9 Heartbreak In Heaton Valley-Bedtime With Stephanie Poppins

Hello and welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you an entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.

Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey,

Set in Market Heaton,

A beautiful little town nestled in the heart of Heaton Valley in the County of Lincolnshire.

Here we will meet Ava Smith,

A young woman with a troubled past who isn't aware the one thing that can save her is the one thing she's trying so hard to avoid.

But before we begin,

Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

That's it.

Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

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 9 As the autumn winds blew fiercely across the Lincolnshire walls,

Ava slammed Mrs.

Lawson's shutters against their old wooden frame.

The days were closing in.

There was to be little sunshine today.

And under the dark clouds that clutched the dawn and cloaked the early dusk,

The summer flowers were now either wilting or lay dead.

She tossed her tea away in disgust.

Everything tasted bitter.

Everything tasted bitter.

But what did she expect?

The notorious Skinner brothers had ransacked her home,

Leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

Ava,

Are you alright?

A voice called from the floor above.

Fine thanks,

Just putting the kettle on.

Mrs.

Lawson's continual apologies weren't helping either.

Ava wanted to be patient.

She really did.

It wasn't the old lady's fault she was forced to give the Skinners access to her home.

But in the space of 24 hours,

She had gone from having her independence to sharing a bedroom with three cats.

She had to get out and fast.

There must be somewhere she could escape to while she sorted everything out.

She couldn't go back next door to Mayleaf Cottage.

So where?

Lizzie needed stability and she needed to get away until the worst was over.

Shopping Jack Riley to the papers meant that returning was very unlikely to be happening any time soon.

It was time to make plans.

She needed to be organised like she always was.

But for the life of her,

All she could think about was the shiny black stallion in Martin Gardner's stables.

How she'd feasted on the freedom he held in his wild,

Dark eyes.

How she'd adored the swish of his long black tail.

With a horse like him,

She could be herself again.

She could escape this place and never come back.

What do I do,

Jess?

Give me a sign,

Anything,

She whispered as she slumped into an easy chair.

The tears were flowing now,

Softly at first.

But there was to be no drama.

No outburst.

Ava Smith was serene.

She was calm.

Her stomach was soft and her brow clear.

This was just a much needed release.

But it held no pain,

No ill sorrow.

What do I do?

Her thoughts became consumed with what-ifs.

Martin Gardner was wonderful.

She could see that now.

He was everything she'd been avoiding,

In fact.

In his company,

She could be herself.

The real,

Authentic Ava.

Perhaps he could help her like he offered.

And life with him would be easy.

Out of the rat race,

In a place beyond beautiful.

Surrounded by rolling fields,

Where the hedges ran crooked and the rabbits ran free.

What was she thinking?

She didn't even know him properly.

He smelled so good.

He had beautiful eyes.

And his voice was so low and so determined.

For God's sake,

Ava,

Stay on the page.

There's loads to do.

You've got nowhere to live and there's Daisy to think about.

And Jessica was back with a vengeance.

Thanks for returning,

Just when I was enjoying myself.

Ava hissed.

But her sister was right and she knew it.

I must get a grip and stop daydreaming.

She grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes.

I've chosen this path,

She resolved,

And I'll just have to deal with the turmoil that comes with it.

That break-in was bad,

But it's not the end of the world.

I'm just tired,

That's all.

And as she stood up,

Determined to put a brave face on things,

Her phone began to ring.

Annabelle,

I was just thinking about you.

She lied as she sat back down again.

Hi,

Ava.

Did you find your sister's phone?

I've been calling and calling for an update.

I desperately need some good news from you.

I've had enough to hear with Jack.

He won't leave the house.

He's living in the spare room and he's everywhere I don't want him to be.

I can't get rid of that man.

He needs to be gone,

Ava,

Do you hear me?

Yes,

Annabelle,

I hear you.

His constant demands are really getting me down.

I need this proof to help my case for unreasonable behaviour.

So what's happening?

Did you find the phone?

I found it,

Ava replied shortly.

And after I tell my boss this morning,

I'm going straight to the press.

On any other day,

She would have had more time for Annabelle,

Putting more effort into the conversation.

She felt more sympathy for her.

But the more she thought about it,

The more she came to realise Annabelle Riley was just as ruthless as her husband,

Jack.

By her own admission,

She knew what she was getting into when they first met.

Amazing,

Effused Annabelle.

I'm with you all the way,

Ava.

Now I'll text you the contact I have in the local press and I'll wait for you to call back with the good news.

Ava relented.

It was time.

There was no putting it off anymore.

She'd found Jessica's phone and she'd charged it.

And now she must download the messages and print them off,

Then go and see Paul for the hardest conversation she would have had since arriving at Market Heaton.

I'll speak to you later,

Annabelle.

I've got a busy day now,

But it'll be worth it.

Annabelle Riley was listening in to everything she and his wife just said.

Martin Gardner waded through the many hundred metres of land that were now reduced to a mire.

It had been a wet couple of days at Ryegrass Meadow and the weather was showing no signs of reprieve.

At the foundations of Cementon Rock lay pools of water for life and off.

