Ava had never been down into the heart of the ravine before; it was strictly for staff with visitors being confined to the walkway above. She left her handbag hanging on the railing and climbed down the ladder towards Marvin.
‘What do you think this is?’ He gently squeezed one of the shiny, green, leathery leaves releasing its scent.
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ She touched the plant’s pale parchment-like bark. ‘It smells like a damp mildew Christmas cake. Mmm, I’m not sure… Is it cloves?’
‘Nope. It’s cinnamon. At harvest time, the rough bark on the outside is removed and beaten to soften it, so that it peels away in strips. Then the strips are laid out in overlapping layers and rolled up into quills to be sun-dried, giving us cinnamon as we know it.’ He clearly loved showing off his vast knowledge of the plants he tended.
‘Have a wander round down here if you like, just don’t let on to anyone,’ Marvin said, his big doughy, soft face smiling widely.
Ava thanked him and let her mind drift as she looked at the plant life all around her. There was something therapeutic about caressing the bark, the stems, and the huge oversized leaves. It felt like she had been shrunk down to a Borrower-sized person and that she was trekking around in a gigantic greenhouse, that or she had been dropped into a rain forest but the absence of snakes and creepy crawlies made it feel like a sanitised version.
Huge lush leaves brushed against her face as she strolled around, sweeping away the worry and doubts which had been niggling away at her for weeks. She could barely keep up with her thoughts, one-minute thinking of Finlay and the next worrying about Maggie, and then trying to fit Scarlett into the picture.
Memories of being with Finlay kept haunting her. She thought of the little holidays they had taken: a weekend in Donegal in a croft advertised as the ‘true spirit of the north west of Ireland’. They had turned up to find they were staying in a hovel with its dirt floors covered with rugs. It was the type of old place that housed the farm animals downstairs at night time to provide extra heat for the family sleeping over head in the loft like ledge. They had looked around horrified but then resolved to make the best of it. The cooking took place over a big open turf fire and they had to use an outside loo. But she had beautiful memories of lying in front of the fire, her skin warmed by the sparking and burning turf, as Finlay had explored every part of her body with a gentle tenderness.
Then there was the time they had broken down on the way to Antrim. A day out to visit Finlay’s sister had turned into a complete nightmare as they were stranded waiting for a tow truck to come and bring them back to Belfast. It had been snowing heavily and the whole world seemed to have been blanketed in the hush of snow. They were cold and bored waiting but, somehow, they had made the best of the situation and had cuddled up for warmth. The AA man wrapped on the steamed-up window and interrupted their passionate snogging session, leaving red faces all round. She couldn’t help smile at the memory, thinking of Finlay hastily jumping out of the car.
Now she couldn’t help wonder how he was. What he was doing, and more importantly, who he was doing it with. As lovely as Ben was, he didn’t measure up to Finlay, and Ava could hardly believe that she had allowed herself to drift through the years with him without realising just how special he was. But she knew she had missed her chance. It was time she moved on. Life wasn’t for living in the past with memories for comfort.
She buried her nose in a particularly beautiful orange flower, enjoying the warm musky scent. Maggie was her other worry. She had been sleeping a lot and appeared to be less aware of everything around her. Sister Lucy had tried to reassure Ava, telling her that sometimes the body needs to withdraw to heal, but Ava was concerned that there was something seriously wrong. The GP had checked on her and was satisfied that her blood pressure, heartbeat and temperature were all normal. Ava could hardly push for more tests when it appeared Maggie was fine. It was just so hard to watch her decline. It was as if she was shutting down ready to move on to whatever afterlife might have to offer.
When Ava had taken Scarlett to see Maggie for the first time at the Sisters of Mercy home she had hoped that Maggie would be pleased or at least show some reaction. But she had been sleeping and they didn’t want to disturb her seemingly peaceful slumber. ‘Never worry,’ Scarlett had said. ‘There’ll be other days to visit and reacquaint ourselves.’
Ava could see something like relief pass over Scarlett’s face. She had been visibly shocked to see how old and frail Maggie looked but then joked on the way home that she looked great for a corpse.
