‘You’re so understanding, thank you,’ says Elias, kissing me goodbye at Manchester train station.
‘I’ll see you again soon. We’ll sort something out,’ I say.
‘I really don’t want you to leave, but maybe I need this time to speak to Danny. I’m going to tell him how much you mean to me. Then I’m sure he’ll come around.’
‘That means a lot, thank you. I should probably speak to the girls too. Perhaps we need this time apart to sort out our family dynamics and, who knows, maybe one day our families can meet up.’
‘Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could be one big extended family,’ says Elias.
‘It would.’
‘But, in the meantime, I still mean what I said about running off to France for the summer. If all else fails… Well, we may have to.’
Elias looks at me with the cheekiest look on his face, and I start to think that this might be the only option if we want to be together.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I am disappointed to be on a train departing Manchester after only one night, so I can’t help but daydream what it would be like to return to the French Riviera with Elias. I picture myself waking up with him every morning with the sun shining through the curtains and that lovely smile on his face. But my daydream is soon broken when I notice Poppy calling my mobile.
‘Hello, love.’
‘Mam, Mam… You’re not going to believe this. Dad came up on a dating site I’m on. I was scrolling through the pages. You know how it is, swiping no, no, no… Then Daddy’s face appeared, but it wasn’t his name. I thought I was going to be sick!’ says Poppy.
Oh no. She must have seen that awful photo and the lies.
‘Oh dear.’
‘Why don’t you sound surprised? I was horrified. He’s looking for someone younger than him. Can you believe it? I wanted to be sick. Jasmine said, maybe it’s not really Dad, though? Someone might have used his photo because they obvs haven’t used his name. Jasmine thought either someone’s stolen his photo or it could be a prank by someone at work. Are they that bonkers in the office, do you think?’
It seems that Michael’s true colours may have finally been revealed to the girls, although Jasmine is obviously refusing to believe it.
I want to say that he is indeed looking for someone younger and calling himself Tom, but I bite my tongue.
‘Well, maybe you should ask him about it. I’m sure there’ll be some kind of explanation.’
‘Do you think it’s because he’s lonely? Because you haven’t gone back with him yet? There might still be a chance for you both to get back together, you know.’
I stop Poppy right away.
‘No. I’m sorry. I’ve told you that’s never going to happen, and besides, I told you how I have met someone lovely, who you saw briefly at the flat.’
‘Oh, Mam. I didn’t like him. He looks well dodge. Why can’t you get back with Dad instead?’
Elias is the least dodgy man I have ever met. Now, Michael, and the way he behaves nowadays, is what she would call dodgy if she knew all the facts.
‘You just need to get to know him. You know, I’ve just met his sons. I’m on my way back from Manchester now. I’m sure you’d like them. One of the boys, James, is at uni studying marine biology. You like that sort of thing, don’t you?’
‘Oh, you remember my friend Emma? That’s what she’s doing up that way somewhere. I wonder if she knows this dodgy family. I’ll have to ask her.’
‘They’re not dodgy! Don’t be like that. He seemed very studious. A decent boy.’
‘Yeah, right. Well, anyway, I don’t want to talk about that dodgy bloke any more.’
I want to repeat that he’snot dodgy! But I know there’s no point right now. Once Poppy gets something into her mind, that’s it. Like Danny, it looks like it will take a lot to win her round.
‘Anyway, I’ve got to go. Just wanted to tell you about Dad, but I feel better now. I’ve got to get ready for the Student Union party tonight. I’m dressing up as a sausage.’
‘A sausage? Well, you’ll have to send me pics of that. Doesn’t sound like your usual type of thing.’
