Page 67 of Second Verse

Poppy’s eyes widened in horror. ‘Uhh...’

‘It’s dark walnut,’ Norah told her.

‘How do you know that?’ Poppy asked.

‘She had the floor redone about five years ago and it was dark walnut this, dark walnut that for weeks,’ Norah explained.

Sally grabbed a stain pen. ‘That will do it.’

‘Great,’ Poppy said, relieved.

Sally smiled brightly. ‘No problem. If you have any problems with it, come back. I’ll sort you out.’

I just bet you would, Norah thought.

They paid and got back on the road.

‘Thank god for that saleswoman. I’d have bought the wrong thing,’ Poppy noted.

‘Yeah, lucky she was such a horndog,’ Norah said, putting her turn signal on.

‘What?’ Poppy asked, confused.

‘You’re gonna tell me you didn’t notice she was trying to hit on you?’ Norah asked, stunned.

There was a big pause. ‘I think she was just doing her job.’

‘Poppy, she was on the bloody till!’ Norah said, exasperated. ‘She left a queue of five to come and help you.’

‘I did think that was a bit odd,’ Poppy said, befuddled.

‘Man, you’re oblivious,’ Norah laughed.

‘My mind was on your mother’s wrath,’ Poppy pointed out.

‘What if it hadn’t been?’ Norah asked carefully.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, are you... dating?’ Norah asked. They hadn’t touched this subject. Norah wasn’t sure why she was delving into it now.

Poppy looked as though she’d forgotten what the word meant. ‘Oh. No. Not since Luna.’

That made sense. But it was only half of what she wanted to know. ‘So, if you were, would you have been... shopping from that side of the store?’

Poppy exploded with laughter. ‘Good god,’ she managed to splutter. ‘Where the hell did you come up with that little expression?’

‘What’s wrong with it?’ Norah asked, offended.

‘Horribleeuphemism, Cauldwell,’ Poppy said, bright red from laughter. ‘It was like something from the forties.’

Norah realised she actuallyshouldbe embarrassed. Why was she being so euphemistic about it? ‘You know what? It’s the kind of thing my mum would say.’

‘She’s rubbing off on you,’ Poppy said.

‘That was quick. I’ve only been back twenty minutes.’

‘Give it a week. You’ll be wearing gilets and talking to me like shit,’ Poppy said. She paused before clearing her throat. ‘And yes, I’m only “Shopping from that side of the store.”’

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