Poppy! I shouted across the road.
She let out a weary sigh, set her shopping bags on the curb and stopped. She glanced at the car of her exhusband parked on the opposite side, sucked her cheeks in, and bowed her head. How tired I was of all this. Oliver was hurrying toward her, almost tripping, eager to help.
Hello, Poppy, he said, taking the bags.
Hi, she replied.
I was just passing by, saw you with those heavy sacks and thought Id lend a hand, he said with a foolish grin. Lets go.
How can you be passing by? You live on Westfield Road, and thats a suburb
Oliver turned toward his car, two bags in his hands.
My mate was giving me a lift from work, and then I saw you I couldnt just drive past, he shrugged. Come on, Ill drop you home.
Its only a quarter of a mile, she said.
No problem, Ill carry the heavy bags. Hows Milo, your mum?
Great, youll find out when you pick him up this weekend. You two talk every day, Poppy muttered, following Oliver more for her groceries than for him. Why do you keep asking about me?
Just curious, were not strangers, Oliver smiled, opening the passenger door for his former wife.
Ill sit in the back.
Dont, its a mess back there, he warned.
She opened the rear door, peered inside and indeed saw a cluttered interior.
You never believed me she muttered.
Poppy sighed and finally sat in the front seat. Oliver stowed the bags in the boot. He beamed at her, while she stared out the window at the familiar neighbourhood.
You look good, as always, he said.
Oliver, just drop me off. I still have to cook dinner, she snapped.
Right, right! Oliver revved the engine and they pulled away. Ive landed a new job, sorting paperwork for a shift pattern, he added, his voice drifting as Poppy kept looking out the window. Milo said youd moved out of your motherinlaws place?
Shes been three years on my case, Poppy answered without moving.
Poppy, stop playing hideandseek! Why do I only ever see our son with her? Are you hiding your address? Let me take you home.
No, thanks, she muttered, tugging at her coat. I bought groceries for Mum.
Give them to me and Ill drop you off, Milo said
They stopped in a courtyard.
What did Milo say? I told him not to contact us. Are you both doing fine?
Yes, she replied.
What the devil do you want from me? she snapped.
Poppy, were not strangers we have a son, Oliver tried to take her hand. She pulled her hand back into her pocket with obvious disdain.
Enough, Oliver! How many accidental visits can I endure? Stop calling my mother, stop begging her to talk to me it wont help! We moved out because of you! Im on the brink of a nervous breakdown; everyone keeps saying how sorry you are, how miserable you are without us, how you dream of getting the family back together.
And Milo? Why are you stringing him along? Hes just starting to get used to his dad on weekends, and you tell him well reconcile, you ask him to pass on greetings, you pry about my work hours and where Im.”
Im worried, Oliver said.
Me too about our son! How many times can you push that narrative onto him? Stop using him to pressure me!
Poppy got out of the car, slammed the door, and tried to pull the bags from the boot, but the lock was jammed. She wrestled with the boot lid, frantic to be rid of Oliver. Their mother watched from above the window; Poppy didnt see her, but felt the lingering gaze through the blinds. Oliver finally opened the boot and carried the bags to the entrance, intending to bring them up to the flat, but Poppy stopped him.
No, Ill do it myself.
Poppy, youll understand one dayI still love you! Id give up the shift work, return to my old job, even get us a new car! How many more times must you walk? Itll be easier for you and Milo; you could pick him up from karate.
No, she snapped, snatching the bags from his hands. I actually want you to go away, find a woman you love, settle down, and leave me alone.
Poppy, forgive me, it was a oneoff, she meant nothing to me! I still curse myself, he pleaded.
I forgave you long ago and moved on, but you wont let me go, she said.
I cant! Living without you is unbearable, Oliver shouted as she started up the stairs.
Oliver, stop the theatrics, came a voice behind her. Ive forgiven you, but I cant love you again.
The secondfloor door slammed and the house fell silent. Oliver clenched his fists, walked back to his car, and glanced at the windows of his motherinlaws flat. How foolish hed been, swapping his wife, son, and family for a fleeting fling. After the divorce, a year alone, he finally realised there was no one like his Poppy. Hed never love anyone as he loved his exwife and Milo.
