you take me for and hang on a minute before you start casting aspersions; listen to yourself.’
Rita gave her a look.
‘And I don’t fancy women older than me,’ Thom added, instantly regretting it as Elodie had clearly fallen into that category.
‘Yeah, right,’ Sennen added.
There was a lull as cutlery clanked and dinner was finished.
Rita cleared her throat. ‘The Christmas market opens tomorrow. Do you want to come down and have a look, Sen? Hilda’s coming.’
Sennen brightened. ‘Oh, that’ll be nice. I haven’t got much on this weekend.’
‘Guess your bald boyfriend will be there, too.’ Jago nodded his head towards Rita as he reached for his glass.
‘Jago!’ Rita shot him a warning look.
Sennen laughed. ‘Jealousy doesn’t suit you, you know, and anyway who are you on about?’
‘Oh, that Max Rogers, the market guy,’ Rita intervened.
Jago raised an eyebrow, amused. ‘Hardly jealous. Just don’t like a man being too friendly with your mother, that’s all.’
‘For the record,’ Rita sighed, ‘the chemistry between Max and Jilly is off the scale.’
‘She clearly took Mum’s advice,’ Sennen added dryly. ‘Got under one to get over another.’
Rita’s mouth actually fell open. ‘How do…’
‘You’ve said it to me about Alex. The guy I lived with in Reading, remember.’
Thom burst out laughing, then his face fell before he blurted, soulfully, ‘Poppy must have listened too; she’s getting married.’
Sennen blinked. ‘What?’
Even Jago looked up, sympathy flickering across his face.
Rita’s heart dipped. ‘Oh… darling.’
‘To a doctor. Hugo.’ Thom put on a ridiculously posh accent. ‘Hugh-go.’
Sennen snorted. ‘He sounds like a right twat.’
