Chapter Fifteen
As she finished the last of her “chorizo spaghetti carbonara”, Ava looked around the bar and dining area feeling a sense of achievement as she recognised outfits from the charity shop.
While many opted to wear green, white and red, it was clear some had embraced the spirit of the evening and the look she had hoped to achieve — going for elegant and stylish outfits, along with the matching accessories she had promoted.
She watched several vouchers for free desserts being exchanged and hoped Gino had done what he’d said and accounted for the discount in his pricing.
Her takings were up in the lead-up to the Italian night; she didn’t want him to be out of pocket.
‘I’m stuffed!’ Mary put down her cutlery and sat back in her seat. ‘I never should have gone for the mushroom lasagne after the broad bean and feta arancini!’
‘Did you enjoy your meals?’ Gino approached their table by the fire, with a smile.
‘It was de-lish, but I’m not sure I’ve got room for pud.’ Mary patted her stomach.
‘Really? There’s a vegan, blueberry and coconut panna cotta. I thought you would—’
‘It sounds great but, honestly, if I eat another thing I’ll burst.’
‘I’d take it as a compliment because nothing normally stops her from having dessert.’ Ava smiled.
‘She’s right! I don’t know what you’ve done to me with your Italian comfort food, but I feel ready for my PJs. My usual vices have been replaced with a longing to curl up in bed with a good book!’
Ava let out a giggle. ‘So much for partying the night away with someone from the single and ready to mingle table.’
‘I know, who knew carbs would be my only Valentine’s date?’ Mary laughed. ‘I’m going to waddle home.’
‘I can walk you ladies home when I’m done here,’ Gino offered.
‘No. Honestly, I’m going to head off in a mo. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.’ Mary picked up her bag. ‘But Ava, you should stay. Gino can walk you home.’
‘No, I’ll come with you.’
‘You will not. Look at this place. It’s buzzing, and you two should enjoy the rest of the evening.
It’s a success. You’ve made it a success.
Full stomachs, happy people, even Flo has pulled’ — Mary pointed to a very jovial Flo, animatedly chatting to Ted on the singles table — ‘and I hope plenty of money in the till for you both. It’s been wonderful. ’
‘And not a stripy T-shirt or pizza in sight.’ Gino beamed proudly.
Mary stood and kissed Gino’s cheek. ‘Honestly, I never thought there would be — you’re too passionate for that.’
Gino blushed, rendered momentarily speechless by the compliment.
‘But teasing you is too easy and’ — Mary picked up her drink and drained the last of her wine — ‘too much fun!’ She leaned down to hug Ava.
‘Well done, everyone looks amazing!’ She kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, ‘Let Gino walk you home. You two look so happy, and it’s Valentine’s night. ’
Ava felt the heat rise in her cheeks and hoped the music and general hubbub meant Gino hadn’t heard.
As she watched Mary leave, Ava realised she felt happy.
The joy in the room was infectious. She knew the uncertainty in the village meant there could be a tough time ahead, but Mary and Gino had been right; a night out was much needed, and it was good to see so many happy people enjoying themselves.
The locals had come out to support the event, and that meant a lot.
‘Around the World in Eight Gourmets is off to a promising start.’ Ava smiled at Gino. ‘Congratulazioni! Oh, blimey, sorry. Is that lowering the tone?’
‘No, why would it? It’s congratulations in Italian.’
‘Really? I literally swapped the end of the word for zioni and hoped for the best!’
Gino rolled his eyes. ‘And there I thought you’d learned some Italian.’
‘I had. And if you don’t mind, I’ll definitely have some dessertzioni.’
Gino looked at Ava, mock indignation on his face. ‘Really? You’re doing that?’
Ava went to speak again but giggled. ‘No! Even I can’t keep that up. Sorry. But I would like to try the panna cotta though, please?’ She smiled. ‘But I’m paying. I already had this outfit.’
‘You will not!’ Gino insisted. ‘Pud’s on the ’ouse,’ he added in an attempt at a Cockney accent, as he walked away.
‘Pah!’ Ava chuckled. ‘Phil Mitchell meets Gino D’Acampo!’
* * *
As Gino turned out the lights and locked the pub door, the church clock was striking midnight.
Being an hour after the last of the revellers left The Brown Dog, the village streets had fallen silent.
The air was cold, but Ava was still feeling the warmth of the pub, as well as the warm glow of success from how well the evening had gone.
That, and the alcohol she had consumed, was making her cheeks feel positively rosy.
She and Gino walked companionably along the street, the only noise coming from their shoes against the cobbles.
The clouds from earlier had cleared revealing a velvet sky, speckled with countless stars.
Her eyes having adjusted to being outside, Ava looked up and smiled.
‘There are so many stars tonight. Look, they’re actually twinkling. ’
‘Did you know . . .’ Gino paused, looking directly at her.
Ava stopped and looked into his darkened eyes, readying herself for a beautiful Italian phrase about the night sky that, given her current giddy state, might just melt her insides.
‘. . . they’re not actually twinkling?’
‘What?’ That was not what she had expected to hear.
