Chapter Thirty-Three
Ava tilted her head back attempting to see from under the sombrero Pauline had insisted she should wear.
‘I knew after Gino’s beret on the French night that these evenings would turn into something vaguely stereotypical.
I’ve tried to keep it stylish by offering fashions inspired by the country in the charity shop, but this is what we have come to.
’ Ava shook her head at Mary’s poncho and maracas.
‘But look around the room, everyone seems happy. Well, it’s hard to tell with that table.’
Both Ava and Mary looked at the table of six, dressed in homage to the Day of the Dead.
‘But everybody else looks happy. And the food is, without doubt, a triumph.’ Mary took a bite of her cauliflower taco with chipotle romesco. ‘Gino has really gone all out on the vegan menu. He’s amazing.’
Ava looked at her, a wry smile on her face, before mimicking Mary’s enthusiastic tone. ‘Amazing.’
‘An amazing landlord, that’s all I meant. He’s an amazing landlord to think of every customer.’
Ava looked around the room. ‘Yes, I’m sure he was thinking of every customer.’ She took a mouthful of her ground beef taco and waited for Mary to survey the surrounding tables. ‘You realise you are the only vegan here, don’t you?’
‘You don’t have to be vegan to order a vegan dish.’
‘No, you don’t.’ Ava was getting frustrated with keeping Gino’s secret, especially as she felt sure Mary had feelings for him too.
With her own love life in tatters, she really wanted to see her friends happy and wished she hadn’t promised not to tell Mary Gino had fallen for her.
As she wondered how else she could open Mary’s eyes to the lovely man who was so clearly smitten with her, Ava spotted Flo coming in, wearing what Ava was sure had been a picnic blanket for sale at the charity shop, as a poncho.
Flo waved and walked towards their table.
‘Right, the pups are fed. They’ve had a little nibble of your table leg—’
‘What?’
‘Just a few teeth marks, nothing like a bit of history on your furniture. I’ve still got notches on my—’
‘Oh God, do we want to hear this?’ Mary interjected.
‘On my door frame, from when my boys were growing up, silly. Now they’re both over six foot tall. Actually, my eldest has just broken up with his girlfriend. Shall I get him to stop by the shop and—’
Ava raised her hand. ‘No! Thank you.’
As Flo settled herself at the table, Mary leaned forward and spoke. ‘Flo, you know she’s in love with the son of her mum’s lesbian lover, but can’t now do anything about it since their love affair was instrumental in causing her father’s car accident and, as it turns out, her fear of blood.’
‘Mary!’ Ava was shocked. Despite the fact she’d already shared her parents’ past with Flo, after breaking down at the charity shop, Mary’s summary of the situation seemed indiscreet, especially in The Brown Dog. ‘I’d have thought you of all people would show my parents some respect.’
‘I do. Revelations of your mum’s secret love affair with Lady B have made her go up even higher in my estimation if that’s possible.
She really was an amazing woman who followed her passions .
. . in more ways than one. And, as for your dad, it’s sad, it really is, but you know I believe in fate.
It was his time, Ava. If that hadn’t have caused his accident, then something else would. ’
‘You don’t know that’s true.’
‘And you don’t know it’s not. But think, Ava. You were in the same accident and you’re here now.’
‘That’s enough, you two. Gossip gets around this place.’ Flo looked towards Pauline, serving at the bar.
Both Mary and Ava laughed. To be told by Flo to be more discreet felt like an oxymoron. But Ava was grateful to her for staying true to her word. Flo had kept Lily and Lady Bramlington’s secret as she promised she would.
‘And all of the parties involved deserve some respect. The past is in the past, the future’s not yet written, and the here and now is for the living.’ Flo imparted the words as if sharing great wisdom.
‘I’m sure I’ve read that as a meme.’ Mary pondered.
‘The past is history, tomorrow’s a mystery and today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.’ Ava smiled.
Flo shook her head. ‘No! Not where I was going with that. I just meant you can dwell on everything or you can move forward. You deserve to be happy and those pups won’t be around to distract you forever. They’re growing up fast. The blighters were running circles around me this afternoon and—’
‘Thank you so much for spending time with them. I really do appreciate it. While I was in the shop, I managed to make huge progress on planning for the summer festival. In fact, I wanted to run an idea past you both. I know we’re not a pet rescue, but what about having a dog show — with a prize in my mum’s honour.
