Chapter Twenty-Seven
Having left Dermot’s office with every bit of his anger turned to curious amusement, Henry had driven to the charity shop in search of Ava.
Finding it in darkness, he had gone to The Brown Dog, but having won a small battle amongst the villagers, he didn’t want to reopen the debate about the future of the estate.
He’d stood outside for a while, and heard the throng of voices within — his reality a metaphor for how he had always felt in the village.
At least growing up, he’d shared the feeling of being on the outside with Ava.
Going home had felt empty, but sitting down with his mother to inform her of his intentions before somebody else did, had felt good.
Of course, she had argued, and even attempted emotional blackmail as she told him how disappointed his father would be.
But the awareness that she didn’t know the mess the estate was in made him push the accusations aside.
He knew she was still grieving, and that change was always going to be difficult.
But this was him running the estate. Doing it his way was the only way he could achieve that.
Having woken early, he’d gone for a run in the grounds of Dapplebury House.
Disappointment at not seeing Ava and Myrtle was, he knew, ridiculous; the dog would be on limited exercise, and Ava had an injured ankle.
But no amount of running was going to remove her from his mind, and so he found himself standing in the porch of Critters’ Cottage, hoping she would be home.
He pushed his hand through his hair and then round his chin, wondering if he should have returned home, shaved and freshened up before seeking Ava out.
He shook the thought from his mind. The fact was, there wasn’t anybody else he wanted to see, and nowhere else he wanted to be.
As he rang the bell, Myrtle barked. Henry listened for movement inside, hoping Ava would be home. He knew she could be determined and stubborn. She’s probably gone to the shop, despite her injury.
‘Ouch! Oh, bugger.’
Hearing Ava’s voice from inside, Henry felt a rush of relief that quickly turned to guilt at making her walk to the door — she continued to grouse.
When at last she opened it, she was wearing a towel, her hair in a messy bun with water droplets covering the top of her breasts and shoulders.
Henry swallowed. He could smell her fresh, clean scent and wished he had taken a shower before turning up on her doorstep.
‘Henry, now is not a good time.’ Ava tucked herself behind the door and fixed him with a glare. ‘We clearly have a lot to talk about but—’
‘Yes, we do.’ He could see Ava was reluctant, but now he was in her presence he couldn’t help but lead with the thing utmost in his mind. ‘A hose? You used a hose on Dermot Dixon and his men?’
Ava’s cheeks coloured a little, but she cocked her eyebrow in a show of effrontery. ‘They had no right to be on the land, and you had no right to send them!’ She flicked a loose, unruly curl back from her face.
‘Woah!’ Henry held up his hands. ‘I didn’t send them.
Honestly, I didn’t. And considering the array of weapons you have access to at the lodge, I think they were lucky to get away with being hosed.
’ Henry laughed. ‘But, what I don’t understand is why you leapt out of the window, and then let me, and the rest of the village, think the worst.’ He raised his eyebrow, goading her to respond.
The look on Ava’s face told him, he had her.
Hosing Dermot Dixon and his men from the land All Critters Great and Small rented was one thing, brazenly lying, albeit by omitting to tell the truth, was another.
Henry watched as the flush of her cheeks burned brighter and spread to her neck.
She must have felt it, as her hand moved to her throat, drawing his eyes to the smooth skin of her neck.
‘I leapt out of the window because . . . because . . .’ She hesitated.
‘It’s really none of your business. The fact is, you were planning to sell without even mentioning it to me, and you know losing that land would have a devastating effect on the charity — oh, bugger!
’ Ava winced in pain as her impassioned speech led her to stand tall, her injured ankle bearing the brunt of the action.
Henry felt guilty. ‘Seriously, they took it upon themselves to go to the lodge.’
‘So you didn’t send them? You’re not selling?’
‘That’s not what—’
‘So you are going to sell the land out from under us?’ Ava looked at him, confusion in her expression.
