‘It’s all recyclable, and the jars can be used again or returned to us. I was thinking, seeing how you came here alone and want the park to get back onto its feet, maybe we could work together. I could help the animals more, and you could make a profit too.’
April didn’t need to think about it. She wanted to do things like this, be part of something. Despite her clashes of late, she needed to be here.
‘I think we have a deal, but think about opening up too, okay?’
Judith thought for a moment, and then held out her hand. ‘I’ll think about it, truly. Deal.’
April shook her hands, and the pair giggled.
‘You’re wrong too, you know. About this place.’
April doubted it. ‘Why?’
‘It might seem like a place full of lost souls, from the outside looking in. Hell, I devoted my life and my bank account to saving those souls out there, but that’s not what this place is about. Not really. People come here over the years for more than holidays. They come to escape, or to start again.’
April thought of her mother, and for a second she was right there on that full back seat, looking around in wonder as her mum drove, crying silently half the way. The first half, from panic probably. I don’t know why I never recalled that detail before now. Reliving it made April proud of her, hit by the wave of loss once more.
‘It works too, sometimes.’ Judith winked at April, the levity of the moment lifted by that simple gesture. ‘I’ve seen it. This place feels like the end of the earth sometimes, I know that, but really, it’s home for lost souls like us. We’re all a little quirky in our own ways.’ She looked back at the photos on the wall, faces of people obviously much loved. ‘We just need to find our tribe in life, and humans are generally good at that. It just takes a nudge now and again.’
Her eyes were focused on one photo in particular, and April turned her head to look properly at it. It was Henry. She recognised the long face now. He was handsome though, his face smiling at the camera as he sat astride a large white horse. Maybe Henry is the one needing the nudge.
‘Does Henry do lessons? I always wanted to horse ride. I used to dabble a bit.’
Weekends with Duncan were often a case of Duncan off working or golfing, while the wives and girlfriends indulged in spa days, riding days, or shopping trips. She would have much preferred his activities. The archery, the golfing even; she’d never been bothered about material things like the others were. That wasn’t April. Sentimentality over designer labels. Funny how she could see now just how different she and Duncan were. It was so much clearer when the love goggles were off. Rose-tinted glasses did tend to blur out the glaring details till the very end.
‘He does! He only does it part-time though, you know. He used to work much more but he helps me more now. I do owe him a lot.’
April looked at Judith, lost in a happy thought about Henry. Her face lit up when she spoke about him, and April couldn’t resist.
‘Well, if you could let him know I would love to be a new customer, maybe you could take me to meet him sometime?’
Judith blushed, lifting a jar of jam off the basket and offering it to April.
‘Here you are, a prototype for the shop. See what your customers think.’ April took it, and Judith clapped her hands together. ‘Oooo I forgot! Why is your website not open?’
April groaned. ‘I don’t have a computer and my phone is … out of credit.’
Judith ran off suddenly to another room, a bark or two coming from behind the door as she disappeared out of sight. In her hands was a battered-looking laptop.
‘It’s not great, but I just upgraded. I needed better design software for the labels. You can take it; it’s been wiped. Good as new really.’ She gripped the edge of her sleeve and vigorously rubbed at a small black mark. ‘The local pages online have been asking about when bookings will be open.’
‘Really?’ April gasped.
‘Yes, well only a few, but that’s how it starts! You should get it back up and running if you can.’
‘Thank you, Judith, I … don’t know what to say really.’ She’d been threatened with a run, and then shown this lovely place, held together by this amazing woman. A woman strong and alone. Just like her. She couldn’t help thinking that there might be something to the lost souls thing, but then she thought of Cillian again. His angry, closed-off demeanour. He flip-flopped between moods faster than even her hormones could keep up with.
‘Nothing to say really, apart from bottoms up. Here.’ Judith passed her another newspaper, matching the one in the basket. ‘Give it to Martha, will you? She’s waiting for it.’
‘Is she now? Well, I had better get back then. She’s not one to cross.’
Judith laughed. ‘She’s not so bad. You’ll see.’
April was halfway to the gate when Judith called after her again. ‘Do you really think that people would come, if I opened up the farm?’
April turned, her arms full of homemade Cornish love and care, and looked at her accidental new friend, surrounded by animals like a gloriously eccentric Miss Dolittle.
‘I do, it’s wonderful here. We could offer a discount or something, link the two businesses a bit. Help each other out.’
Judith beamed at her. ‘Yes, that would be nice. If you ever want any chickens, you let me know!’
April laughed, heading to the gate and home.
You
I can’t tell you where I am right now, but I know where I would wish to be. I was thinking about the last time we were together, on the beach. You snuck out to see me, and I knew I