Work had stopped.

There was nobody about.

But why?

Looking at the plot he'd ploughed so much money into,

He was speechless.

This was only half as developed as he thought it would be.

There were obviously planning issues and little wonder as to why.

Grabbing his phone,

He made the call.

I'm on site,

Jack.

I've heard some alarming information and I'm expecting you to put the record straight.

On site?

Jack's voice came through higher than usual and Martin checked his screen to be sure he was talking to the right person.

At last,

I was envisaging having to come and see you at home.

What is it with you and your phone?

Marital problems,

Moaned Jack.

I have another phone so I don't have to take her calls.

I've heard some disturbing news and I'm hoping you can put the record straight.

Can you get here?

I'm stuck in a meeting at the moment but I can meet you later.

I want to meet you here,

Jack.

I've heard all about Lincoln Lakes and I want your take on it.

Should I be hiring a lawyer?

Jack laughed nervously.

No,

No,

Don't be ridiculous,

Martin.

We're friends,

Buddies.

Everything's gone ahead as planned and as for Lincoln Lakes,

The incident was unfortunate but the development was fully backed by the council so I don't see the relevance.

The relevance?

This is my mother we're talking about and I've just sank two hundred grand into this thing.

Do we have a problem?

Martin could feel his temper rising but he must stay calm.

He had a lot at stake.

How long have you known me,

Mart?

Persisted Jack.

Come on!

And anyway,

How could it not be legitimate?

Paul Smart's the last person to allow anything underhand.

He's a hard-nosed businessman if there ever was one.

Smart?

Paul Smart?

What has he got to do with it?

It's him selling the other units.

Do you get out at all,

Mate?

They're in his window.

Don't take my word for it.

Ask Ava Smith.

Rumour has it you two have been getting chummy lately.

Ask her.

I'm sure she'll back me up.

Martin felt a sudden shiver and zipped up his barber tight.

And why would she do that?

We've got history.

Didn't she tell you?

It was her who helped me with Lincoln Lakes.

And there it was.

That was their connection.

But it couldn't be true,

Could it?

Ava didn't strike him as the dishonest type.

But then again,

He'd been wrong before.

For ten years straight,

In fact.

I'll see you at Smart's in an hour,

He said.

No excuses,

Jack.

Then he hung up and marched back to his Range Rover.

It was time for answers.

But he needn't have troubled himself.

For on the way home,

Ava's name came up on his hands-free system.

Martin,

Hi.

He turned up the volume,

But he couldn't let that put him off.

Well,

Well.

I knew after Master you couldn't stay away for long.

He was being elusive,

He knew it.

He couldn't help it.

He just wanted to hold on to the moment before it was gone.

In spite of everything,

He still liked her.

She mustn't know he knew yet.

Not just yet.

He's a hard act to follow,

Answered Ava with a spontaneous chuckle.

Well,

I tried,

Said Martin.

No,

Not you.

I mean,

I didn't mean you weren't.

Now it was Martin's turn to laugh.

But this was bittersweet.

He rounded the bend at speed and pulled himself together.

Then biting down on his lip,

He jammed his foot down on the accelerator.

He liked having the upper hand and he liked teasing her.

But no,

Forget her eyes,

Forget her smile.

It was time to see what he was thinking.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak,

Ava began.

I'm so sorry,

But something urgent's come up.

I really have no one else I can ask,

Martin.

She waited expectantly,

But he gave her nothing but silence.

What was happening?

Had she let her guard down too soon?

Martin,

Meanwhile,

Was unsettled.

He didn't enjoy this.

But he couldn't.

He just couldn't.

She was obviously just there to sweeten him up so he wouldn't make a problem with Ryegrass Meadow.

After all,

She had her commission to make,

Didn't she?

Still,

Let her say her piece.

This should be interesting.

Go on,

He replied in a softer voice than he intended.

Something happened at the house.

I wondered if just for tonight we could.

.

.

Then Ava broke off,

Embarrassed at her own admission.

What was she thinking?

Martin wasn't giving off anything like the energy he had yesterday,

And the last thing she wanted to do was admit to him vulnerability.

If he was going to be like this.

.

.

She shook her head in disbelief.

It had taken all she got to ask for his help.

And that was only because he said if she ever needed anything,

She could ask.

Well,

Words certainly were cheap.

Martin Gardner was not the man she thought he was.

He bailed out at the first hurdle.

Unbelievable!

Look,

I'm sorry for bothering you.

I've got to go.

But eager to keep her on the line,

Martin continued,

Actually,

Ava,

I'm glad you called.

I've just been on the phone to Jack Riley.

I've been trying to sort out this apartment for my mother.

Right?

Ava was amazed at his ability to ignore everything she just said.

What was going on?

And why was he talking about an apartment for his mother?

The last thing she wanted to speak to him about was Jack Riley.

He should know that.

An apartment,

You say?

Yes,

Ava.

You probably know all about the new development.

And apparently you and Jack worked together on a project called Lincoln Lakes.

Is that true?

And just like that,

Any dreams Ava Smith had of connecting with Martin Gardner drowned.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

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