Chapter 7
Carrie laughed. “She’s always very welcome here. She even lets Poppy sit next to her now.”
“That’s a big step. She’s not usually the friendliest of creatures.”
Poppy was determined to follow Layla around as Carrie talked her through everything she needed to know as best as she could, considering she’d been working in the bookshop less than a week herself.
The shop was busy, so it was lucky Carrie had decided not to leave Seren and Layla to it. Carrie and Seren took it in turns helping Layla to serve customers while one got on with other things.
Poppy even wanted to join Layla on her break. Carrie tried to distract her by getting her to tidy up one of the shelves, but Layla said she didn’t mind the little girl tagging along with her. “She can come with me. I was just going to go next door and let my dad know how my day was going.”
“Are you sure?” Carrie asked. She didn’t want to upset her daughter but at the same time it wasn’t fair on Layla if Poppy was driving her a little bit crazy.
“Of course,” said Layla with a shrug. She took Poppy’s hand and they went out together.
* * *
Poppy had clearly had a wonderful time when they returned twenty minutes later. “Michael showed me how he sticks the covers on books,” she said. “And he let me have a go.”
“I hope your dad didn’t mind Poppy disturbing his work,” Carrie said quietly to Layla when Poppy was out of earshot.
“Nah,” said Layla, laughing. “I’ve been messing up his work since I was born. It doesn’t bother him.”
It was soon time for lunch and to close the shop for an hour. “Layla and I can manage this afternoon,” Seren said. “You and Poppy go and have some fun.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. She’s picked everything up so quickly and I’m pretty much done in the office.”
“Thanks, that would be great,” said Carrie. “It’ll be nice to have a chance to explore a little bit.”
“Carrie?” said Layla, coming over shyly. “My dad was wondering if you and Poppy would like to come round for a barbecue tonight?”
“Oh, that’s very nice of him,” Carrie said.
“Can we go, Mummy? Please?” begged Poppy.
“Sure. That’s very kind of your dad, Layla.”
“You haven’t tasted his cooking yet,” warned Layla.
Carrie laughed. “We’d love to come, thank you!”
“Excellent. Dad says to come at six and to walk around the back as we’ll all be in the garden. Oh, and, of course, you’re invited too, Seren!”
“Thanks, I’ll try to come by,” said Seren, looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
Carrie felt a surprising rush of disappointment. She’d thought Michael was inviting her and Poppy especially, which was ridiculous, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit despondent that it was clearly more of an open invitation for anyone who fancied coming.
How well did he know Seren? Had they been for coffee together?
She told herself she was being ridiculous.
Michael wasn’t interested in her, a single mum who was only going to be around for a few weeks and who, from what he’d seen, wore terrible underwear.
She shook her head. What was she even doing thinking about Michael like that?
He was a new friend and nothing more. She had Poppy to think about and surely the only man she should be contemplating being with was Tony.
He was Poppy’s father after all. But there was nothing between her and Tony, and he certainly never made her stomach twist in knots from just an invitation for coffee.
This barbeque sounded like it would be a good opportunity to meet some more of the locals though. And it would save her needing to cook which was a definite plus.
* * *
Carrie and Poppy went upstairs and got a picnic together for their lunch.
It was such a gorgeous day, Carrie suspected the beaches would be absolutely packed and too hot for them anyway, but she knew a lovely forest trail her aunt and uncle had taken her on a few times.
It would be much cooler and quieter there.
Best of all, it was only ten minutes away by car.
They meandered around the trails in the forest for a couple of hours, stopping at a picnic bench to eat their lunch of ham rolls, crisps and apples, and whenever Poppy saw something she wanted to investigate or climb.
Carrie taught Poppy how to play Pooh sticks on a wooden bridge over a stream before they made their way down to the water’s edge and paddled in the clear water.
This is what’s missing from our life in London, Carrie reflected.
The time and ability to step away from everything and everyone and just hang out with Poppy somewhere beautiful.
Somewhere that didn’t have a ridiculous entrance fee and queues to get in.
She just wished she’d brought Poppy to Cornwall sooner.
She sighed happily as she breathed in the clean air and watched her daughter wiggling her toes as she dried them in the sun. This was just lovely.