‘We think they’re twinkling but that movement you see, it’s caused by turbulence in the atmosphere — the light from the stars is refracted in different directions — making us think they’re twinkling.’
‘Blimey, has a less romantic sentence ever been spoken by an Italian?’ Ava scoffed, folding her arms as she continued to walk towards Critters’ Cottage.
‘Sorry!’ Gino fell into step alongside her. ‘I’ve always had a fascination with astronomy. Some boys liked football or playing on the PlayStation — I liked looking at the stars.’
Ava paused for a moment, looking at Gino. ‘How did I not know that?’
‘You didn’t ask, and, mentioning it seemed a bit . . . What’s that word?’
‘Nerdy?’ Ava asked with a smile as she continued walking.
‘Yes, nerdy. I have told you I’m more of a late-night than early morning person, though.’
‘Yes, you have,’ Ava conceded, not admitting she had assumed he was referring to an overactive nightlife of a different sort.
She thought about the times they’d spent talking.
Despite the fact they’d spent long hours chatting, Ava realised she had rarely asked him about his life, passions and ambitions.
He had been a good friend to her as she had come to terms with her mum’s illness and death, but she wondered how much of a good friend she’d been to him.
‘Gino.’
‘Yes?’
‘I wasn’t really upset about the star thing .
. . I mean, you’ve shattered my illusions.
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” will never be the same again, but I don’t mind,’ she teased, directing Gino towards the shortcut that led through the grounds of Dapplebury House.
‘And I’m sorry I didn’t know that about you .
. . You can tell me more . . . about the stars and stuff, if you like.
’ Ava unfolded her arms, her hand accidentally brushing Gino’s as she let it swing by her side.
‘Ha, OK! The stars and stuff.’ Gino laughed. ‘How much did you drink tonight?’
‘Hmm, more than a bit but less than a lot,’ Ava confirmed, sure that the light feeling she could feel in her head was due to the success of the night.
‘So you want to talk about the waxing gibbous moon?’ Gino spoke with an amused tone as he pointed at the moon that was less than a full circle but larger than a semicircle.
‘The waxing what?’
‘You must have done the phases of the moon at school! The waxing gibbous moon.’
Ava shook her head. ‘Honestly, I don’t remember ever hearing that before.’
‘It’s the phase between the first quarter and the full moon.’
Ava paused looking at the moon, seeing the mix of light and shadows, and biting her lip to stop herself pointing out that she often imagined seeing a face looking back, even as an adult.
‘To me, the night sky has always been a thing of wonder. We are lucky living here, with so much countryside surrounding us. There’s hardly any light pollution.
When I take Myrtle out on a cloudless night, I’m treated to an astronomical show—’
Gino opened his mouth as if to speak, but Ava continued.
‘—but I make up my own constellations, and when I see a shooting star, I make a wish. I am a romantic at heart.’
‘Have your wishes ever come true?’
Ava looked through the darkness in the direction of the lake. ‘Hmm. Up until recently I would have said no, but now . . . Well it feels more like a work in progress.’
‘So, you have something in common with the waxing gibbous moon, even though you didn’t know it.’
‘I do?’
‘Yes, it’s the phase when the moon is almost at its full potential, it is not there yet, but it works towards it . . . and then perfezione!’
Ava giggled. ‘Perfezione? Really, did you make that up?’
‘No. It’s true. It’s all true. The waxing moon is thought to symbolise femininity — intuition, creativity and wisdom.’ Gino smiled. ‘So you see, you must seize your moment, Ava Flynn. Now is a good time to make your wishes come true.’
‘Really?’ Ava asked.
Gino stopped walking and gently held Ava’s arm.
She turned to face him, taking in the sight of him. The light from the moon was causing a slight glint in his sincere eyes.
‘Tonight was a success, wasn’t it? I will do the numbers, but it looked like a success to me, and it was your idea and your creativity that made it work. Now is your time, don’t you feel it? We are on the cuff of something new.’
‘Cusp.’ Ava laughed. ‘We are on the cusp of something new.’
‘Cuff, cusp, whatever, you need to seize your moment.’
Seize your moment. The cold night air had begun to nip at her nose and cheeks.
Despite the bright moon, the adjacent woods were shrouded in darkness.
All was silent but for the occasional rustle in the undergrowth, and the distant hoot from an owl.
Ava thought about the last time she had been in the grounds of Dapplebury House, seeing Henry again, his words, and the fact she hadn’t been able to get him out of her thoughts since.
She’d no idea if Gino was humouring her or not, but she welcomed his words and their confidence-boosting gesture. She looked into his eyes.
‘Gino, you’re a sweetie, and I am absobloominlutely going to appreciate you more.’ With that she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. As she opened her eyes, she spotted movement in the night sky. ‘Look, quick a shooting star! Make a wish—’
‘But it’s a—’
‘Make a wish, please. Just think about the thing you want most.’
Gino looked to the sky, closed his eyes and then looked down at Ava. ‘There, I did it.’
‘And? What did you wish for?’ Ava looked at him, excitement in her eyes.
‘I’m pretty sure that’s not how wishes work.’
‘But that’s exactly how friends work.’ She laughed, taking his arm in hers as they continued to walk towards Critters’ Cottage.