Michael replied to her message almost immediately.I’d love to. Will be with you by about six thirty.
They dropped Michael’s car keys back to him after parking in his spot. He was serving a customer but gave them a smile of thanks. “I’ll see you later,” he said, making Carrie’s stomach do its flip again.
Carrie considered what she could do about her own car, but it was Saturday afternoon. Most garages would be closed. It would have to wait until Monday.
They walked through the bookshop, saying hi to Seren and Layla, and went up to the flat.
Carrie put the shopping away while Poppy was in charge of choosing the movie and collecting blankets. Poppy then decided to get into her pyjamas so she would be extra comfy.
Carrie made hot chocolates and they watchedDespicable Mesnuggled up together. It was still raining and Carrie loved glancing out of the window every now and again at the miserable weather.
Carrie started cooking once the film had finished. She’d decided to make beef-loaded potato wedges and began frying up beef mince and onions and chopping up potatoes. Poppy sat up at the kitchen island drawing and chatting with her.
Michael arrived accompanied by Monty right when he said he would. Carrie hadn’t realised how so many years of Tony being completely unreliable and late for everything had made her accept that as a norm.
Monty made himself comfortable on the sofa and they sat down for dinner and then finished planning out Poppy’s birthday. Poppy seemed to appreciate how seriously Michael was taking it and was thrilled to learn that she was invited to Layla’s birthday party. Carrie made a mental note to prepare Poppy for the fact that a teenage party would probably be missing party bags and musical statues.
Michael insisted on clearing up while Carrie ran Poppy her bath and helped her wash her hair.
Poppy wanted Michael to read her moreOlga da Polga; they were on the second book now. Carrie pottered around making Poppy’s room nice for her and tidying up the bathroom before joining them both downstairs.
“Can Michael come up and tuck me in too?” Poppy asked when it was time for her to go to bed.
Carrie’s heart suddenly sank. It was really lovely that Poppy liked Michael so much, but by letting them get close because she was enjoying Michael’s company herself meant Poppy was going to end up getting hurt exactly like she was beginning to worry she herself was. Was Poppy becoming so close to Michael because she’d never had a strong relationship with her own father?
Carrie turned to Michael who raised an eyebrow, checking her approval. She gave a little nod.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Michael and Carrie followed Poppy up the stairs to her bedroom, where she showed Michael all her teddies before Carrie kissed her goodnight on her forehead and tucked her in.
Carrie and Michael were almost out of the bedroom when Poppy said, “Mummy?”
“Yes, Pumpkin?”
“Can we keep Katniss? Please?”
“Katniss?”
“That’s what Layla and I think we should name the littlest kitten. Michael and Layla aren’t going to keep the kittens because of Michael’s allergies. But she’s so little, she needs us to look after her.”
“Oh, Pumpkin. I really wish we could, but we’re not allowed to have a kitten in our flat in London. Our landlord won’t let us.”
Poppy looked like she was about to cry.
“How about Layla and I look after Katniss for you?” Michael suggested, kindly. “We can send you pictures and videos of her and you can see her whenever you come to visit Auntie Mary.”
“We’ll be coming to visit you as well now!” Poppy said firmly.
“I’m very glad to hear that,” said Michael.
Carrie and Michael went out of the bedroom, and Carrie closed the door behind them.
“What about your allergies?” she whispered.
“Katniss is so little, she needs us to look after her! Come on. How am I supposed to get rid of that kitten now? There’s no way Layla would have let me anyway. And, actually, my allergies aren’t that much worse with the kittens around.”
“You are such a soft touch.” Carrie shook her head. “Tea?” she suggested.
