Chapter Twenty-Eight SPECIAL DELIVERIES

Ava sat in the back of the farm truck next to Tom, holding her winning photo of Ruby in her hands and surrounded by the family’s mountain of rosettes. Ava couldn’t stop staring at the picture she’d taken – she couldn’t believe how good it actually was. She picked up her red rosette and pinned it to her jumper.

They were driving through the village, with several boxes of harvest festival donations sitting in the back ready to be delivered to some of the older villagers and families who needed them. Tom jumped out with his dad to do the first one, and Ava watched through the truck window as they knocked on the door.

‘Your uncle always likes to do this one,’ said Aunt Kitty. ‘Mrs Jones was a midwife and helped deliver him – and most of the village, to be honest.’

‘That’s lovely,’ said Ava. ‘I think it’s brilliant that all these people are getting a box of something nice.’

‘Me too,’ said Aunt Kitty. ‘We’ve done it for as long as I can remember. It really brings the village together, having a celebration of the farmers and the harvest – then donating everything to those who need it or could do with a little treat.’

Tom and Uncle John got back into the car and they drove off through the village in the direction of Whistledown Farm. The houses began to thin around them on the outskirts of the village, and as they continued along the windy country road, Ava realized they were nearly home.

‘What about this one?’ asked Ava, looking at the box she’d packed on her lap.

‘That’s for Mary Merrington,’ said Aunt Kitty.

‘But haven’t we missed her house in the village?’ asked Ava.

‘She doesn’t live in the village,’ said Tom. ‘She actually lives on the farm.’

Ava frowned. She’d never seen anyone else living at Whistledown. Aunt Kitty smiled as she registered the confusion on Ava’s face.

‘There’s a couple of old farm-worker cottages on the border of the farm, and Mary lives in one of them. Tom’s great-grandad sold it to the Merrington family years ago, and Mary’s lived there all her life. We kept the farmland around it, but she owns the cottage.’

When I was a lad I used to play with Mary’s grandchildren when they came to stay for the summer,’ said Uncle John as he turned into a small track. ‘You lot weren’t the first to build dens in the woods, you know.’

Ava peered out of the window, trying to get her bearings. They were right at the bottom of the farm at the far end of Whistledown Woods.

‘I don’t think I’ve been down here,’ said Ava. ‘Have I?’

Aunt Kitty shook her head. ‘Probably not. We cut the fields round Mary’s house for hay in the summer. It’s beautiful wildflower meadows at that time of year, so you’ll have to come back and see them then.’

The truck slowed as Uncle John came to a stop.

‘Can I deliver this one?’ asked Ava.

‘Of course,’ said Aunt Kitty, getting out of the passenger seat. ‘It’s the one you packed, so I think you should!’

‘Must be fate!’ said Ava with a smile.

Ava carried the box out of the truck and stopped outside the cottage. It was late afternoon and the light was fading, but the last of the sunshine illuminated the cottage, giving a welcoming glow.

‘Wow, it’s pretty,’ said Ava, looking at her aunt. But Aunt Kitty was frowning at something. She was looking at a sign by the old stone wall that encircled the well-kept front garden.

‘I didn’t know Mary was moving,’ muttered Aunt Kitty.

Ava looked up at the For Sale sign Aunt Kitty was looking at.

‘I’m going to miss her,’ Aunt Kitty added with a sad smile.

She opened a white-painted metal gate, and Ava followed her through into the garden. She walked along the red-brick pathway that led up to a moss-green-coloured front door enclosed in a wooden porch. Aunt Kitty knocked loudly and waited. Ava shifted the box in her arms; it was surprisingly heavy, and she hoped Mrs Merrington wouldn’t take long to answer.

The door opened and a small white-haired woman with a stick answered. She beamed as she saw who it was.

‘Kitty!’

Aunt Kitty and Mary Merrington embraced, and the old lady stood aside.

‘Come in, come in. I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘We can’t stop this time, I’m afraid, Mary. We’ve been making deliveries. We just came to drop this off.’ Aunt Kitty nodded towards the box in Ava’s arms.

