She read, tracing her finger across her mum’s handwritten words:“I’m sorry I’m not in more of your pictures as you were growing up. I was behind the camera. All of those beautiful smiles, you were giving them to me”.
Ava wiped her eyes before reading on.
“I love you, my beautiful, red-haired, strong-willed girl. Forgive the choices I made, and always remember that you were my special gift and my greatest accomplishment. Perhaps life would have been easier if we were less alike, but being feisty you get from me, and I wouldn’t want you to be any other way. Never give up on your dreams and remember you are my girl, Ava Flynn. Xx”.
There was so much to take in. Ava had looked at the photographs of herself growing up. She had seen the album many times before; as a teenager, she had considered the pictures of her childhood-self alone at the park, the beach, and at home, as evidence to her coming second best to her mum’s cause. She had bucked against her, causing arguments where none were needed and in hindsight erroneously considering herself a greater victim than the animals her mum rescued. And while she realised a long time ago that she had been selfish in her thoughts and actions, it was only after reading her mum’s words as she sat by the fire the night before, that she had seen the bigger picture.
Ava knew that since her dad died when she was two, her mum had raised her as a single parent, bringing up a strong-willed girl alone, while never giving up on fighting her own causes. She wished she could tell her she knew that now. Andthat she appreciated all she had done for her. While they’d established a good relationship as Ava had got older, she never truly thanked her mum for all that she had done. And now, it was too late.
Anger welling inside — at herself for the wasted years, and at the loss of her mum — Ava began to run. Feeling a surge of frustration she wanted to release, she screamed. The piercing, primal sound echoed through the silent woods, causing birds to flee from the treetops. Myrtle looked at her, her eyes wide, stunned by the unexpected noise. The confused spaniel followed in excited pursuit.
Ava felt the cold air burning in her lungs as her rapid breaths became increasingly loud and ragged. Her legs, uncooperative and heavy just an hour before, now carried her on swiftly through the dew-covered grass. The trees went by in a blur, as her heartbeat thudded through her body. Myrtle ran by her side, her head flicking between looking ahead and turning towards Ava. Fixing her eyes on the lake in the distance, Ava pushed on.
The sensation was freeing. She was running too fast for rational thought. Too fast to think about all that she would like to say to her mum; too fast to think about the weight of burden she felt at keeping All Critters Great and Small afloat; too fast to think about the never-ending mountain of donations at the shop, and —Oh God! — too fast to do anything to avoid the man stepping out from the line of trees just feet ahead of her. With the deft agility that came from being half a metre from the ground, and in possession of four paws, Myrtle darted out of the way, while Ava braced herself for impact. Seeing the alarm in the man’s green eyes as if she were registering the situation in slow motion, Ava slammed into him, knocking him to the ground as the breath left them both.
Shocked at the abrupt stop as much as the fall, cushioned only by the fact she had landed on top of the man, it took Avaa moment to regain her faculties. Embarrassment taking over, she cursed and began scrabbling up from the horribly awkward situation. Myrtle ran around the unexpected scene in a frenzy of excitement, as Ava and the man disentangled their bodies.
Ava stood, attempting to gather herself together. ‘Are you crazy? What are you thinking just stepping out like that?’ she blustered.
Slowly getting to his feet, the man laughed, the unexpected response doing nothing to ease Ava’s anger.
‘Seriously?’ Her nostrils flared. She felt the beads of sweat on her temples prickle.
‘I’m sorry—’ The man, still doubled over with his hands on his hips, sounded winded. ‘I heard a scream . . . and came to see if everything was all right. I had no idea you were about to come . . . like a banshee, hurtling along from nowhere, on what is . . .’
‘Private property, I know,’ Ava retorted, flailing her arms in the direction of the woods.
She inhaled in readiness to continue, but as the man stood to his full height, flicking his fringe from his eyes, and offering the hint of a smile, no words came. Instead, Ava stood transfixed — recognition slowly dawning upon her.
Too much of the man’s face was covered by his beard, but she was sure it was him. ‘Henry?’ His name slipped out as a question. It had been so long since she had seen him.
‘Ava.’ Henry smiled, his green eyes — the colour of the ferns on the forest floor they used to play on — meeting her gaze and causing her breath to hitch.
Ava heard the rush of blood in her ears and felt her pulse thudding throughout her body, a stark contrast to the quiet woods and the calm manner of the man standing before her.
While he didn't seem surprised by her presence, she was trying to assimilate the Henry she had explored the woods with in their youth, with the man in front of her.
‘I can’t believe it’s . . . you’re back, and I’m’ — Ava put her hands to her face, feeling the heat in her cheeks — ‘Oh God! I’ve got puffy eyes, and I was running. I’m a sweaty mess and my hair, it’s . . .’ Realising she didn't need to point out her hair was a mass of wild curls from the shower, even before she started running, Ava bit her lip.
Henry attempted but failed to stifle a giggle. ‘Perfect.’
Ava looked at him, confused.
‘Your hair. It looks perfect.’ He leaned in closer to tuck her stray curls behind her ear. ‘It always looked perfect like this.’
Ava saw the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed.
Feeling that she might melt on the spot if her cheeks burned any brighter, Ava welcomed the distraction of the dog, jumping up in an attempt to get their attention. Feigning the need to get an excited Myrtle back under control, Ava looked away — taking longer than she needed, while her mind attempted to catch up with the unexpected turn of events.
The memory of the last time she had seen Henry, by the lake at Dapplebury House, came flooding back: the pleasure of the time they had shared, the touch of his soft lips on hers, and his mother’s anger at discovering them. And now, well now he was back and all grown up, and she had not only knocked him over, but she had been lying prone against him as he lay on the damp grass.
It was all so unexpected. Over the years, knowing he had gone to boarding school and then hearing rumours that Henry had moved to Los Angeles, Ava had tucked all thoughts of Henry Bramlington to the back of her mind. Living abroad meant he was at a safe distance, and if he returned on visits Ava knew it was unlikely that he, the heir to Dapplebury House and itsestate, would be dropping things off to the local charity shop. She and Henry belonged to the past. The two of them existed in another lifetime.And yet, here he is, all grown up, and you were pressed—
Shaking her head, Ava reminded herself that attempting to regain her composure and decorum wasn’t going to be made any easier by recalling the firm mass of muscles she could feel beneath her as she had tried to disentangle herself. In the days when they had skinny-dipped together, Henry had the lean body of an adolescent boy. His muscles were defined but not developed. Whatever he had been up to in his years away from Dapplebury, the firm body she could undoubtedly feel below her suggested it involved working out.
Having got the dog back on her lead, Ava took a breath, letting it out slowly, before turning to face Henry. ‘Sorry, about . . . about before. I didn't expect to see anyone, and you took me by surprise.’ Pleased with the fact she sounded a whole lot more sensible, Ava smiled and pushed her hair back from her face.That’s better, keep it light, breezy and breathe.‘Why are you here?’
Henry laughed, a deep easy laugh that was matched by a mischievous glint in his eyes. ‘I live here.’ He grinned.
