1 Heartbreak In Heaton Valley - Stephanie Poppins

When Ava Smith is offered a job in Market Heaton, she feels lucky for the opportunity to escape from her sad past, and Jack Riley, the man she never intends to see again. But to her dismay, Heaton Valley is not quite as removed from the outside world as she is led to believe it is.

In this episode, we learn about her job at Smart and Sons and begin to understand something of the troubles Ava is so keen to put behind her.
Original story written and performed by Stephanie Poppins
Keywords associated with this track: Sleep Bedtime Story Tales Romance Audiobook Relax Rest Mindfulness Visualisation

Transcript

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.

Chapter One An Unexpected Arrival Okay,

Ava,

Are you ready?

They're here early and I've not even had a coffee yet.

Ava nodded,

Then wriggled in her seat,

Her long black stocking snagging as she twisted and turned to make herself comfortable.

She hated wearing such cheap alternatives,

But she had no choice.

Mr.

Smart was on a tight schedule and Maureen's was hardly what you'd call haute couture.

Drat,

She said to herself,

Why today of all days?

It was mid-afternoon at Smart and Sons Estate Agents and their new developer was about to arrive any moment now.

But now Ava's long ladder would expose her for just how human she really was.

Beggar the thought.

Ava Smith was a perfectionist in everything she said and everything she did.

She was tall with an athletic frame and a strong body.

Her mouth was small but well-rounded and she had soft brown eyes with lashes that required thick mascara to be seen.

But Ava turned heads because she worked on herself every day.

She was a very good dancer,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook,

A very good cook.

Her poise was on point.

No slouching here and her wild coffee-coloured hair was kept under control at all times with pretty French plait work woven into its daily designs.

As for Ava's clothes,

They were distinctly designer and her accessories much the same.

She certainly fancied herself more Rita Hayworth than Bette Davis.

I can make myself pretty,

She decided from an early age,

And that is what I'll do.

And she'd continued in the same vein every day since,

So that now she was the best version of Ava Smith she could possibly be.

What are your thoughts,

Ava?

Ava looked up.

Mr Smart was wearing that expression he always wore when she wasn't paying attention.

The one that said he expected more from her.

She pushed forward her report with long,

Pale fingers.

It would be an excellent proposition,

She replied,

If it wasn't for the waterlogging.

The research revealed the site's one of potential flood risk,

And just because it hasn't flooded yet,

That doesn't mean it won't in the future.

It'll take a lot of investment in drainage,

And even then there's the ongoing maintenance.

There's certainly no guarantees.

Mr Smart sighed.

Well,

That's certainly food for thought.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Ava glanced at the two out-of-town investors sitting on the other side of the glass partition.

They'd come a long way,

And on such a cold day too.

Market Heaton was an isolated town.

It was set deep in the Heaton Valley,

A little way to the north of Lincoln,

Old England.

Originally,

It was a secluded agricultural hub,

Centred around the town.

England's finest carrots and potatoes.

But with the wealth that its famous produce brought,

And the relatively low cost of land,

Came those eager to escape the rat race,

And remind the locals they couldn't have it this good forever.

Market Heaton was cobbled pathways and quaint shop fronts.

It was craggy resting places for the hordes of hikers,

Frequenting it every weekend.

And little cafes for dog lovers needing some R&R after their daily constitutional.

But behind the scenes,

It had become a hive of real estate activity,

Driven by the local developers,

And Ava's boss,

Paul Smart,

A successful figure and local representative of the Country Land and Business Association.

Smart had many fingers in many pies,

But of this title,

He was most proud.

Being a local representative of the Country Land and Business Association meant respect,

And he valued respect highly.

Born in 1958,

In the town's then tiny hospital,

Mr.

Smart knew each byway and public footpath each lane and dwelling,

As well as every residential development,

New and old.

He had traversed the surrounding hills as a child,

And spent every year since,

Frequenting the steep winding paths that trickled down to the town square,

Where they huddled conspiratorially,

Eager for the latest gossip coming in on the weekly market train.

Smart loved that cobbled square.

He loved each edge,

Tastefully lined with ornate handrails for the ageing population.

He loved the vibrant baskets of polyanthus and daffodil hanging on each bend.

He'd personally given the green light for the wooden tubs of pansies and crystal-coloured cyclamen,

And ensured the street signs remained as true to their cast-iron predecessors as possible.

Market Heaton was Paul Smart,

And Paul Smart was Market Heaton.