‘It’s not like that.’
Ava readied herself to speak, but a yelp from the kitchen drew her attention. Without hesitation, she left the door and limped as quickly as she could towards the sound.
Concerned, Henry followed.
Myrtle was in her whelping box, panting, her head low, circling before laying down.
‘It’s started.’ Henry had seen many bitches in labour, and there was no doubt Myrtle was ready. Her breathing was rapid; agitation was evident in her every move.
‘I need to phone Mary.’ Ava searched for her phone, but as she found it, her concerned expression turned to panic. ‘No wait, she’s on a call.’ Her gaze darting from the phone to Myrtle to Henry, she continued, ‘What shall I do? She looks so uncomfortable.’
‘Myrtle’s going to be fine. You just need to comfort her, tell her she’s going to be OK. She needs you. This is her first time, so she’s going to be distressed, but you’ll see, with each pup she’ll gain confidence.’ Henry kept his voice low and even.
He held Ava’s gaze, encouraging her to match his steady breathing.
He offered her a small smile. And tried not to think about the fact Ava Flynn was barely a foot away, in a towel.
Her complexion looked paler than usual, her concern for Myrtle evident in her eyes; he had to resist every instinct to pull her into his arms. Like she’d let you.
Focus on the dog; that’s what she needs.
Seeing she was regaining her composure, Henry broadened his smile. ‘Which end do you want to be?’
‘What?’
‘The reassuring, stroking her head, offering calm support end, or the watch the delivery end?’
‘Definitely the reassuring end.’ Seemingly remembering she was still in a towel, Ava hesitated and folded her arms over her chest. ‘But I’m—’
‘You’ve got time to get dressed. It could be hours before the first pup puts in an appearance.’
‘Right. Yes, and Mary might make it by then.’
Henry hoped not. While Ava could be feisty, what Henry had seen and heard of Mary had convinced him she was volatile, and he really wanted to speak to Ava alone, about the future.
After checking on Myrtle, Ava hurried upstairs. Henry shook his head, unable to believe he had just sent her to cover herself up when she’d been looking so perfect in that towel. Deciding to distract himself, he tipped away her cold tea and made them each a fresh one.
When Ava reappeared in the door, her hair was loose; she was wearing jeans and an All Critters Great and Small sweatshirt that made Henry think she’d selected it on purpose to make a point.
‘I hope you don’t mind. I made us tea.’ He wasn’t going to be drawn into talking any further about Critters’ Lodge.
Not now. If talks didn’t go well, she would ask him to leave, and he didn’t want that, not when she needed him.
Who are you kidding? The fact he felt more like himself just by being near her, made him pretty sure he was the one in greater need.
As she went to check on the dog, Ava’s eyes flicked to the mugs of tea on the side. ‘No pot.’
‘Sorry, was I supposed to . . .’
Ava crouched near Myrtle. ‘I didn’t mean to say it out loud.’
Her attention remained entirely on Myrtle, but her cheeks had coloured and Henry was sure she was avoiding making eye contact with him. Was the pot such a big deal?
Seeing the paraphernalia on the kitchen table, he decided to change the subject. ‘You’ve certainly got everything you could possibly need.’ He held up a pair of forceps contained in their sterile packaging and a bulb aspirator.
‘It’s from the list the vet gave me. I wanted to be prepared — forewarned is forearmed and all that.’ She stroked Myrtle’s head as the unsettled dog continued to pant. ‘Mary was able to supply some of it from Critters’ Lodge.’
Being Myrtle’s first litter, Henry knew they could be in for a long day, and as much as he didn’t want to get into a discussion about the land sale right now, it was clear something needed to be said.
He wanted Ava to remember the birth of these puppies fondly.
The atmosphere of unaddressed animosity wasn’t going to allow that to happen.
He leaned against the kitchen side. ‘Look, I know we have lots to talk about. And I have a whole lot of explaining to do. But Ava . . .’ He waited for her to look at him. ‘Do you remember I asked you to have faith in me, to remember, no matter what, that you know me.’
