8 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, Martyn gets some bad news.

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 8 Martin Gardner checked his phone for the 15th time that hour.

It was Monday morning and his mother was due back,

But where on earth had she got to?

Usually she'd call when she left her sister's house,

But not today.

And last night she left without even saying goodbye.

What was that all about?

He tried again.

No luck.

He looked outside.

It was beginning to rain.

I'll give it five more minutes,

He said to himself,

Then I'll walk over to the cafe.

Maybe Janet's heard something.

Nurse Amy won't have a clue she's on her day off.

He sat back absentmindedly,

Scrolling through the photos Maisie sent him the night before.

Lovely.

His daughter was growing up to be a really special girl.

And a bit of an oddball too.

Just like her father,

He chuckled.

But it was the figure in the background he was focused on now.

Ava Smith in all her unsophisticated glory,

Atop all 15 hands of his black stallion master.

That was one good-looking woman.

He's certainly been surprised by her yesterday.

She'd always been so stuck up,

But that afternoon she'd ridden over the walls like a wild woman,

Hair loose and cheeks brazen,

As her svelte figure bobbed up and down.

Now Martin had little else on his mind.

That one precious hour could lift his spirit so much,

And heaven knew he needed a boost.

Being left to run a business as big as the garden centre single-handed was tough.

They'd always worked it together,

Him and Chloe.

But there was no point in flogging that dead horse.

There'd been nothing more than that between them for years.

They were more like brother and sister these days.

Not that she'd even bothered to contact Maisie lately,

But that was another story.

He had his mother to talk through things with,

Of course,

And Maisie to make him laugh.

But this was different.

Ava was different.

He'd felt more alive yesterday afternoon than he'd felt in a long time,

Like a young man almost.

He had believed that side of him had gone to sleep,

After all,

Who had time for women with a young daughter to look after and a farm to run?

But Ava Smith wasn't like other women.

She was funny,

And difficult,

And confusing,

And interesting all at the same time.

As he spoke of his life in the fields to her and the solitude it afforded him,

Her dark eyes had flashed bright and inquisitive,

And when she turned towards him in the stables,

The sun caught the burnished mahogany in her hair.

Martin wriggled in his seat.

He hadn't felt a yearning like this in a long time,

And he knew it was reciprocated.

Ava liked him too.

But she was a tough nut to crack.

Not like other women who played hard to get without really meaning it.

Those who collected like broody hens at the school gates,

Eyeing him up and down as he passed.

Those mothers lived vicariously through their children.

But Ava wasn't like that at all.

She had her own ideas and her own interests.

Architecture,

Interior design,

And history.

And she certainly didn't lack confidence.

But Martin could see she was lonely,

Whether she knew it or not.

But he could also see she was still obsessed with Jack Riley.

That was a problem.

I've seen little of him till recently,

He replied when she asked him about their friendship.

We don't have that much in common.

He's well known for his womanising and I don't have time for all that.

But he's a good businessman,

Truth be told.

He invests in the right places and always seems to come out on top.

This made Ava blush,

Although he wasn't quite sure why.

Did she still have a thing for the man?

There was no way he,

Martin Gardner,

Would get caught up in any kind of love triangle.

What exactly had gone on between those two?

Maybe she was still hung up on him.

But no,

He didn't think so.

She didn't bat an eyelid when he mentioned Jack's womanising.

Perhaps it was the other way round.

That would make more sense.

Doubtless Jack was responsible for the numerous missed calls on her phone.

That man never could take note for an answer.

Maybe he was hounding her.

By the signals Ava gave,

Martin could see there was more to this than met the eye.

His mind shot back to the stables again.

Meandering slowly through,

They discussed her late twin sister,

Jessica.

Then she told him her interests and passions and spoke about the plan she had to own a stable of her own someday.

When they walked through the freshly shorn grass,

Its sweet smell hanging in the air,

She smiled softly through honest eyes as he listened intently to every one of her stories.

And as the trees,

Dark and deeply tinted,

Swayed gently in the breeze,

Martin told Ava about his childhood and where he was in his life right now.

The stables are my happy place,

He said contentedly.

And you can ride master whenever you like.

He likes you,

Ava,

And he's not easy to please.

This had made Ava smile.

An innocent,

Unaffected touch of who she really was underneath all that pomp and circumstance.

And you can always call if you need anything else,

He was quick to add.

Word has it Riley can be a bit of a pest.

Martin knew he was taking a risk mentioning Jack at that moment,

But he had to make it clear where he was coming from right from the start.

He could help Ava,

But she had to ask for it.

He wasn't about to get involved unless she was serious about getting to know him,

Too.

