Page 128 of A Dream for Daphne

“Are you going to make me beg to find out what is going on?” Poppy asked. “I only want to help. I thought you and Abe were doing so well together. I still firmly believe you’re perfect for each other.”

“I thought so too,” she said. “But maybe he is still thinking of someone else.”

“Ella?” Poppy asked.

“You know about her?” she asked. Jesus, was everyone keeping things from her?

“I knew they dated on and off over a few years. I never thought much would come about it. It’s a small area. I’m not sure why he even gave her another chance.”

“Two chances,” she said. “He told me two chances.”

“So you’ve talked about her,” Poppy said.

“Yes. He told me about her a few months ago. What he didn’t tell me was that she’s talked to him three times since we’ve been together. Well, two times, the third was her calling him while I was there last night.”

“I need to sit down for this,” Poppy said. “To conserve my energy so I can hate him and give him shit when I see him next.”

“Please don’t,” she said. “I don’t want him to know we are talking about this. I’m not sure why I’m telling you either.”

“Because you need a girl to talk to. If you told Raine she might feel as if she had to tell Aster and the last thing you want to do is have your brother find out. Right?”

“Exactly,” she said. “But I’m used to dealing with all of this on my own.”

“No one says you have to anymore,” Poppy said. “I know people think I can’t keep a secret, but I won’t say anything. I can give him the evil eye if you want me to.”

“Thanks for that,” she said, laughing. “I’m probably overreacting.”

“Tell me about it and I’ll let you know if you are or not. Trust me, I’m the queen of overreacting. Ask my sisters or husband.”

She had heard that about Poppy before.

She explained about the two times Abe saw Ella and what was said. Or what little was said. Even the phone call last night.

“Am I nuts?”

“Nope,” Poppy said. “You’re not. I would be ticked too if it was Reese and he didn’t say he was with me. Even if it came off as petty or not, just put it out there. He told you about Ella, why couldn’t he tell Ella about you?”

“Exactly,” she said, sniffling. She looked down at Tatum and gave him a little tickle on the belly knowing that would make her laugh and it did.

He was kicking his feet and squirming around. Like a jumping bean ready to take off. He might give her more fits than Holly when he got in motion.

“What did he have to say about it other than he didn’t want to talk to her at all and walked away?”

“Not much,” she said.

“I feel like there is more,” Poppy said. “I’d be mad, but you’re not mad. You’re sad. Something else causes that.”

Poppy got up and took Tatum from her, put him in his seat, and gave him a toy, then moved back and ran her hand on Daphne’s arm.

She didn’t want Poppy to know about the one-night stand, but if there was anyone that might understand what she was going through it was the woman in front of her.

“I’m such an idiot. I did something so stupid. I always do stuff like this in my life. Make a bad decision and then have to live with the consequences.”

“Honey, not only am I the queen of overreacting, but I’m also the queen of bad decisions and living with consequences. I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“It was to me at the time. And then I forgot about it and didn’t feel bad about myself anymore, but last night brought it all back.”

Poppy pulled her in for a hug. “It can’t be that bad.”

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