Chapter Thirteen – Poppy

“Here, good old porridge will make you feel better,” Alfie said.

Poppy looked down at the bowl in front of her. “Yum.”

“I can get you something else?” Alfie said.

“No, I mean it, it’s just what I need.” She looked across to Charlie who was already eating his. “Slow down, Charlie bear, your stomach hasn't had any proper food for couple of days.”

“I know, that’s why I’m starving,” Charlie said.

“Take it steady like your mom says,” George said coming into the room and helping himself to coffee. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay home?”

“No, thanks. Your office is going to be wondering where you are,” Poppy said.

“I’m sure they are gossiping like mad,” Alfie said. “George has been working seven days a week since he started that company.”

“All work and no play makes for a dull boy,” Poppy teased, spooning her porridge into her mouth and savoring the creamy taste.

“They already know how dull I am,” George said.

“Well, tonight you need to put your socializing face on,” Alfie warned George.

“Why?” Poppy asked.“Are you having guests over?”

Poppy had only seen delivery drivers and a couple of security guards in all the days she and Charlie had been here. George was so protective, she could not see him suddenly throwing a party, even when he looked so happy that she and Charlie were well again.

“No guests here. But Tim Hucknall is having his annual charity gala, and I am expected to attend.”

“If you don't he’ll take it as a personal snub,” Alfie said.

“Why?” Poppy asked.

“Because Tim Hucknall is the leader of the Fireclaw Clan. George needs to go or it will look bad, and we don't need any more bad feeling between the clans.”

George shrugged. “I’ll go over there, make sure I’m seen, and then slip away.”

“Or...” Poppy said, getting up off her chair, and refilling her bowl with porridge. “I’ll come with you.”

“You?” George asked.

She looked down at her clothes. “I think I’d fit right in.” She sat back down and played with the porridge in her bowl. “You’re right, terrible idea.”

“No,” George said. “It’s a great idea, but I’m worried you aren't going to be strong enough. You and Charlie have been ill.”

“And now we are better.” Poppy didn’t know why she was pushing to go; parties were not her thing. Was it jealousy? Was she scared George would go off with another woman, one who hadn’t stolen from him? Or was it because she wanted it to be a symbol of his acceptance of her. If he took her out and introduced her as his what? Girlfriend. Mate. Then it would mean he meant to keep her around.

“OK,” George said, grabbing a piece of toast and heading out the door. “I’ll send over a dress, and we need to do something with your hair.”

“I can wear it up. Or I can go out to a salon,” she suggested.

“Not yet,” George said, and she didn’t ask him why. She could still recall their conversation from when she was ill. He was trying to track down who stole the blade, and who was responsible for threatening her and Charlie. He hadn't mentioned it again, and neither had she. Whether he had made the connection between her and her brother before she said his name, or whether she had fed him the information, she didn't want to know. She simply wanted it over with.

As far as Poppy was concerned, she had chosen her side, and that side was not Brax’s.

“I’ll walk you out,” Poppy said, getting up from her chair and following George out of the kitchen. “How much do you know?”

“About what?” he asked.

“About my brother?”

“Enough to know that is why you stole the blade.” He stopped and turned to face her, taking her hands. “I understand. I really do. I have done things for the sake of family before. I still do.”

She pressed her lips together. “I’d like a chance to tell you everything.”

“Later. Maybe after this damn gala, we can go somewhere. Alfie can babysit, and we can talk.”

“I’d like that,” Poppy said.

George kissed her cheek. “Promise me you will not overexert yourself. Because if you look tired when I come home, I’m not going to this gala.”

“I’ll take it easy.” She smiled. “You introduced Charlie to the world of cartoons while he was ill, remember? I have a day of Looney Tunes to look forward to.”

“Enjoy. Rest. And don’t worry.” With that he turned on his heel and left her. Poppy grinned and returned to the kitchen, where she sat eating and drinking coffee, while Alfie bustled around her and Charlie. Then they retired to the sitting room, where they curled up on the sofa together.

***

It was just past lunch when Alfie called her. “Poppy! There are two women to see you.”

“To see me?” Poppy asked, getting up from the sofa where she had been dozing off. She was not completely well, but she was going to go with George no matter what.

“Yes,” Alfie said, with a small smile. Whatever was going on, the old man was in on it.

“What’s going on?” Poppy asked.

“You go and I’ll sit with Charlie,” Alfie said. “They are in the kitchen waiting for you.”

She walked out of the sitting room, and back toward the kitchen. Sure enough, there were two women waiting for her.

“Hello, Miss Madison,” the first one said. “I’m Toni, and I’ve been sent by Mr. Lancaster to do your hair, he said you were going out this evening.”

“Which is why I have come with some dresses for you to try,” the other woman said.

“I see, this is a surprise,” Poppy said. “As you can see, I only have jeans and a T-shirt. I lost my luggage.”

“Then let’s get you fitted out with a new wardrobe. I have lingerie as requested, too. My name is Lucy.”

“Please call me Poppy,” she said with a smile.

“OK, Poppy, why don’t we go upstairs and get started?” Toni said.

***

Toni’s idea of getting started consisted of Poppy trying on more clothes than she would ever need. George had guessed her dress size almost perfectly, and the clothes Lucy had brought with her were almost all a perfect fit, but there was no way she could afford them all, and she hated the idea of George paying for them.

“There is just one last dress Mr. Lancaster asked me to bring,” Lucy said, and she pulled out a long blue gown. It was an almost exact replica of the dress she had worn the night they had met.

“It’s perfect,” Poppy said.

“Mr. Lancaster had me go to his office and pick it up. He asked me to do any alterations you might need.” She walked around Poppy, tugging here and pulling there. “I think it needs to come in at the waist. If you slip it off, I’ll get to it while Toni starts on your … hair.”

“Sure.” Poppy turned self-consciously to Toni. “It needs a proper cut.”

“It does, whoever did this should be shot,” Toni said with a cluck of her tongue as she looked at the uneven layers.

“That would be me,” Poppy said.

“Oh, well, I’ll fix it in a flash.”

Toni’s flash was a long one, lasting about two hours, by the time she had washed and cut and blow dried, and then piled Poppy’s hair on top of her head. In between she was asked to try on the blue dress a couple more times; each time Lucy would study her closely, ask her to walk the length of the room and then stick a few more pins in.

When she was finally done, Lucy went downstairs and returned with coffee, which Poppy was grateful for, since her energy was flagging. What had started off as enjoyable soon turned into a chore, one which made her wish she was back on the sofa cuddling Charlie.

But at last, both Toni and Lucy were happy, and left with all their paraphernalia, leaving Poppy in a robe, with the need for food. Her stomach rumbled in response and she went to find Alfie and Charlie.

“There you are,” Alfie said. “We thought you were a lost cause.”

“Me too,” Poppy said. “But they managed to make me look halfway presentable.”

“Mommy, where is your hair?” Charlie asked.

“It is all up here. There are so many pins keeping it up, I think I’ll be taking them out for weeks.”

“Wow,” George said from behind her. “How did it go?”

“Fantastic,” Poppy said. “Especially the dress.”

“I can’t wait to see you in it,” he said, and then as he moved in close to her, he added, “And then I will can’t wait to see you out of it.”

She blushed furiously, and gave him a dig in the ribs, but in truth she could not wait either. If only they had met under different circumstances. If only they didn’t have the theft of the Heartsfire Blade and the threat of harm to her and Charlie hanging over them.

But life was full of if-onlys, and the only way to get past them was to fight. And Poppy was ready to fight for her happiness, and that of the people she loved.