They headed back to where the children sat together and he left it there.

Ava would let him know what was going on when she was ready.

He was certain of it.

And nothing bad could come of Riley,

Could it?

The man was harmless enough,

Wasn't he?

Martin,

Are you home?

And there she was,

Mrs.

Manley,

Back at last.

Martin closed his phone and got up.

Where have you been,

Mum?

Did you get a cab back?

I've been calling you.

My phone's off and June won't drive in this weather,

So I got a cab.

Right,

Well,

Sit down then and I'll pour you a cup of tea.

You didn't say goodbye last night.

I wasn't even aware you'd left for your sister still,

Maisie said.

Sorry,

Son.

Maisie's mother replied,

Removing her wet jacket and hanging it in the hallway.

But after what I'm about to tell you,

It's you who'll need one with a dash of brandy if you know what's good for you.

Martin smiled secretly to himself.

There was always some big news after Natty Knitters.

What was it to be this time?

Someone hadn't paid the milkman?

Or maybe they hadn't closed the curtains properly when the window cleaner turned up.

He poured slowly,

Relieved he didn't have to go out looking for her in the pouring rain.

What's going on then?

I didn't want to say anything before I went,

Mrs.

Manley replied.

You looked so happy last night.

Martin placed the tea and her favourite biscuits in front of her.

Did I?

Happier than I've seen you in a long time,

Son.

It's that Smith girl,

Isn't it?

Martin rolled his eyes inwardly.

She's hardly a girl.

She is to me,

And she seems very nice.

This time Martin smiled unreservedly.

This was new.

His mother had never liked his ex-wife.

Paul tells me she's been a godsend at Smart and Sons.

He looked up.

What?

I didn't know she worked at Smart and Sons.

Honestly,

Son,

Said Mrs.

Manley,

You do need to get out more.

Hmm,

He replied.

Maybe I do.

Anyway,

What's this terrible news you couldn't tell me last night?

Martin tucked his chair closer into the round table.

They always sat together at the round table when something needed to be discussed.

Then he ran his rough fingers across the long grooves,

A habit he'd formed over the years.

Maybe it was serious news this time.

This old oak table had certainly heard some tales and wore many a tea stain to prove it.

In fact,

It was the only piece of furniture that remained from when his father was alive.

The manse was very well kept as far as farmhouses went.

Martin made sure of that.

Everything was either new or reclaimed and kept as good as new.

But the round table was different.

It was a keepsake of times gone past and would remain here as long as he had breath in his bones.

Come on then,

Out with it.

This manly drew in a dramatic breath,

Preparing herself for what she was about to say.

I heard something worrying about Ryegrass Meadow yesterday.

Martin's fingers squeezed his cup tightly as he made sure his face gave nothing away.

What's that then?

He'd had a nervous feeling in his gut about this investment for a few days,

And now this.

It was a new woman turned up to Natty Knitter's.

Mrs Crath in her name was.

She said Ryegrass Meadows being developed by the same company responsible for Lincoln Lakes.

Right,

And?

Martin racked his brains to think of where he'd heard that name before.

Lincoln Lakes,

Hmm.

That new housing development in the city,

Said his mother.

A woman was drowned there,

Remember?

Now it all came flooding back.

The dramatic scenes on the television as the story hit the evening news.

Mrs Manley's shock at how something could happen so close to home.

And his shock at how it was allowed to happen.

I can't see it,

He said defensively,

Only half believing it himself.

Rack's a friend of mine and an old school chum.

He sipped his tea slowly to give himself time to think.

What exactly had that idiot gone and done now?

Riley's a bit of a wide boy,

Mum,

But he wouldn't get mixed up with anyone like that,

I'm sure of it.

Well,

Have you been there and seen it?

She replied.

Do you know what you're buying into?

What do you know about it other than what he's told you?

And all at once Martin felt terrible for having been too busy to invest the time to thoroughly research his mother's new apartment.

But Jack wouldn't sell him short,

Would he?

I meant to go there this week,

He said,

But it sounded so weak when he said it out loud.

That was the truth,

Though,

And he trusted Jack,

Even though the man hadn't answered his calls for days.

Was there really something in this?

Jack's a good businessman,

Mum.

He wouldn't get mixed up in that sort of thing,

It's just idle gossip,

That's all.

But Mrs Manley still wasn't convinced,

Wouldn't he?

I don't think the Skinners know the meaning of a get-out clause.

The Skinners?

Martin Gardner went cold.

What makes you think this has got anything to do with them?

It has,

Stated Mrs Manley,

As if it were written gospel,

And rumour has it they bribed the council to get their plans through last time,

So imagine what they're doing this time.

