‘You know that Dad realises what he did was wrong. Why won’t you give him another chance?’
‘Because too much has happened between us. He did things I never expected. It’s taken me two years to get over the shock of it all. Now I’m finally at peace, and he’s putting ideas into your heads. He can’t just decide he wants us to be a family unit again.’
‘But we were a good family. We were all so close. I know he messed up, but we all make mistakes.’
‘Yes, we do, but some are bigger than others.’
‘I know. He has been stupid, but…’
‘Exactly. He has, and now it’s too late.’
‘But I always dreamed my mam and dad would be one of those couples I’d tell my friends in uni about. How they’d been together forever, and then one day, you’d be celebrating your fiftieth wedding anniversary. I never wanted my parents to be divorced. Imagine my wedding day. Where will you both be sitting? It’s all gone awkward now.’
‘Oh, love. I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted any of this either. It’s happened now, though, and we have to get on with it.’
‘Well, it’s not too late to change your mind, Mam.’
I give Poppy a hug, and we both get a little emotional as we say our goodbyes.
Then, as soon I can compose myself, I decide to sort this mess out once and for all with a phone call to Michael.
‘Hi, Michael. Are you free to chat?’
‘Go ahead. I’ve got a very interesting tax form in front of me, but go on because I need a word with you too…’
By the tone of his voice, I can guess that Poppy has got to him first.
‘Sounds riveting. Well, I won’t keep you. I need you to explain to the girls that we’re not getting back together. You’ve got to stop getting their hopes up.’
‘Oh, and why is that? Would that be because of that Tinder Scammer that has been staying with you?’
‘Right. First of all, it was one night, and yes, Poppy did accidentally meet Elias, as it seems you already know. Then secondly, we didn’t meet online nor is he a scammer. How many times do I have to tell you? Do I interfere with whoever you’re seeing? Since when are you so interested in my life?’
‘Well, I mean, there’s no need to go around flaunting this man about the place. People know me in Swansea. It doesn’t look good. Imagine how I felt when one of the new guys in the office said he’d been for dinner with my ex-wife and her friends.’
‘Duncan?’
‘Yes. I’m horrified.’
‘May I remind you, yet again, that we’re divorced and it’s all your fault that we are even in this mess.’
‘That’s why I want to make amends. Let’s give it another shot. Lucy, we’ve so much history between us. We have the girls who I cherish more than anything. I made a big mistake, and now I’m paying the price. You’re the only one for me. Let’s try again. For the sake of the girls. We can be a family once more, just like we were. We’ll have a new start. It’d make the girls so happy.’
‘Do you know how much I used to wish we could have a conversation like this? I did everything I could to keep my little family happy, but it was never enough for you. You took me for granted for years. Whatever the latest thing was, it would always turn your head. Well, now I’ve got myself together and realise that my future is whatever I choose it to be, and you are part of my past. We’ll always have our history, that won’t go away, but it’s time for a new start now.’
Michael is quiet for a moment and then snaps back at me. ‘If you don’t accept my apology and get back together with me now, then I won’t ask again. It’s your final chance.’
Any sympathy I had for him during this conversation has gone. He never did take rejection well.
‘That’s fine. It was over for me the day we signed the divorce papers. Now you go and do whatever it is you want to do with your life, and I’ll do what I want. But just make sure the girls know that it’s not Elias’s fault we’re not getting back together.’
‘Fine. I was only trying to get back with you because I pitied you being on your own and for the girls’ sake, anyway.’ Michael’s voice has turned meaner and more spiteful.
‘Goodbye, Michael. Have a nice life.’
I put the phone down and pour myself a coffee to calm myself before I make the next important phone call. This one is much more nerve-racking because I realise how much it means to me. I rub at the back of my neck, take a sip of coffee and press in the number. It rings and rings, and I pray for it to answer, to hear that voice on the other side, but I don’t. Instead, it goes to a generic voicemail from the phone provider. Do I really want to leave a message? I put the phone down, trying to keep a tiny glimmer of hope that he may call back. Twenty minutes later, there is no phone call from Elias as I had hoped and so I ring again. Still, there is no response, and it goes onto the voicemail. This time I decide that leaving a message might be the only way he will hear what I have to say.
‘Hi, Elias. It’s me. You know, Lucy. I’m calling to say sorry. I’m so sorry for what Poppy said. She didn’t know what’s been going on. You see, Michael did ask me to get back with him. I didn’t tell you because it didn’t feel important to tell you.’
