Chapter 33
33
POPPY
It was nearly midnight when Joel pulled onto the drive of Dove Cottage and I rushed out to see him, the strength of my feelings towards him needing a release. Evidently, he felt the same as he dropped his car keys onto the ground as he kissed me with passion, leaving us both breathless.
‘Best welcome ever,’ he said, smiling at me.
‘Best arrival ever,’ I quipped. ‘But it’s freezing out here. Grab your stuff and let’s get inside.’
I was going to offer him a tea and give him a tour but, the moment the door closed, he took me in his arms again and those things didn’t seem so important anymore as I led him upstairs to my bedroom.
The following morning, we had a lazy start with breakfast in bed while he told me about his appointment with his solicitor.
‘There are two issues – access to Imogen and the move to Scotland. For the access, Tilly keeps banging on about having sole custody, but she doesn’t have that. We both have parental responsibility but, because of my shifts, there’s no set pattern for when I have Imogen which has always been the sticking point in the past – Tilly pretends to be reasonable by suggesting days I can have Imogen each week, knowing full well I can’t commit to that, so it’s gone back and forth between our solicitors with no resolution. My solicitor recognises that she’s just being awkward, which is common in situations like this. Inevitably, it’s the child who suffers so the goal is to find a way forward that works for all three of us and, if I was still working shifts, it’s not unusual to have an agreement to plan visits around a shift pattern.
‘As for moving to Scotland, I have rights to stop her. We operate within the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales and Tilly cannot move Imogen to Scotland – outside the legal jurisdiction – without my consent.’
I grasped Joel’s arm. ‘That’s fantastic news. So, what happens next?’
‘I can make an application for something called a prohibited steps order to stop her but Tilly can contest that. However, any decisions the courts make would have Imogen’s welfare at the heart as well as the principle that she has a right to have a relationship with both parents so that would help my case.’
‘It sounds a lot more positive than we were expecting.’
‘It does. Apparently there’s stacks of case law and it’s really complicated but Tilly choosing Scotland rather than, say, Cornwall, does work in my favour with my consent being needed. My solicitor asked me what the rationale was for moving to Scotland – why not open a campsite in Yorkshire if that’s what they really want to do? I’ll put that challenge to her after their holiday. I’m hoping Tilly will get up there, realise how ridiculously far it is, and drop the whole idea.’
‘And if she doesn’t?’
‘When she’s back, I’ll tell her we need to go somewhere for a proper grown-up discussion – a five-minute conversation on her doorstep won’t cut it – and I’ll lay it on the line.’
‘Sounds sensible. Are you feeling more positive about it now?’
‘Much more. I really hope we don’t have to drag it through the courts. That’s not parenting Imogen – that’s just fighting.’
I loved the way Joel put his daughter first in everything. It sounded to me as though Tilly put herself first instead, although I appreciated that was perhaps a little unfair when I’d never met her.
We took the breakfast dishes down to the kitchen and I gave Joel a tour of the house, telling him the garden could wait until we were dressed.
‘It’s a great house,’ he said as we returned to my bedroom, ‘but I can tell it belongs to your parents. The only room that feels like you is this one.’
‘It’s the only room I’ve changed. I did it after Mum’s diagnosis when I knew I’d be here for quite some time.’
He looked around him. ‘This reminds me of Whisperwood Farmhouse.’
‘Which is one of many reasons why I loved it there so much. It’s 100 per cent my taste and I’m already missing it. What’s weird is that Dove Cottage feels more like a holiday home I’m staying in temporarily and Whisperwood feels like my real home.’
‘Whisperwood will be your real home. Scotland’s not going to happen because I’m not going to let it. It’s not right for you, me or Imogen. I think you should let Mary know you’d like to buy it but you have this place to sell first and things are a little complicated with your dad. She’ll understand. She’ll give you time.’
I smiled at him. ‘You’re right. I’ll get in touch. I’ve started the ball rolling with this place so there’s no reason not to make that next step.’
I wanted Joel to meet Dad. Even though Dad wouldn’t understand the importance of the introduction, it would mean the world to me. Joel wouldn’t see the dad I knew and loved, but at least he’d have physically met him. I could bring my real dad alive through photographs, videos and memories.
Marnie was in the reception when we arrived, so I introduced her to Joel and she shook his hand with enthusiasm.
‘Good to meet you, Joel. You take care of this one. She’s an absolute gem.’
‘How is he today?’ I asked. I’d visited again on Wednesday afternoon after setting up my doorbell camera, but I’d given yesterday a miss.
‘Not so good. He’s still in bed. He’s developed a cough so we’re keeping a close eye on him.’
I knocked on Dad’s door and pushed it open. He was facing the window, but he turned his head slowly when I greeted him. He looked exhausted, dark patches below his pale, watery eyes.
‘How are you this morning, Stanley?’ I asked.
