Poppy Jones first spots Andrew Clark at work. He arrives for a role in the procurement department, and at that moment Poppy darts into the HR office to sign a form. She pauses when she sees the handsome stranger.
Quite the looker, she thinks, and he seems confident. Not many like that these days Procurement, huh? Well meet soon enough.
The next morning the newcomer walks into the accounts office, greets everyone with a warm smile, and his gaze settles on Poppy. A strange shiver runs down her spine. Well, hes staring weve seen that before, she mutters, halfamused.
Whether shes seen it or not, the story doesnt say, but Poppy quickly realises that Andrew isnt like the men shes dated before. He meets her eye openly, looks at her gently, never rushes, solves problems effortlessly without waiting to be asked, yet never imposes. He manages to appear exactly when she needs him most.
All this leaves an indelible impression on Poppy. She falls for him completelyhow could she not? A man like that seems straight out of a dream.
A few months later they move in together; six months after that they marry. When their son, a spittingimage of Andrew, is born, Poppy finally understands what happiness feels like. At night she snuggles to him and whispers:
Dont ever leave, alright? Ive tied you down tight.
I wasnt planning on going anywhere, he replies, kissing her temple.
Poppy knows from the start that Andrew has a daughter from his first marriage. She asks about her, but he is reluctant to share details. One evening he finally says:
We havent spoken for years. I dont even have her contact. When she was three, Leahmy ex didnt want us to be in touch. Now Daisy is a teenager Lets not dig up the past.
Poppy shrugs. If you ever want to find her, tell me. Ill support you. He nods, and she asks no more questions. After all, everyone has a past.
One night Andrew comes home looking distracted. He removes his coat slowly, heads to the kitchen without meeting her eyes, pours himself a glass of water and just stands there, glass in hand.
Andrew, whats wrong? Poppy worries.
He glances at her apologetically, then says, as if deciding to speak for the first time:
I I found Leah on social media. I messaged her to see how she and Daisy are doing. Turns out Daisy wants to talk to me. We even spoke on the phone.
Poppy freezes. Shes reminded him countless times about his daughter, and now this news knocks the wind out of her. She forces a smile. Thats wonderful! Im really happy for you! she says, masking her discomfort.
Andrew brightens; he needed to hear that. Meanwhile Poppy feels a weight settle over her life.
At first its only short calls. He retreats to his room, closing the door and saying, Daisys shy. Poppy stays alone in the kitchen, hearing his soft, affectionate voice that used to belong solely to her.
Then messages from Leah start arrivingfirst brief, then more frequent. Poppys fingers instinctively reach for Andrews phone when he leaves it unattended. She reads the texts, sees pictures of a girl she doesnt know, and in every line detects a sugary, poisonous promise: Were here, were close, were waiting for you
Each time Andrew walks away with his phone, she tells herself, Hes just talking to his daughter, dont imagine anything. But one day, passing by, she hears the name Leah. Her former wifes name. From that moment her private hell takes shape.
She despises herself for snooping, yet she cant stop. She watches him smile at the screen, hold his breath before replying. Betrayal seems to lurk in every glance, every gesture. Shes convinced hes living doublelived.
Jealousy burns anew each day, and everything irritates her.
Are you treating me like a joke? she explodes one evening as Andrew scrolls through his phone.
Whats happening, Poppy? he looks up, genuinely baffled.
Dont play dumb! I see everything! Youre chatting with her again! she hisses.
Whoher? he replies, genuinely confused. That only fuels her anger.
Every ring of his phone feels like an electric shock. Every overtime shift becomes proof of infidelity. She becomes a spy in her own house because she loves him to the point of selfdestruction. He says nothing, offers no explanation, as if he cant see her suffering. Its so unlike him.
Soon their arguments become frequent and petty, escalating over trivial matters that turn into global crises. Poppy shouts that Andrew no longer hears her, that his gaze has changed, that his very presence feels like a burden. In her mind a terrifying thought repeats:
If he decides the past is more important than us, what will happen?
At night she lies awake, eyes wide, wondering whether hell choose his former life over theirs. In the morning she chastises herself, telling herself, Were a family. He wouldnt do that. The more she convinces herself, the deeper her fear grows.
One afternoon Andrew leaves his phone on the kitchen counter and goes to bathe the baby. A notification pops up: Leah
Her fingers tremble, her heart tightens, but she doesnt open the message. Shes afraid of what she might read; fear has become routine.
You look off today, Andrew asks later, after putting the child to sleep.
Everythings fine, she replies too quickly.
He stares at her for a long moment, as if sensing something, but says nothing. Later, while he sleeps, she lies beside him, listening to his steady breathingwarm, familiar. Suddenly she thinks the breath she hears might soon belong to someone else.
That thought burns so fiercely she gets up, slips into the kitchen, sits on a stool, and clutches her hands. For the first time she feels completely replaceable.
Andrew steps into the kitchen. She looks up, eyes brimming.
Im scared youll leave one day, she admits.
He crouches, taking her hands. Where would I go?
…to them, she whispers, looking away.
He stays silent. In the hush she hears the most terrifying sound: a pause, not a protest, not a laugh, not a joke. That brief silence feels heavier than any answer.
That night, Andrew simply doesnt come back. No call, no text, his phone out of signal. Poppy sits alone in the dark kitchen, replaying countless happy scenarios in her headhim, her, their life togetherwithout her.
By dawn her heart feels like a lump of ice. She powers up her laptop, and her fingers begin to typeletters to Leah. She writes, she cries, she doesnt notice the tears. She writes desperately, as if clinging to a straw in a drowning sea, pleading for truth.
She hits send and feels a strange mix of relief and emptiness. Her move is made; now she waits for a reply.
All day she cant sit still, pacing, imagining the conversation when he returns, rehearsing what shell say. She goes through the apartment, touches objects, mechanically feeds the baby, but inside shes just waitingfor judgment.
He finally arrives late, pale, slumped. He sits opposite her in silence.
Why did you do that? his voice is tired, low.
What did I do? she asks, shaking.
I read your email. Youve got it all wrong.
You really? Then explain! Are you going back to them? Old love never rusts, right? Speak! Dont hide behind the phone! How did you even read my email? Did she propose? Show my weakness?
She wont answer you, Poppy, Andrew says quietly. Ill answer. Everything will be fine if you dont ruin it yourself.
Convenient, she scoffs, bitter. Fine, I dont even care now. I shouldnt have written to her.
Hes dead, Andrew exhales. Leah died last night. I was with her. The end.
Poppy thinks shes misheard. The room freezes. Her breath catches; a chill spreads through her.
All the jealousy, suspicion, the poison inside hersuddenly it crumbles into dust.
She died? she whispers, as if afraid to hear the answer.
Yes, he nods. Shed been ill for a long time. She was pleased when I appeared, but she never confessed. She just wanted to see how wed both handle things, for Daisys sake. She wasnt trying to win me back.
He sighs heavily. Now you see why everything hinges on you. If you say no, Ill have to find a place for Daisy.
A childrens home? Poppys voice trembles.
No. My family and Leahs have relatives who might take her in. I cant decide without you.
Poppy leaps up, shouting, Dont even think about it! Daisy stays with us! With us! Her voice cracks, startling herself.
Andrew freezes, closes his eyes for a beat. When he opens them, tears glisten.
I knew youd say that, he murmurs.
Poppy throws herself into his arms, burying her face against his chest. All the fear and doubt melt away. Ahead lies a new, hard road, but she no longer fears.
She has made her choice.