Sorry I'm late,

Hope you don't mind,

Only I'm gasping.

Shattering the silence,

And Smart's momentary indecision,

A mousy-haired,

Corduroy-trimmed man from out of town burst his way through the glass doors,

Back first,

Carrying a cardboard carton.

Ah,

There you are!

Exclaimed Mr Smart.

I wondered where you'd got to.

Ava started.

There was no way he was there.

There was no way he was there.

It couldn't be him,

It just couldn't.

But it was.

Back like a bad smell,

Jack Riley was in front of her,

Dressed in his trademark tweed patches and blue 501s.

Just the man for the job,

Mr Smart gushed,

As Jack laid down the coffee before them.

Ava,

Let me present the man behind the magic.

This is Jack Riley.

Jack,

Meet Ava Smith,

My right-hand girl.

Jack held out a tanned hand,

The very same hand Ava had pushed away seven months before.

Only this time,

It had a gold ring on it.

Nice to meet you,

She said awkwardly.

But how could she touch him after what he'd done?

Their eyes met and Ava hated him even more.

How dare he come and ruin everything again with this devilish grin and public school charm?

But Ava didn't have concerned herself.

Mr Smart was not watching.

He was too busy concerning himself with his investors,

Who sat waiting patiently for the meeting to begin.

Ava gifted Jack her most spiteful glare.

Then Mr Smart looked up,

A little too late to catch the truth.

Can't be Delayton's coffee,

Just the ticket,

He said,

As he stirred just the right combination of sugar,

Milk and fine Colombian blend.

All we need now is a biscuit.

Ava got up obediently.

Ladder or no ladder,

She had to escape.

And what did she care anyway?

It wasn't as though Jack had never seen her at her worst.

She opened the packet of bourbons and lay them on a pale china plate.

Her ladder in full view.

Now you're for it,

Whispered her sister.

I told you you'd never get rid of him.

Ava's hand shot to her throat.

Stop.

Behind her,

Jack took a hot cup out of the carton and placed it in front of her place.

He knew Ava detested coffee.

But that was the whole point.

He's loving every minute.

Jessica sniped as Ava turned around.

Shut up,

She spat under her breath.

I don't need you sticking your oar in unless you've forgotten you're dead.

But that was what her sister did.

Turn up at the most inopportune moments.

She was failing now,

Weak under the heat of Mr Smart's stare and Jack's unending control.

Just keep it professional,

Ava said to herself.

Otherwise he'll know he's got to me.

She returned unsteadily to the boardroom table.

It was obvious Mr Smart had been taken in by Jack's sickly sweet facade.

The one that made a young girl swoon and all ladies part with all common sense.

Ava leaned forward and placed her hand on the cup.

Ava,

You OK?

I don't think she likes the look of your coffee,

Jack,

Joked Mr Smart.

Then they chuckled together like stupid schoolboys and Ava felt sick to the stomach.

How old did you have to be before the condescension stopped?

She was 30 now,

No longer a schoolgirl or fresh out of university.

And this was Market Heaton,

Not Lincoln City.

She thought she'd escaped this,

But now here he was,

As bold as brass,

Back to rub her nose in it once more.

I'm fine,

She said lightly.

I'm actually quite partial to Columbia Blend.

And to Jack's complete surprise,

Ava took a long sip before rearranging her paperwork and sitting back down again.

He thought he knew her.

Well,

He could think again.

This was a new and improved Ava,

An Ava with a backbone,

And she didn't take kindly to his sly tactics.

Right then,

Let's get down to business,

Said Mr Smart.

The acquirement of Ryegrass Meadow.

We have your offer,

Jack,

And are considering your proposals for the development.

Jack pulled out his plans from his drawing tube and laid them out on the glass table.

He had it all worked out.

The apartment complex with on-site gym,

Restaurant,

Golf course and swimming pool.

The whole scheme looked very professional on the surface,

Just like everything Jack did.

But where was the substance?

It was clear to Ava he had no interest in its longevity.

This was just another snatch and grab.

Were there no depths to which this man would stoop?

Ryegrass Meadow was a few miles away from Heaton Valley.

It was the wettest,

Most isolated spot,

With at times impassable roads leading to and from it.

Paul Smart was not acquainted with it,

But had a rough idea of the area,

And keen to acquire more land and expand his long-established business.

On the surface,

This seemed a great opportunity.

When visiting,

He had been bamboozled with its luscious green grass and rolling backdrop.

But Ava was concerned with how ethical a proposition this really was.