‘At least I’ll have time to make amends with Mum,’ Scarlett said, looking at Ava. ‘I didn’t think I’d get that chance.’
Ava was thrilled to see them together. She still felt like pinching herself every time she caught sight of Scarlett. Her real mum. Actually here, in the flesh. Not dreamt up in some childish fantasy while lying in her bed in Moonstone Street.
In all the years Ava had thought of her reunion with Scarlett, she had never really dwelled on what it might mean for Maggie to find her long-lost daughter. Maybe it was just what she needed to make her well again.
22
The next day, Ava went shopping with Niamh. Window-shopping, for interior ideas in the ridiculously expensive shops along the Lisburn Road.
‘Now remember, we are only here for inspiration. You can look and you can touch, but you most certainly cannot buy,’ said Niamh as they made their way into Beaufort Interiors.
‘God, it even smells expensive never mind how it all looks,’ whispered Ava, her eyes wide taking it all in.
‘It is. So, don’t even ask the price of anything. We’ll get ideas and do it on a shoestring budget. Cal is a dab hand with a piece of fabric and a glue gun. So, we are here for referencing only.’ Niamh took the lead and strolled around the plush interior. A champagne-gold chaise longue dominated the first setting with brocade and tasselled cushions placed just so. Ornate marble inset lamps stood on either side of a huge mahogany sideboard while a gold scrolled mirror hung on the wall.
‘Please tell me this isn’t to your taste,’ hissed Ava.
‘Don’t worry, I won’t get carried away. Just try to visualise accents of gold in a cream palate. Take little hints of what they are doing and translate to a more liveable setting,’ said Niamh, sounding like she knew what she was talking about.
‘I’m not seeing it,’ said Ava fingering the gold lamé tassels.
Niamh snatched her hand away. ‘Come on let’s have a look down the back.’
They made their way through the store, oohing and ahhing as they touched sumptuous fabrics and looked at interesting objet d’arts.
‘Niamh, look at this,’ Ava said as she sat tentatively on a gorgeous cream calfskin sofa. ‘Feel it. It’s as soft as a baby’s bum.’
‘Oh, it’s lovely,’ said Niamh, stroking the soft leather.
‘I couldn’t afford this in a million years and even if I could, I don’t think I’d ever let anyone sit on it for fear of destroying it.’
‘Can I help you, ladies?’ a tall weedy man asked as he straightened the cushions proprietorially.
‘We’re just looking, thanks,’ said Niamh, determined not to be intimidated by a bossy shop assistant.
They finished their wander round the shop and decided to treat themselves to a coffee in the nearby café.
‘I was wanting to talk to you about something,’ Niamh said lighting up a cigarette.
‘What’s up?’
She blew out a plume of smoke. ‘I’m thinking of moving to London.’
‘You’re what? Why?’ Ava asked, horrified at the thought of losing her best friend.
‘I’m fed up with it here. Same jobs on short contracts, same clubs and pubs, always bumping into the same people every week. I need to make a change.’
‘Is this about Colm Ferguson?’
‘No. Yes. Partly. It’s just — now don’t laugh — I feel like I’ve had all the decent fellas over here. They’
re not so hot and I can’t keep hoping the next married man will leave his wife. Not that I really want them to. Oh, it’s just complicated.’
Ava put her hand on top of Niamh’s. ‘Honey don’t go running away. I know that there is someone out there for you. Please don’t move. What would me and Cal do without you? I’d end up going back to my old ways with mousy brown hair and bad clothes, looking like Ugly Betty.’
Niamh smiled. ‘Nothing’s decided yet. But I’m just going to put out some feelers for work, see if there is anything going. I’m contracted to do that film with Liam Neeson up in Draperstown for twelve weeks, so it’s not as if I’m about to hop on a plane and disappear. If I do go it would need to be thought out and planned properly.’
‘Your mum and dad would be devastated,’ Ava reasoned.
‘Sure, they could come over and see all the West End shows. It isn’t as if I’m talking about going to Australia.’
