Gino slunk back into his seat, sighed and shook his head. ‘So, you think it’s too late to change the name?’
Ava noticed the teasing glint in his eyes and threw her napkin at him. ‘What are you like?’
Gino picked the napkin up and placed it on his plate. ‘The night will be a sell-out. You’ll see. I’m a professional. Didn’t I make the English night a success?’
‘Fish and Chip Friday wasn’t exactly a hard sell or the truest representation of English cuisine.’
‘No. But it was popular. You can’t deny it.’
Ava thought about the Friday night they had spent, enjoying fish and chips in the pub while listening to classic pop songs.‘No, I can’t, but it does make me fear what you’re offering for the French night.’
‘Chef is taking the lead, offering traditional French cuisine.’
‘That’ll be nice.’
‘Besides . . . I can always offer an Italian alternative.’
‘You’re terrible.’ Ava laughed, accepting the bill from the waitress with thanks.
‘Hey, it’s my turn to pay.’ Gino reached across the table, but Ava pushed his hand away.
‘No. It’s definitely mine. Besides, next time Mary will be with us. I’m getting a good deal.’ Ava shrugged her shoulders and placed cash on the table. ‘It’s a shame she had to work today.’
‘Did she, really? I was worried she hadn’t come because you told her what we—’
‘No, really. She’s taken some abandoned kittens to a local fosterer.’
‘Kittens?’
‘Yes, you’d be surprised how often people call about domestic strays and rescues. I guess they just want someone to help the animals and they know we won’t ignore them. We do what we can, passing them on to the best place for them.’ Ava stood up and slipped her fleece on. ‘And remember, I promised I wouldn’t say about the other.’ She smiled at Gino, pleased that she had managed to keep her lips sealed, even though she and Mary usually shared everything.
‘Good. Thank you.’ Gino smiled, relief clear in his eyes. He stood to do up his jacket and followed Ava to the door as they chatted.
‘Sorry, it’s a bit of a rushed breakfast today. I’ve left Flo putting up a Mother’s Day display. She offered, and while I normally do the displays, I was grateful.’ Ava scrunched up her nose and shrugged her shoulders. ‘I thought we should mark the weekend, before I get sorted with the French theme on Monday.’
As they stepped out onto the pavement, Gino took hold of Ava’s hand, drawing her attention to him. ‘If you don’t want to be alone tomorrow, you can come to my house. You know my Mamma loves you.’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind, but really, I’ll be fine.’ Ava smiled, appreciating the kindness in Gino’s eyes as much as his gesture.
Her mum had been gone eighteen months and Ava missed her every day. Her second Mother’s Day without her would be difficult, of course, but she also knew it was one day in the forever she faced without her. She felt the loss of her mum today, she’d feel it tomorrow and she knew it was a pain she’d still feel as she took her own final breath. Mother’s Day might pass with little more than a numb feeling of emptiness while smelling a similar washing powder to her mum’s on clothes donated to the charity shop, or hearing her mum’s favourite song, could have her in floods of tears.
Flo had once told Ava that grief is as unpredictable as the sea, some days the waves come in gentle ripples, while others they rage with a force so wild it feels they might consume you; the secret, she said, was learning how to stay afloat. In the past eighteen months, with the help of her friends and the Flynn spirit that was very much alive inside of her, Ava had learned that was true.
Gino released her hand, and the two of them walked side by side, towards the charity shop.
Ava took in the sight of the daffodils growing in planters outside the café. March was in full swing; the days were getting warmer, and spring was coming. There was a time of change ahead, and for the first time in a long time, she felt ready to embrace it. ‘Besides, I have to stay home tomorrow, I have an expectant mum to look after. Myrtle needs me.’
‘Of course, how is she doing? Taking it all in her four-legged stride?’
‘She certainly is. She’s looking rounder!’
‘You haven’t told her that, have you? I once made a similar comment to my eldest sister, and I’m lucky I lived to tell the tale.’
‘Ha, of course not. A lady never wants to hear such a thing. She’s on limited exercise, and she’s not supposed to jump which is . . .What the—!’ Ava froze as she took in the sight before her.
‘Oh no, isn’t that . . . ?’ Gino’s eyes went wide.
‘But I told Flo . . . I gave her . . . I don’t even know where they . . .’ Ava closed her mouth, aware that she was no longer forming coherent sentences. Instead, she shook her head and looked bewildered at the display of sex toys in the charity shop window. It was something she never imagined she’d see, and something that was made so much worse by the fact that the only one of her instructions Flo seemed to have followed was to hang the sign she had left, prominently above the display. Ava’s cheeks flushed as she read the words aloud, ‘Treat yourself and relieve the tension this Mother’s Day!’ Ava put her hand to her forehead, wishing the ground would swallow her up. ‘Oh, God!’ She ran inside, Gino following.
