Chapter 20
There was already a message on her phone from Michael wishing Poppy a happy birthday when Carrie was woken up by the birthday girl at a surprisingly civilised hour. Carrie thanked the sea air for helping Poppy sleep so well.
Carrie had a cup of tea while Poppy opened her cards and presents, including a parcel from her friend Sophie containing a new plushie toy.
She knew presents from Granny would be coming when they saw her and loved the bicycle Carrie had chosen her, one to replace her one in London which she’d outgrown.
“It’s got a basket and everything! Where did you hide it?
” Poppy looked around like she expected to find the perfect bicycle hiding spot somewhere in the sitting room.
“Michael helped me,” admitted Carrie. “He’s been keeping it in his garden shed since it arrived a few days ago. Then he snuck it in after you’d gone to sleep last night.”
“Thank you, Mummy. It’s brilliant.” Poppy gave her mum a big hug. “Can I ride it today?”
“Of course you can but you’ll have to wait until after your birthday breakfast. We’re meeting Auntie Mary in the coffee shop in half an hour.”
“And we can take my bike out after that?”
“Yep. The path winding round the town’s park will be absolutely perfect for you to practise on as long as there aren’t too many people around for you to crash into.”
Poppy giggled. “I won’t crash into anyone,” she said.
They got dressed and went downstairs, through the bookshop and outside to the café.
“Granny!” squealed Poppy as soon as they stepped through the door. She ran over to where Carrie’s mother, Ellen, was sitting next to Auntie Mary.
“Surprise!” cried Ellen, receiving a huge hug from her granddaughter and giving an equally huge one back in return.
“Mum! What on earth are you doing here?” Carrie came over and managed to get around Poppy enough to give her mum a kiss on the cheek. Ellen caught her daughter’s eye. Carrie could tell she was checking her girl really was all right after Sunday’s road trip, and Carrie gave her a reassuring grin.
“Is this your doing?” she asked Auntie Mary, giving her a kiss to the cheek too.
“A little bit,” Auntie Mary admitted, a twinkle in her eye.
“I wasn’t about to miss Poppy’s birthday, was I? And Mary’s been asking me to come and visit for ages, so everything seemed to line up with her just back. I drove down yesterday evening and am staying at Mary’s.”
“It’s lovely to see you.” Carrie suddenly felt a bit weepy.
She’d never gone so long without seeing her mum and, though she’d been having a wonderful time, it was so good to have her here, especially after what had happened on Sunday.
She put a smile on her face. “Let’s order some breakfast. I’m starving. ”
They spent the next hour and a half eating the most delicious pastries and making a fuss of Poppy who had some beautiful presents from her granny and great aunt, including plenty of books of course.
When they were all finished, Carrie went back up to the flat and collected the new bike and they all walked to the park where her mum and aunt got comfortable on a bench to watch Poppy riding, both with their phones in hand to capture the moment.
It was lovely to have them here, to be celebrating Poppy’s birthday with family who adored her.
* * *
At two, Carrie and Poppy met Michael and Layla at their car as arranged. They welcomed the birthday girl with big hugs, promising her presents when she got back.
Poppy hadn’t asked about Tony yet and didn’t seem to be wondering when he’d call or if she’d get a card or a present from him.
In previous years, Carrie had written Love from Mummy and Daddy on the presents she’d brought Poppy to try to save her daughter from disappointment.
She hadn’t this year. She wasn’t really certain why.
Michael was wearing his grey tracksuit bottoms again, which was definitely a little bit distracting, but Carrie did her best to concentrate on climbing. She couldn’t believe how quickly Poppy was improving. Her confidence on the walls was coming along in leaps and bounds.
They stopped off on the way back at the ice cream parlour.
Poppy’s eyes widened as she took in all the flavour choices before them.
They sat at one of the many tables outside overlooking boats and sea and Poppy pointed out all the dogs that walked by, rating them as to how cute they were compared to Monty.
Of course, none of them came anywhere close.
Poppy chose the same ice cream as Layla, naturally, and declared her cookie crunch sundae the best ice cream she’d ever had.
They drove back and went straight into Michael’s house so that Poppy could have her present and then she and Michael would get started making the pizzas. Monty was thrilled to see them and even Tabitha deigned to come and rub herself against the birthday girl’s legs.
Poppy was thrilled with the card Layla had made her and the huge art set she was given. She probably would have happily spent the rest of the day trying it out if it hadn’t been for the pizzas which needed prepping.
Michael and Layla cleared the kitchen table and began getting out the ingredients.
