The Angel Tree (49 page)

‘Oh, I thought you might have put on that pretty dress I bought you today, Ava,’ Cheska pouted.

‘As a matter of fact, I live in these jeans,’ Ava replied. ‘I’ll save it for a special occasion. You’ve bought me so much, I don’t know what to
choose.’

‘Well, it won’t hurt to stock up your wardrobe, will it? And what about some new glasses? Those really aren’t very flattering, you know. You have such lovely eyes – my
colour, I reckon. It seems a shame to hide them behind those heavy frames.’

‘I have contact lenses, but these are much more comfortable.’

‘I think glasses give Ava’s face character, Cheska,’ said LJ.

‘Yes, of course they do. Anyway’ – Cheska smiled – ‘I have something to tell you both. I’ve enjoyed this week so much that I’ve decided to forget about
going home and stay on here for a while longer. That is, if you’ll have me.’

‘But surely you have filming commitments for your television show and, besides, won’t you be bored? Marchmont is hardly Hollywood,’ LJ said slowly.

‘We don’t start shooting until the end of September, and of course I won’t be bored, LJ,’ replied Cheska, the annoyance plain in her voice. ‘The peace here is just
what I need after LA. Besides, this is where my family is,’ she added, reaching for Ava’s hand and squeezing it. ‘I’m just sorry dear Uncle David isn’t here,
too.’

So am I
, thought LJ.

‘Cheska, I hope you won’t mind, but I have some things planned over the next few days, so I won’t be able to come out with you as often I have been,’ said Ava.

‘Of course I don’t mind. I’ll be happy just to enjoy the scenery and relax.’ She stretched, then sighed. ‘Oh, I’m so glad I came home!’

Cheska had insisted on taking Ava out to lunch at an expensive local hotel the following day, even though Ava had promised to help Jack on the farm. To keep the peace, Ava
agreed to go, hoping it would let her off the hook for the rest of the time her mother stayed at Marchmont.

‘I can’t believe you want to be a vet, honey.’ Cheska shuddered, putting a dainty morsel of beef onto her fork. ‘I don’t know how you could contemplate it. The
sight of blood makes me faint.’

‘Well, the sight of you eating a piece of that poor cow makes me feel faint,’ retorted Ava with a smile.

Cheska raised an eyebrow in irritation, then continued. ‘By the way, you told me yesterday that LJ is paying for your expenses whilst you’re studying. How will she find the money?
Living in London can be very expensive. I feel it’s my job to pay.’

‘Apparently, my grandfather – your father – left me a legacy. She says it’s quite a lot and will easily cover everything, so really, don’t worry, Cheska.’

‘Oh, but your grandfather didn’t—’ She stopped herself. She had been about to say that Owen had died before she herself was ten, so how could he possibly have left money
to a child who hadn’t yet been born?

Ava was oblivious to the sudden steely look in her mother’s eyes. She was chattering away about her dream of eventually starting up her own veterinary practice locally.

‘Well, you do have your life planned out, don’t you, Ava? Unfortunately, the future isn’t always as predictable as we’d like to think, but I’m sure you’ll
learn that as you get older.’

‘You may be right, but I know what I want. And if I plan it carefully, I don’t think anything can really go wrong, can it?’ But her mother was now staring blankly out of the
window. ‘Are you okay?’

Eventually Cheska looked back at her daughter and smiled slowly. ‘I heard you, honey. I’m sure everything will turn out just fine.’

A gentle September mist, which hung lethargically over the valley, greeted Ava every morning when she opened her bedroom curtains. She soaked in every second of the beautiful
view, storing it up for when she was in London and unable to see it. As she’d told Cheska she would, she’d been spending most of her time out on the estate, helping the farmers bale the
hay for winter. She only saw her mother at supper, as she was long gone by the time Cheska rose at mid-morning. Occasionally, returning to the house through the woods, Ava would see a small figure
in the clearing, standing by Jonny’s grave. She supposed that Cheska was paying her respects to her twin brother, who had died when he was tiny. She could hardly believe how quickly the
holiday had flown and wondered when her mother would be flying back to Hollywood. Any time now, she supposed.

A week before Ava was due to leave for London, Mary rushed up the drive to greet her on her way back from the estate farm.

‘What is it, Mary?’ Ava’s heart began to pound.

‘It’s your great-aunt,
fach
. She took a fall this afternoon. Cheska saw it and said she stumbled on the staircase.’

‘Oh God! Is she all right?’

‘I think so, yes. Just badly shaken. Dr Stone’s with her now.’