Theyd met back at school when she transferred into their Year10 class and outshone every girl. Oliver only had eyes for her. After a summer away at his grandmothers, he fell for another girl, but when school resumed in September, Poppy no longer excited him. They stayed friends, lost touch for five years while studying elsewhere, then reunited in the same social circle as adults. Poppy earned a firstclass degree, landed a job, and returned to her hometown to work where her mother did. Oliver tried various ventures, never quite finding his footing, eventually taking a factory job in his trade.
Everything changed when Poppy told him she was pregnant. Oliver was scared but gathered Poppy in his arms, introduced her to his parents, and they married. Milo was born, they bought a house on a mortgage that the grandparents helped pay off early. Summers were spent at the seaside, birthdays, christenings, weekend trips, and family anniversaries. Oliver grew restless at work, sought recognition, but stalled on the career ladder. He switched jobs, got involved with a former colleague who offered him a promotion in exchange for personal favours. When she left, Oliver fell into boredom again.
Poppy saw his restlessness as a midlife crisis, urged him to take a break, even suggested he take Milo with him. He resisted but eventually agreed to visit a friend in Brighton for a short fishing trip. The trip never materialised; the friends wife sent photos of a pleasant evening, asking him not to bother her husband.
Poppy packed her things, Milo, and left for her mothers house. Oliver, after sending her some ugly photos from his fishing outing, raced to her door, only to find it shut tight, his motherinlaws stare like a furnace. He tried to give Poppy space, but instead received a divorce summons. He fought the process, begged for forgiveness, but Poppy secured the divorce.
A year later, seeing Oliver trying to help, paying child support, calling Milo every weekend, even winning over his motherinlaw again, his mother begged Poppy to forgive him. She did, but the trust and feelings were gone. The wounds had healed only into scars, leaving only memories that no longer stirred any emotion.
They finally went their separate ways.
Poppy, why are you still pestering him? their mother asked as she entered the kitchen, barely hearing the footfall.
What else? Poppy replied. Milo hasnt come home from school yet.
No.
Hes driving me mad, Mum! I wish hed be out on a shift somewhere else! He stalks me, Im scared to start any relationship, never knowing what Oliver will do.
Poppy walked in with the grocery bags; mother had already brewed tea, the kitchen smelling of fresh baking.
Ah, thats a lovely scent, she said.
Poppy, you cant keep doing this. You have a son. Youve lived together all these years
How can I? Mum? How can we share a bed? A flat? Hes a stranger now, our connection switched off somewhere between that womans messages and the court summons. How do I live with someone I feel nothing for?
Then why give him hope, keep talking? her mother asked, packing the groceries, avoiding eye contact.
Its him! He wont give me a break, he jumped on our IT guy a month ago, I smiled at him, flirted a bit. He wants forgiveness What am I supposed to forgive? I never got cozy with that lady.
He wont let me go, I need someone else, the mother said calmly. Men like Oliver cant handle a cheating woman.
What? Poppy laughed. What cheating? Weve been divorced for three years, hes nobody.
He cant let you go.
Exactly, enough!
Oliver didnt stop until the paperwork for his new job was finished. He waited for Poppy during her lunch break at the office, called Milo, asked him to tell his mum theyd still be together. The exmotherinlaw stopped answering. A few weeks later he met Poppy and Milo early at school.
Poppy, Im leaving
Good luck.
Milo, dads going far, but not for long, Oliver said, looking at his exwife who turned away. Dont you have anything to say? he asked. Milo tugged his mothers hand; his first lesson was English, punctuality mattered.
Ive said everything. Happy youre changing scenery, hope it improves your life.
Dont count on it, I wont abandon you!
Oliver sat with his son, gave him a tight hug, tried the same with his exwife who recoiled. He clenched his teeth and walked back to the car.
Ill forgive you, Poppy, he shouted from the roadside, but never the betrayal.
Poppy smiled at his outburst, thinking perhaps hed finally let her go.
Three months of calm passed; Poppy no longer flinched at the sight of a blue car parked down the street. She moved about the city freely, unafraid of an accidental runin with Oliver. She met a friend for coffee, which soon turned into a divorce discussion; the friend urged her to save the marriage, to love Oliver. Poppy cut ties, suspecting the friend was pushing Olivers agenda. It turned out the friend was also divorced, knew the strain of raising children alone, often forgave her own husbands little slipups, and spoke of a new romance with a man named Chris.
Can we open the champagne? Chris grinned. And new hearts? she winked. Only if you dont get a hundred calls a day from Oliver.
The one who invited you after work? Did you answer?
Chris, Oliver will be back and itll start again, Poppy sighed, scanning the menu.
