A tear began to roll down Rita’s cheek. ‘“The Going”.’
Jude nodded. ‘One of Hardy’s finest, in my humble opinion. All that loss and yearning for his first wife, whom he met down here in Cornwall, actually.’
‘I don’t know much about his real life.’ Rita downed her espresso.
‘He was a tortured character like most of our literary greats.’
Rita sighed deeply. ‘I must have a read-up.’
Jude joined her in the adjacent chair. ‘Grief, regret, memory… it never follows the rules, does it? Pops up when you least expect it. It’s not just the person we mourn, sometimes. It’s the could-have-beens, too.’
‘Tell me to bugger off if you want to, but who did you lose, Jude?’ Rita asked gently.
‘Long-term boyfriend left me for someone else.’ He took a breath. ‘It had been going downhill for a while, but I ignored it.’ He wobbled. ‘Smashed my heart in two, so I ran away and on arriving here and having time to be introspective, I realised I’d spent so long chasing crumbs of affection, I’d forgotten what it felt like to simply be at peace with myself. No drama. No longing. Just… stillness. And then look what happened… I took over Sail Away and followed my real passion.’
‘Well, it suits you, sir.’ Rita smiled. ‘The stillness and of course this wonderful bookshop.’
Jude grinned. ‘I was thinking maybe a selection of Thomas Hardy for next week’s books. I aim to focus on authors and poets with some kind of tenuous connection to Cornwall. Do you think poetry would work?’
‘I think the guests should think themselves lucky they are getting such an added luxury. I’ve decided on two books for a month’s stay and any less than that, just the one.’
‘That’s fine by me.’ Jude smiled. ‘I really appreciate the business, thank you.’
Rita took a sip of coffee. ‘And Hardy is perfect. It might do some of them good to delve into the mind of a man who emphasises that whatever emotional weight we place on the moment, nature is unmoved. That it is bigger than any of us.’
‘You’re one cool woman, do you know that, Rita Jory?’
Rita blushed. Jude grinned as she stood up and threw her cardboard cup in the bin. ‘Thanks, Jude.’
‘No,thankyou. You’re a good soul, Rita, and the retreat is a wonderful idea. I saw a flyer the other day that said to watch this space regarding opening up some of the classes to everyone. A cute Spanish guy was handing them out…’
‘That’s Teo. I think he might have said the same about you too.’ Rita winked.
‘Oof, OK,’ Jude replied camply, and laughed.
‘Drop me a message.’ She handed the bookseller one of her newly printed resort cards. ‘And I’ll send over the finished schedule. Half-price sessions for you, of course.’
Jude frowned and shook his head. ‘Rita, that’s not the way to run a business. But allowing me to provide the retreat books at cost price, then, is.’ He held out his hand. ‘Deal.’
‘Deal.’ Rita grinned.
She walked towards the door and looked back. ‘And Jude, it would be such a waste if you didn’t let somebody else in one day, you know.’
Jude gulped. ‘Don’t be going all Tennyson on me now.’
A few moments later, Rita pushed open the door to Jilly’s Pilates studio and eyed the nearest Reformer machine like it was a creature that might bite her.
At the noise of the bell, Jilly swept in from the back in her Lycra uniform, hair tied tightly back, make-up flawless.
‘I knew you couldn’t resist coming back.’ Jilly laughed. ‘Let’s have a go at your pelvic floor today, see if you like that.’
‘I actually only popped in to see if you’d be willing to offer a small discount on your classes for my wellness groups. Thought it would give me a broader treatment range to offer, plus bring you some extra business.’
‘Ah, that’d be boss, thanks! Of course, I can do that,anything to help you out and keep the wolves from our doors. Now come on, get on your back, girl.’
Rita, already in her fitness gear from running around at the retreat earlier, lay back on one of the Reformer machines as Jilly adjusted a strap with expert flair.
‘Now, pop your feet here… and no farting. The acoustics in here are savage.’ Jilly laughed at her own coarseness.