Ava dashed into the house and ran upstairs. She opened the door to LJ’s room, panting hard. Cheska was standing at the bottom of the bed, her arms folded, watching as the young doctor took
LJ’s blood pressure.

‘Oh LJ!’ She rushed to the side of the bed and knelt down, taking in her great-aunt’s ashen complexion. ‘What have you been doing? I told you to leave those hurdles alone
while I wasn’t here to watch you!’

LJ managed a weak smile at the joke she and Ava had shared since her hip operation.

‘How is she, doctor?’

‘Well, nothing broken, just some nasty bruising,’ he replied. ‘But I’m afraid your blood pressure has shot up, Mrs Marchmont. I’m going to increase your medication
and I want you to promise me you’ll remain in bed for the rest of the week.’ He turned to Ava and Cheska. ‘Absolutely no excitement, please. We want Mrs Marchmont to remain calm
and rested and see if we can get her blood pressure down. And if you don’t behave’ – he wagged a finger at LJ – ‘I’ll have no choice but to put you in
hospital.’

‘Honestly, doctor, I’ll make sure she doesn’t move a muscle.’ Ava gripped LJ’s hand tightly. ‘I can always delay going to London.’

‘No, you can’t, Ava. I can look after her.’

It was the first time Cheska had spoken. Ava glanced up at her mother and thought that she looked odd, somehow. ‘But I thought you had to get back to Hollywood?’

‘I do, but I can’t leave you to cope alone. I’m going to call my agent and tell him to let the studios know. They can film around me for a while, or write me out of the first
few episodes. After all,’ Cheska added, ‘family is much more important, isn’t it? You mustn’t miss out on the start of your course, must she, LJ?’

‘Of course not.’ LJ shook her head wearily. ‘But remember: I do have Mary here, too. Please, Cheska, don’t stay on my account. You should go back to Los Angeles as
planned.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it, darling LJ, so you’ll just have to put up with me being your nurse.’

‘Do you want to see me out, Ava?’ asked Dr Stone.

‘Of course. I’ll be back in a moment, LJ.’

‘And do try and behave yourself for five minutes, Mrs Marchmont.’

‘I’ll see that she does.’ Cheska smiled at him. ‘Goodbye, doctor, and thank you.’

The doctor blushed and mumbled a goodbye.

Ava accompanied him down the stairs. ‘Are you sure she’s going to be all right?’

‘As long as she rests, I would hope so. The problem with high blood pressure is that it can lead to strokes. Your great-aunt’s had a nasty shock and, although she’s very fit
for her age, the hip operation has taken it out of her.’ The doctor turned to Ava at the front door. ‘By the way, was that really Gigi from
The Oil Barons
?’

‘Yes.’

‘A relation?’

‘My mother, actually.’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘I had no idea. Anyway, I’m sure she’ll take good care of your great-aunt. Rather convenient she’s here, with your uncle being away and you off to
London. I’ll pop in tomorrow. Goodbye.’

The doctor left and Ava closed the front door. She turned and saw Cheska standing on the stairs behind her.

‘I thought I’d get LJ a cup of tea,’ Cheska said.

‘Good idea. I’ll go and sit with her for a bit.’ Then she noticed the tears in her mother’s eyes. ‘What is it?’ she asked, climbing the stairs towards
her.

‘Oh Ava, I feel so goddamn guilty. I mean . . . I was right behind her and then . . . she tripped and fell.’ She crumpled onto the stairs and began to sob.

Ava sat next to her and put an arm round her shoulders. ‘Don’t cry, Cheska. Of course it wasn’t your fault.’

Cheska looked at Ava and grasped her hand. ‘Ava, whatever LJ tells you, I love you very much. Very much.’ Her eyes looked huge, like steel saucers. ‘You do know that,
don’t you?’

‘Why, I . . . yes, Cheska,’ Ava said, bemused.

Cheska was staring off into the distance again. ‘There are so many things we do . . . things that—’

Ava saw her mother shudder, then visibly pull herself together.

‘I’m sorry, I’m just upset, that’s all. And I do wish you’d call me Mother, not Cheska.’

‘I . . . of course. You go and sit in the kitchen for a bit . . . Mother. I’ll go up to LJ.’

‘Thank you.’ Cheska got up, then walked sadly through the hall towards the back of the house.

Flummoxed by her mother’s strange behaviour, Ava bounded up the stairs and went to sit by LJ, who, although pale, seemed to be a little brighter.

‘How are you?’ she asked gently.

‘Better, I think. Is your mother downstairs?’

‘Yes.’

‘Ava, I . . .’

‘What is it?’