His lips moved but nothing coherent came out.
‘I’m Poppy,’ I said, ‘and this is my boyfriend, Joel. Is it okay if we sit with you for a while?’
The movement of his head was imperceptible, but his eyes flicked towards the chair beside his bed. I sat down and Joel perched on the arm.
Dad unfurled his hand and the felt robin was resting in his palm.
‘That’s a beautiful bird,’ Joel said. ‘What sort is it, Stanley?’
‘Robin,’ he whispered before coughing.
There was a jug of water next to his bed, so we helped prop him up on his pillows and I sat beside him with a glass, holding it to his lips as he sipped. How many times had I done this for Mum when her muscles had been so wasted that she’d been unable to do it herself?
We only stayed twenty minutes as it was clear Dad needed his sleep, but that was enough time to see why Marnie had said weeks instead of months. Whatever had brought him to life on Tuesday – and even to some extent for my Wednesday visit – had gone and the frail man in the bed today was the reality of what this disease had done to him.
‘That was hard to see,’ Joel said, hugging me tightly by the van a little later. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through.’
I couldn’t speak for my tears so I just held on to him, so grateful to him for being here with me.
I’d brought the van with me so I could drive us straight over to Saltersbeck Farm to introduce Joel to Sharon, Ian and Bertie, who all gave him a warm welcome. As we returned to the van to drive to Honey Bee Croft, Sharon hugged me and whispered in my ear, ‘He’s wonderful, honey. I’m so happy for you.’ It meant the world to me to have her stamp of approval.
‘Are you ready to get kitted up and meet the bees?’ I asked Joel as I parked the van at the entrance to Honey Bee Croft.
‘I think so.’
Joel was taller and broader than Dad but beesuits weren’t exactly a snug fit and he’d tried on one of Dad’s this morning, which had enough space for him to move easily.
‘Tomorrow’s the first day of spring but the weather’s still too cold for any major external activity so it’ll be my usual checks of hefting and removing the dead bodies.’
I’d talked Joel through the anatomy of a hive using the colourful images in one of my favourite textbooks but the best learning always took place by an actual hive. As I explained to Joel what I was doing and why, it struck me that I’d never taught anyone before. I’d never needed to. Dad had taught Sharon and Ian the basics years ago so they could take over when he was on holiday, but I’d never passed on my knowledge and it was really exciting. Joel was a quick learner and he asked me a stack of questions, giving me a glimpse into what it must have been like when Dad taught me.
‘I loved that,’ Joel said, stepping out of his beesuit back at the van.
‘You sound surprised.’
‘I am. It’s fascinating and I love how knowledgeable and passionate you are. I can’t wait to see one of the hives open.’
‘I can’t wait to show you.’
Driving back to Dove Cottage, I shared with Joel some of my most special memories of being at Honey Bee Croft with my parents, how excited Dad and I got identifying the different worker bees and the thrill of opening a healthy hive. From Joel’s initial reaction, I could see him getting hooked just like Dad and me.
We hadn’t been home for long when the doorbell rang. It felt cool inside the house so Joel had gone upstairs to get a hoodie.
‘That’ll be Wilf with Benji,’ I shouted up to him.
But it wasn’t them. My heart started pounding.
‘Whose car’s that?’ Damon demanded.
‘None of your business.’
‘It’s him, isn’t it? The guy from the photos in York? Who is he?’
His shouts brought Joel running downstairs. He put his arm round my shoulders protectively.
‘Get off her!’ Damon yelled. ‘She’s my girlfriend.’
‘Stop it, Damon!’ I cried. ‘I am not your girlfriend. I’ve never been your girlfriend and I never will be. Whatever you think there is between us is in your head only.’
‘You need to go,’ Joel said, his voice calm but firm.
‘I’m not taking orders from you.’
‘Then take them from me,’ I said, mirroring Joel’s tone. ‘I want you to leave and I don’t want you to come back. Ever. If you don’t go now, I’ll call the police.’
Damon shook his head. ‘You wouldn’t do that. You love me and you know it. I don’t know why you kid yourself that you don’t.’
‘I’m not in love with you. You’re the one who needs to stop kidding yourself.’
‘Go! Now!’ Joel said, still calm but so commanding.
Damon curled his lip up. ‘You’ve got to stop wasting your time on idiots like him, Poppy, and you need to pack it in with those damn bees too. I’m all you need.’
I removed my phone from my pocket and dialled 999. I held it up so he could see and poised my thumb over the green button. ‘Do I need to press this?’
‘This isn’t over,’ Damon muttered. He glared at Joel. ‘I’m watching you.’
‘If you come back here to watch either of us, I’ll be the one calling the police.’ Joel stepped out onto the doorstep and sized up to Damon. I knew he wouldn’t hit Damon, but his physical presence – significantly taller and broader than Damon – should be enough to intimidate. Sure enough, Damon stepped back onto the drive.
