3 Heartbreak In Heaton Valley-Bedtime With Stephanie Poppins

Heartbreak at Heaton Valley Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins Have you ever noticed things never seem to happen when you're waiting for them?

And yet,

When you least expect it,

The most amazing things come along to remind you just how wonderful life really is.

Episode 3 Ava opened her laptop for the 15th time that morning.

This was her last chance.

Over 24 hours it had been since first trying to compose this email.

She'd tried the day before,

And she was still trying at 6 o'clock that morning.

"'Still here?

' inquired Mr Smart,

Peeping round the door to her office,

His brow withered,

His shoulders hunched.

"'Shouldn't you be gone now?

' It was Saturday morning,

And Mr Smart was desperate to get some time on the driving range before everyone else turned up.

"'Yes,

But I've still got the minutes from yesterday's meeting to write up,

' Ava lied.

"'I won't be long.

' "'Okay.

You'll have to look up then.

It's been a long week.

I'll go through them on Monday.

Oh,

And there's a present for Daisy by the door.

' "'Thank you,

' Ava replied.

"'That's very kind.

' She watched and waited.

The comical figure that was Mr Smart would be gone in a few minutes,

But first he would shuffle to the coffee machine,

Switch,

Then the hall light,

Flick,

His gangly frame would check the back door,

Lock,

Then,

After activating the voicemail,

He would pick up his bag and leave with a,

"'Don't forget to set the alarm when you go.

' "'Yes,

Mr Smart,

Sure thing,

' Ava said,

Rolling her eyes.

He was a stickler for routine,

All right.

And away he went out into the sunny high street where his twenty-year-old Range Rover was waiting for him.

Mr Smart valued nothing if not nice things,

But,

Like his namesake,

He was clever when it came to finances,

And was often heard to preach,

"'No good ever came from spending money unnecessarily.

'" This stood true in every aspect of his life.

Representing Jack Riley and his anonymous client had cost Mr Smart nothing.

In fact,

It had awarded him the opportunity to spread the news of his fantastic reputation further afield.

Win-win.

The coast was now clear.

Ava returned to her laptop and began.

First,

To set up an anonymous email.

"'Done.

Then I'll write the message I should have sent all those years ago,

' she said to herself before Jack got a chance to speak to Jessica,

Let alone have an affair with her.

"'It shouldn't be a letter,

That'll be too traceable.

Jack's wife must believe this is from his new girlfriend.

'" Now to find Mrs Riley's contact details.

And there she was.

Mrs Annabel Riley,

Smiling sweetly from the landing page of Hairway to Heaven,

The best hairdressing salon in the village of Clifton Magnet.

The website was an expensive one.

No surprises there.

That was what came of having a husband in the lucrative business of developing overpriced compromised retirement homes in low-cost locations.

"'Dear Mrs Riley,

I'm writing about a ridiculous situation I found myself in.

It turns out the man I'm having a relationship with is your husband.

' She paused.

"'Too much to the point?

Was there any right way to say such a thing?

' Ave had tugged at her new nails.

"'I can't send this.

' "'Yes,

You can.

' "'Jess,

I know you mean well,

But I can't do this right now.

' "'But she has to know,

Ave.

If she finds out,

It'll make him come to his senses and stop bothering you.

It doesn't look like the kind of person who'll make it easy for him if they divorce,

Does she?

If you send it,

He'll have to put all his energy into keeping her sweet and not bothering you.

' Ave thought about what Jessica said.

She had to get this right.

Jack mustn't know it was her sending the message.

She pictured the first time they met.

He'd waltzed into her place of work,

Plans under arm with his quick eyes and even quicker wit.

The other girls had swooned,

Yet she,

Ava Smith,

Was the one to bag him.

She should have known it was too good to be true.

Pretty boys usually chose pretty girls,

Didn't they?

And yet,

As perfect as he appeared,

Jack Riley had always lacked something.

A backbone,

That was what it was.

And vanity was hardly a desirable quality in a man.

Jack was a spoilt child,

Poring over his plans,

Pound signs in his eyes.

Why hadn't she seen through that?

You only see what you want to see,

Her mother had said,

And she was right.

On the surface,

Jack Riley looked the part,

But he had no conviction of character,

No backbone.

And to top it all,

He lived life on the edge.

Everything was a gamble to him.

How did his wife put up with it?

It certainly was a strange thing.

Love.

Their relationship had never been love,

Of course.

It was naivety on her part.

She'd never had much experience with men.

She'd enjoyed the romantic dinners,

Leisurely afternoons,

And trips to the theatre.

But that was as far as it went.

There was a reason Jack Riley was so guarded about where he lived,

And preferred to remain mysterious.

Seeing him with his wife was all that she needed to slam the proverbial door in Jack's face,

And Ava was secretly relieved to put an end to it.