Ava sipped her latte. She would hate to see Niamh leave, but she understood that Niamh needed something more than what Belfast had to offer.
23
For a house in the middle of renovation, Ava had managed to create little rooms of habitable space. She had set up a makeshift dining room off the kitchen, with a cream lace tablecloth, taken from Maggie’s airing cupboard, placed over an old wallpapering table. With candles and a jam jar filled with wildflowers from the garden, it looked inviting. Scarlett was coming around for dinner, and Ava wanted to make her feel welcome.
At times, she could hardly believe that Scarlett was back in her life. It was as if Mount Pleasant Square had magically summoned her up. Initially, they were polite and distant, sort of feeling each other out and taking it easy. They spent time with Maggie and had coffee together or went for walks along the River Lagan.
But now, they were more relaxed in each other’s company, and over a Chinese takeaway meal and a bottle of red wine, followed by Copeland gin and tonics, they set about putting the world to rights.
‘Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you find yourself, before you find real love,’ Scarlett said trying not to miss her mouth as she brought the glass up towards her lips.
‘Jesus that’s desperate,’ snorted Ava into her drink. ‘You’ve definitely been in America way too long.’
For some reason, that cracked the two of them up. They hooted as if it were the funniest thing they had ever heard.
‘Oh, don’t, I’m going to wet myself,’ giggled Ava. She couldn’t believe how they were getting on. It was like finding a sister, a friend and a mother all rolled into one.
‘So seriously then, tell me – Ben, is he significant?’ Scarlett asked, lying back on the blanket.
Ava put her head down on the blanket. Scarlett’s American accent was the only thing that seemed alien to Ava. Her hands, the tilt of her head, her stubby toes all seemed so familiar.
‘God, no. Ben… well, Ben has been lovely. Really lovely. He is easy on the eye, gentle when it matters, but I’m nearly ten years older than him, for God’s sake. I can’t see that working out, and besides, if his mother finds out she’s likely to kill me. You might find me impaled on a sycamore tree in the middle of Botanic Avenue.’
‘You might be surprised. His mother might think you are just the woman he needs to calm him down.’
‘No, I’m definitely not out to tame Ben Dale. Someone else can take that task on. As lovely as he is, I know it’s time to move on. I’d rather be alone than hanging onto him just for the sake of it.’
‘I suppose you know what’s best,’ Scarlett said.
‘The thing is,’ Ava said, feeling the gin go to her head, ‘I think I had the one, and let him get away. Isn’t that the saddest love story you’ve ever heard?’
24
‘Hey, Ava, where have you been hiding?’
Ava nearly jumped out of her skin. ‘Jesus, Finlay, you scared the bejaysus out of me. What are you doing creeping up on me?’ She had just locked her car door and was about to go into Moonstone Street to pick up the post. Scarlett was staying there until she found something more permanent. An arrangement which suited them both.
‘Sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you. I was just waiting around hoping to see you.’
‘What? Have you forgotten my phone number already?’
‘You never seem to be in. Out with Ben a lot, it seems.’ Finlay looked directly into her eyes, and Ava could have sworn he looked ever so slightly jealous.
‘What if I have? Sure, you have the beautiful Rose to keep you entertained. Didn’t take you long to move on.’ Ava threw back at him with more spite in her tone than she intended.
‘Look, can I come in?’ He looked a bit sad, forlorn, his forehead creased in a frown.
‘Sure, come on ahead.’ Ava unlocked the door, bent down to pick up a couple of letters and led Finlay up the narrow hallway; both sides of which she could easily touch — if she stretched out her arms — from the age of eight.
‘Christ, Ava, have you been away? Look at the amount of post,’ said Finlay, full of concern as he picked up the embankment pile of junk mail and bills.
Ava laughed. ‘No, I’ve moved out. This place looks a bit empty as I took some bits of furniture with me.’ She looked around. It was the same as always only a bit dusty and neglected and was now missing the coffee table which she had poached the week before.