Carrie checked her phone yet again as she had been doing all day.
There was still nothing from Tony. She was determined not to send him another reminder of his daughter’s birthday.
Honestly, if he couldn’t remember to at least message his daughter at this point, there really wasn’t much she could do about it.
“It must have been a wonderful surprise to see your mum this morning,” Michael was saying, getting drinks for everyone.
“It was. I’ve missed her.”
“Shall we invite your mum and Mary to join us?” he suggested. “There’s going to be plenty of pizza and cake.”
Carrie couldn’t believe how thoughtful this man was. “That would be wonderful! You don’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I did,” he said, smiling reassuringly.
“Do you think Granny and Auntie Mary would like to join us this evening, Poppy?” Carrie asked.
“Yes!” Poppy cried, jumping up and down with excitement. “Can you call and ask them, Mummy?”
* * *
Half an hour later, Mary and Ellen arrived with bottles of wine and juices for the children. By that time, the pizza dough was rising and Michael and Poppy were making a tomato sauce while Carrie was prepping the toppings and Layla was grating cheese.
The evening was warm so Michael opened the French doors to the garden.
Poppy showed off her kittens proudly. “You must give me first refusal for one,” Auntie Mary said. “I’ve been thinking about a cat for years.”
“Then I could visit your kitten when we come to stay!” cried Poppy, happily.
“You could indeed,” said Auntie Mary.
“Absolutely,” said Michael. “We’re keeping the tiny one, Katniss, but we’ll be looking for homes for the other two in a few weeks. You can definitely claim one.”
“Wonderful. You’ll have to help me choose a name and teach me all about looking after kittens, Poppy, as you seem quite the expert now.”
“Of course I will,” said Poppy. “I’ll help you think of a really good name.”
Everyone put in their pizza orders, which Poppy wrote down very professionally on a pad Michael had given her. Then the chefs cleared the kitchen and sent the others into the garden with their drinks.
It was beautiful weather and it was lovely sitting in the sun and chatting. Layla made everyone laugh with an impression of how bouncy Poppy was when she was climbing. “I swear she’s made of rubber,” Layla said.
Individual pizzas were presented to everyone and they ate outside with Monty doing his best to beg food from everyone at the same time.
The pizzas were delicious. “They’re proper Italian ones,” Poppy explained. “Michael showed me how to twirl them and everything. And I only dropped one.”
“Shush!” said Michael. “That was supposed to be our secret! Now everyone will be wondering who got the dropped one!”
Poppy giggled. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Michael got the dropped one. He said if he’s poisoned, it’ll be his own fault for not cleaning his kitchen floor more.”
They moved inside as it got chillier and closed the doors to the garden.
Card games were played while Michael and Carrie cleaned up and then Layla brought out the cake she’d made.
It was three layers of chocolate cake with chocolate icing and covered with Maltesers and crushed up Cadbury Flake bars.
Poppy looked like her eyes were going to pop out of her head.
Everyone sang Happy Birthday and Poppy blew her seven candles out in one big puff.
“Did you make a wish?” asked Layla.
“Yes,” said Poppy, solemnly. “But I’m afraid I can’t tell you because if I do, it won’t come true.”
“Quite right,” said Carrie, giving her daughter a hug. “But tell us if it does end up happening.”
“I will,” Poppy agreed.
They played cards until it was well past Poppy’s bedtime and finally, she could hide her yawns no longer and agreed it was time to call it a night.
Naturally, it was a while before they actually left with all the hugs and goodbyes that needed to be dished out to the birthday girl.
Carrie finally tucked a very happy, tired Poppy into bed.
“This has been the best birthday ever,” Poppy said. “I can’t believe Layla made that cake all by herself.”
“She did a great job, didn’t she?”
“I think it was the most chocolatey cake ever.”
“I suspect you’re right.”
Carrie heard her phone ring from down in the sitting room.
“I’d better just get that in case it’s Granny and Auntie Mary having trouble getting home.” She ran down and was frankly amazed to see Tony’s name flash up on the screen.
“Hi,” she answered.
“Hey, I’m calling to wish Poppy a happy birthday. Has she had a good day?”
“She has. I’ll take the phone up to her. You just caught her. I was tucking her into bed.”
She gave the phone to Poppy and left the bedroom while her daughter chatted to her dad, returning a couple of minutes later when she heard Poppy saying goodbye.
Tony had already hung up when Poppy handed her back her phone.
But it was the first time Tony had managed to call his daughter on her birthday, even if he had called long after what he ought to know was her bedtime.