‘No! Can we just watch the movie?’
‘Yes, but I need to call your mum first and tell her – ’
‘No! You can’t!’ She turned to me, her eyes flaring withpanic.
‘But why not?’
‘Because she’ll take me home and when Uncle Darren comesback, he’ll lock me in the garage again and I won’t be able to get out and it’sso dark in there and I felt a spider crawl over me.’ She burst into frightenedtears and threw herself into my arms, and I hugged her fiercely as fury boiledinside me.
‘It was horrible, Auntie Enzie, and I was so cold. Mummy letme out of the garage when Uncle Darren went out in his car and she warmed me upby the fire and made me some hot chocolate but then I was sick.’ She pulledaway and gazed up at me. ‘Oh, Auntie Enzie, I was sick all over the rug and nowMummy’s trying to clean it up because Uncle Darren will be so cross with mewhen he gets back.’ She gabbled all of this so quickly I was finding it hard tokeep up, but I could feel her trembling.
I had to talk to Rachel. Make her see sense. Surely shecouldn’t still want to be with a man who would lock a frightened little girl ina pitch black garage?
‘Come on, love.’ I got up, holding out my hand. ‘Your mumwill be worried. She won’t know where you’ve gone. We need to get you back toher.’
But Poppy folded her arms resolutely. ‘No. I’m staying here,Auntie Enzie. I want to live with you.’ She turned pleading eyes on me. ‘Pleasecan I live with you?’
‘Oh, Poppy.’ My heart felt as if it might explode withemotion. ‘I would love that. But what about your mummy?’
She looked at me, tears running down her cheeks. ‘Mummycould come as well. Couldn’t she?’
I nodded. ‘Of course she could. I’d like nothing better.’
She nodded, picking up my mobile and thrusting it into myhand. ‘Phone Mummy and tell her to come and live here. I bet she says yes.’ Herlittle face was full of desperation. ‘I don’t want to go to New York atChristmas time, Auntie Enzie. Please can I stay here with you?Please?’
She gripped my hand in both of hers, staring up at meimploringly, and I felt my heart break into a million pieces.
Mum and Dad were going on a longed-for Christmas cruise thisyear, so it was going to be just me for the festive period this year. They’d havewanted me to join them if they’d known I’d be on my own. But I was so busy at work,I knew I wouldn’t be able to get the whole time off. They believed me when Isaid I’d be spending the festive period with Rachel and Poppy as usual. Ihadn’t told them anything about Darren...
I swallowed hard and summoned up a smile. ‘It’s going to beall right, Poppy. I’m going to talk to your mummy and ask her if you can spendChristmas here with me, okay?’
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
When I told Poppy she could spend the festive seasonwith me, instead of flying with her mummy and Darren to New York, her face litup brighter than a thousand Christmas trees.
‘Really, Auntie Enzie?’ Her eyes flashed with hope. Then shefrowned. ‘Are you telling porkies?’
I laughed. ‘No, I’m not telling porkies. I wouldn’t lie toyou about something like that. I’ve talked to your mummy and she thinks it’s agreat idea.’
‘Whoopee!’ She got up and started dancing around with Jemima,and I watched her, my heart swelling with joy. Children were so resilient. Itwas something I’d often heard but now I could see it in action. All the sadnessand fear were banished in an instant. She was back to being just a happy,energetic eight-year-old without a care in the world, and I felt so relieved tosee it.
She was making up a song, singing to Jemima, ‘We’re going tobe sleeping at Auntie Enzie’s house at Christmas time. And we’re going to haveso much fun!’
Suddenly, she stopped and turned to me, her expressiongrave. ‘But what about Santa? I need to tell him to come here instead of to myhouse. So I get my presents.’
I nodded seriously. ‘Absolutely. Don’t worry, aunties have aspecial hotline to Santa so I’ll let him know.’
‘Will you remember?’ She looked anxious.
‘Yes, I’ll remember. He’ll deliver your presents here, Ipromise. They’ll be under the tree waiting for you when you wake up onChristmas morning.’
‘Yay!’ And as she got back to dancing around the livingroom, my mind was whirring. I was already making plans.
I was going to pour all my energy into making sure Poppy hadthe best Christmas ever.
*****
On Christmas Eve, it started to snow as Poppy and Idecorated the little Christmas tree I’d bought for her bedroom.
