‘Having sex?’ he supplied helpfully. ‘Like two normal adults?’
‘I don’t feel comfortable with everyone knowing our business,’ she said tightly.
‘Okay,’ he said putting his hands out in a non-threatening gesture. ‘I’m sorry. If you want to keep this thing a secret, we can do that … although, I have to warn you, nothing stays a secret around this place for long.’
‘It’s not asecret,’ she said haughtily. ‘I just don’t think it’s anyone else’s business.’
A smile twitched his lips. ‘Yeah, that’s not how things work around here either.’
‘What if it confuses Poppy?’
He looked at her silently, as though considering her words and nodded slowly. ‘Okay. Maybe you’re right. We can keep things quiet, if that’s what you want.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, relieved. She hadn’t had time to process any of it yet and had no desire to have everyone making assumptions about what this was when even she had no idea. ‘You’re welcome. Now, get back over here,’ he said.
‘Are you crazy? You have to go. Now. Before anyone comes looking for you.’
He gave an exaggerated sigh before reluctantly standing up. ‘It was worth a try,’ he said with a grin, gathering his clothes from the floor and pulling them on. When he left her room, she breathed a sigh of relief, gathering her own clothing and practising a face that didn’t give away the fact she and the father of her child had just spent the night doing unmentionable things in his parents’ house.
She didn’t even have to ask this morning as she walked into the kitchen later, Peggy just handed her a coffee and she smiled her thanks. She avoided Ewan’s gaze as she took a seat across from him and smiled at Vera, before kissing the top of Poppy’s head.
‘Morning, Kenzie. Did you sleep well?’ Vera asked.
Kenzie’s gaze shot to Vera’s face guiltily.Why? What have you heard?‘I did. Thank you.’
‘What are your plans for today?’ she asked.
‘Actually, I was wondering if there was somewhere I could set up for a Zoom call? I’ve had to change a few of my appointments to teleconferences since I’m out of the office,’ she explained.
‘Certainly, you can use Callum’s den, or there’s the library,’ she said. ‘No one will bother you in there.’
‘I’ll only need it for a little while. It shouldn’t take too long.’
‘Can I stay and help with chores?’ Poppy asked, looking up at her mother hopefully.
‘Chores? Who are you and what have you done with my Poppy?’ Normally, she had to use blackmail to get this child to pack up her toys.
‘I’d love to have Poppy,’ Vera said instantly. ‘We’ve just been discussing what we have to do today.’
‘We’re feeding the chooks,’ she announced. ‘My nan lets me help her feedherchooks.’
‘So, you must be an expert at it then?’ Vera replied.
‘Yep. I like chooks. I don’t like naughty roosters, though, the ones that chase you.’
‘Oh no,’ Vera said, shaking her head. ‘Me either. We don’t have any naughty roosters here.’
‘Did you have to chop ’em?’ Poppy asked, and Ewan chuckled.
‘Chop ’em?’ Vera asked, raising an eyebrow.
‘That’s what Grandad does to Nan’s naughty ones. Chops their head off!’
‘Poppy,’ Kenzie said wearily. Seriously, this kid. She found everything about farming fascinating, even the necessary end-of-a-life stage. Jack had been happy to teach her where her food came from and, although Kenzie had been unsure about how much reality a four-year-old needed, she had to agree that Poppy had a strong handle on a lot of things most kids had no clue about.
‘I see. Well, that’s usually what happens to roosters who don’t behave themselves,’ Vera agreed, taking in her stride the rather blunt explanation from a child who looked far too sweet and innocent to be talking about killing roosters.
‘Can I stay with Granny Campbell and feed the chooks, Mum?’ Poppy asked.
