Carrie looked in the direction her daughter was pointing and, sure enough, Michael and Monty were walking towards them.
“Hello, you two!” Michael said when they got closer. “Lining up for a treat?”
“We’re getting croissants,” said Poppy.
“And coffee for me,” Carrie added. “Join us? We were going to walk down to the harbour and eat our breakfast there.”
Michael gave an easy shrug. “I’ve already eaten, but I never turn down a second breakfast.”
The queue moved quickly and Michael waited outside with Poppy and Monty while Carrie went inside the shop, soon reappearing with their goodies.
Poppy was dissuaded from carrying the bag of still warm croissants, which she held at very convenient dog mouth height, by being allowed to hold Monty’s lead, and the group walked down to the harbour where they sat lined up on the stone wall enjoying the sun and the flaky, buttery pastries.
“Thank you for this,” Michael said, before taking another sip of the coffee Carrie had got him.
“You’re very welcome,” said Carrie.
“Mummy?” said Poppy. “Can I take Monty down to look over there?” She pointed towards the end of the harbour wall where a load of seagulls perched.
“If it’s OK with Michael,” Carrie said.
“Fine by me,” he said.
“Just stay where we can see you!” Carrie added as Poppy and Monty headed off together.
“You good?” Michael asked, once Poppy was out of ear shot. “You seem quiet.”
“Just processing.” Carrie reassured him with a little smile. “It turns out that my mum’s got an address for my dad. It means I might be able to find him.”
“You didn’t know she had it before?”
Carrie shook her head. “I’d always told her I had no interest in seeing my father. I didn’t want to upset her, but...”
“It’s natural that you’d want to see him,” Michael said, gently. “You were so little when he left that you can’t have any real memories of him...”
“Exactly,” Carrie said. “I’ve kind of always just wanted to speak with him, you know. Anyway, Mum’s given me thisaddress in Somerset. It’s really old, he might well not even still be there, but I want to go and see.”
“Would you like me to come with you?” Michael asked immediately.
“That’s...” began Carrie. “That’s so good of you, but no. I really think this is something I need to do by myself, you know?”
Michael nodded. “I get that. Have you decided when you’re going to go?”
“Not anytime soon. I’ll wait until I’m back in London and organise for my mum to have Poppy for the day.”
“Are you OK putting it off?”
“Not really,” Carrie admitted, “but I don’t want to bring Poppy with me. It’s a long drive and I have no idea what sort of reception I’m going to get.”
“I’ll have Poppy,” Michael said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Of course I will. Any day.”
Carrie went to open her mouth to protest and was rewarded with a stern look.
“If you’re happy for me to look after her, I’ll have her.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He checked his watch. “It’s still early... and you’re not working in the shop today...”
