* * *
Half an hour later, Mary and Ellen arrived with bottles of wine and juices for the children. By that time, the pizza dough was rising and Michael and Poppy were making a tomato sauce while Carrie was prepping the toppings and Layla was grating cheese.
The evening was warm so Michael opened the French doors to the garden.
Poppy showed off her kittens proudly. “You must give me first refusal for one,” Auntie Mary said. “I’ve been thinking about a cat for years.”
“Then I could visit your kitten when we come to stay!” cried Poppy, happily.
“You could indeed,” said Auntie Mary.
“Absolutely,” said Michael. “We’re keeping the tiny one, Katniss, but we’ll be looking for homes for the other two in a few weeks. You can definitely claim one.”
“Wonderful. You’ll have to help me choose a name and teach me all about looking after kittens, Poppy, as you seem quite the expert now.”
“Of course I will,” said Poppy. “I’ll help you think of a really good name.”
Everyone put in their pizza orders, which Poppy wrote down very professionally on a pad Michael had given her. Then the chefs cleared the kitchen and sent the others into the garden with their drinks.
It was beautiful weather and it was lovely sitting in the sun and chatting. Layla made everyone laugh with an impression of how bouncy Poppy was when she was climbing. “I swear she’s made of rubber,” Layla said.
Individual pizzas were presented to everyone and they ate outside with Monty doing his best to beg food from everyone at the same time.
The pizzas were delicious. “They’re proper Italian ones,” Poppy explained. “Michael showed me how to twirl them and everything. And I only dropped one.”
“Shush!” said Michael. “That was supposed to be our secret! Now everyone will be wondering who got the dropped one!”
Poppy giggled. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Michael got the dropped one. He said if he’s poisoned, it’ll be his own fault for not cleaning his kitchen floor more.”
They moved inside as it got chillier and closed the doors to the garden. Card games were played while Michael and Carrie cleaned up and then Layla brought out the cake she’d made.It was three layers of chocolate cake with chocolate icing and covered with Maltesers and crushed up Cadbury Flake bars. Poppy looked like her eyes were going to pop out of her head. Everyone sangHappy Birthdayand Poppy blew her seven candles out in one big puff.
“Did you make a wish?” asked Layla.
“Yes,” said Poppy, solemnly. “But I’m afraid I can’t tell you because if I do, it won’t come true.”
“Quite right,” said Carrie, giving her daughter a hug. “But tell us if it does end up happening.”
“I will,” Poppy agreed.
They played cards until it was well past Poppy’s bedtime and finally, she could hide her yawns no longer and agreed it was time to call it a night.
Naturally, it was a while before they actually left with all the hugs and goodbyes that needed to be dished out to the birthday girl.
Carrie finally tucked a very happy, tired Poppy into bed.
“This has been the best birthday ever,” Poppy said. “I can’t believe Layla made that cake all by herself.”
“She did a great job, didn’t she?”
“I think it was the most chocolatey cake ever.”
“I suspect you’re right.”
Carrie heard her phone ring from down in the sitting room.
“I’d better just get that in case it’s Granny and Auntie Mary having trouble getting home.” She ran down and was frankly amazed to see Tony’s name flash up on the screen.
“Hi,” she answered.
