“I think he should be carried up the stairs. He only has very little legs,” Poppy declared.
Carrie gave a roll of her eyes at Michael which made him smile.
“I’ll do it,” Carrie said. “You appear to be rather burdened.” She indicated the bag he carried.
“Yes,” he said, looking sheepish. “Not that your daughter is the boss of me, but we were walking past the Chinese takeaway and it smelled delicious...”
Seeing the look on Carrie’s face, he quickly added, “We both thought it smelled amazing and it was my idea to get it and save you cooking.”
“That was completely unnecessary but very kind of you.”
“Poppy said you love Chinese food.”
“I do.” Carrie gave her daughter’s head an affectionate rub. “Come on, let’s get upstairs. Please say you got prawn crackers.”
“Two packs because I told Michael how much you like them and he was worried you’d eat them all,” explained Poppy, leading the way up the stairs. Carrie’s mouth fell open and Michael gave a little ‘what’s a man to do’ shrug before he followed the little girl. Carrie picked up Monty, who didn’t seem at all surprised, and took advantage of being at the back of the group to try to work out what exactly it was about Michael in his grey sweatpants that was so distracting.
* * *
Dinner was delicious and plentiful and washed down with a beer for each of the adults. Michael had made the right choice when he’d brought two packets of prawn crackers. Sesame prawn toasts, spring rolls, crispy seaweed, and dumplings might have been overdoing things for starters when followed by Pekingduck and pancakes and then egg fried rice, prawn chow mein and crispy beef, but they made a valiant effort and there was surprisingly little left when they all heaved themselves off the stools at the island where they’d been eating.
“That was so good. Thank you.” Carrie rubbed her stomach. “I don’t think I’m ever going to need to eat again.”
“Agreed.” Michael collapsed into the corner of the sofa. Monty made himself comfortable at the other end.
“Monty, off!” he said in a firm voice. Monty kept his eyes firmly closed. Presumably if he couldn’t see his master, he needn’t listen to him.
“Don’t worry,” Carrie said as Michael went to stand. “He’s fine there. Are you OK here while I give Poppy a bath?” Turning to Poppy she said, “You’re still a little bit chalk-covered from climbing, Pumpkin.”
“Absolutely,” said Michael. “I shall be busy digesting.”
Poppy decided she needed to be super quick so asked if she could have a shower instead of a bath. Carrie wasn’t completely convinced of how much washing got done, but decided it would do. Poppy went into her bedroom wrapped in a towel to get into her pyjamas while Carrie set the bathroom straight and, honestly, took a moment for herself before going back downstairs to Michael. Her attraction to him seemed to be increasing by the moment, possibly encouraged by him buying her prawn crackers.
By the time she returned to the sitting room, Poppy was in between Michael and Monty on the sofa being read to.
They all looked up as she came in. “I found a book on my shelves with a guinea pig on the cover and Michael said it used to be Layla’s favourite.” Poppy held up a paperback copy ofOlga da Polga. “It’s really funny.”
Carrie cleaned up the kitchen while listening to Michael reading to her daughter in his deep, gentle voice. Was hean expert in seduction techniques to snare single mothers, or something? What was she doing having all these crazy feelings for this man? She hardly knew him, and she was only going to be in Castle Cove for a few weeks before she returned to London. She needed to get a grip.
She walked over to the sofa and tucked herself up in the corner next to Monty, pulling a blanket over herself. Michael looked over and smiled before returning to the story of the ballet-loving guinea pig. He finished the chapter and gestured at Poppy, now leaning against him with her eyes closed.
“Shall I carry her up to her bed?” he asked in hushed tones, but before Carrie could answer, Poppy’s eyes shot open and she said, “Why have you stopped?”
“Because you fell asleep, young lady,” said Michael, kindly.
“I didn’t,” protested Poppy.
“I’m afraid you did, Pumpkin,” said Carrie. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“Will you read more of it to me soon?” Poppy asked, fighting a yawn.
“Of course I will,” said Michael, making Carrie’s heart melt.
“Come on, then,” said Carrie, and Poppy reluctantly climbed off the sofa and took her mother’s hand.
“Thank you, Michael,” said Poppy. She let go of Carrie’s hand and gave Michael a hug and Monty a kiss.
“Goodnight, Poppy,” said Michael.
