Poppy just… She just…
‘I…’ She shook her head. It was too much to think about. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Of course.’ Declan picked Daniel up again and buried his face against his shoulder for a long moment, which made Poppy scared that he might be crying.
When he put Daniel down, he said, ‘So I’m actually between patients in the surgery so I’m going to have to go back, but thank you again, and I’d love to come over again.’
‘Of course, I mean definitely, yes ofcourse,’ Poppy said, not over-emphasising anything atall.
And then he left and Poppy felt very, very flat.
‘Did you get Beth’s text asking us all to meet on Friday?’ Ankita asked when she’d returned to the house. ‘Don’t worry. Georgie called and she and Max can’t do that weekend anyway. Also, Declan phoned me after he left and asked if I could tell you that he loves you.’
Poppy twisted her hands together.
It felt awful that her inability to be in the same room as Georgie meant that their group had broken up. And Georgie had been her best friend forever. But it was just sohardand it still felt like she had things to think through.
And Declan. She just… She was justhurt.
In the end, she said, ‘Thank you,’ in response to the questioning look on Ankita’s face.
Ankita’s silence was loud.
Yep.
Maybe Poppy should think hard about Declan and Georgie sooner rather than later.
Poppy made a butter bean, tomato and endive salad for a light dinner, only realising as she placed caramelised onions on top that she didn’t need to keep making new meals any more because she wasn’t sticking to her resolutions – it really didn’t matter now if everyone knew that she’d written that she suspected that Declan was having an affair since he’d moved out anyway. And obviously hehadn’tbeen having an affair.
No one had posted on the chat since the big fallout. She wondered whether anyone else was sticking to their resolutions still.
The new meal one had been really good. She should continue with it.
Sheshouldmake sure that Declan was very much involved in Daniel’s life. Maybe the next time she cooked something new she should invite him over to try it.
‘This looks nice,’ said Ankita when she came into the room. She sat down and picked up her cutlery and then cut a cherry tomato into two very precisely. ‘I need to go to New York and Boston for work next week and I might be away for a fortnight, but I don’t want to go if you won’t be okay.’
‘Ankita, of course you should go.’ Poppy really wanted to ask if she was going to be going with Alex – she wassurethere was a mutual attraction between the two of them – but maybe she should be subtle about the question. ‘I’ll be fine.’ She probably would, she realised.
‘I happened to speak to Beth and Declan, and Beth would love to come and stay for a few days and Declan will be around if you do need any help.’
‘I’msureI’ll be fine,’ Poppy said. ‘Ankita, thank you.’
‘Nothing to thank me for.’ Ankita smiled.
‘Soooo… is Alex going on the trip?’ Poppy couldn’t help asking about one second later.
‘Yep.’ Ankita spent far too long loading her fork. ‘I might meet him at the pub this evening to discuss the trip.’ Like she couldn’t and didn’t speak to him regularly during the day about work.
Poppy had to spend a long time sorting her own next mouthful to stop herself laughing. Ankita wasneverlike this about men. It was very sweet.
After two days of guilt, she texted Georgie on Friday afternoon.
Hi, please don’t feel that you can’t meet Beth in the pub this evening because of me.
Georgie read the message immediately, and then maybe an hour later replied.
Hello! I hope you’re well! Thank you so much but Max and I are busy today. Hope you have a lovely evening!