‘Well, I know it’s horrid to discuss it, but I really feel we must.’

‘Discuss what?’

‘What happens to you if I die.’

Tears sprang into Ava’s eyes. ‘Oh, please, LJ. Not now.’

‘Listen to me.’ LJ gripped her hand tightly. ‘If it happens, Marchmont goes to your Uncle David, but the will also says you can continue to live here. David has told me
definitively that he doesn’t want to. And when David dies, we’ve both agreed that Marchmont will go to you. It’s in his will too. There’s also some money, as you know,
bequeathed from your grandfather. It’s yours, Ava, and . . . and no one else’s.’

‘But what about my mother? Shouldn’t Marchmont and the money go to her if Uncle David dies?’

LJ sighed heavily. ‘Ava, there are so many things you don’t know about your past and about your mother.’

‘Then tell me,’ she urged. ‘I mean, I don’t even know who my father is.’

‘One day, maybe. But the most important thing of all is . . . please be wary of Cheska.’

‘Why?’

LJ released Ava’s hand suddenly and fell back onto her pillows, exhausted.

‘Ask your uncle, he’ll explain.’

‘But, LJ, I . . .’

‘Sorry, Ava, I’m being overdramatic. Ignore me. I’ve had a shock, that’s all.’

‘Well, I’m not leaving until you’re better. Really, I’m sure the veterinary college will understand if I have to delay going for a few days.’

‘I will get better,’ LJ replied firmly. ‘And over my dead body will I allow you to ruin your future. There’s a few days left before you leave.’

‘Yes, and we’ll see how you are then,’ Ava countered, equally firmly.

‘Here we go. A nice hot cup of tea.’ Cheska came into the room with a tray. ‘Well, this is a new role for me, playing nursemaid,’ she said, handing the cup to LJ.

That night Ava tossed and turned, remembering what LJ had said. And only wished Uncle David were here to explain what she had meant.

LJ made very good progress over the next few days. Her blood pressure came down, and the doctor – who had been extremely attentive, visiting LJ every day and staying on
to have a cup of coffee with Cheska to reassure her afterwards – told Ava he was happy with her recovery to date.

‘I think you can go to London tomorrow with a clear conscience. And your mother really is taking excellent care of her – with Mary’s help, of course.’

Ava closed her suitcase that night with a heavy heart.

She’d be leaving early tomorrow morning and, as well as feeling nervous about her new life and how she would cope living in a city and away from everything she knew, she felt deeply uneasy
about LJ.

She took up her great-aunt’s nightly cocoa, knocking on the bedroom door before she went in.

‘Hello, darling girl. All packed and ready to go?’ LJ smiled at her.

‘Yes.’ Ava put the cocoa down on the nightstand and sat on the bed, surveying her great-aunt, and noting with relief that the grey tinge had left her skin and her eyes were bright.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? It’s only Freshers’ Week, no lectures or anything. I—’

‘Ava, how many times do you want me to tell you that I am absolutely fine and completely on the mend? Besides, university life isn’t just about lectures – Freshers’ Week
is all about making new friends and having fun. I want you to enjoy yourself too.’

‘I will, I’m sure, but . . .’ Ava swallowed hard as tears came to her eyes. ‘I’ll miss you terribly.’

‘And I you, my darling, but I hope you’ll find the odd five minutes to write me a letter telling me what you’re up to.’

‘Of course I will. And here.’ Ava dug into her jeans pocket and drew out a piece of paper. ‘This is the telephone number of the hall of residence I’m in. If there’s
any problem, please call and they’ll get a message to me. I’ve given it to Mary, too. I’ll put it in your bedside drawer. And I’ll telephone every Sunday at about six
o’clock.’

‘Well, don’t worry if you can’t. Darling Ava’ – LJ lifted a hand to her great-niece’s cheek and stroked it gently – ‘you have been an absolute joy
to me, from the first minute I saw you. I’m so very proud of you.’

They hugged then, for a long time, neither of them wishing the other to see their tears.

‘Now, you have a very early start, so off to bed with you. Take care, darling girl,’ she added, as Ava stood up and kissed her goodnight.

‘I will. And
you
. I love you.’

Even Cheska roused herself at eight o’clock the following morning to say goodbye to Ava.

‘Now, you’re not to worry about a thing. I promise I’ll take the best care of LJ. Dr Stone says I was born to be a nurse.’ She giggled girlishly. ‘So, off you go
and have a wonderful time at college. I’m so sad I never got the chance to go myself.’ Cheska threw her arms around Ava’s shoulders. ‘I love you, honey. Don’t forget
that, will you?’