Page 43 of Second Verse

Norah wanted to die. ‘The kids are in the backyard; Luna didn’t see it... that...anything.’

‘OK. You alright?’ Poppy asked.

‘No, yes, sorry. Come in.’

Poppy came in, and Norah led her through to the back, where she yelled, ‘Hey, kiddo!’

Luna turned, ‘Hi, Mum! Just playing!’ Then she went back to digging a trench around a sandcastle.

‘She usually runs straight for me. She must love playing with Freddie,’ Poppy noted.

‘He’s a pretty good hang,’ Norah said, still trying to get over her embarrassment.

‘Hey, are you at this party tomorrow?’ Poppy asked.

‘What, Drew? Yeah.’

‘Where the hell is it, by the way?’ Poppy asked. ‘I keep meaning to Google map it.’

‘A farm about twenty-five minutes away. I’ve been there a few times. It’s a good place for the kids. They have animals, of course, but it’s all about the play park. It's epic.’

‘Twenty-five minutes away?’ Poppy repeated.

Norah couldn’t miss the concern in her tone. ‘Are you worried about finding it?’ Norah asked.

‘I had to sell my car,’ Poppy admitted, trying to hide her embarrassment, but Norah could see it.

She decided the best thing to do was to approach the problem practically. ‘Did you keep the kid’s car seat?’

Poppy raised an eyebrow. ‘Yes...’

‘Come with us.’

‘No, you’ve done me enough favours. I’ll figure something out...’

Norah shook her head. ‘I’ll drop by your place at about ten thirty. We’ll get the seat set up in my car.’

Poppy gaped at her. ‘You’re saving my actual life at the moment.’

‘We’re saving each other’s,’ Norah assured her.

She really meant it. There was a lot wrong with Norah’s life, but Poppy’s appearance wasn’t on that list anymore. She was glad of the shift. All it took was her selfish bastard of a husband to be his usual self, and somehow, things were different. Their past felt less like a huge balloon full of old pain that Norah was holding on to. It was deflating, shrivelling, drooping.

She just hoped she didn’t do something stupid, like attempting to address what had happened at the end. Everything would be better if she could just let that part go. They were kids, right? Eighteen. You couldn’t hold someone responsible for something that happened when they were barely out of braces.

‘Wait, is there room in the car? Three adults and two kids?’ Poppy exclaimed.

‘Max never comes to the parties. It’s hisrelaxationtime,’ Norah admitted.

Poppy didn’t react to that. ‘Well, his loss is my gain. Thanks, Norah.’ She turned. ‘Luna! Let’s roll!’

‘In a minute!’

‘We’re having pizza for dinner, but only if you come right now.’

Luna stood and started brushing sand off herself.

‘We’re having pizza no matter what she does,’ Poppy said quietly, out of the corner of her mouth. ‘BecauseIwant it.’

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