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He slept on my couch?
A man I barely know stayed in my house all night because he didn’t want me to be alone. I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t know how to process the fact that someone with no obligation to me has chosen to be here because I had nobody else.
My throat tightens, and I look away, blinking quickly as the tears threaten to spill over again. “You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper.
“I know.”
The simplicity of his answer throws me. He knows he didn’t have to, yet he did it anyway.
I wipe at my cheek, feeling a strange ache in my chest that isn’t entirely grief. “Thank you,” I murmur as my voice cracks slightly.
His lips curve into a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me for making sure you’re okay, Poppy.”
But I do. Because right now, when it feels like my whole world has disappeared, this stranger is somehow becoming the one person who makes me feel less alone.
“I’ve never been in a fancy car like this before,” I tell Bennett as he pulls out of my grandparents’ driveway.
Pa had an old Holden Kingswood station wagon. It was nothing like this. The paint was faded, and the seats had cracks, but it was his pride and joy. We didn’t have a lot, but we were happy.
He spent hours in the driveway working on it. His tools were always scattered around him, and his hands were permanently stained with grease. Nanna used to drive it while he was at work, and he’d always say how important it was to keep the car in good running order so his girls would be safe.
That car carried us on beach trips, grocery runs, school pickups, driving lessons and countless Sunday drives to the Blue Mountains. They never said as much, but I know they were always hoping we’d somehow run into my mother. I don’t think they ever truly got over her leaving, but I hope that, in some small way, having me with them made up for it.
Bennett cooked me scrambled eggs on toast while I showered and dressed for the day, and we’re now on the way to the funeral home.
Again, I didn’t feel like eating, but I forced the food down simply because he’d gone to the trouble of making it.
It’s been a strange morning, but somehow, it’s been comforting too.
He asked me what my plans were for the day, and when I told him, he immediately jumped into action. I’m still stressed about how much this is going to cost and whether I’m going to have to sell a kidney to pay for my grandmother’s funeral, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman.
She gave me a life I wouldn’t have had if my mother had taken me with her—a safe and loving childhood—and I’ll be eternally grateful for that.
“You’re stressing,” Bennett says as he drives down the onramp leading to the freeway.
My gaze moves from the passenger side window to him. “I’m worried about how I’m going to afford all this,” I tell him.
Between the two of us, we’ve created enough lies. I’m done adding more. From here on out, I’m going to tell him the truth, even when it makes me feel uncomfortable.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“There’s no way I’m letting you pay for it.”
He tips his chin towards the glovebox. “Nanna took care of it.”
“How?”
“There’s an envelope in there. She asked me to give it to you.”
I tentatively open the glovebox and see a fat white envelope inside. My hand slightly shakes as I reach for it.
The first thing I see is my grandmother’s neat cursive handwriting on the front. It’s unmissable.
My beautiful Poppy,
If you’re reading this, then I’m sorry I’m not there to hold your hand through such a difficult time. Please don’t worry about me. I’ve had a wonderful life, and you, sweet girl, were the best part of it. Use this money for my funeral. I don’t need anything fancy.
All my love forever and always,
