‘Quite a bold statement you’ve gone for this year!’ He laughed.
Flo welcomed Ava with a broad smile. ‘Aren’t they wonderful?’
‘No! They’re really not.’
‘But you said to go for it with a relax on Mother’s Day theme.’ Flo looked between Ava and Gino, clearly disappointed at their lack of enthusiasm.
‘But I left yoga mats, detox books, calming CDs, not . . . I mean . . . where did you . . . ?’ Ava decided she might not want to know where the offending objects came from and left the sentence hanging.
‘They were donated this morning. Wasn’t that great timing! They’re so much more fun to look at than yoga mats and CDs.’
Gino burst out a giggle, resulting in an admonishing look from Ava as she tried to hold it together.
‘Flo, do you know what they are?’
‘Of course I do. I might be old, but I’ve not lost my marbles yet. I keep up with the latest trends. I read magazines. They’re back massagers! And, how great is this? The woman that brought them in said that big one is suitable for in the shower, while that smaller one is handbag sized. Who’d have thought!’
‘I never thought . . . Did you Ava?’ Gino teased, while Flo continued.
‘But my favourites are those shiny balls. They keep your fingers nimble — great for rheumatism if you move them around in your hand. Wait I’ll show you—’
‘No! Please don’t,’ Ava interjected.
‘It’s no bother. I thought about getting them to take along to Knit and Natter this week. They could all do with—’
On hearing that, Ava succumbed to the giggles she could feel building inside and joined Gino as they each let out a peal of laughter. Flo looked between them, clearly discombobulated by their reaction.
Attempting to regain her composure, Ava spoke, ‘Bless you, Flo, and thank you for . . . this.’ She gestured to the display. ‘But the thing is—’
‘They’re all new, and Gift-Aided!’
Ava could tell Flo was proud of her achievement and didn’t want to upset her. She had to handle this carefully, but while she was trying to think, Flo continued to speak.
‘She’d bought them on impulse and then decided she was no Anastasia . . . Anastasia Steele. I’ll admit, I don’t know who that is, but she must be like Jane Fonda back in the day — she hadus all in leotards and leg warmers, and wearing those things on your wrists.’
‘Zip ties?’ Gino suggested, mischief in his expression, earning him a punch on the arm from Ava.
‘Sweatbands,’ Flo corrected, looking between Gino and Ava. ‘Honestly, what did you two have for breakfast? I don’t know what’s so funny!’
Ava couldn’t help herself and burst into another fit of the giggles. Gino leaned closer to Flo and whispered in her ear. Ava had no idea what he said, but judging by the shade of crimson Flo turned before she burst into laughter herself, Ava assumed she had been enlightened.
‘Well, I never. Who’d have thought? Imagine if I’d taken them to Knit and Natter. And to think, she stood there nice as pie!’ Tears ran down Flo’s cheeks as she saw the funny side.
‘I think we’d better remove them, don’t you?’ Ava managed, attempting to get her giggles under control. As she went to fetch a bag to dispose of them, her phone rang. Seeing it was Mary, Ava pressed to pick up the call, hoping to share what had happened. But before she could speak, Mary’s voice came out in a rush.
‘Ava, you need to come here now. I’m at the Lodge.’ Her tone was insistent.
‘What is it? Are you OK?’
‘I am. But your boyfriend’s not going to be. I am going to bloody kill him!’
‘Boyfriend? Wh—’
‘Lord Gitlington! There are some men here, surveying the land or something. Ava — he’s going to sell it.’
‘What?’ Ava’s head spun.
‘Are you OK?’ Gino’s voice came from behind her.
