‘And she has this house,’ Eliza added. ‘And us. We’re her friends, too, even if she doesn’t know it. And we will do whatever it takes to restore her faith in humankind.’
Isaac wrapped his arms around his wife and buried his face in her neck.
‘You,’ he whispered, ‘are the best of women.’
‘And you,’ she replied, ‘are the best of husbands and we’re stronger together.’
Isaac nodded.
‘Together,’ he repeated. ‘I’m sorry I left you, Eliza. I promise that it won’t happen again.’
She nodded. Of course he meant it, just as she meant it when she declared that she would refrain from meddling, but sometimes one just couldn’t help oneself. Sometimes promises had to be broken.
FIVE
When Jules woke up it was after eleven o’clock. She wandered downstairs in a clean lilac dressing gown, which she found on the end of her bed, to discover Carrie sitting at the kitchen table with a smiley-faced woman in a spotted, rose-pink, crisp cotton dress.
‘Oh, sorry,’ she said, ‘I didn’t realise there was anyone else here. I thought the voices were coming from the radio. I haven’t showered or washed my hair properly and I’d have got dressed.’
The woman rose from her chair in a surprisingly sprightly fashion and extended a hand.
‘I’m Rita. I look after things here and no need at all to apologise for anything. Between you and me, a dressing gown is my favourite item of clothing. Would wear mine all day every day if I could. Might look a bit odd at the farmer’s market though. Having said that there are some pretty odd people there, so I’d probably just fit right in.’
She threw back her head, stuck out her chest and let out a throaty laugh which reverberated around the whole kitchen. So this was Saint Rita, Jules thought, the solver of all problems and bringer of smiles and cake.
‘I’m very pleased to meet you,’ she said, shaking the warm, soft hand. ‘And it’s lovely to be able to tell you in person how much I appreciate the way you looked after Carrie when she first moved here.’
‘Oh, it was nothing,’ Rita protested. ‘I would do the same for anyone.’
She threw a glance towards Carrie who was leaning back in her chair and beaming from behind her mug of coffee.
‘Mind you,’ Rita said, conspiratorially to Jules, ‘I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for this one.’
‘Me too,’ Jules replied.
‘Stop it, you two,’ Carrie said, ‘you’re embarrassing me.’
‘Anyway,’ Rita said, ‘I must be on my way. I’ve got some deliveries to make on the other side of the island. I just wanted to make sure that you were all settled, Jules. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? I had no idea Carrie was here until I saw the car, but I needed to talk to her anyway.’
‘I’m so sorry I can’t help you out,’ Carrie said. ‘But I’ve had this meeting planned in Bembridge forever and it’s had to be rearranged twice already.’
‘No worries,’ Rita replied. ‘I’m sure I can find someone else to collect Tasha. If necessary, she can just wait at The Pottery until I’ve finished my deliveries. Lance won’t mind and Erin will be pleased.’
She turned to Jules.
‘You must have passed The Pottery on your way here yesterday. It’s a wonderful place and my granddaughter is doing a summer course there and needs picking up at four.’
‘Remember, Jules?’ Carrie said. ‘I pointed it out to you.’
Jules nodded.
‘Lance has worked hard to make a go of it,’ Rita mused, ‘and it hasn’t been easy, bless him. With losing his wife and bringing up two children. Mind you, we all seem to be snowed underthese days, one way or another, don’t we? All of these gadgets and inventions, which are meant to make life easier but just seem to me to create a lot of stress and complications. The Lord is my shepherd, I remind myself when it all gets too much. He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. Except the waters are sometimes whipped up into a frenzy and my soul is parched like too many other people’s.’ She burst into a peal of laughter. ‘Listen to me, feeling sorry for myself. I don’t have anything to complain about really. I live on the perfect island, have a comfortable home, clean water, good neighbours and the most wonderful grandchildren, two of them living right next door to me. How lucky is that!’
‘I think I saw Tasha yesterday,’ Jules said, ‘sitting at the side of the barn.’
‘Hiding no doubt,’ Rita said. ‘Feel like doing that myself sometimes, I can tell you.’
‘We waved to each other,’ Jules said.
