‘Too much fizz last night,’ she murmured, contradictingherself.
I laughed it off. ‘These people with exotic champagne lifestyles!I seem to be living vicariously through you at the moment, girl. What’s it liketo be wined and dined regularly by the man of your dreams?’
Rachel tried to summon up a smile but she looked terrible.
So in the end, I took Poppy back to mine and we had ariotous game of Kerplunk and she watchedFrozenfor the nine-hundred-and-fifty-fourthtime, while I caught up on some work sitting beside her on the sofa,occasionally looking up at my favourite bits. (I was pretty much word perfectby that stage.)
Then one incident a few weeks later gave me even more causefor concern.
I was coming out of the post office in Torminster oneSaturday afternoon, and I spotted the three of them walking along on the otherside of the road. I was about to raise my hand and wave, when something made mestop.
Rachel and Darren seemed to be arguing, and Poppy – holdingJemima – was trailing a little way behind, looking in shop windows. I stood ina shop doorway, pretending to be looking at the window display but keeping aneye on the trio.
Now that I was watching, I realised they weren’t arguing atall. Darren was shouting at Rachel, rounding on her furiously, and Rachel –looking upset – was shrinking away from his anger. He turned round and yelledat Poppy to hurry up, and I watched as she ran to catch up with them. Rachelheld out her hand to take Poppy’s, but Darren slapped it away and took hold ofPoppy’s shoulder, forcing her to walk on his other side, away from her mum.
My heart in my mouth, I watched as they marched along,praying that Poppy would keep up. But when she slipped behind again, Darrenturned and wrenched Jemima from her arms. He shoved the doll at Rachel, whoonly just managed to catch it, then he grabbed Poppy’s hand and marched heralong faster than her little legs could properly carry her.
I watched until they vanished into a side street. Then Iwalked home feeling shaken, my heart beating uncomfortably fast.
I felt I’d just witnessed the real Darren and I didn’t likeit one little bit. I kept thinking of Poppy being dragged along and I feltsick, wondering what home life was like for her these days, now that Darren hadmoved in.
CHAPTERTEN
I couldn’t stop thinking about Darren’s bullyingdisplay on the high street that day – the angry way he was with Rachel andPoppy.
I knew I needed to talk to Rachel, but the problem would be gettingher on her own. Darren was constantly there, having started working most days fromhome, and the time Rachel and I spent together had dwindled to never.
But I had to try.
So one day, I called Rachel and suggested she come over tomine for a glass of wine some time. ‘It’s been so long since we had a catch-upand I miss our chats,’ I said cheerfully, deliberately keeping the tone light,although underneath I was feeling nervous.
‘That would be really nice, Kenzie,’ she agreed, much to myrelief. ‘Um... Darren’s out tonight . . ?’
‘Great!’ I pounced gratefully on this. ‘What about Poppy? Doyou want to bring her over as well?’
‘No, no. She’d be bored. I’ll get Rosemary to babysit.’
Poppy liked spending time with Rosemary. I had a feeling shewas the grandchild Rosemary didn’t have. Poppy often told me about the thingsthey did together – going to the cinema and out for tea, or taking Rosemary’slittle West Highland terrier, Freddy, for walks in the countryside – and Icould tell there was a real affection between the two of them, which made meglad.
Rachel had mentioned to me in the early days of theirromance that Rosemary had always spoiled her son terribly and as a consequenceDarren was a bit of a mummy’s boy, expecting everything done for him when he gothome from work. She’d laughed about this at the time, although I couldn’t helpwondering if she still found it amusing.
‘Just come over when you’re free,’ I said to Rachel, butwhen I put the phone down, I was already feeling anxious about what I had to do.I hated pretending I just wanted a catch-up, but I needed to speak to her faceto face about what was actually happening at home. Because if ever I asked herthese days, she always said, ‘Oh, we’re fine,’ and changed the subject.
At first, when she arrived, it was slightly awkward betweenus. It was as if we were both on our best behaviour, chatting politely aboutwhat was happening in the world and how great the weather had been lately. Butonce the wine started to flow and I put on the music of our student days, weboth relaxed and it was almost like it used to be.
I was dreading bringing up the subject of Darren. But in theend, Rachel introduced the topic herself.
She’d been telling me about Poppy’s doll Jemima goingmissing and how she’d panicked because she knew her daughter would bedistraught if they couldn’t find it. But eventually, Poppy herself spotted itunder a bush in the garden where she’d been playing with it last.
Taking a sip of her wine, she grinned. ‘Poppy worships thatdoll. She has done ever since the day Darren bought it for her.’
I nodded. ‘I can tell. She won’t be without it.’
‘That was such a lovely night.’ Rachel sighed, remembering.‘Darren bought a present for me as well and we drank champagne and dancedaround the kitchen after Poppy was in bed.’ She stared into her glass and sighed.‘If only the romantic beginning of a relationship lasted longer than just thefirst few months.’
‘Hasn’t it, then?’ I probed gently, glad of the cue.
She smiled sadly. ‘I guess that’s what happens, isn’t it? It’sall wonderful at the beginning and then you start taking each other forgranted.’