Martin stood up immediately.

It's time I made a phone call,

He said.

Sit tight,

Mum,

And I'll get this sorted.

Then he left,

To find out exactly what Jack Riley had been stupid enough to get him involved in.

Ava Smith looked down at the grey wooden floor,

Anything to avoid Paul Smart's eyes.

But this is Market Heaton,

He insisted through gritted teeth,

And the second break-in in the last month.

What's going on?

It was eleven-thirty late morning,

And Ava had only just arrived.

Paul,

Meanwhile,

Was not impressed.

Time was money,

And this was his house they were talking about.

I am sorry,

Paul,

She repeated,

Knowing full well she was the reason both break-ins had taken place.

God's sake,

Child,

It's not your fault,

He spat as he adjusted his tie,

It's those bloody skinners again.

Ava did a double-take.

Paul Smart,

Of the oldest and most reputable firm in Market Heaton,

Swearing.

Things definitely had hit rock bottom.

She rubbed her eyes,

Then cursed herself just as quickly.

Why do that when you've got mascara on?

But she was exhausted from the night before.

What with having to constantly reassure Daisy,

And attempt to sleep in a bed that was not her own,

She found it impossible to rest,

Let alone stop thinking about the man who'd made her life a misery ever since she rejected him.

Things were worse than ever.

Jack was obviously trying to do anything he could to claw back some semblance of control.

But he hadn't factored in the two women that he'd scorned.

Ava had promised Annabelle she would do the right thing,

And she was not going to stop now.

He could harass her all he liked.

She still had the phone,

She wasn't stupid,

And she would not back down this time.

Jack Riley must pay for the things he'd done.

He lied to his wife and children,

He'd used Jessica to get back at her,

And coerced her into aiding him on an illegal deal.

Then he'd followed her all the way to Market Heaton to find out exactly what proof she had,

And what she intended on doing with it.

Ava had known something was off the minute she'd got back from Martin Gardner's the night before.

And sure enough,

When she walked up the garden path,

She saw Mayleaf Cottage was ransacked from top to bottom.

That cosy little home she'd made for herself and Daisy was now no longer.

It was just one more memory marred by Jack Riley.

She couldn't go back.

So she didn't,

Not even for one night.

She'd thought about leaving for her mother's house and never coming back.

But it was late,

And she didn't want to run away this time.

She had to make a stand.

Luckily,

Mrs Lawson had insisted both she and Daisy stay for the night.

And knowing now what Ava did,

It all made sense.

Mrs Lawson was guilty.

It was no bad mood that made her shut the door in Ava's face earlier that day.

It was not because she was off colour that she wore black.

It was because the Skinner brothers were in her house,

Threatening her.

If she hadn't have given them the spare key to Ava's house,

Her cats would have paid for it,

They said.

What sick thugs.

Now it all made sense.

Jack was never going to leave Ava alone.

As long as he suspected she had proof of what he'd done in Lincoln Lakes,

He'd been hounding her forever.

I'm so sorry,

Ava,

Said Mrs Lawson.

It's all my fault.

This vendetta between Mr Smart and those Skinners has been going on since God only knows when.

And because I rent this house from them,

They think they own me.

This is intimidation,

No more,

No less.

They didn't take anything,

Did they?

No,

They hadn't taken anything,

Because they didn't find anything.

Ava had wanted to tell her the truth.

She'd wanted to say they were looking for the only evidence that existed against Jack Riley.

She wanted to say they'd been stalking her for weeks.

She wanted to say she only had the evidence,

Because she'd knowingly helped Jack on Lincoln Lakes,

And now she deserved all she got.

But she couldn't.

No one must know what was going on until she sorted this out herself.

She looked up from her laptop.

Going into work and carrying on as normal was the only thing she could think of to do.

Daisy must believe her when she said that everything would be all right.

But would it?

Her bag began to vibrate.

It was her phone.

It was Jack.

She just knew it.

He was ringing to gloat.

And all at once,

Everything was closing in,

Pulling her further back to the dark web of lies she'd tried to free herself from.

There was only one escape.

One thing to do.

She must tell poor Smart everything she knew,

And everything she'd been hiding from him,

Before it was too late.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

If you did,

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

Reviews

Intriguing chapter. So much promise and edge of my seat tension too. 😁😍

Another stimulating walk in my neighbourhood thanks to you, Stephanie. Thankyou my Dear. 😘🪷🐈‍⬛🐆👍🏼

Oh and it all comes to a head! Nice work, Steph!
Look forward to the next, as always🙏🏽❤️