Wasn't it their responsibility to ensure developers like Jack Riley did not get the opportunity to destroy people's lives,

Like he had done hers?

Mr Smart,

Sorry,

Can I have a moment?

Ava saw her boss's eyes light up,

And she knew Jack was about to swoop in and do the deal,

If she wasn't careful.

She couldn't let this happen again,

She just couldn't.

What is it,

Ava?

I'm sorry,

This is urgent.

Jack shot her a deprecatory glance,

But she ignored him.

When push came to shove,

Mr Smart would trust her more than some fly-by-night like him,

Wouldn't he?

Mr Smart got up and led her through the double doors into his office at the front of the building.

Gentlemen,

Please go through and meet our developer,

Mr Riley,

He said as they came in.

They entered his office,

Jessica screaming in Ava's ear,

Now Jack's going to get to them before you have a chance.

Ava took a deep breath,

She had to stop this where it started.

Mr Smart,

She began,

I know it's not my place,

But I think this really needs a once-over from the legal team,

I'm concerned about Mr Riley's proposal.

Mr Smart stared,

What did she know that he didn't?

Mr Riley assures me he's got all the necessary permissions,

He knows what he's doing,

He's from Lincoln,

Remember,

And he comes recommended.

This is hardly the time for indecision,

Ava,

The investors have come a long way,

And Jack's waiting to broker the deal.

Ava looked at the middle-aged man that had taken her under his wing.

Paul Smart had given her a job and made sure she had accommodation in the best location Market Heaton had to offer.

Market Heaton,

As influential as Mr Smart was here,

He was still cut off from the rest of the world.

This town was stuck in a time warp,

And now Jack Riley was here to drag it,

Kicking and screaming into the 21st century,

Lies,

Deceit and all.

Well,

She,

Ava Smith,

Knew his game,

And if Mr Smart was stupid enough to go along with it,

She would make it her job to investigate every proposal Jack Riley put forward,

So he couldn't take advantage of Mr Smart like he had taken advantage of her.

It was no more than an hour later,

And Ava was sitting alone in her office,

Staring at her new nails.

What exactly had just happened?

Well,

There was nothing she could do now,

Anyway.

It was time to collect Daisy.

She mustn't be late.

She grabbed her hat and coat and ventured out onto the high street.

It was quite a formal one as far as English market towns went.

Victorian residencies stood side by side with Edwardian shopfronts,

Each dressed to impress,

With polished cholesterol windows and gaily dressed displays.

Each panel door sported a large floral wreath,

But none were as large as the one at Smart and Son,

The town's leading estate agent,

Whom Mr Smart told anyone who would listen,

Had traded through two world wars and the arrival of the dual carriageway.

Established in 1904 by his grandfather,

A local landowner and publican who had grand designs and an even grander purse,

Its building was Edwardian in style,

With a prominent bronze stag taking pride of place atop the imposing stone pelmet.

Either side of this,

Corinthian columns completed the vision.

A later edition,

And rather OTT for a small market town,

Some sniped,

But,

As his grandson proudly said,

They knew how to put on a show,

Those Edwardians.

Number One Market Terrace was still standing tall and strong.

Nothing was allowed to get in the way of the Smart's family ambition,

Not even the floods of 65.

Market Heaton had been damp ever since Ava arrived.

Ever since Ava arrived,

The year before.

She'd yet to see any sign of the exceptionally mild weather Mr Smart sold to her upon interview.

She should have known better.

Taking this job was a knee-jerk reaction.

Hadn't she driven acres and acres of hillside to get here?

Hardly the perfect breeding ground for rainless days and calm winter nights.

Not that the locals seemed to care.

According to them,

Market Heaton was prettiest village within view of Lincoln Cathedral and boasted the best kept hanging baskets.

Not to mention the finest Lincolnshire sausage.

It was certainly a glass half full kind of place.

Before Jack,

It would have sat comfortably with Ava's outlook.

But that was before Jack.

Now Ava saw only old houses,

Old shops and old men.

Not necessarily in that order.

It just wasn't fair.

She'd always been so happy-go-lucky.

But Jack changed all that.

She hated that man with everything she had.

He charmed her into believing she was the only one.

He plied her with flowers and dreams,

Hopes and plans.

Only for her to find out he was a liar and a cheat.

But then she'd found a new job and made a new life for herself.

That was before he turned up again.

Only this time unashamedly wearing his wedding ring,

Just to rub her nose in it.

How dare he!

And there was the number 99 just in time.