‘Ooh, harvest festival goodies! I’d totally forgotten that was today.’ Mary’s bright blue eyes fell on Ava. ‘And who do we have here?’

‘I’m Ava, Aunt Kitty’s niece. I’m staying up at the farm for a little while.’

Mary Merrington smiled at her. ‘Well, it’s lovely to meet you, dear. You must pop along for a cuppa one day. It’s not often we get new people in the village.’

‘Speaking of the village and new people,’ said Aunt Kitty, ‘I saw the For Sale sign outside.’

Mary’s face fell a little as she looked at Ava’s aunt. ‘Ah, yes. That went up this morning. I suppose it had to happen at some point. It’s harder to manage on my own these days, and Charlie said… You remember my oldest son, Charlie, don’t you?’

Aunt Kitty nodded.

‘Well, he’s built me a fancy annexe next to his house close to town. He said it was so I can have more company, but he just wants to keep an eye on me! He’s right though. I’ve had a few falls recently, so it’s time to move on. I was going to pop over and tell you, but I haven’t made it up to see you yet. I’m going to miss Whistledown Farm and the village a lot.’

The old lady’s eyes shone bright as they pricked with tears.

Aunt Kitty hugged Mary. ‘We’ll miss you too.’

Mary waved Aunt Kitty away. ‘Stop being so nice or you’ll start me off.’

‘Where would you like me to put the box, Mrs Merrington?’ asked Ava.

‘The kitchen table would be grand. Thank you, young Ava. Ooh, I’ll take those strawberry laces out first though. They’re my favourite!’

Mary’s eyes fell on the red rosette Ava had pinned to her jumper.

‘I see someone’s had a good day at the village show?’

Ava beamed. ‘I won first prize in the photography competition with my photo of two owls.’

‘Well done, you! Do you like birds?’ asked Mary.

Ava nodded. ‘I don’t know much about them yet – well, apart from owls, that is – but I’m hoping to learn.’

‘Why don’t you put that box in the kitchen and I’ll get your aunt to help me with something,’ said Mary with a wink.

Ava took the box into the kitchen at the back of the cottage and placed it on the table. Patio doors looked out onto the immaculate cottage garden. Mary obviously loved taking care of it. She returned to the hallway to see Aunt Kitty carrying a box. Mary smiled warmly at Ava.

‘One good turn deserves another,’ said Mary. ‘This is for you, Ava.’

Aunt Kitty handed Ava the large cardboard box.

‘What is it?’

‘Have a look,’ said Mary with a smile.

Ava set the box on the faded green patterned carpet and opened the top. Inside was an expensive-looking pair of binoculars sitting on top of a lot of birdwatching books.

‘I can’t take these!’ said Ava.

‘You’d be doing me a favour, dear,’ said Mary kindly. ‘I can’t take everything I have in the house with me when it sells, and I’d be happy knowing they’d gone to a good home.’

‘Thank you!’ said Ava, giving Mary a hug.

Mary nodded at the box. ‘There’s a wildlife camera in there somewhere as well. Nice bit of kit – took me a while to work out how to use it, mind.’ The old lady chuckled to herself. ‘I got some great pictures and videos of the deer, rabbits, birds – you name it – that wander through the woods and by the stream at the bottom of the garden. I bet if you set it up around the farm you’d get some good wildlife footage.’

‘That’s so cool!’ said Ava, her voice high and excited. ‘Thank you so much!’

‘There’s probably more things like that lying around here I can’t take. Why don’t you come along with your aunt Kitty for tea and cake soon, and you can have first dibs on anything I have to get rid of.’

‘I’d love to come along for tea and cake, thank you, Mrs Merrington,’ Ava said, realizing how much she’d really like to come. Mary was so welcoming, and her house felt comfy and cosy – it was right on the farm too!

‘We’ll be back to see you soon then,’ said Aunt Kitty, reaching for the door. ‘Take care of yourself, Mary.’

Ava picked up the box and followed her aunt out of the front door.

‘Thank you again, Mrs Merrington!’ she called over her shoulder.