4 Heartbreak In Heaton Valley-Bedtime With 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, there is bad news at Smart and Sons...

Original story written and performed by Stephanie Poppins

Transcript

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 4 It was a bright Monday morning,

And the late spring sunshine had bullied its way through the chink in Ava's curtains to drag her kicking and screaming from her sister's bedside.

Just a few more minutes,

She muttered,

Rousing reluctantly.

Then with a deep sigh,

She closed her eyes once more.

You were always the strong one,

Jessica continued through tired lips.

Who'd have thought eight minutes would make so much difference?

She looked like an angel laying there in the hospital bed,

Ava thought,

With soft white pillows supporting her delicately crocheted shawl,

Her dark hair laying like a soft blanket beneath her olive skin.

But as Ava watched,

Jessica's slender face became an emaciated mask,

With eyes like glass marbles floating hopelessly in two sunken sockets.

Ava sat up with a jolt.

That's enough,

She said to herself.

It's time to get going.

She shrugged it off and reached for her robe.

Back to the same old routine,

Work,

Eat,

Sleep,

Repeat.

There might well be distractions along the way,

But Daisy was the only thing holding Ava Smith together now.

Daisy!

Ava jumped up and ran into her niece's bedroom.

How are you feeling,

Any better?

Much better,

Thank you,

Replied Daisy from her sickbed.

I can move it now and everything.

Ava scanned Daisy's swollen ankle for any signs of improvement.

Large patches of burgundy red mixed with brown,

Black and every other angry colour on the spectrum collected around the swollen sprain.

That really was a nasty fall.

If it wasn't for Mr Gardner,

I wouldn't have got home,

Would I?

I suppose not.

Let me get your breakfast and you can have your painkillers,

Replied Ava,

Eager to avoid this subject.

The last thing she considered herself to be was weak.

But there were some things only a man could do.

And carrying a wounded eleven-year-old was one of them.

Can I go to school today,

Please?

No,

Daisy,

You have to stay at home with your ankle raised.

But I want to show Maisie my new stationery.

Mrs Lawson will be in while I'm at work,

Ava persisted.

You can't go in,

Love,

You need your rest.

Mrs Lawson,

Whined Daisy pitifully,

But I have much more fun with you.

Ava stopped dead in the doorway.

She didn't have to go in,

Did she?

Maybe she could take the day off.

Well,

Then a noise downstairs made up her mind for her.

Hold on a sec,

Darling,

My phone's going off.

Who's that calling at this time of the morning?

Must be something urgent.

Ava ran down to the kitchen and snatched up her mobile from the countertop.

Hello,

Mr Smart,

Is everything OK?

What could he possibly want with her before work?

We've had a break-in,

Paul replied shortly.

Did you set the alarm on Saturday,

Ava?

Ava's stomach sank.

I did,

Didn't I?

She retraced her steps.

First I sent the email,

She recalled,

Then I rushed out for Daisy's party.

Oh,

My God,

No.

Ava?

Mr Smart,

I'm so sorry.

The line went silent just long enough for optimum impact.

I'm going to need you in early,

He continued in a monotone voice.

The police are here and we need to establish what the intruders were looking for.

Ava cringed,

What could anyone possibly want in Smart and Sons?

It was just offices,

Wasn't it?

Furniture and laptops.

My laptop.

I'll be in as soon as I can,

She mumbled back.

Then she headed straight for the shower.

Mrs Lawson,

It would have to be.

There was no way she could stay at home after this.

Martin Gardner sat alone in Manley's cafe,

Eyeing the staff as they came and went,

Eager to see how they got on with their new uniforms.

Traditional yet stylish,

She thought,

And comfortable too.

It was important to him that his staff were comfortable.

More coffee,

Mr Gardner,

We got a fresh batch of shortbread just out of the oven.

He looked up.

It was Janet,

The new waitress.

Why not?

Thank you,

Janet.

And how are you getting on?

Oh,

Great,

Thanks,

She replied eagerly.

Since Joe passed up in at a real loose end,

This is a lifeline for me.

Bless you.

You're most welcome.

It's the least I can do for a friend of the family.

Martin sat back casually in his favourite chair,

His long legs tired from his morning run.

He loved spring mornings.