Ava put out her hand.

She'd have to get a little runaround soon.

But they'd not been here long,

One thing at a time.

He'd done primary,

Please,

She said,

As she jumped on the bus.

And the bus driver scanned her pass.

And the bus driver scanned her pass.

Same as always then,

He said back,

As she found herself a seat near the front.

And ten minutes later she was outside her niece's school and they were walking home hand in hand.

Mrs Moore said,

I had the best spelling score ever today,

Daisy exclaimed triumphantly.

Nine out of ten!

I wonder what mummy will say when I tell her tonight.

Ava stared at the street ahead,

Tears stinging the back of her eyes.

How could her sister hear anything from all the way up there in heaven?

She wanted so desperately to believe she could.

But she had a hard time believing in anything these days.

It still hurt just as badly as the day they said goodbye at Lincoln General.

Mummy will be ecstatic,

Ava replied,

Smiling down at her niece.

What does ecstatic mean?

Said Daisy.

It means super duper happy,

Said Ava,

Forcing herself to smile.

I'll tell you what,

Let's go to Manny's for tea.

I hear they've got knickerbocker glories on the menu this week.

What do you say to that?

Yes,

Daisy jumped up and down in excitement.

Thank you,

Aunty Ava.

They headed south back towards the town.

Soon they reached the long pathway that ran alongside a quiet country lane.

The tunnel of trees cooled the air around them,

And they hugged their hooves into their necks as they walked.

Manny's garden centre had been a favourite of theirs ever since they arrived in Market Heaton.

The staff were always friendly and the displays always homely.

It had been like revisiting something they didn't know they missed.

There was a petting zoo out the back,

And Daisy had spent many an afternoon with her new friends amongst the animals and the ice cream.

Oh,

It's so busy,

Said Ava when they entered the cafe.

Maybe we should come back another day.

What do you say?

But Daisy had her heart set on it,

So there was no going back now.

Over there,

Look,

She exclaimed.

It's Maisy from school.

We can sit with him.

Ava glanced across the hordes of her us parents and overexcited children to a table of four,

Currently occupied by a little girl of about 10 years old.

And who Ava assumed to be her father.

But he was wearing a manly fleece and he looked like he was on a break from a particularly busy shift.

Let's wait,

She suggested.

But to her dismay,

Her words had fallen on deaf ears.

Daisy dashed over and sat down next to them,

Uninvited.

Hi Maisy,

Can I sit with you?

From her place in the queue,

Ava stared in disbelief.

But there was nothing she could do.

Daisy and what looked like her best friend were all smiles and waving animatedly.

Thanks,

Sis,

Said Jessica in her ear and resigned to her fate.

Ava turned to choose her tea.

One Nicobarca Gloria and a cream tea,

Please.

She said.

The assistant smiled.

Table number?

Instinctively,

Ava turned and waved wildly to catch Daisy's attention.

What is the table number?

She mouthed using their special sign language that was more like crazy charades than any kind of verified language that could possibly mean anything to anyone other than themselves.

Daisy gestured back.

Then she grabbed the table's wooden spoon with a painted number on it and waved it wildly.

But not before clouting her best friend's father with it on the way through.

Ava couldn't help herself.

She burst into laughter.

Daisy was just as clumsy as her mother.

Only this time she was not the one on the receiving end.

But to her horror,

The little girl's father turned and stared at her with a face like thunder.

They're just kids,

Said Ava to herself as his expression turned from frosty to furious.

Then paying quickly,

She walked over to apologize.

I'm so sorry,

She began glaring comically at her niece.

But to her disbelief,

Instead of replying,

The dark-haired man stood up,

Looked down his nose at her and strolled off.

His daughter,

Completely innocent of what was going on,

In hot pursuit.

See you tomorrow,

She waved before they were lost in a sea of smoke.

School children and school bags.

Daisy waved back excitedly.

Sorry,

Ava,

I didn't mean it,

She said when they were out of sight.

But sitting at ease,

Ava Smith was not in the least bothered.

The last thing she needed was to navigate another man and his moods.

Even if he was,

Quite possibly,

The most handsome man she had ever seen.

Reviews

Well done, a modern classically written intriguing story. 🤩🎈💗

OMG Stephanie you have done it again. What an enthralling, enchanting and enjoyable new story. It is a delight and I am so into it from the beginning. Love Ava already she is full of life and Daisy so cute. You have made my day. 🦋🌸🤗

Very interesting start… intrigue and a new (angry 😅) man. Good reading!