‘Did you?’
Ava turned her back on Mary and walked towards the window, trying not to show the pain in her ankle. ‘That’s none of your business.’
‘But Gino—’
Ava turned to look at Mary. ‘Gino and I are friends. You know that.’
‘Friends? Really? That’s not what you said at the pub when you were off your face on whisky. Ava, I know!’
‘What do you know?’ Ava wondered what she had let slip, and searched the fug of her memory for conversations of the previous evening.
‘I know . . . I know about you and Gino . . . and the sex toys. You said—’
Ava laughed as it occurred to her what Mary was referring to. With her emotions in turmoil, she giggled, while Mary looked at her in disbelief at her reaction.
When she managed to control herself, Ava took a breath. ‘I was talking about Flo!’
‘What?’
‘I was talking about Flo and the sex toys.’
‘Flo?’
‘Yes, it was Flo who used the sex toys.’
‘With Gino?’ Mary screwed up her face, the anger of earlier replaced with confusion.
‘No. Oh, God, no! Definitely not. It was just another of her spectacular mix-ups, involving a donation she shouldn’t have accepted. I’ll explain later.’ Ava felt some of the tension lifting from her body at the turn in the conversation.
‘Oh really? Thank goodness. I mean, I’m a modern woman but—’
‘But you’re hot-headed. You jump to conclusions and you are a complete pain in my—’
‘But you love me, and you know I only do it because I care.’ Mary’s expression softened, and Ava saw the slightest hint of a smile in her eyes.
Ava shook her head and blew out a breath. ‘I do, it’s true. You and Gino, you’re my family now.’ Ava sat at the end of the sofa, urging Mary to sit down too. ‘But you have to know, Henry is important to me too. We’ve shared things, experiences that I’ve never told you about.’
‘You’re not talking about sex toys now are you?’
Ava giggled. ‘No! I’m talking way more personal than that.’ She smiled.
‘What?’
Ava shook her head. ‘Let’s put the kettle on, and I’ll explain everything if you’ll listen and stop jumping to conclusions.’
Mary blushed, picked up a cushion and hid her face in it. ‘Ugh, OK. I promise.’ When she looked up, she smiled. ‘You do know I’m only like that because I care.’
‘I know, and I’m grateful for it . . . most of the time.’
Mary threw her cushion at Ava.
Ava threw it back. ‘Let’s get that kettle on.’ She stood, and steadied herself on her stiff legs, taking care not to put too much weight on her ankle. ‘And while the kettle’s boiling you can make yourself useful and check on the puppies. Myrtle will need to go outside, and I want a minute with her.’
As Ava walked back towards the kitchen, Mary touched her arm, causing her to turn.
‘I’m sorry about what I said. I know how much Myrtle means to you.’
Ava nodded her head, silently accepting the apology. ‘I know her being pregnant was down to my inaction, but I want you to know, I will take great care of her and her puppies and they will all be loved. Even if I’ve got to keep all five of them myself.’ Ava really hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but her determination to take care of them all was genuine. She had known that the moment she had seen them enter the world.
