Page 16 of Second Verse

‘Did you always know?’ she asked.

‘Knowwhat, exactly?’ her mother asked, and it was clear that she was trying not to insert her size fives into her mouth, which she was apt to do on occasion.

‘I’m still figuring it out,’ Poppy said honestly.

‘It had crossed my mind,’ her mother admitted. ‘You and Norah... I thought you were just being kind at first. But lately, Ididstart to wonder.’

‘And you don’t, you don’tmindor anything?’ Poppy checked.

‘God, no!’ her mother exclaimed, almost angry at the idea she could be. ‘Actually, if youdidturn out to be a lesbian, it would be a load off my mind,’ she admitted. ‘Boys are... I mean,someare fine. I even married one. But as a group? Rather worrisome.’

‘Mum, I really don’t know ifthat’sthe word I want to use,’ Poppy told her.

‘No, OK, sorry, got a bit excited there. I’ll shut up now.’ She paused. ‘But you never wrote a love song about any boys. That much I do know.’

Poppy groaned. ‘Oh god. She heard it. She bloody heard it!’ Poppy sat down on the sofa and fell sideways, her face pushing into a cushion.

‘So, I take it you hadn’t talked about it, you and Norah?’ her mother said.

Poppy turned her face out to look at her mother. ‘No.’

‘So you don’t know if she...’

‘No.’

‘Were you going to tell her?’

‘I’m not sure. I was waiting, I think. Probably,’ Poppy said, uncertain. She hadn’t worked all this out yet.

‘Waiting for what?’ her mother asked.

‘I don’t know. Maybe the right time?’

Her mother laughed.

‘What’s the joke?’ Poppy asked, irritated.

‘There is no right time. That will never happen.’

‘Yes, but her dad just died,’ Poppy said emotionally. ‘So there might not be a right time, but there’s a wrong time and a wrong way. And that’s how it’s happened. In the worst possible way.’

‘But ithashappened,’ her mother shrugged, picking up a pair of jeans. ‘Toothpaste won’t go back in the tube, sweetheart.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, you should talk to her.’

‘No, I don’t think so.’

Her mother was stunned. ‘What? You think you’re just going to carry on and pretend it didn’t happen?’

Poppy thought it over. ‘She knows, but she doesn’t know I know. If she doesn’t bring it up, I can just... not.’

Her mother folded up the jeans, sighing. ‘Good luck with that.’

‘Mum! I need your support!’

‘And you’re getting it.’

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