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“Well, I hope you get the new one.”
“Me too. It’s better hours and more pay.” And because apparently the lies I’ve already told aren’t enough, I hear myself adding, “I’ve been saving to buy a ring for Poppy.”
The effect is immediate as her tired expression brightens. “A ring?”
Jesus Christ. What in the fuck is wrong with me?
“Yes.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “An engagement ring?”
I clear my throat. “I don’t know if she’s ready for that yet, but I know a good thing when I have it. And I’m not about to let her slip away.”
Nanna’s hand moves to her chest as her eyelids flutter shut. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. You, young man, just granted a dying old lady her last wish. Knowing that my Poppy girl has a man like you looking after her when I’m gone means I can finally rest in peace.”
Guilt twists in my gut as I give her a moment. She looks genuinely happy, and dare I say peaceful. The fact that it’s because of something I made up makes me sick to the stomach.
When she finally turns her head and meets my gaze again, I notice the tears pooling in her eyes.
I am seriously going to hell for this.
“She’ll say yes,” she says with all the confidence in the world. “I see the way her face lights up whenever she talks about you, Riley. I only wish I could be there to see her walk down the aisle. I’m afraid I won’t even make it to her graduation.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.”
“I refuse to believe it.”
“You sound just as headstrong as Poppy.”
“We have a lot in common.” That one isn’t a lie because it seems like we do. “Oh, before I forget,” I say, standing and pulling her house key from my pocket. “Your key.”
I’d intended to leave it behind days ago. I even placed it on the kitchen table with my business card before changing my mind and slipping it back into my pocket. I never really questioned why. Something kept telling me I’d be back.
“Hold on to it for now,” she replies.
“Why?” I ask, frowning. I hope she doesn’t have any more jobs for me, because the last one she gave me turned out to be a complete fucking shit show.
“I have a favour to ask of you.”
I wince. “You do?”
“Yes, I’ve tried so many times to broach this subject with Poppy, but for some reason, I couldn’t. She has such a soft heart, and …” Nanna’s voice cracks as tears leak from her eyes.
I reach out, placing my hand on top of hers. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it,” I say, because I’d do pretty much anything in this moment to stop those tears.
“You’re a good man, Riley.”
A sheepish grin curves the corners of my lips. “I have my moments,” I admit, trying to lighten the mood.
“At the bottom of my wardrobe is a box. When the time comes, will you direct Poppy to it?”
“Of course. What’s in the box?”
“A letter I wrote for her graduation day. A birthday present. And there’s an envelope containing $5,500. It’s for my funeral, but I’m afraid it’s not enough. I’ve been putting money away every fortnight from my pension since my husband passed. I was hoping I’d have more saved before …”
My fingers are still wrapped around hers, so I give her hand a light squeeze when she doesn’t finish her sentence. I don’t know when Poppy’s birthday is, and I can’t even ask because it feels like something a boyfriend would know.
