the first time Poppy had met Lee and had then tried to explain to Poppy how it takes time to get to know a person. Neve wasn’t really sure Poppy grasped the notion that not everyone she met should be regarded as a friend straight away. None of this had sat well with Kit, but to his credit, he had remained calm and accepted that Poppy hadn’t been able to really appreciate the danger she could put herself in.
Neve knew Poppy found it hard to understand the point they were making. She simply didn’t have the cognitive development to grasp exactly what they were saying. It had to be broken down into simplistic terms to gain any meaning for Poppy.
The catalyst for Neve’s broken sleep however, was Poppy’s new friend, Lee. Or, as Neve knew him, Ashley Farnham. A face and a name from Neve’s past. One she didn’t associate with happy events.
It was bizarre that he had reappeared here in the little village of Ambleton. Surely that was more than a coincidence. Whatever his reasons were for going by the name of Lee, the fact he’d made contact with her daughter troubled Neve. Did he know Neve lived in Ambleton? Did he know of her connection with Poppy?
She had tossed these questions around all night, unable to settle on an answer. Long held but tucked away memories of Ashley Farnham invaded her thoughts. In the end, she had got up and gone downstairs where she’d poured herself a glass of Kit’s whiskey in a bid to help her sleep.
It had worked but when she had woken this morning, she instantly knew something was troubling her. It took her a few seconds to remember and her heart dropped when she did. It was no good, she couldn’t carry on in this state of uncertainty. She had to find out what he was doing here.
Neve jotted down the phone number from the picture she had taken of Jake’s computer screen and added it to her contacts under the name ‘Laura’, who was one of the mums from school. Neve knew it would be a good cover if she happened to have a text come through and someone, Kit in particular, noticed the alert flash up on the screen.
Neve picked up her phone, tapped out a text message and pressed send. She watched the little blue line race across the top of her screen, followed up by a ping – confirmation her message had been sent. The word ‘Delivered’ appeared under the message. Satisfied, Neve slipped her phone into her bag and called up the stairs for Poppy to hurry up. ‘We don’t want to miss the bus!’ Neve gave Willow a couple of dog treats and settled her in her basket. ‘Stay there. Good girl.’
Poppy clomped her way down the stairs. ‘I’m ready.’
‘You’ve got toothpaste in the corner of your mouth,’ said Neve, handing Poppy a tissue.
‘Can you take me today?’ said Poppy as she rubbed the tissue round her mouth and then scrunched it up, leaving it on the hall table.
‘In the bin, please,’ said Neve, slipping her feet into her shoes. ‘And I am taking you. I always do.’
Poppy shuffled off to the kitchen and after disposing of the tissue, came back to put her own shoes on. ‘I meant take me to school. Not the bus stop.’
‘But I never take you to school.’
‘I don’t want to go on the bus.’ Poppy tugged the Velcro strap across the top of her foot.
‘Why?’
Poppy shrugged. ‘Just don’t.’
‘Well, that’s not a reason, is it?’ said Neve. She knew from past experience, the key with Poppy was consistency. If you let Poppy call the shots too often, then it became a battle for her to be compliant about the smallest of things. Everything became an issue, which ultimately turned into an argument. ‘Anyway, your dad’s paid for the bus. They’ll be expecting you and I can’t be driving backwards and forwards into town every day.’
‘You’ve got nothing else to do,’ said Poppy, her bottom lip sticking out as she stood up and picked up her bag and hockey stick.
Neve gave a small laugh as she checked her mobile phone. ‘Oh, I’ve got plenty of things to be getting on with. How do you think this ship keeps sailing?’
‘It’s not a ship. It’s a house.’
Neve sighed inwardly. Her mistake. Metaphors didn’t figure in Poppy’s world. ‘Well, what I mean is, if I’m not at home, then who is going to do all the housework, shopping, cleaning, washing and everything else that needs doing? They don’t get done on their own.’ She placed a hand on Poppy’s back and shepherded her out the door.
Neve checked her phone again as she slid into the driver’s seat. No reply to her text message yet.
‘Why do you keep looking at your phone?’ asked Poppy, sitting beside her.
‘I don’t,’ said Neve, although she knew to refute it was pointless.
‘Yes, you do. That’s twice since I came down.’
‘I’m just waiting for a reply to a text message. From my friend, Lucie, you know, who runs the coffee shop. I was waiting to see if she’s free to meet up.’ Neve mentally crossed her fingers and said a silent apology for the lie as they drove off towards the centre of the village.
Within a few minutes, they rounded the corner, the war memorial in sight where the school bus stopped to collect Poppy.
As usual, Neve pulled up a little further down the road from the bus stop. Poppy liked to walk the last twenty or so metres on her own and Neve was happy for her to do so. It gave Poppy the sense of independence and helped her self-esteem. A small act that some children wouldn’t think anything of, but for Poppy, was a big deal.
‘I’ll wait in the car,’ said Poppy, shrinking into the seat.
‘What’s up?’ asked Neve. ‘You usually can’t wait to get out of the car.’ Neve looked over towards the bus stop. There were half a dozen kids there in the local secondary school uniform. Four boys and two girls. She thought she recognised a couple of the lads. It was hard to tell their exact ages, but one of them was definitely Poppy’s age. Ben Hewitt. She remembered him from primary school days when Poppy had attended mainstream education. The others, although they were familiar in that she had seen them around the village, she wasn’t entirely sure of their names. Neve looked back at Poppy. ‘Do you want me to come over with you?’
‘No!’ Poppy practically shouted. ‘No. Don’t.’
‘OK. That’s fine. We can just wait in the car a little longer.’ Neve eyed the group of youngsters again. They seemed to have noticed her and Poppy now, looking over towards the car before turning away and laughing amongst themselves. Pretending to check her phone, Neve stole a glance at Poppy who was focused intently on the footwell of the car.
‘Can you drive me to school?’ asked Poppy without looking up.
Neve grimaced. ‘I’m sorry, Pops, I can’t today. I’ve got to meet my friend. Remember?’
‘Can’t you meet your friend later?’
‘They haven’t got a phone. I won’t be able to let them know.’
‘I thought you said you had texted them?’
Neve gulped down her unease. ‘That was a different friend.’
‘You’re