The icy mist on his face as he cut through the pines on Heaton Bank,

The long,

Wet,

Grassy slope above his house,

Affording him a panoramic view of Heaton Valley and the brightly painted cottages dotting higgledy-piggledy between verdant groups of trees huddled along the way.

He leafed through the brochure Jack Riley had given him.

It was time to make the call.

This opportunity wouldn't come along again in a hurry,

And he needed his mother living with other like-minded folk.

She was lonely at home,

Even if Nurse Julie was there with her every day.

He thought it funny how Jack Riley always turned up just at the right time.

He certainly hadn't changed much.

He was still the same man about town with his slick appearance and gift of the gab.

But how strange Ava Smith had looked when they met.

What was that all about?

Glateral damage,

He supposed.

Jack Riley was well known for his womanising.

She's an odd one,

That Ava,

Said Martin to himself.

One minute she's in charge,

Taking no prisoners,

And the next she's a crumbling wreck.

What's all that about?

Ava Smith had always struck Martin as just another over-manicured woman,

Careering through the school run with the subtlety of a steam train.

What was it with those city types,

Always so up themselves?

But when her niece fell at the waterfall and she looked to him for help,

Martin saw something he didn't expect to see.

There was something beautiful about a woman with loosened braids,

Vulnerable eyes that glistened in the light.

And he'd never really noticed her smile before either.

It was ever so slightly lopsided,

With a soft dimple in either cheek.

Quite perfect in its honest imperfection.

It wasn't easy for Ava Smith to smile,

He fancied.

There was obviously quite a story behind those eyes.

Gardner,

Nice to hear from you.

You didn't waste much time,

You had a look through them.

Jack Riley was eager to get the conversation started.

Looks like you've been a busy boy,

Riley,

Martin replied.

Impressive,

I must say.

And perfect for my mum.

I'd like to think so.

You can't go wrong with Ryegrass Meadow.

If mine was around,

I know she'd love it.

What's the lead time?

We're thinking about six months.

Seems a bit ambitious for a project that size.

This is Jack you're talking to.

I've been in this game a long time.

It's all about who you know,

Not what you know.

He's not wrong there,

Said Martin to himself.

There's no one Jack Riley doesn't know.

What about the deposit?

120 for the penthouse,

Jack replied eagerly.

Then she can start picking out her fixtures and fittings.

Martin stirred his espresso slowly and imagined his mother's face when she saw the herringbone floor.

She'd always wanted a penthouse with a herringbone floor.

And five star assisted living sounded like somewhere Miss Manley of Market Heaton would reside.

Unlike the wild farmhouse she'd been sharing with him since his wife left.

All sounds good,

He replied.

Send over the payment info and I'll do it tonight.

Then he became distracted by the lorry pulling into the yard and he rang off abruptly.

He'd been waiting for this,

His seasonal delivery of garden offices.

These top of the range options were perfect for his most discerning customers.

And Martin Gardner had plenty of those.

Manley's garden centre had been trading long enough for its reputation to precede it.

And anyway,

The last thing he wanted to do was get stuck in another round of small talk with Jack Riley.

Riley was all right as far as school alumni went,

But best left at arm's length.

Why on earth would he be friends with a man who treated his wife the way Jack Riley did?

It was cold in Smart and Sons.

The heating was off and the doors open.

Number one Market Terrace was now a hive of activity with strangers in and out offering comments,

Unrelated sightings,

Opinions,

And unwelcome cups of tea.

Market Heaton was a small place and this break in was bad for business.

Ava stood uncomfortably with the officers as they hugged their coffees and discussed what was what.

She'd do anything to get out in the sun,

But not today.

She'd messed up and this was her hour of reckoning.

It don't really make sense,

Paul,

Continued Detective Janes,

Shaking his head.

Nothing's been taken.

Paul mimicked his gesture,

But his was one of dissatisfaction.

The man knew no more than he did.

Calling in this favour was supposed to make things clearer,

But what was the world coming to when even a detective couldn't work out what was going on?

Is there anything you can think of that might shed some light on this matter?

Janes directed this question to Ava,

But there was no way she was willing to say anything until she knew the facts.

This must be Jack Riley.

She was certain of it.

She'd long since suspected he'd been spying on her.

It wasn't enough they were together every week in their meetings.

He was checking on her at the weekends too.

He must have seen her leave.

I've no idea why anyone would want to do such a thing,

She replied as innocently as she could.

