I was dreading their return from New York.
But Rachel phoned the day before their flight and seemed ingood spirits. They’d had a great time and they couldn’t wait to get back andsee Poppy. As we talked, though, I was uncomfortably aware of Darren in thebackground. Rachel was talking quickly as if her time was limited and I imaginedDarren frowning at his watch and getting impatient the longer we chatted.
‘I need to dash. We’ve got dinner booked at our favouriterestaurant here,’ she said at last, and we said our speedy goodbyes.
Poppy and I were up early the following day. We were meetingthem off the plane, and although I was dreading handing her back – we’d hadsuch a lovely time – I could tell that Poppy was excited at seeing her mummyagain, and I was glad.
I’d already determined that I was going to talk to Rachelagain... to try and break down the wall she’d built up betweenus. Not being able to talk honestly, as we’d always done in the past, waskilling me. I’d never felt so utterly helpless in my life. I wanted someone tosay:This is what you should do.Because I was so very uncertain myself.I wanted to tell someone but I was terrified of making things worse. I’d eventhought of talking to Rosemary about my fears, but would she hear a word saidagainst her beloved son? I doubted it. She’d tell Darren what I’d said to herand that would only make things worse. Rachel would side with Darren and thatwould be that. I was clinging to what Rachel had said about Darren gettingcounselling for his anger, praying that this might be the solution.
My stomach was full of butterflies as we waited in arrivals.I’d know by their faces if things were okay but I wasn’t feeling optimistic.Holidays could be extra stressful for couples if things weren’t great betweenthem.
Poppy spotted them first. ‘Mummy!’ she yelled, and rantowards Rachel, throwing her arms around her, and the pair hugged each othertightly. Darren was laughing and from his body language, I could tell he was ina good mood, and every cell in my body sighed with relief.
When he swung Poppy around, she shrieked with delight, andthe three of them walked towards me with big smiles on their faces. In the caron the way home, Rachel talked excitedly to Poppy about how much she wanted toshow her the city when she was a little older because it was magical.
‘As magical asFrozen?’ Poppy wanted to know, hangingon her mummy’s every word.
‘Well, maybe not quite as magical as that,’ laughed Rachel,and I joined in, and even Darren seemed charmed by the conversation.
‘There’s a shop called FAO Schwartz where you can buy anytoy under the sun, including all theFrozenmerchandise,’ he said.‘You’d love it, Poppy. We’ll go there next time when you’re with us. Eh,Rachel?’
Rachel nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. Darren’smood set the tone, as it always did. EvenIfound myself smiling at hisstories and jokes.
When I dropped them off, Poppy danced into the house withRachel, Darren following behind with their suitcases. I took it as a good signthat Poppy didn’t even turn to wave at me.
I drove home, hoping – rather than knowing – that everythingwould be all right.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
We were just a few days into January, when thesituation with Darren boiled over into a terror I’d never expected.
But we knew nothing of what was to come on New Year’s Eve,when Poppy came to my house for a sleepover. Rachel and Darren dropped her offon the way to a New Year’s Eve ball at a local hotel and I’d planned a funnight for Poppy.
‘Didn’t your Mummy look wonderful in that dress?’ I said, aswe flumped on the sofa together, after a bowl of ice-cream and caramel sauceeach.
Poppy nodded. ‘Uncle Darren said she looked beautiful. Hegave her a present.’
‘A present? Ooh, how lovely. What was it?’
‘A sparkly bracelet.’ She gave me her heart-melting,gap-toothed smile. ‘Mummy let me try it on.’
I smiled but my insides shifted uneasily. This seemed to bea pattern of Darren’s. He’d get angry with Rachel or Poppy and storm out, thenhe’d return the next day bearing gifts. When it first happened, I’d looked onhis generosity as Darren trying to prove how sorry he was for upsetting them. Butnow I knew the lavish gifts were Darren’s sly method of worming his way backinto Rachel’s affections so she’d take him back. She’d always felt guilty thatPoppy didn’t have a dad in her life, and I guessed Darren probably played onthat. He must have known Rachel would be a pushover for any man being lovely toPoppy, hence the expensive toys.
It didn’t bear thinking about, that kind of control.
‘Did... something happen last night?’ Iasked, keeping my voice light and casual. ‘Did Uncle Darren get cross again?’
A shadow crossed Poppy’s face and I watched all the laughterand light draining from her. She reached for Jemima, hugging her tightly. ‘Iheard them shouting.’
‘Upstairs?’
She nods. ‘Uncle Darren came down and made my tea becauseMummy was tired and wanted to go to bed. He did beans but he forgot the cheeseon top and he burned the toast.’
‘Did he tuck you in?’
She shakes her head. ‘He went to the pub so I got into bedwith Mummy and we talked about the summer days and all the holidays we had withyou, Auntie Enzie.’
‘We had some lovely times.’
