‘In Teo’s room. He stayed at Jude’s last night. He will have a shock when he gets back.’
Rita ran her hands through her hair. ‘Oh yes. It’s all coming back now. Seems like a lifetime ago, but Camilla gave birth… I had no one to call… except Jago.’
‘Oh. But all OK?’
‘Yes, two beautiful baby boys.’
‘Oh, the irony.’ Hilda paused at the door. Her mouth twitching. ‘No good will come of any of us mixing with a Jenken, though. You hear me.’
And then she was gone.
Rita tied her hair up in a scruffy bun and, despite the warmth of the August morning, she pulled on her wellies and slung a bucket of feed over one arm.
Mary, Elizabeth, and Anne bleated like mad the moment they saw her, crowding the gate as if demanding an update on Camilla.
‘All right, all right!’ Rita laughed. ‘Honestly, you’d think I never fed you.’
Once all the aunties were fed, Rita jumped in the pen andwent over to the shed where all the drama had happened last night. The smaller kid, who was white and brown, looking drunk on his spindly legs, was suckling, tail wagging like a wind-up toy. Rita crouched down to check him. ‘Look at you, you greedy little mister.’ The other white one, the spit of his mother, was lying next to her, with bright eyes and what looked like a full little belly. Camilla stood calmly, one back leg slightly cocked, eyes half closed. Her sides rose and fell steadily and every so often, she turned her head and gave the nursing kid a gentle nudge with her nose, as if to say,You’re doing just fine, little one.
Rita rested her chin on the top rail of the pen, watching them for a long moment. ‘I need to name you, don’t I?’ She thought of the royal theme they’d used before, but somehow it didn’t seem right for these two. Like it was the end of an era now. Hers and Archie’s era. How he would have loved these little babies. These little twins.
Satisfied everyone was fed and accounted for, she made her way to the chicken coop. A wave of soft clucking and the faint smell of straw met her as she opened the door. The hens were already scratching about, fat and happy, kicking up wood shavings and bossing each other about like they always did.
‘Morning, ladies. I trust you’re all ruling the roost?’ She collected the eggs, still warm in her palm, and whispered a small thank you like she always did. Then, leaving the bag of feed at the fence, maybe out of habit or maybe instinct, she wandered up the path towards the Singing Tree.
When she reached the bench, she ran her fingers over the carving, lovingly etched by Stan, then sat down. ‘May You Always Hear the Sea, Archie Jory,’ Rita spoke aloud, then sighed deeply. ‘I don’t hate you,’ she whispered, to no one and everyone. ‘But bloody hell, Arch. You could’ve just told me.’
She looked out over the ocean, where the early morning light kissed the waves in their soft gold and turquoise shimmer. The horizon stretched wide and endless, a vast, calming expanse thatsomehow made her troubles feel both small and immense all at once.
It felt strange not having guests in the yurts. Like a canvas ghost town.
She had to admit that she had really enjoyed her time with a bunch of strangers. They had become friends of a sort. But exactly as Paul had said, life really was just a series of events that had a beginning and an end and in the middle, a few good bits. Realistically, she probably would never see any of them again, but in the now, it had been great, despite a few expected teething problems.
Paul had also opened her eyes, not just to new possibilities, but to herself. The way the musician had touched her, the slow, sure way he’d kissed her, like she was the only thing that mattered, had shaken something free inside her. It wasn’t just desire. It was a quiet, steady knowing that maybe she could still feel alive again.
And then there was Jago. He made her feel alive, too, in a unique way. Like an unpredictable spark. When he was near, her heart raced, but so did the knot of questions she tried to ignore. The way he looked at her, like he was trying to steal her soul. The gentleness with which he had delivered Camilla’s kids. The silent way he had helped her get the resort up and running without wanting anything in return. There was no question about it. She had to see him. Had to ask him what was going on. Because last night, when the conversation turned to Archie’s brother, he had literally run away. That scared her. Scared her so much. But she had to know. Had to know why he pulled away when things got real, and why, despite it all, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, as much as he said he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Was it just the magnetic pull of lust or was it more than that? She was just reliving the kiss of last night when her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of Archie’s old Land Rover pulling up.
As she peered down Yurt Avenue, she saw Teo carefully getting out, two coffees in paper cups in hand and a carrier bag hung around his neck. He saw her and lifted a cup in greeting.
She sat back down as he climbed the hill. When he reached thebench, he didn’t say a word, just handed her a coffee and sat beside her, pulling a cinnamon bun from the bag slung across his chest and giving it to her. A soft breeze stirred the branches overhead as Rita took a bite. She was exhausted, running on barely any sleep, and suddenly ravenous after the night she’d had.
‘I thought I might never be brave enough.’ His voice was barely above a whisper. ‘So, it’s a good job that Mamá is here.’ Rita waited. ‘I always wanted to know my father. But now I know he knew about me, and still didn’t…’ He broke off, teeth gritted. ‘I don’t know whether to be angry or just… sad now that I will never get to meet him.’
‘I think both are allowed.’ Rita squeezed the lad’s knee.
‘I keep wondering what I did wrong. If I hadn’t been someone worthy of his time.’ Teo sighed.
Rita turned to him sharply. ‘Hey. No. Don’t go there. This wasn’t about you not being good enough. Archie didn’t find out until you contacted him. And your mum told me you were going to meet him. Plus, he had us lot here to manage with the news. Which, granted, he did very badly.’
Teo blinked quickly.
‘I loved him, you know.’ Rita sighed and took a sip of her coffee. ‘Still do, even now. And I hate him a bit, too, for keeping this from me. But I also know… he was a man with a big heart, and he thought he was protecting everyone.’
Rita reached over and laid her hand on his. ‘You’re not alone in this.’ Her voice wavered. ‘Whatever else he got wrong, he gave me you. And I’m not letting you go, Teo.’
His eyes filled, but he smiled through it. ‘I don’t know what my fiery Mamá would say about that.’ They both laughed.
‘Let me look at you.’ She tilted his face towards her.
