Page 44 of Special Delivery
She thought of her own dad. Quiet, comforting, pretty hopeless at lots of things but always a steady shoulder to leanon. She felt tears spring up just thinking about him that way. She blinked them away, embarrassed.
‘Do you have any support in town?’ James asked. ‘Your parents live in Orange, don’t they?’
Poppy nodded. ‘Yep, they do, which is great. I see Mum at least every week. She’s a very passionate grandmother. Lots of love, lots of opinions.’
James smiled. ‘Sounds normal.’
‘I know. I’m lucky, really. I just wish I had some other opinions to balance out Mum’s. I don’t really know anyone else in town.’
James looked across to Maeve, sleeping contentedly on her chest. ‘I’d offer you a place on my cricket team, but I’m guessing that’s out of the question?’
Poppy groaned. ‘That would be out of the question whether I had a baby or not. I’m used to getting kicked off sports teams for lack of ability, so I avoid the humiliation by never signing up.’
‘You wouldn’t get kicked off asocialteam.’
Poppy gave a wry chuckle. ‘I have seensocialteams where grown men have punched umpires over a mistimed bounce pass.’ She shook her head. ‘Nope, sports are not for me. I’m going to grow old gracefully and non-actively.’
‘That’s a lie, you walk every day.’
‘That doesn’t count as sport.’
‘I suppose not, but I’m glad you do it.’
Poppy glanced at him.
‘It’s been great for Eileen; she’s come a long way in her puppy training. And I benefit too, obviously.’ He smiled ather and, if Poppy wasn’t mistaken, his eyes did a quick slide up and down her body. Was he checking her out?!On purpose?How mortifying! She was literally wearing a baby.
They walked a few paces before James spoke again. ‘Have you tried to make friends?’
Poppy was so glad he’d broken the silence she wasn’t even offended by the implication she was a friendless loser.
‘Of course,’ she muttered. ‘I’m friends with Mary.’ (Okay, maybe that sounded a bit loser-ish.) ‘I’ve also met a few people through mothers’ group. So, you know, I have prospects. I won’t be a loner forever.’
‘Hmmm.’
‘You’re saying “hmmm” like you don’t believe me.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘Then why are you hmmm-ing like that?’
‘You’re reading too much into it.’
‘It obviously means something if you said it with that expression on your face.’
The corners of James’s lips curved upwards. ‘What expression was that?’
Poppy stepped over a tree root and Maeve bumped against her chest. His almost-smile could be so infuriating. A nerve-crackling mix of smugness, condescension and complete obliviousness to its power.
‘Hmmm,’ said James again, then laughed. ‘Sorry I didn’t mean to do that. I was actually thinking about how hard it would be to make friends without sport or work. You could borrow the conversation starters if you need to?’
Poppy rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll be fine, thanks.’
‘Well, I may have grown up in Forbes but if you want my advice on what brings people together in Orange these days, I’ll tell you: real estate chat. Buying, selling or renovating, it doesn’t matter which one—they’re all acceptable.’
Poppy readjusted Maeve’s hat in the carrier. ‘Maybe I’ll have to start watchingThe Block. As a single, jobless mum, that will be the extent of my involvement in the property market.’
‘Not a bad outcome,’ James said approvingly.
