Chapter 7 #2
“I get that. Even bringing that up was a stupid move. But you must remember from our childhood that I can be impressively stupid?”
Despite myself, I smiled. “I do remember that.”
“Let’s circle back to you working too hard.”
“Yeah. After Playgirl Poppy was put away, Work Boss Poppy emerged. I needed something to put my energy into, and work won the prize. But it did mean that everything else suffered. Relationships, friendships, family. Aunt Margot wasn’t best pleased with me.
Neither was Katy.” I shrugged. “I wasn’t best pleased with me either, but I had no idea how to make a change.
Until I really started to deal with Mum’s death and went to therapy. ”
“Let me guess: Margot wanted you to come and work in the company?”
I nodded. “She was going to give me Mum’s office. The place where her brain popped and she died on the floor. It was the last place in the world I wanted to be.”
The devastation still rattled through me most days, but its after-effects were getting calmer.
Eliza stroked my arm, and a multitude of fireworks went off under my skin where she touched me. Her fingertips blazed hot, and I leaned into her touch without thinking. When had someone last offered me comfort like this? When had I let them?
“But something’s changed now?”
Something had. “Now she wants to sell, yes. Plus, more time has passed, and I’ve had therapy.” I paused. “Which clearly means I’m an over-sharer now, too.”
She looked at me, and something in her eyes blazed.
“Let me join in with the oversharing. When your mum died, I wanted to be there for you. But we hadn’t spoken properly for ages and I couldn’t just drop you a message.
Then I bumped your car, and you were super angry with me.
I used it as an excuse to stay away. I should have done more.
You went through a horrible loss, and it was less than a decade after your gran.
I was a shit friend, even though we weren’t officially friends. I’m sorry for that, too.”
I picked up my glass and stared into it. “If we’re anything to go by, it’s true what they say about gin making you maudlin.”
That got a smile at least.
“But honestly?” I added. “I don’t blame you for not coming near me. I was in a bad place, and we weren’t close then.”
“I could have tried. Yes, I was going through my divorce and things were messy, but your mum died. That trumps everything.”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have let you. I’d have shut you down.” I hadn’t let many people in since. It was something I was working on.
“I could have tried even when your mum was still alive. Our mums were friends, just like us when we were kids. But after I went to university and we stopped talking, it became the norm. It always saddened me. Then when we did talk, it was weird and edgy. Not like this.”
She shook her head with a smile. “Let’s just agree that we both could have been better to each other over the years.
But this trip? We’re going to soak up everything Voss Watches, and we’re going to be nice to each other.
I know we can do it. I can’t wait to go to Goldloch again.
I haven’t been back since that last two weeks we spent there as kids.
I think we were 10 and 14 then?” She smiled at me, then.
A pure, genuine smile. The same one that always lit up every room she was in.
I remembered the vibe of that summer like it was yesterday. It had been idyllic. Me, Katy, and Eliza. The three of us running free, with no cares. They were far simpler days.
“You know, I often thought you had the work-life balance thing all sorted. I’ve still to master it,” Eliza said.
I snorted. “Let me tell you, I didn’t. First, I was too much play. Then I crashed. Now I’m too much work.”
“So we’re both workaholics with no relationship?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“At least it means we might work for the next few months.”
“Not if you call me Playgirl Poppy again.”
Eliza bit down a smile. “I promise those words will never pass my lips again. Cross my heart.” She drew a line from her right shoulder to the left-hand side of her waist, then did the same on the opposite side.
“Maybe we both have things to learn. You have to learn to play more. And I’m learning that if I want to take over at Voss, work has to come first. Which is why it’s my priority for the next six months. I have big plans, and they all start here.”
Eliza ran her tongue along her top teeth before she replied. “Six months? I thought the deal was three to start, and then we see where we are. Whether we stick or twist.”
“Is that what Margot told you?”
A slight wince crossed her face, and I could see her deciding what to tell me and what not. In the end, she gave me a slow nod. “And Dad.”
A dark shadow fell on me. I had to remember that as nice as Eliza was, she also had interest in the other side of the deal, too.
“We agreed it was three to make my mark. Six to fully convince. I plan to make my mark. If you’re reporting back to Margot or your dad, make sure they know that.
” I paused. “I haven’t come to play. I mean business. ”