“What? Tell me,” said Michael, moving closer to gently take her hands from her face.
Carrie took a deep breath. “OK... Tony left when Poppy was just a few weeks old. He wasn’t ready to have a baby. And I can’t believe I’m admitting to this, but for a long time part of me hoped he’d come back — so that we could be a family for Poppy.”
“That doesn’t sound stupid to me,” said Michael gently.
“It would if you knew Tony.” Carrie groaned. “I keep thinking that at some point he’ll wake up and realise how great Poppy is.”
“She is pretty great,” said Michael.
Carrie smiled. “I think so.”
“And so are you.”
“Thank you.”
“So, and please tell me if I’m stepping over the line, but it’s been a long time, do you actually think he will come back?”
“Honestly, no. And for me that’s fine. I don’t want him back for me — but for Poppy,” said Carrie. “I grew up without a father. He left when I was two to go and start a family with another woman. I haven’t seen him since. Never even had a birthday card. I don’t want that for Poppy. I see how you are with Layla, and I so want for Poppy to have a relationship like that with her dad.”
“Well, personally, I think he’s an idiot.”
“Thanks,” said Carrie. “Yeah, so, men, not on the scene.”
The atmosphere seemed to change, tension hanging in the air as silence fell between them.
Michael swallowed. “Since I became single again, romantic relationships haven’t exactly been at the top of the agenda. It’s not simple like it was before Layla came along, and once you see what a break up can do to a child... It definitely makes you wary. Even if there was someone... special, who makes you want to forget being sensible and all the what ifs.” They stared at one another, trapped in the moment.
“Being a parent, eh?” Carrie managed to say. Her voice came out croaky. “But we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Exactly. Our girls always come first.”
“Always,” Carrie confirmed quietly.
Michael stood up abruptly. “I’d better get going,” he said.
“Right, yeah . . . Today’s been really good,” Carrie said.
“It has,” Michael agreed. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
They went down to the shop and Carrie opened the front door. They looked at each other for a moment before Michael held his arms open and Carrie moved in for a hug. His tall form folded around her, protective and warm, and Carrie closed her eyes, savouring the moment, before they gently broke apart and he left.
Chapter 12
It had taken Carrie a while to get to sleep after her conversation with Michael the night before. She’d gone over everything that had been said and the feelings she was left with. It had felt good to tell Michael about Tony, a topic she didn’t share easily. She was still thinking about it when she opened up the shop the next morning, going over that oh so comforting hug.
She was so thankful that she had him as a friend. Him and Layla. Yes, if their situations were different, she strongly suspected she and Michael would be together, but that wasn’t their reality at the moment, and it didn’t mean they couldn’t still enjoy each other’s company.
Carrie’s thoughts turned to what Michael had said about Layla and the issues she was experiencing with her mum and the daughters of the new love interest. She felt terrible that she wasn’t telling Michael what she knew about Layla, but knew that she couldn’t betray the teen’s confidence.
Carrie decided she should have a chat with Layla herself. Poppy was going to tea at one of her new friend’s houses directly after holiday club and wouldn’t be home until seven thirty. Carrie also had a big delivery of books that needed to be put out in the shop after close today.
Carrie messaged Layla, asking if she’d be interested in helping stock the shop after close — if she wasn’t too tired from her sleepover of course. Layla replied a few minutes later to say she’d be very happy to help.
* * *
Layla arrived at five on the dot and they got the boxes out of the stock room and cut them open.