For it was a farce.

That's why she didn't flaunt him in front of her sister.

Jack hardly lived up to the ideal Ava had always insisted she'd end up with.

Then and only then did she share her news.

Jessica seemed to find it very amusing.

You sly devil,

She'd mocked,

You kept that quiet,

Didn't you?

Well,

It's over,

Ava stated matter-of-factly.

The project's done,

And I've ghosted him,

So that's the end of that.

Ghosted him?

What?

Without telling him what you think about him?

That doesn't sound like you.

I wouldn't waste my energy,

Ava replied.

He'll be on to his next victim within days,

Trust me.

How could she possibly have known that would be her twin sister?

Sorry,

Jess.

She said out loud,

For what must have been the millionth time,

Sorry I never showed you who he was.

How deeply Jessica had fallen for him.

Much deeper than her.

I've met someone,

She declared proudly one night.

He's handsome,

He's successful,

And he's really into me.

Who is it?

Ava demanded.

But Jessica had taken pleasure in declaring victoriously.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

She'd always wanted to be as confident as her sister,

And here was her chance.

How Ava would give the world to change places with her now,

So Jessica could be with her daughter again.

Stop.

And there she was,

Back to remind Ava not to be so stupid.

Jessica was always in her ear when she was sinking.

Come on now,

Girl.

She said kindly,

You've got this.

And Ava pulled herself together once more.

She had a job to do.

And she needed to do it.

She re-read the email.

I'm writing about a ridiculous situation I found myself in.

It turns out the man I'm having a relationship with is your husband.

She re-read it.

Yes,

The whole thing was ridiculous.

Jack's fling with Jessica had lasted no more than six weeks,

But it was long enough for him to secure maximum devastation.

He'd told her in no uncertain terms he wasn't interested in taking on someone else's child.

Then he'd left without looking back.

Why would he do that to me?

Jessica had sobbed into her sister's shoulder.

He knew I had Daisy when we met.

But it was all just an excuse.

Jack had singled out Jessica just to get back at her,

The one girl crazy enough to reject him.

And now here he was,

Back like a bad smell.

He'd compromised her professional integrity.

And as for Jessica,

He ruined any hope she'd had of leading a normal life.

Without relapsing into the anorexia she'd battled since age 13.

It was shocking how little time it took for her frail body to collapse.

And now here Ava was,

Sisterless,

And left to pick up the pieces.

With one resounding tap,

She pressed send.

Go to hell,

Jack Riley.

Then she slammed the laptop shut and dashed off to prepare for Daisy's birthday party.

Daisy Smith was sitting in the bay window of Mayleaf Cottage,

Looking out over the back garden,

New mobile in hand.

Ping.

Hey.

Ping.

Three hours and counting.

Ping.

Shall I wear my new jacket?

Ping.

You'll get it ruined,

We're hiking,

Remember?

Ping.

Will your dad be there?

Ping.

Thumbs up emoji.

Ping.

Time to plan,

Then.

Ping.

Thumbs up emoji.

Ping.

I'm gonna call you.

Ping.

Okay.

Hey,

I've only got 15 minutes and Aunty Ava will be back,

Said Daisy.

Mrs Lawson's in from next door,

So I've got to be quick.

If she can hear through the walls,

She can definitely hear through the ceiling.

It's got to happen today,

Replied Maisie.

It's the perfect opportunity.

You're right,

Daisy agreed.

But Aunty Ava was really annoyed when your dad soaked her in the car park.

I don't know if she'll forgive him that easily.

Yeah,

That didn't go down too well,

Did it?

Chuckled Maisie.

But they look so good together,

Daisy sighed.

Well,

Let's think.

What have they got in common?

I don't know,

But they're going to be outside together all afternoon.

True.

And there'll be a barbecue,

Won't there?

Maybe my dad could help with that.

He cooks a mean burger.

Maybe it's a start.

OK,

Let's do this.

Yes,

Daddy.

My dad's calling.

I'll see you there,

OK?

See you there.

Ava gazed down the long path,

Meandering through the flower beds of deep purple and crimson.

High above,

Wood pigeons collected in the lofty beech trees,

Cooing beneath the cloudless sky that filtered through.

As local attractions went,

This was about as good as it got.

And it was the perfect weather for a barbecue to boot.

Fifty or so feet away,

Daisy,

The birthday girl,

Was greeting her guests in the woodland car park.

We have to read the maps,

Then follow the trail,

She exclaimed excitedly.

Then afterwards,

We'll have a barbecue.

Her audience followed her over to where Ava began counting the bags and equipment ready for the adventure ahead.

This was going to be a party to remember.

And the best bit of all was the waterfall at the end.

It would be at its finest now,

For it was late spring when the wildlife was most active.

