At first, Gran was defensive and did not want to answer. Poppy wore her down. In the end, Gran told her that her mother had an affair with her boss, Jonathan Stroupe, and confirmed what Poppy had read in the diary. They were very much in love. Gran said he was devastated after her mother’s death and begged them to let him have the child. Of course, his wife, Janice Stroupe, was battling cancer and knew nothing of the affair. Knowing that he could not care for a sick wife and three children and hold down a busy career as an attorney, Gran and Papa convinced him that Poppy was better off with them. They argued his wife and children would never accept her. In the end, he relented and gave up his parental rights.
Poppy also discovered that he had given them a substantial amount of money over time to help cover the cost of raising her. Almost all the money went to keep the farm going. No matter how hard they tried, each year, they went further and further into debt. That was why when Papa died, Gran sold. She was trying to salvage something to send Poppy to school.
Ultimately, Stroupe took care of that as well. He actually funded the hardship scholarship she won. He had cared and tried to help where he could. He had orchestrated the job for Gran at the Carrington house so he could be near Poppy. The thought that she might have had a relationship with him had he lived left Poppy feeling bereft.
The last thing she shared with Bennett was that Gran told her a few days before his death that Tatum had approached Gran, saying he was going to confront his father. He wanted Poppy to be a part of the family. She begged him not to do that. Gran felt it would disrupt Poppy’s life. Selfishly, Gran worried they would take Poppy away from her. Sadly, he died before he got the chance.
Once Poppy shared all of this, Bennett just stared at her. After a few minutes, Poppy said, “Say something.”
“I am thinking,” said Bennett. “This is a lot.”
“No kidding,” said Poppy. “So, if this is serious with Rosie, I should contact Taylor. Ben or I might be able to help as her closest biological relatives.”
Bennett continued staring into space and then said, “Oh my God, I get it now.”
“Get what?” asked Poppy, confused.
“The week before Tatum died, he came to me and told me he knew I was messing with you again. I thought he would be mad about it, but he wasn’t. As you know, I ate every day you were working at Colton’s. Most days, he came with me. He saw how I looked at you and realized we were a couple again. Anyway, he pulled me into his office one day and said he knew we were back together. He asked me to be careful. He realized what it would do to my future career if word got out that I was sleeping with a kid just out of high school.”
“You have never told me this before. Why?” asked Poppy.
“Like I said, it was just days before his passing. Afterward, I was too focused on what came next,” replied Bennett.
“What was that?” asked Poppy.
“He made me promise to take care of his sister no matter what happened. He said he thought I would make a great husband for his sister and made me promise to always be there for her no matter what happened. I thought he was trying to warn me off you and push me toward Taylor. I thought he was talking about her. I realize now he was talking about you. Oh my God, he was talking about you. He was giving me his blessing to be with you.”
Taking Poppy in his arms, Bennett held her close. Somehow, suddenly, it all made sense. Bennett felt years lighter. He felt a closeness to his friend’s spirit that he had not felt in months.
Still holding her close, he said, “I knew from the minute I walked into your classroom last March and found out you were widowedthat I was going to have to break my promise to my best friend. I had spent the last eleven years of my life trying to make sure that Taylor was taken care of. Knowing that I would leave her to be with you bothered me only because of that. Honestly, that was the hardest part of this. I was determined to find a way to be with you, come hell or high water.”
Leaning back, Poppy asked, “From the moment you found out I was a widow? You knew then we were going to be together?”
“Damn straight. Never doubted it. Seeing you was like seeing the sun come up. It was a chance for a new start. I was not going to let you go. Not without a fight. What did you think when you first saw me that day? Did you think we could work it out and have a future together?”
“Honestly, all my brain could focus on was how hot you were. It took all I had not to drag you to the front of the room, throw you across my desk, and have my wicked way with you. Remember, it had been a long sex drought at that point.”
“Why did you not say something? I would have been all yours.” Bennett grinned, giving her a brief kiss.
“Because you were a very married man, you belonged to someone else,” replied Poppy.
Nuzzling her neck, he said, “Baby, I have been all yours from the first time you stuck your tongue down my throat.”
Laughing, Poppy said, “Okay, gross. And also, so not true.”
"Yes, true," replied Bennett, giving her little kisses across her face. "Want to go upstairs and let me prove it to you?"
Giving him a quick kiss before pushing back, Poppy said, "Rain check. Right now, I need to know if you think I should contact Taylor."
Instantly, the conversation turned serious again. Sighing deeply, Bennett said, "I don't think you have a choice. One question. Whydid you never approach Taylor about this after discovering who your father was?"
Poppy shrugged and said, "I did not want to hurt her. She had already lost so much. Learning her father had cheated on her mom and she had a sister seemed like it would do more harm than good. It might destroy her memories of her father. I did not want to do that. Just because I knew our father was a cheater did not mean she had to. I guess I was protecting her.
"Now, though, if this information would help her child, that changes things," said Poppy.
"I agree,” replied Bennett. "It is too late to call them tonight. Why don't we fly down there tomorrow and tell her in person? Then, if she wants to see if you are a match, we will go from there."
Nodding in agreement, Poppy said, "That is a great idea. I don't want Ben to know anything about this until we see how she reacts. I think you should call Joules to see if she can go with us. She can stay with Ben while the four of us talk. Whatever Taylor decides, she will need her best friend there for moral support once it is over."
