Page 28 of Special Delivery
The next Wednesday, Poppy almost didn’t go for her daily walk. There was a biting wind and, frankly, she was concerned for the state of her molars, which were the innocent victims of anger-induced grinding whenever James appeared. But it had been raining for two days and this washerneighbourhood andherbaby’s schedule. She was going to walk whenever and wherever she goddamn pleased.
When she reached the oak tree, James was waiting for them. There was a devilish gleam in his eyes.
‘What?’ she challenged him as he matched her stride.
He put his hand into his puffer vest and pulled out a neon yellow deck of cards, patterned with tiny stars. ‘A solution to our problem,’ he announced, holding out the packet. The cursive font was embossed in gold foil:HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND IMPRESS ACQUAINTANCES; 100 NAUGHTY AND NICE CONVERSATION STARTERS.
Poppy’s eyes snapped to his. If he thought he could hide hissmile just by tightening his jaw, someone needed to tell him his glinting eyes were a dead giveaway. ‘No way,’ she said.
‘Yes way,’ James replied, looping Eileen’s leash around his wrist. He pulled the cards from the cardboard case. ‘Choose one.’
Poppy ignored his outstretched hand. ‘Where did you buy those?’
‘I didn’t buy them. I borrowed them.’
Oh, right. They were yellow. He’d probably swiped them post-coitus from Miss Yellow Bikini’s bedside table.
‘So are we doing this?’ He held the pack out. ‘Or are we resuming the death metal chat?’
Poppy sighed and plucked a card from the deck. ‘Tell me about your most embarrassing sexual experience,’ she read aloud.Thanks, universe.
James laughed and yanked the card away. ‘No way, José. Choose again.’
Blushing, Poppy snatched another card; the last thing she wanted was another sex-themed conversation with this man. ‘Tell me about your favourite person in the world.’
‘Good one,’ he said. ‘I would say it’s a tie between my mum and my sister. Mum is a crazy high-school teacher who wears those long maxi-dress thingies. My sister, Kate, is a crazy high-school teacher who gets around in sports gear. Other than that, they’re pretty much exactly the same.’ He nodded as if pleased with this summation. ‘Do you want a go now?’
Poppy sighed. ‘Do I have to?’
‘In order to have aconversation, Poppy, there have to be two people involved.’
‘Fine,’ she said, reaching for the cards. ‘Give me one.’
‘Nope,’ said James, pulling them away. ‘First you tell me your favourite person.’
‘Who came up with these rules?’
‘Me.’ He flashed her a sarcastic smile. ‘So? Who is it?’
Poppy glowered at him. ‘Dead or alive?’
‘Alive, obviously.’
Poppy’s mind drifted to Dani. Sparkling, bubbly Dani, who could read her like a book and make her laugh like a hyena. Jeez, she missed her. Then she thought of her parents. Her mum would probably be offended if she didn’t choose her.Oh shit, she thought as the realisation hit her. Maeve! She’d forgotten about her own daughter. God, she was a terrible mum. She definitely had to choose Maeve as her favourite person. Then again, maybe babies didn’t count.
‘Can I choose a baby?’
‘Nope,’ replied James, as though these rules were actually real.
‘Okay then, I choose my best friend, Dani.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she’s a legend.’
‘How so?’
‘Because …’ Poppy’s mind struggled for words. She was hilarious, empathetic, pragmatic, a great dancer, an amazing mum, she had helped Poppy study for her final exams and then taken her out for five-dollar schooners when she failed statistics. She had a great dress sense but never worried about how she looked because she always looked banging. There were no words to convey how utterly great her best friend was. ‘She’s my everything,’ she said simply.