Situated at the end of a gloriously wild woodland walk,

Past the ruined remains of the foresters' wildland cottage and through the choruses of pastel-coloured croci,

Heaton Waterfall was the place Ava and Daisy escaped to whenever they could.

Aunty Ava,

Where shall I put my presents?

In the boot,

Darling,

Then we'll start out.

In one big rush,

The party goes and their parents receive the hikers' bags and instructions eager for what lay ahead.

These are the maps,

Sang Daisy,

And we'll go off in pairs.

Maisie,

You're with me.

Instantly,

Four pairs of eager eleven-year-olds lined up at the bottom of the pathway.

See you later,

They called to their parents,

But Maisie held back.

Daddy,

She begged,

We need someone for the back of the line.

Then,

Keen to come to the rescue,

Two more parents stepped up to volunteer.

Fantastic,

Said Ava,

Trying not to get distracted by how ridiculous Maisie's father looked.

Who wore hunting boots with a corduroy jacket?

Or was that a corduroy shirt,

Heaven forbid?

And there she was,

Dressed in her matching barber boots and slick waxed coat.

Collection is at four,

She confirmed.

Then she related the itinerary to the accompanying parents.

First,

There would be navigation,

Where the party-goers would race to the hidden camp.

Then,

After the birthday barbecue,

There would be a treasure hunt.

What an afternoon she had planned.

Daddy could help with the barbecue,

Couldn't you,

Daddy?

Yelled Maisie,

Shooting Daisy a sly wink.

And to Ava's dismay,

Martin Gardner agreed.

But the man was a walking disaster.

How could he help?

This was her party,

And she wanted it done her way.

She'd gone to a lot of trouble to make this day as perfect for her niece as possible,

And she didn't need him waltzing in and taking over.

That's a great idea,

Aunty Ava,

Isn't it?

Gushed Daisy.

And reluctantly,

Ava had no choice but to give in.

Not more than an hour later,

They reached the camp.

It was set in a clearing at the top of a steep climb through rugged terrain.

A small meadow,

Where more often than not,

Scouts and guide groups could be found huddled around their fires.

But today it was deserted apart from themselves,

With one small earthy pit in use,

Surrounded by little rocks and a cast-iron skillet hanging from a matching tripod.

Look!

Yelled Daisy,

Running up to see where they would be cooking their feast.

What are we having?

Asked Maisie,

Pleased to be in the first pair to successfully navigate the way.

Well done for making it,

Ava declared.

There's sausages and burgers,

Daisy's favourite beetroot and goat's cheese salad,

Loads of crisps and snacks,

And marshmallows for toasting.

Oh,

And there's birthday cupcakes too.

Yes!

Sang Maisie as they looked around for the others.

Let's help with the blankets and flasks.

And there they were,

The remaining four accompanied by Martin Gardner and the Penriths,

The former looking much happier than Ava had seen him before.

We did it!

The children yelled.

Then they flung themselves on the blankets as Ava placed the meat on the barbecue.

Daddy,

Can you help?

Asked Maisie.

Of course,

He replied.

But Ava was not convinced.

Thanks,

But I'm fine,

She added,

Remembering how clumsy he'd been in the car park.

Then Daisy added her to Penrith.

Can you boost up the fire,

Maisie's dad?

Ava couldn't help but smile at her niece's cheek.

She certainly wasn't going to be the shrinking violet her mother was at that age.

Then,

Much to her amusement,

Martin Gardner seemed to look at her for approval.

This was the first time she had an opportunity to really see him for what he was.

She knew he was handsome,

That was a given.

But when the warm light caught the glow of his tan skin,

Setting off two crystal blue eyes that matched his shirt,

She realised there was a softness to him she hadn't seen before.

She froze in spite of herself.

It wasn't that he was well-dressed,

Because he wasn't.

And it couldn't be that he was young,

Because he wasn't that either.

Maybe ten or so years older than herself.

But there was something in Martin Gardner's manner that screamed,

I have everything under control,

Don't test me.

Ava looked away,

Confused.

What was she doing?

He was married for God's sake.

Just say something,

Answer the man,

Said Jessica.

But to Ava's horror,

Martin Gardner was none to impress with her lack of response,

And he turned abruptly away.

Embarrassed,

Ava busied herself with the boxes of snacks,

Eagerly accepting the help of the Penriths.

If he's that touchy,

I'd rather leave him well alone,

She said to herself.

That man's too much like hard work.

But try as she might to shrug him off,

Martin Gardner's impatience annoyed her.

Why did men think the world and its auntie revolved around them?

Maybe she had something on her mind too,

Had he even considered that?

Before she could walk away and hand out the drinks,

A familiar voice called,

Gardner,

You old dog,

Fancy seeing you here.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

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