‘Do yourself a favour and actually listen to Poppy for once,’ Joel continued. ‘She doesn’t love you and never has. She isn’t yours. She’s a person, not a possession, and she doesn’t belong to anyone. This is her property and you’re not welcome on it or in her life and you need to go now before you end up in serious trouble. Do I make myself clear?’
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Wilf sounded furious as he crossed the drive with a yapping Benji.
Damon looked up at Joel on the doorstep and Wilf closing in from his side and fled.
Joel put his arms out and I sank against his chest, shaking. He led me inside and Wilf followed with Benji.
‘I thought you were going to call the police,’ Wilf said.
‘I was, but I got distracted with work and Dad and…’ I shook my head. ‘He didn’t come back so I thought he’d got the message.’
‘He obviously hasn’t. You need to call them, Poppy.’
Joel nodded. ‘I agree.’
‘You’re right. I need to report him and I will, but let me call his mum first and give her a heads up.’ I raised my hands up to silence them both as they voiced their objections. ‘Jenny was a friend of my mum’s and she’s a lovely woman. I want to let her know what’s happening – warn her in case he’s aggressive with her. I’ll ring the police immediately after. I promise.’
Alerting Jenny felt like the right thing to do. I’d have preferred to do it face to face but, as Damon lived with his mum, there was a risk he’d be there if I visited and no way did I want to see him again.
Wilf took Benji back home and I dug out Mum’s old address book. There was a landline number for Jenny but no mobile, so I hoped it was still connected. It rang for so long that I was on the verge of hanging up and calling the police, fearful that Damon might have arrived home by now in a foul mood and taken it out on Jenny, when she finally answered.
‘Hi, Jenny, it’s Poppy Wells – Joy’s daughter.’
‘Oh, my goodness! How lovely to hear from you.’
‘Is Damon there?’ I asked, thinking that if my call was on speakerphone and he was listening, he’d be livid.
‘No. I thought he was with you.’
‘He was here, but he left and he wasn’t…’ I winced. This was not an easy conversation to have. ‘He was pretty angry with me.’
‘Aw, Poppy, please don’t tell me the engagement’s off.’
My stomach lurched. ‘Engagement? You think Damon and I are engaged?’
I felt sick as I discovered how far Damon’s obsession with me had gone. He’d told Jenny that we’d got together last October and engaged at Christmas but we hadn’t set a wedding date just yet because I’d had a breakdown after Dad’s diagnosis and barely left the house. He’d given that as the reason why I hadn’t seen Jenny to celebrate and she’d been unable to visit me instead because various health and mobility issues had her housebound. Telling her it was all lies and explaining what had really happened was one of the hardest conversations I’d ever had. I wished I’d been able to do it in person as she sounded broken and I longed to hug her.
‘I feel so stupid,’ she said, her voice strained, as though she was fighting through tears. ‘So many things have just clicked into place. Questions I didn’t even realise were questions have been answered. I’m a nurse, for goodness’ sake! How can I not have seen this?’
‘It sounds like you’ve had a lot to deal with,’ I said, gently.
‘Even so… Oh my gosh, Poppy. I’m so sorry. The photos. They’re all of you and I never questioned it but, if you’d really been a couple, of course there’d have been photos of you together.’
My stomach lurched again and I shuddered. He had photos of me? He must have taken them without me knowing, or helped himself to them from my socials. That was so creepy.
‘Sometimes you can be too close to a person to see what’s really going on.’ I was anxious to get off the phone and call the police, but I didn’t want Jenny to blame herself.
‘It’s kind of you to say that, but I should have noticed something. I’m so sorry, Poppy. He’s really scared you, hasn’t he?’
‘He has and it has to stop. I wanted to warn you that?—’
‘You’re going to the police,’ she interrupted, her voice resigned. ‘I’m so sorry he’s put you through all this. He clearly needs help, and I’ll make sure he gets it.’
‘Will you be all right? He won’t hurt you or anything?’
‘He might be an obsessive liar but my son’s not a violent man. You call the police. I’ll be fine.’
We said goodbye and I disconnected the call, my heart heavy for Jenny. What a shock that must have been for her. I looked up at Joel. Out of respect for Jenny, I hadn’t put my phone on speaker but Joel would have got the gist of it. His comforting hug gave me the strength I needed to make my next call.
It had been a long and emotional day, so Joel and I went to bed early. I was drifting off when my phone rang. I grasped at it in a panic, my immediate thought being that it would be someone from The Larks telling me to get there quickly. But it wasn’t The Larks. It was Sharon.
‘Poppy! The hives are on fire.’
My breath caught in my throat. ‘Fire?’
Beside me, Joel flicked on the light.
‘The fire brigade’s on their way,’ she said, sounding tearful, ‘but they’re going to be too late. I’m so sorry.’