Poppy,
I knew you wouldn’t accept this if I gave it to you in person. Use it to get yourself to wherever you need to be. But save enough so when you’re ready, you can make your way home. To me.
I’ll be waiting. Always.
Your loyal hound.
Dom
My eyes blur with a watery film. I hold the letter close to my heart, wishing we’d met under different circumstances. A horn beeps from behind, making me jump. With a sigh, I shove the notes into my bag, minus sixty quid, and fill my car to the brim with fuel.
When I walk into the store, long black glossy hair swishes in front of me. Her navy nurse’s tunic clings to her curves, and I remember her from the bar.
“Lillian?”
She spins on her heel. “Oh, hi. You’re Dominic’s girl, right? Poppy?”
I smile, not wanting to go into everything.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Oh, I’m just making my way up north. Time to move on.”
“What about Dom?” She tilts her head to the side.
“We’re not together anymore.” I clutch my purse, not really knowing what to say.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I thought you two seemed smitten at the pub. Look, if you need a place to stay, I can put you up until you sort something out.”
“I can’t do that, but that’s really kind of you to offer. I think a fresh start is best all round.”
She taps her pink lips. “My friend runs a caravan park next to one of the lakes. It’s coming to the end of the season now, so there may be some free if you wanted your own space.” She pays for her fuel, then digs her phone from her purse. “Give me your number?” Lillian stares at me while I hesitate and even though I don’t think I can stay in the Lakes, I don’t want to be rude.
“Er. Okay.” I give her my phone number, then say my goodbyes and continue north. I chew on the inside of my mouth, wondering if they still need a barmaid at the Black Crow.
34
DOM
“Fucking snap out of it,” Dan says, lifting a beer to his lips. “You’ve been living like a recluse for months.”
Things haven’t been the same since she left. The house feels empty just like it did when Mum left. I miss her bra hanging on the back of the sofa, the floral cleaning spray she used to dust the place and even her fucking candles she lit. Not to mention the smell of her and how her body felt cushioned next to mine.
“You don’t get it. You’ve never been in love.” My fingernails pick at the bobbles on my joggers.
“If this is what love is, then I don’t fucking want it.”
I stare at the window seat where she would wait for me. “It’s been lonely these last few months.”
“So come and live with me or get a fucking dog. Don’t sit in this old place with nothing but haunting memories.” He swills the beer around, holding the bottle at the neck.
I rub my fingers over my forehead, wishing he’d just let me be. Can’t he see I don’t want help? “Did you come here for anything in particular or just to annoy the fuck out of me?”
He sighs. “I’m worried about you. Nobody’s seen you for months. We gave away a couple of million so you could get your girl back, and then you just let her go without a fight.”
“I fought. Believe me. I couldn't force her to stay. If she taught me anything, it’s that love is setting something free so it can flourish. It’s wanting another person's happiness above your own. Love is compromise and sacrifice.”
Dan stares at me. “Did she give you a brain transplant, too?”
