‘Can we go to the beach again?’ She put Jemima down andbounced closer to me.
A lump rose in my throat. ‘I’d love to, my darling.’
‘But just you, me and Mummy?’ Her pleading look made myheart ache.
I smiled brightly. ‘Of course. If that’s what you’d like,sweetheart.’
She settled in the crook of my arm, apparently happy withthat, although I knew it would never happen. Not while Darren was around.Pensively, I stroked her soft hair. ‘So did Uncle Darren come back late fromthe pub?’
She nodded. ‘When we heard his car outside, I got into myown bed and Mummy and I pretended to be asleep.’
I’ll bet you did.
‘Uncle Darren’ would have been none too pleased to findPoppy in their bed, and both Rachel and her daughter knew that only too well.
‘You know what, Auntie Enzie?’ Poppy sat up and stared at mesolemnly.
‘What’s that, love?’
‘I wish it could be Christmas with you for ever and ever.’She snuggled in again, wrapping her arm tightly around me.
Hot tears swum in my eyes. I had so much affection for thislittle girl. Even if she were my own daughter, I didn’t think I could love herany more than I did. Her bravery in coping with the devastation of her happy homelife never ceased to amaze me.
‘You know what, Poppy?’ I murmured, hugging her close. ‘Iwish that, too.’
She sat up again. ‘You mustn’t take the Christmas tree down,Auntie Enzie. Or the Santas on the windowsill. Or the fairy lights on the mantelpiece.’
I smiled. ‘All right. I won’t.’
‘Promise?’
‘I promise.’
‘I like this Rudolph.’ She smoothed her hand over one of myfestive cushions. ‘It’s my favourite. But I like the Santa one as well.’
‘Well, then, I’ll leave those cushions out, too.’
‘And Santa in his hammock?’ She pointed up at the ceiling.
‘DefinitelySanta in his hammock.’
‘Will you leave them up even when it’s summer time?’
I nodded. ‘Even when it’s summer time.’
She smiled and settled back down, curling her legsunderneath her and resting her head in the crook of my arm again. And we watchedFrozenonce more, and as she giggled at Olaf’s antics as if seeing themfor the very first time, I sat there gazing at the screen but not seeing it.
I was remembering the time I saw them on the high street –Darren’s face contorted with anger – and a shiver of revulsion rippled throughme.
How abusive would Darren have to be before Rachel walkedout?
I dreaded to think...
*****
The next morning, Poppy was quiet over breakfast, and Iknew she wasn’t looking forward to going home.
She didn’t say anything. She just thanked me politely whenRachel collected her and went off without a murmur. But as they walked away,she looked back at me and I could tell she was fighting back the tears. She wastrying so hard to be brave and I felt my heart shatter into pieces. I dreadedto imagine the thoughts that were going through her head, though. She shouldhave been bouncing happily back home with Rachel and it pierced my heart to seeher resigned posture as they walked back to their house.
