‘Less of the “old”, thanks.’ Rita felt a yearning to hug her one and only son, but Thom had never been that twin. Only when he had wanted something.
‘I was just about to make a late lunch. Come on in; I’ll fix something for us.’
TWENTY-SEVEN
Beneath the dappled shade of the orchard trees, Rita and Thom sat down opposite each other on the picnic bench, tucking into the crusty sourdough rolls filled with grilled Mediterranean vegetables and mozzarella that Zenya had left in the fridge, neatly wrapped in cling film and marked with an ‘R’ – a small gesture that never failed to make Rita smile. It had been a long time since she had felt truly looked after by anyone.
Dessert was a bowl of fresh strawberries from the retreat garden, topped with a generous dollop of clotted cream. Rita had opened a bottle of fizzy water and Thomas had nicked one of Teo’s zero-alcohol Estrella Galicia beers from the fridge, which Rita made a mental note to replace.
As they ate, Thom’s gaze flicked down and he noticed something odd. ‘Mum… your necklace. The one Dad gave you?’
‘I looked for it.’ She faltered. ‘But… nothing. It’s gone.’
Thom frowned. ‘I thought for a moment you’d decided to stop wearing it.’
‘No, darling.’ Rita put her hand on his. ‘I lost it in the goat pen in the spring. My only thought’ – a rueful smile tugged at Rita’s lips despite the frustration – ‘is that one of the goats got hold of it. And if that’s the case, there’s no way I’m looking for it now.’ Ritapoured herself a glass of water. ‘So, it’s been months since you’ve rung, or even replied to a message. You’re good? Work all right? Any new girlfriends to mention?’
‘I’m fine, Mum, thank you. I’m flying at work, hence the new car, and as for girlfriends, that’s too big a topic over a short lunch. Let’s just say I haven’t found the one yet, but I’m having a lot of fun looking.’ He grinned the same lopsided grin as his father.
‘Sennen said she spoke to you the other day?’
‘Yes. Not really a newsflash, though, that is, is it? She is my twin sister after all. Shame about her and Alex; he was a good bloke, and you know how needy Sennen can be.’
Rita shook her head. ‘Shouldn’t you be on her side?’
Thom reverted to the bolshy teenager she had both loved and struggled with in equal measure. ‘All’s fair in love and war and all that, and I’m just being honest.’
‘So, what have you been up to this morning, then?’ Rita pressed.
‘Driving here.’ Thom took a drink straight from his beer bottle.
Rita felt an urge of something she wasn’t quite sure of rising within her. And then it was out. ‘I madly thought I saw you a few hours ago… at Hawthorn Acre… talking to Jago.’
Thom paused, took another sip of beer, and remained silent.
‘Did I?’ Rita reiterated, almost frightened of what she might hear.
‘Yes.’ Thom was abrupt. ‘Sorry, yes, Mum. He was herding his sheep up the road; a couple broke free. I had to stop. We had a very brief chat, then I went down to the surf beach, had a swim, got an ice cream from the kiosk, just like I used to.’ He screwed his face up at her. ‘What is this anyway, the Spanish Inquisition?’ Thom laughed, but it was clear that he was not feeling it inside. ‘We just had a brief chat, me and Jago, that’s all. He’s not exactly a friend, is he? I mean, I’m still seething you sold Dad’s cows and tractor to him.’
‘Our cows, Thom. And you know I had to.’
‘I still can’t believe that Dad left you in debt, Mum. That wasn’t his style.’
‘I know it wasn’t, darling.’ Rita sighed deeply. ‘There’s something else I need to ask you.’
Thom replied before she could finish her sentence. ‘About the will, you mean?’
Rita was open-mouthed. Thom made a groaning noise. ‘Oops. Don’t say anything to her, please, but Granny Jory told me… well, she asked if I knew anything about it.’
‘And do you?’ Rita did her best to keep her voice level.
‘No, I don’t. I find it hard to believe that Dad didn’t tell you if there was one. Maybe Granny Jory has just got confused. You know what she’s like.’
Sharp as a tack was what Granny Jory was like, Rita thought, feeling angry that she had got her son involved. In a back-handed positive way, at least it proved that Hilda didn’t know where the will was either.
‘I think you should just forget about it, Mum, and also stop playing at this retreat lark. I mean, you’ve got no experience of running a business, let alone a wellness retreat.’
Rita felt tears spring to her eyes. ‘I ran this farm like clockwork for years, as well as bringing up you kids, so how dare you say that. And what else am I supposed to do, tell me that, Thomas.’
