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But first I need to see Poppy. I’ve had to put any notion of sorting out our relationship onto the backburner while I organized everything else, but although I haven’t had much time to see her, she’s always in my mind. I was hoping to catch up with her today once I’d said hello to everyone at Noah’s, but not long after I spotted her, Noah came up to tell me she’d slipped out. He said Charlie had gone after her, and I suspected it was because she was upset. I’m not sure why—I suspect she’s discovered she’s not pregnant. I know I shouldn’t have left the reception—it is for my mother, after all. But I couldn’t let Poppy go through this without me. I was so convinced I’d knocked her up.
“Anyway,” Charlie says, “I’d better get going and leave you two lovebirds to it.”
So she’s told him about us, then? That surprises me. I wonder if he knows all the details.
“Actually,” I say, “I’ve got something to ask you… If you have a minute.”
“Sure,” he says.
I run a hand through my hair. “Er… It sounds as if Poppy has told you that we… ah… are sort of seeing each other.”
He studies me for a moment, then leans back and rests an ankle on the other knee. I can’t tell if he’s wary or amused. “Yeah.”
“Well… I’m incredibly fond of her… and we had a great time in Hawke’s Bay. I haven’t seen her much over the past week or so, but I’ve missed her a lot, and I thought… well, I hoped…” Jesus, I’m making a hash of this.
Charlie meets my gaze and his lips curve up.
“I’m doing my best,” I say somewhat huffily, and his smile spreads.
“What do you want to ask me?” he says softly.
“Mr. King—”
“God, Charlie, please.”
“Charlie… would I have your blessing to ask Poppy for her hand in marriage?”
He smiles. “Of course.”
I feel a swell of relief and happiness. Jack comes back up to me as if sensing my emotions, and I pick him up and put him on my lap, kissing his head. “I haven’t asked her yet, so it’s entirely possible she’ll say no.”
“Well, you won’t know until you ask.”
“I think Daniel did a lot of damage.”
His smile fades and his brow darkens. “I was all for going around to his house with a hammer to smash his kneecaps, but her mother talked me out of it.”
That makes me laugh. “You’d have resorted to violence?”
“Probably not. But I’d like to have given him a piece of my mind. A grown man with a wife and two children seducing a younger woman, treating her badly, and then abandoning her… Yeah. Not impressed.”
“Me neither. If you ever form a posse, give me a call.”
We both smile.
“You’re really serious about her,” he says.
“I am. But I know she’s been hurt, and she’s reluctant to enter another relationship because of that.”
“I didn’t think I’d see her dating again for a long time,” he admits. “Your suggestion you do things the old-fashioned way was very innovative.”
I haven’t blushed since I was about fourteen, but my face grows hot. “Uh…”
He tries not to laugh, and fails. “Sorry.” He glances at the house, obviously sees Poppy coming out of the bathroom, and gets to his feet. “Look after my little girl, won’t you?” he says softly. “She’s pretty sweet on you.”
I swallow and nod. We’re shaking hands when Poppy comes out onto the deck.
“What’s going on?” she asks suspiciously.
“Two men doing manly things,” her father says. “I’m going to leave you to it. Are you okay?”
She nods. Her eyes are bright, and I suspect she’s been crying, but she looks composed now. “Hey Jack,” she says, bending to stroke him as he runs up to her.
“All right,” Charlie says. “Come here.” He gives her a big hug and a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. Let me know how it goes, okay?”
“Okay, Dad.”
