‘Did I tell you I’ve got the local press on board?’ Ava stroked Myrtle while Gino continued to play with Luna and Blossom.
‘That’s great. And your website?’
‘Is good to go, with all of mum’s old paper clippings archived and lots about our current work too, including a blog that we can use to keep people up to date with our rescues. It will be good. Sometimes people bring animals to us, or phone about them and then don’t like to trouble us to ask how they’re doing. We appreciate it. It’s good to keep the phone lines clear but this way we can keep people informed. Mary’s starting us off with a post about drunken gulls.’
‘Drunken gulls?’ Gino looked at Ava.
‘Well, gulls in general really but it’s a headline. The charity had almost four hundred calls about gulls last year, more than half of those we, Mary and her team, put on rooftops near to where they’d been found. Gull parents rarely abandon their young. They’ll keep feeding and defending them even if down a chimney or stuck on the ground.’
‘So drunken gulls, because?’
‘Because when the flying ants come, the birds gorge on them. The formic acid overdose makes them behave a little drunk. They’ll be on the ground, wandering in roads and generally not moving so well. They recover but people need to be aware — so drunken gulls!’
‘Of course, it all makes sense now.’ Gino laughed. ‘I’m sure it will get people’s attention. And the move, how is that going?’
Ava took a breath. ‘Obviously it’s early days, but the office buildings are in situ and Mary has plans for a phased move for the animals. We are mid our busiest season at the moment, so making use of the extra space will be great. I can make the official announcement at the festival. Hen—’ Ava swallowed. ‘Mary says Lord Bramlington is booked and intending to come along and talk about it with me.’ Ava hadn’t yet considered howshe was going to deal with that. But remaining in denial about having to have a normal conversation when so much had been said, and so much remained unsaid, was her way of coping. ‘We’ve got coverage from the local paper and radio, and who knows — with his involvement we might make a small column in the nationals if it’s a slow news day.’ Ava laughed but it sounded too shrill even to her.
‘A very slow news day,’ Gino teased. ‘And what about the skydive. Have you hired your hedgehog costume and booked the jump?’
‘Ha bloody ha!’ Ava picked up a squeaky ball and threw it at Gino, causing both puppies and Myrtle to leap towards him.
‘I wish I’d seen your face.’ Gino threw the ball into the hallway, and the dogs all scampered after it.
‘It was a rotten tease. I’d had a little too much whisky, my ankle was throbbing, and the last thing I could imagine myself doing was jumping out of an aeroplane.’
‘But now you’ve not been drinking whisky, and your ankle is all better, so . . .’
‘No, absolutely not! I’m not jumping out of an aeroplane, no matter how much it might raise. But if you would like to, you know, all in a good cause — please do.’ Ava laughed.
Gino pondered. ‘Do I have to dress as a hedgehog?’
‘Oh no, Gino, don’t I was only joking. Please don’t feel you have to jump out of an aeroplane for us because the gourmets’ plan went a bit tits-up.’ Ava saw the wounded expression on Gino’s face and instantly regretted the words.
‘I’m sorry that hasn’t worked out for you. But honestly, I think good things are coming your way.’
‘Thanks, Gino. It does feel like it. I’ve learned a lot over these past weeks, raising the puppies, finding out more about my parents. I always imagined they had this perfect life, the perfect relationship. In some ways knowing they were fallibleis reassuring. Like it’s OK that I haven’t got everything sorted. Do you think that makes me sound like a bad person, that I’m pleased to know my parents stuffed up too?’
‘No, not when you’ve spent so long trying to live up to their ideals.’
‘Isn’t it funny how you can put people on a pedestal, or damn them for their behaviour without really knowing the truth.’ Ava thought about her long-held misconceptions about Lady Bramlington’s behaviour towards her.
‘That’s why you should worry about what is right for you and not what others do, or think.’ Gino looked at her knowingly.
‘Bugger me! When did you get so wise.’
‘I am a landlord. I listen. I know things.’ He laughed.
‘Well, oh wise landlord you. You were right about one thing — this does feel like my time. There’s a new start for the charity and it feels like a new beginning for me.’
‘And will you seize new opportunities?’
‘So long as you don’t mean jumping out of an aeroplane then yes,abso-bloomin-lutely!’ Ava giggled, feeling buoyed by the conviction of her words.
‘That’s great. It really is.’
Gino took the ball from a triumphant Myrtle as she walked back in the room, Blossom following. Standing to see what was keeping Luna, he dashed out the door. ‘Outside, outside, Luna. Sorry, Ava! Mind that puddle.’
Ava looked at Blossom. ‘Uh oh, come on. You’d better go out too or there’ll be double puddles.’