What do you think?’ Ava congratulated herself on the subtle subject change before Flo started talking about Henry.
‘That’s a lovely idea. I guess you’ll charge for entry.’ Mary smiled.
‘Yes, but I’ll keep it reasonable. It’s likely to be children who enter. While the festival itself will be good for the village, the money we raise ourselves will all be extra revenue for the charity. Goodness knows we need it with the move.’
‘And how’s that going?’ Flo directed her question to Mary.
Since Ava found it too distressing to speak to Henry herself, she had placed Mary in charge of all matters relating to the relocation of Critters’ Lodge.
While Mary had been reluctant at first, she welcomed the expansion opportunity as they took over the “fateful” stables as she liked to call them, and the dairy at Dapplebury House.
Lady Bramlington had deemed it fitting that All Critters Great and Small’s rescue and rehabilitation centre should be on-site and that the unused stable block should be dedicated to Lily’s memory.
‘Very well, actually. It’s an exciting new beginning for the charity. We’ll have larger premises, with easier access, but our rent will remain the same.’
‘I’m not sure that’s sensible on Henry’s part. I’m sure the estate needs the money.’ Ava thought about her conversation with Henry and his need to sell the land that had housed the Lodge.
Dismissing Ava’s concerns, Mary continued, ‘Funny how you never questioned why you had mates’ rates when you thought Lady Bramlington hated you.’
‘My mum always said it was a PR thing, good for the Bramlington image to have a charity housed on the estate and that they’d never dare put the rent up for fear of the trouble she’d cause.’
‘I guess that makes sense now. She really could have caused trouble if she’d gone to the papers. It would have been quite the scandal, especially back then,’ Flo put in.
Ava looked at Mary. ‘And you knew my mum. Her decision to stay would have been based on what was best for the charity. It was always her priority.’
‘That’s true.’
‘And what about the late Lord Bramlington? Did he know about . . . you know . . . what happened?’ Flo leaned in, her eyes flicking between Ava and Mary.
‘When I’d got over the shock, Lady Bramlington said when Mum refused to see them after Dad’s death, she told him she was racked with grief and seeing them brought back too many memories, which was kind of true.
That and guilt. She said she wondered if he knew, but if he did he never mentioned it to her.
Better to live in denial than have your fears confirmed, I guess. ’
Flo sat back. ‘Better to live knowing than die wondering, I say.’
Ava couldn’t help but feel Flo’s comment was directed at her.
Mary picked up her taco. ‘Have you been on Facebook or something today, Flo? You’re a meme a minute.’
‘Ha, when the puppies let me.’ Flo giggled before offering to get a round of drinks.
As she made her way to the bar brandishing the money Ava insisted she should take as a thank you for puppy sitting, Mary finished her mouthful and looked at Ava.
‘The move is going well. You should come and see when you’re ready. And Henry’s got all sorts of ideas for opening up the house and bringing people into the village. I think he’d like to show you. Oh and he’s got the best idea for the last night of the festival.’
‘You called him Henry.’ Ava felt a pang of jealousy at the familiarity.
‘Well, I couldn’t carry on calling him Lord Whateverington when we’re talking business and I’m seeing him most days, could I? Besides, he’s all right, you know. I think he genuinely wants to help the village and the charity.’
Ava knew Henry’s intentions were genuine.
He was a good person. A person who she still very much had feelings for.
But how could she disrespect her parents’ wishes and follow her heart, knowing what she knew now?
Her dad had died driving her away from the estate.
And her mum had told her many times to stay away from the grounds and the Bramlingtons.
If only she’d listened, her life would be less complicated.
Whenever she let herself think about the prospect of being with Henry she remembered the accident.
Previously buried in her subconscious, it now haunted her.
‘Gino said he’ll be over once the rush dies down and sent these.’ Flo took her seat, put the three drinks down on the table and sipped hers. ‘Ooo that’s good!’
‘What are they?’ Ava looked at the pink blush liquid, complete with ice and a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
‘Pamela I think he said. Three parts grapefruit soda and one part tequila. Funny name for a drink, but ever so refreshing.’
Ava took a sip. ‘Blimey, that is good.’
When the mariachi band began to play, she jumped. Goodness knows where Gino had found them, but they were very good, encouraging people to join in and even have a dance. While Mary proved to have a natural ability for it, Ava found, despite her best efforts, her own dancing was less impressive.