I didn't see anyone hanging around when I was in on Saturday and why would anyone break in anyway?

There isn't much to take,

Is there?

It's more the inconvenience it's caused.

I'm so sorry I forgot to put the alarm on,

Paul.

Hmm,

Janes replied.

It just seems like a bit of a coincidence.

The one time you forget to put the alarm on,

The offices are broken into.

Both Detective Janes and Paul Smart were staring at her now.

It was time for Ava to step up and be the woman her mother had taught her to be.

Every crime needs a motive,

Mr.

Janes,

She said coolly.

If you're implying I had something to do with this,

Where's my motive?

I already have access to this building and everything in it,

Don't I?

The detective turned his attention to Paul.

Anything to avoid further scrutiny.

Can you think of anyone who might have had a grudge against you,

Paul?

Maybe this was about settling scores.

Only the Skinners,

Paul replied,

But they've been out of the area for a while now.

Ah,

Yes,

The Skinner family.

Travellers or gypsies,

What do we call them nowadays?

No idea.

And you've had problems with them?

Yeah,

For decades,

Ever since my father denied them access to one of our fields.

And have you any reason to suspect there might be renewed animosity?

None at all.

The Smarts and the Skinners have always been enemies and they always will be,

But these days we just avoid each other.

That's what comes of getting older,

I suppose.

You've less inclination to go opening up old wounds.

They take longer to heal and invariably leave you with a nasty itch.

What about the Sons?

There are two,

Aren't there?

Yes,

Tweedledum and Tweedledee,

We call them.

Lazy lumps,

And not the sharpest of tools either.

Maybe this has got something to do with them.

What do you think?

We'll look into it and let you know.

In the meantime,

Sit tight,

Get your IT guy in to look for data breach and we'll be in touch.

Then Detective James left,

Eager to get back to his real work.

Ava watched as his car drove off.

She suddenly felt very shaky.

She hadn't had breakfast,

And after her five-mile stint on the running machine the night before,

It was essential she had food at the beginning of the day.

That was what came from having a fast metabolism.

Excuse me,

Mr.

Smarter,

I need to sit down.

But poor Smart was not listening.

His eyes were focused on the broken door and he was mumbling to himself,

Maybe it was those idiots.

I won't put it past them.

It was only when Ava collapsed into a nearby chair he acknowledged what was going on.

Alice,

Get some water.

Then ten minutes and one bar of chocolate later,

Ava sat up straight,

Ready to begin again.

You were as right as a ghost,

Exclaimed the simple-minded receptionist.

Mr.

Smart's gone to the corner shop for an energy drink.

He's taken no chances.

And sure enough,

Paul burst back through the door with a grace of a water buffalo.

Lucozade,

You can't beat it,

He puffed,

Planting the bottle safely in Ava's fist.

Drink up now.

This break-in's been a shock for all of us,

But I want you to know,

Ava,

It's not on you.

He dragged the back of his hand over his mouth,

And at that moment Ava realised this had affected him more than he first let on.

They obviously weren't used to such goings-on in such a small place,

She mused.

Paul Smart might be an odd bean-counting kind of fellow,

But he was a kind soul at heart and he didn't deserve the problems she'd brought him.

After all,

If she'd never come to Heaton Valley,

Neither would Jack.

But was this Jack's doing?

It had to be,

It was too much of a coincidence.

After he'd threatened her at Daisy's party,

It was obvious he knew the email had been sent from her.

Why had she been so stupid not to shut everything down before she left?

She'd been so keen to get back to Daisy for her party.

His wife had obviously called him the minute the email came through,

And after getting no joy from his latest bit on the side,

He'd gone straight into Smart and Sons and checked her laptop.

Come to think of it,

He'd probably taken the opportunity to doctor any documents too,

So he was unaccountable for any future problems at Ryegrass Meadow.

Ava was getting scared.

What would he do next?

She glanced at Paul.

She should tell him.

If she told him,

He might be able to help.

But Jack was his partner now,

And he'd be furious about what Ava had got him into.

Wasn't she just as involved in Lincoln Lakes as Jack was?

If that came out,

And it would,

Jake would make sure the blame was all on her.

Ava's thoughts shot back to Daisy.

If Jack hadn't been so vicious,

She would have been more alert at the waterfall,

And the accident would never have happened.

How on earth could she make this right now?

She thought she'd been so clever sending that email,

But now she was beginning to regret it.

