Cornwall CALLING
THE STORY SO FAR: Escaping to Cornwall on the night before her doomed wedding was the best move Ava ever made. Living in Hydrangeas, her family’s old holiday house, has brought back happy memories. Plus, the play complex she has opened in the garden has become a treasured community hub. A chance re-encounter in the sea with dishy Mark Pendower, an old childhood friend, has made her forget her vow to steer clear of men forever. To top it all, she and Auntie Beth, her late mother’s only sister and a wise confidante, have managed to lure Ava’s sister Sophie to the West Country for a few days, unbeknown to her overbearing husband Simon. Late one evening, Sophie breaks down, admitting to Ava that her marriage is miserable, but she’s too fearful to leave. Then a car pulls up. Simon has tracked them down.
Ava and Sophie stayed rooted to their spot beside the flaming firepit as Simon stalked towards them through the darkness.
‘Well, well, what do we have here?’ he asked. ‘A home for runaway wives?’
Sophie jumped to her feet, kissing his cheek awkwardly. ‘What a surprise,’ she managed. ‘I thought you were away on your shooting party.’
‘And I thought you were staying with that aunt of yours. Except when I turned up there, she was alone. The old bat refused to tell me where you were, but I spotted a postcard you’d sent her, so it wasn’t hard to work out you’d
