Mary looked at Ava, confusion in her expression.
Ava smiled. ‘Sometimes the people we’re meant to be with are right in front of us.’ She ventured the briefest glance at Henry, every nerve in her body still enlivened from the thought of kissing him.
‘Did you know about this?’ Mary asked.
‘The aeroplane, no. How he feels . . . yes.’
Mary paled as she tried to take it in. ‘Why hasn’t he said? Why get a plane and . . .’
‘Maybe because . . .’ Seeing Gino, looking every bit an Italian cowboy on a mission, walking towards Mary, Ava stopped and smiled. Her heart was leaping with joy for her friends.
As Mary turned, Gino stood before her.
‘I’m telling you now! Mary, we’re meant to be together. Please, take a chance on me.’
Ava put her hand to her mouth, touched by the moment. The seconds stretched out while they all waited for Mary to answer. Everybody around the arena stilled; even the dogs seemed to sense the occasion — momentarily stunned into silence. Mary looked at Gino, tears welling in her eyes. ‘Gino, I . . . yes, I will.’
A broad smile on his face, Gino pulled Mary into his arms and kissed her.
Ava felt a happy sob escape her. It was beautiful. The perfect moment. She smiled up at Henry. If only everything wasn’t so complicated for them, then it might be the two of them kissing. Henry offered her a smile, and she went to speak—
‘He’s not going to win the fancy dress round is he?’
All eyes turned to see the irate parent from earlier pointing at Gino. Red faced, the man’s daughter stood by his side, her dog dressed as Elsa from Frozen. ‘If Sheriff Woody there wins, I’ll . . .’
Henry shook his head and directed the man back to the arena, offering him reassurance that Gino wasn’t a contender for the prize, while Gino looked to Mary for an explanation.
Ava watched Henry move away, a mix of emotions making her want to laugh and cry at the same time.Thwarted again.Giving her friends a hug, and telling them it was about time they got their acts together, she made her excuses and went to check on the rest of the festival.
Chapter Forty
‘What was I thinking?’ Having arrived at Ava’s door at breakfast time, Mary sat awkwardly on the kitchen chair, her knees tucked underneath her, and her arms wrapped around her legs, while Blossom and Myrtle slept under the table.
‘That you might be happy with Gino? That the two of you are meant for each other?’
Mary looked at her, incredulous. ‘Meant for each other? How can we be? He’s from a huge family, and I’m from, well I’m not sure you can even call it a family. He’s just taken on a puppy, and he’s so . . .’
‘Lovely?’ Ava smiled. She’d expected Mary to panic at some point; she just hadn’t expected it to be the morning after Gino’s declaration.
‘Seriously, I don’t know why I came here. I’d hoped for—’
‘Someone who’d convince you you’re right to give up on this relationship before it’s even started? Well, I’m sorry, you’ve come to the wrong place. Being with someone who will care for you is what I’ve always wanted for you and, despite what you think, it’s what you deserve.’
‘Blimey, Ava, you make me sound like one of the animals I look after. I’m not injured. I’m tough. I’m a player and so is Gino. You know he’s a terrible flirt at the bar and we’ve both seen him the morning after all those late nights, doing goodness knows what.’
Ava put her toast down. ‘Hmm, we were wrong there. Not about him being a flirt, it’s part of his job’ — Ava shrugged — ‘or the late nights. He does have late nights. But the reason . . . the reason is . . .’ Ava wondered if it was OK to spill all of Gino’s secrets now the biggest was out.
‘What? What’s the reason?’
‘He’s into astronomy.’
Mary put her feet on the floor and took a moment to absorb Ava’s words. ‘Astronomy? Gino?’
‘Yes. Gino told me about it after the French night.’
Mary looked at her, discombobulated. ‘The moon and stars and stuff?’
Ava nodded.
