Page 8 of The House Swap

They ate cross-legged on the sofa, straight from the cardboard boxes, Keira doing most of the talking – about work, about Greg, about a woman at her new job who had microwaved fish and stunk the whole office out. Poppy listened, grateful for the normality and for the noise filling her flat. Eventually, though, the conversation circled back to her online fallout.

‘You can’t keep reading it all,’ Keira told her, when Poppy confessed she had snuck on Facebook before Keira had arrived. ‘It’ll eat you alive.’

‘I know.’ Poppy dunked a chip in sauce, surprised at quite how hungry she was. She swallowed her mouthful. ‘I just keep thinking… what if it doesn’t stop?’

Keira was quiet for a moment. ‘Then you stop it. Step back for a bit.’

‘From my job?’

‘Yes. I don’t mean permanently but take a break. A proper one.’

‘And do what?’ Poppy asked hesitantly.

‘I don’t know. Get away from here, from this flat. Maybe go somewhere nice for a week.’

As tempting an idea as it was, it felt unprofessional and a little bit cowardly, like she would be running away from the situation. Still, Keira’s suggestion stayed with her long after her friend had left.

Poppy tidied the flat, more out of habit than necessity, and when there was nothing left to straighten or clear away, she sat down on the sofa with her phone and opened her banking app.

She had savings, but was it irresponsible to use them when she had no idea how this whole Simon situation was going to play out?

But Keira was right. Things weren’t healthy for her right now. If she could just press pause while she refreshed, it would probably do her the world of good. She didn’t have to pick anywhere expensive.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen expecting Keira again, but was pleasantly surprised when it was Tom.

How are you holding up today?

She hesitated before replying, deciding to be honest with him.

Still a bit shell-shocked, but better. Thank you for checking in.

His reply came almost immediately.

Any time. Try to be kind to yourself, Pops. And remember, none of this was your fault. I’m here if you need me.

His words meant a lot. She told him:

I really appreciate that.

He was right, and so was Keira. She should be kind to herself, and she did deserve to take a break. Perhaps she could do a spa resort. Or maybe she should go to the coast. Margate or Brighton were both nice, even if it was a bit cold.

She googled accommodation, realising that if she wanted a decent hotel or Airbnb, it was going to cost her as much as going abroad.

Was that a possibility, a cheap flight somewhere?

She did a search, wanting to see what was available, not looking for any particular destination, instead focusing on dates and prices.

After a few minutes, she closed the tab without booking anything. There were a few possibilities, but she didn’t need to decide anything right this minute. Just that quiet reassurance that she had options if she wanted them helped to soothe her, as did the reminder that the world was bigger than her flat.

If she decided she wanted to leave, then she could.

4

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER

Poppy spent the latter part of the weekend at her parents’ house in Sevenoaks.

Her family tended to gather for a Sunday roast at least once a month, working around Grace’s nursing shifts. It was always the five of them – Poppy’s mum and dad, Trish and Brian, plus Grace and her girlfriend, Erin – and there was something comforting about returning to the home where she had grown up.