It was the end of a very long day,

And Ava sat with Daisy on the living room sofa,

Watching their favourite programme,

Set high in the Austrian mountains,

About a small family struggling to survive in the home their ancestors had created.

The family's only neighbours were the sheep and goats,

The sleet and the snow.

After the day she'd had,

Ava could see the appeal.

That's what you call a simple life,

Joked Daisy.

Yes,

No designer clothes or iPhones there,

Said Ava.

Then reluctantly,

I don't think I could do it.

But I'd love to have some sheep,

Daisy replied.

Really?

Ava was astonished.

Daisy hadn't been brought up as a city girl,

And this didn't sound like her.

They're nice,

She insisted.

Maisie's got sheep too,

And I'd only have one or two if I could,

Otherwise I'd be too busy to do my drawing.

That's true,

Said Ava.

Mrs.

Lawson said you're a budding artist now,

And she should know.

She does exhibitions in the library and everything.

Daisy beamed.

Perhaps Mrs.

Lawson wasn't so bad after all.

Ava checked her bruising for any signs of recovery.

How's your ankle?

It's gone down so much,

Daisy exclaimed.

I'll be okay for school tomorrow.

This was a statement of fact,

Not,

According to Daisy,

Open for discussion.

Ava smiled.

Okay,

Dr.

Smith,

The swelling's definitely gone down.

The ice pack did help,

But how are you going to get around?

Crutches,

Daisy declared,

Pointing to the corner of the room.

I see,

Ava smiled.

Did Mrs.

Lawson bring them in?

No,

It was Maisie's dad.

He dropped them off in his van.

That was nice of him,

Wasn't it?

Ava smiled weakly.

One man and his van.

This country life was so basic.

Still,

The crutches were better than nothing,

She supposed.

I guess so,

She said.

Ava wasn't quite sure why Martin Gardner would see fit to do such a thoughtful thing,

And she wondered if his wife had suggested it.

He got them from the first aid at Manley's,

Added Daisy,

Keen to paint her best friend's father in as gracious a light as possible.

Maisie said he promised her he'd get them so we can be together tomorrow at school.

Manley's?

Won't you get in trouble for doing that,

Said Ava.

I'm sure you can't go around taking things from work.

He can do what he likes,

Said Maisie indignantly.

It's his shop.

Are you sure?

Ava was unconvinced.

Everyone knew about wild stories children told each other at school.

Yes,

Mr.

Gardner owns Manley's.

Maisie told me so.

So why is it called Madness then and not Gardner's?

That would be a more obvious choice of name,

Surely.

But Daisy wasn't one to give up that easily.

She needed Ava to be impressed if she was to stand any chance of spending more time at her best friend's house.

I'm not sure,

She replied,

But Maisie said her dad always does things like that.

Ava accepted this news reluctantly.

I suppose around here people have the time.

It's not like there's much else going on,

Is there?

Then to her surprise,

Daisy looked at her through different eyes.

He's being nice,

She insisted.

And Maisie says he's busier than ever now her mum's left so I think that's even more nice.

Oh,

Now Ava felt sorry she said anything at all.

Daisy was growing up and coming to realise that she,

Her auntie,

Probably didn't know everything after all.

I feel sorry for Maisie sometimes,

Daisy winked on.

But she says she's always been closer to her dad anyway.

She caught Ava's eye.

That's funny,

Isn't it?

Us both having one parent,

I mean.

Ava picked up the remote control and switched the sound back on.

She was beginning to understand what was going on.

Well,

Martin Gardner may have helped her out at the waterfall,

But he was friends with Jack Riley.

And that was as good a reason as any to keep him at arm's length.

Yet there was something about him she just couldn't ignore.

Why did she picture his eyes when she closed hers?

There was nothing for it.

She would just have to go back to the city and her mother's for a while before things got out of hand.

Half term was coming up and it was time.

They got away for a while.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

If you did,

Don't forget to like and follow to hear more.

Reviews

🤭 kids. Eventually some parents see through their antics. Curious to see where this will lead

Another great chapter, thank you Stephanie. Enjoying getting to know the characters. x

Really loving this story so interesting and looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks Stephanie,

Enjoying this story, looking forward to the next chapter. Thank you! 🥰

Very interesting… I can see a web forming 😻 thank you as always!🙏🏽