Make it end! Distract yourself, talk to someone, youre still young, you look great, the friend urged, leaning over the table. Everyones watching you, she whispered.
Poppy blushed, turned, and met a strangers stare. He swaggered over, introduced himself, offered coffee to both women. They declined, but the charming man lingered.
Poppy watched Chris eye him, Chris kept a careful watch on his reactions. Suddenly she needed to leave; moments later she met Simon, exchanged numbers, and began texting. Poppy stopped reading Olivers endless messages; her phone buzzed with new chats, and she smiled at each one, hurrying home as if someone awaited her.
Hello, Milo, hows school?
Fine, Dad, I got a five on my English test! You know what?
Milo, hows mum? Oliver interrupted, eager.
Shes fine, changed her hair, was at Lilas birthday yesterday
Good. She never answers my calls, doesnt read my messages, Oliver sighed, Ask her to pick up, please.
Mum cant come, we have guests.
Who?
Uncle Simon.
What the hell? Get her phone up, now.
Mum! Mum! Milo shouted from his room. In the kitchen laughter echoed, smells of something tasty drifted, and the walls thumped with Uncle Simons tinkering. Mum! Dads calling.
Molly, in an apron, peered through the open kitchen door.
Yes, she answered, eyes fixed on the warm glow from the stove.
Whats up, love? Did you just get out of bed and start flirting with every bloke who walks by? Oliver teased.
And you, dont be ill, why are you calling?
What do you think youre doing? Youve got a son! How dare you! Ill come over and give you a honeymoon youll never forget, you wretch.
At last youve lost it, Molly laughed, I was waiting for you to finally realise you swapped a family for a onenight fling. When will you understand weve been strangers forever.
Drop dead, you ! Oliver roared into the phone, Ill be back in a week, I I
Molly, I did what you asked, a male voice said from nearby, Are you coming? Were starving, the ovens killing us. Right, Milo?
The boy nodded, reaching for his phone, a cacophony of screams filling the room.
Whos that? Simon asked, Let me, he offered, handing the phone to Molly.
She took it, the shouting died down as Oliver hung up.
Dad will call later, Molly said, looking at the comforting light from the kitchen.
Poppy, youre out late again? Youre throwing yourself at men as soon as they step over the threshold? Oliver sneered.
And you, stop being a pest, you have a son! How dare you! she retorted.
You think youre the only one who can cheat? Weve been divorced three years, youre nothing to me.
He wont let you go.
Its true, youre a pest!
Oliver kept on until his new job paperwork was done. He waited for Poppy at her office, called Milo, begged him to tell his mum theyd still be together. The exmotherinlaw never answered. A couple of weeks later he met Poppy and Milo at school early.
Poppy, Im off
Take care.
Milo, dads going far, but not for long, Oliver said, looking at his exwife who turned away. Nothing to say? he asked. Milo tugged his mothers hand; his first lesson was English, being late was unacceptable.
I said everything. Glad youre changing your scenery, hope it helps.
Dont count on it, I wont leave you!
Oliver sat down with his son, gave him a tight hug, tried the same with his exwife who flinched. He clenched his teeth and walked to the car.
Ill forgive you, Poppy, he shouted from the roadside, but never the betrayal.
Poppy found humour in his outburst, perhaps he finally let her go.
Three months passed in peace; Poppy no longer flinched at a blue car parked down the lane. She roamed the city freely, unafraid of a random meeting with Oliver. She went to cafés with colleagues, finally met an old friend. They chatted until her divorce proceedings began; the friend pushed hard for keeping the marriage, for love, for Oliver. Poppy stopped seeing her, believing the friend was feeding Olivers agenda. Turns out the friend was also divorced, knew what raising kids alone was like, often forgave her own husbands minor missteps, and talked about a new romance with a man called Chris.
Can we pop the champagne? Chris smiled. And open hearts? she winked. Only if you dont get a hundred calls a day from Oliver.
The one who asked you out after work? Did you answer?
Chris, Oliver will be back and itll start again, Poppy sighed, scanning the menu.
Make it end! Distract yourself, talk to someone, youre still young, you look great, the friend urged, leaning over the table. Everyones watching you, she whispered.
Poppy blushed, turned, and met a strangers stare. He swaggered over, introduced himself, offered coffee to both women. They declined, but the charming manAs the rain began to fall, she finally closed the door on the past and stepped out into the fresh, hopeful morning.