She nodded.
‘Well, I promise you won’t lose Critters’ Lodge. The charity will be safe.’
Oh, God! The look of relief and the smile she gave him, twisted his insides. He knew she thought he meant the land was safe. Before he could say more, she was standing and closing the distance between them.
‘Thank you!’ She pulled him into a hug before kissing his cheek and stepping back.
He tried not to let the feel of her skin and the scent of her hair mess with his faculties.
‘Sorry, I . . . it’s just a relief.’
Henry saw the colour spread across her cheeks.
‘And we’ll pay more rent, fundraise more. I always knew we’d have to once—’
Myrtle yelped, drawing their attention back to her. Saved by the dog! Explaining his plans more fully was for another time.
Ava was back by Myrtle’s side instantly. ‘Is she OK? Shouldn’t she see the vet or something?’
Henry looked at Myrtle. ‘I’d say she doesn’t have long. There’s no need to move her. We just need to let nature take its course.’
Ava nodded, concern evident in her eyes, and Henry admired how, despite her apparent nerves and concern for the dog, she was determined to remain calm and to be the comfort Myrtle needed.
Ava knelt in front of the whelping box, pulled back her hair and tied it into a messy bun.
Her words were calm and steady, but Henry could see the slight quiver of her hands as she stroked Myrtle’s head.
The dog panted rapidly and lay down — the intensity of her contractions visible on her flank.
While her chocolate brown eyes stayed wide, she hung her head low.
Knowing the first pup was imminent, Henry knelt next to Ava.
He could feel the warmth of her proximity and heard how her breathing matched Myrtle’s, quick at first, and then silence as she willed and urged the first puppy to come out.
‘It will be OK.’ He said the words as if to Myrtle, meaning them for Ava.
Ava exhaled as Myrtle began to pant again. ‘Henry, what if there’s . . . Will there be much—’
‘Blood?’ he finished.
‘I didn’t know if you’d remember.’
‘How could I forget? I cut my hand and you were the one getting all the attention for passing out.’ He spoke in a hushed tone.
Ava grimaced, responding with a whispered, ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. I held you while shouting for Ted, willing the colour to come back in your cheeks. In those few moments . . . I knew . . .’
‘What? What did you know?’
‘Holding a scythe by the blade was a bloody stupid idea.’
Ava let out a giggle and stopped herself as Myrtle let out an alarmed yelp.
‘She’s OK. The first pup is coming, look.’
Ava’s eyes remained fixed firmly on Myrtle. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, it’s OK. It’s safe to look.’ Henry pointed at the puppy as it emerged enwrapped in its sack, confident that Ava would be fine. The only evident blood was different from the rich red blood that had caused her problems in the past.
Ava slowly turned her head. ‘Oh my goodness, you clever girl,’ she whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the sight.
While time seemed to stand still, they watched and waited.
‘Should we do something? Shouldn’t it be breathing by now?’
‘She knows what to do, give her a chance.’ Henry spoke in a low, hushed tone.
Myrtle turned, licking the small pup, in an attempt to remove it from its sack.
Henry and Ava watched intently, waiting to let nature take its course.
When at last the sack was clear, the pup — with closed eyes, tiny paws, and a disproportionately big, pink muzzle — breathed and made a small squeaking noise.
Both Ava and Henry let out a breath in relief and smiled.
‘It’s perfect.’
Henry watched Ava, silently; her expression was a mix of wonderment and pride. He could see tears welling in her eyes.
‘Look, it’s moving.’
As she spoke, Ava took Henry’s hand in hers to draw his attention back to the moment. He swallowed, welcoming her touch and the opportunity to share this perfect moment.
Together, they watched as the small pup began to crawl towards its first feed, the behaviour as instinctive and natural as it felt to Henry to have Ava by his side, their hands touching.