‘Moved out? God, have you moved in with him?’ Finlay asked, his voice cracking slightly.
‘Who? With Ben? Catch yourself on. I have not indeed,’ Ava said, suddenly pleased to think Finlay would be bothered if she had. Jealousy had never played a part in their relationship. They each had been so sure of the other to have made petty jealousies irrelevant.
‘I have my own home now, off the Stranmillis Road over in Malone. I thought it was time to move out of here.’ She looked wistfully around the half-empty room. Some things she had taken out of necessity and others were of sentimental value — the clock which had sat on the mantle throughout Ava’s childhood, the little figurine of the shepherdess — all tat really, but they had always been there and she felt that they deserved a place in her new home. Scarlett had little to unpack and most of her things were in Maggie’s old bedroom.
‘Cup of tea?’ Ava asked.
He nodded, his presence filling up the tiny kitchen.
She told him all about number ninety-seven, how she came to own it and her plans to do it up. They chatted away as easily as they had always done, comfortable in each other’s company.
‘And you had no idea your mum had bought this big house for you and Maggie to live in all those years ago?’
‘No. Amanda my solicitor said she had instructions to have the house signed over to me by a third party. My gran had the sense to have it signed over in the event of her being incapacitated. When she had the stroke, I had to get power of attorney to manage her finances, and that triggered the house being signed over to me,’ Ava said. ‘But in clearing out some of Maggie’s old papers and rubbish I came across a letter from her telling me all about the house, and then out of the blue, Scarlett arrives. She had been notified that the house had been transferred to me, so she assumed my gran had died. It’s sad to think she thought her mother was dead but now finds her still alive. It’s all sort of wonderful really.’
Ava could hardly believe they had spent the best part of an hour sitting in Moonstone Street’s tiny kitchen, drinking tea. Scarlett was out exploring the city. She had told Ava the day before that she was trying to reacquaint herself with her old hometown.
Sitting here with Finlay, Ava felt as if they had never been apart, but yet something was different. She couldn’t ignore the sparks of attraction she felt sitting in such close proximity to him. She kept noticing things about him that she had never taken the time to consider before, like the way he rubbed the back of his neck when he was thinking, the way his T-shirt stretched tight across his chest, showing his well-defined pec muscles, and the way his jeans creased around his groin. God, sh
e had to get a grip of herself. What was she doing stealing glances of his nether regions?
‘Still, it’s all a bit strange,’ he mused, oblivious to the effect he was having on her.
‘Would you come around some evening and have a look at the electrics for me?’
‘Of course, I will, any time.’ He smiled, as if pleased to have been asked.
‘You know I really like your new hair colour,’ he said. ‘It reminds me of conkers and autumn time.’
‘Gee, thanks. I look like a conker,’ deadpanned Ava.
‘A very beautiful conker,’ he replied, looking straight into her eyes.
‘Oh, that’s all right then.’ She smiled at him, feeling the tight furls of protection unwind ever so slightly from her damaged heart.
25
Ava didn’t think anything of Hazel not showing up for work on Monday. Every now and then Hazel would give herself a day off, to go shopping for baby equipment, do her prenatal yoga class or have a relaxing spa treatment at her favourite beauty salon, Factor One in Carryduff.
Ava was well used to running the place alone. She did the stocktake, made the necessary orders, replenished the shelves when they were low on scented candles and deposited the takings in the Bank of Ireland. Trade was steady, but they had no weddings for the next two weeks so it was quiet enough.
But when Hazel still hadn’t shown her face on Thursday, Ava began to worry. At closing time, she brought Hazel’s mobile number up on her phone and hit the green dial button.
‘Hello.’ Strangely, it was Robert answering.
‘Hiya, Robert. It’s just Ava here. I was wondering if Hazel is all right. I haven’t seen her for a few days and I wanted to check in with her.’
‘Oh, Ava, yeah, sorry I should have called. She isn’t feeling too good, bad case of the runs. I’ll get her to call you when she picks up. Everything okay with the shop?’
A Posy of Promises_a heartwarming story about life and love Page 13