* * *
They got back to the bookshop later than Carrie had planned because they’d been having such a good time and Carrie hadn’t had the heart to say no to Poppy every time she asked if they could go just a little bit further.
Seren and Layla were closing up and Carrie gave them a hand while Poppy told Tabitha the cat everything she’d been up to.
Once the shop was all shut up for the night, Carrie and Poppy returned to the flat and Carrie ran Poppy a bath.
Poppy looked practically feral from her afternoon adventuring.
Her hair was tangled and her face smeared with mud.
While the bath was running, Carrie texted Michael.
What can we bring with us this evening? She didn’t want to turn up empty-handed.
Just yourselves! came the reply almost straight away.
Let me at least bring a few beers, Carrie messaged back.
Now you’re talking.
Carrie laughed and felt butterflies returning to her stomach. Was it being in a different place and out of her usual routine that was making her react this way to Michael?
She hopped in the shower for a freshen up while Poppy got dressed and then Carrie changed into a pretty floral tea dress she didn’t even know why she’d decided to pack.
“We need to pop to the supermarket to get some drinks for the barbeque, Pumpkin. Are you nearly ready?”
“Yep!” said Poppy, happily. “I’m ready!”
They walked down to the Co-op together and bought some beers and some juice for anyone who wasn’t drinking. Poppy also insisted on buying treats for Monty and Tabitha, though Carrie made sure Poppy understood that she’d need to check with either Michael or Layla before giving the animals any.
Carrie felt a bundle of nerves as they walked through the shop’s garden, thinking that she really must wipe the furniture down out there, out the back gate and round into the garden next door.
They could hear people talking and music playing before they entered the garden, which was a similar size to the bookshop’s but significantly messier.
Michael spotted them as soon as they came in.
His eyes lit up and he walked over to welcome them along with Monty who acted like he hadn’t seen Poppy for years.
The little girl was immediately down on the floor giving him tummy rubs.
“I’m so glad you could both make it,” Michael said, smiling at Poppy and Monty together.
He leaned in and kissed Carrie on the cheek.
She felt warm all of a sudden. “Especially since you brought drinks! The drinks table is over there by the back door. There are plenty of cold beers in the ice bucket. I think there should be a few people you know milling about. Lucy will be here soon.”
Had he invited every single woman in the town, Carrie wondered.
A family with a couple of kids who looked around Poppy’s age arrived and Michael went to greet them so Carrie took the drinks she’d brought with her over to the allotted table and helped herself to a beer.
A man appeared next to her and took a bottle out of the ice bucket for himself.
He had short blond hair and it was obvious from the size of his arms in the tight T-shirt he wore that he spent a lot of time in the gym.
“Hi,” he said, holding out his hand to her confidently, “I’m Dylan. Michael’s best mate.”
Carrie shook his hand. “Are you sure you’re his best mate? Have you checked this with him?”
Dylan laughed. “I’m sure. Presumably you’ve met him. How many friends do you think he can have?”
“I’m Carrie,” Carrie said, taking a sip of her drink. “I’m looking after the bookshop next door for a few weeks.”
“Oh cool. Are you from around here?”
“No, visiting from London, but the bookshop belongs to my aunt and my mum is Cornish and grew up here.”
Poppy came over, tailed by Monty. “This is my daughter, Poppy. Poppy, this is Michael’s friend, Dylan.”
“Best friend,” Dylan corrected with a grin. “Hello, Poppy,” he continued. “It’s nice to meet you. I see you’re mates with Monty.”
“And with Tabitha,” Poppy said. “Michael says she doesn’t like many people but she definitely likes me.”
“Yeah, that cat does not like me at all,” confided Dylan. “She hisses whenever she sees me.”
Poppy gave a little ‘we can’t all be cat whisperers’ shrug. “May I have a drink, please, Mummy?”
“Of course, Pumpkin. Would you like juice or water?”
“Juice, please.”
As Carrie poured her daughter a drink, she spotted Layla coming out of the back of the house with a couple of teens.
Carrie was worried Poppy might interrupt Layla and her friends who were laughing and joking, so didn’t point the girls out to her daughter, but she needn’t have worried.
Layla saw Poppy and came straight over with her friends.