«Hello, Dad, I’ve come for my present,» the girl announced.
Oliver and Emily were quietly eating dinner when the front door burst open and a dishevelled woman strolled in. She tossed an old rucksack into the corner and spread her arms wide.
«Well, hullo, Pops,» she said, grinning.
Oliver choked on his soup and started coughing violently. Emily, eyes flashing, snapped, «And who exactly are you? Whats this ‘Pops’ nonsense?»
The woman squinted. «Keep your knickers on, love. I aint here for youjust me dad. Forgotten me already, Pops? Its me, your little girl, Poppy. Twenty years, and I still couldnt shake the worryhows me old man doing? Not poorly, I hope?» She sniffed theatrically.
Oliver finally wheezed out, «Whatwhat do you want?»
«The present, Dad. That doll you promised me two decades ago,» Poppy smirked.
Her mother had died when she was seven. Her father lasted six months before bringing home a new wife, Emily, who came with two rowdy stepbrothers. First thing, Emily turfed Poppy out of her bedroom»Boys need it more,» Dad mumbled, avoiding her eyes. The lads, older and cheeky as monkeys, tore up her schoolbooks. Shed rewrite her homework by moonlight, tears smudging the pagesEmily wouldnt waste electricity on her.
Then, on her eighth birthday, Dad took her to a childrens home. «Just for a bit, love. Ill visit weekends, bring you that big doll from the shop windowthe one you liked.»
Poppy waited. He never came.
Now, she plonked herself at the table. «Go on then, Auntie, dish us up some soup. Starvingbarely had a roof last night!»
Emily silently slapped a ladle into a bowl.
Poppy tutted. «Years pass, and youre still penny-pinching. More, eh?»
She turned to Oliver. «Right, Pops, break out the savingslets toast to family reunion!»
He glanced at Emily. «We dont drink,» she hissed.
Poppy slapped her knee. «Knew it! But unlike you lot, I dont come empty-handed. Fetch my bag, Auntie.»
Emily flushed. «Get it yourself!»
Poppy arched a brow. «Youre missing the point, love. Im not just visitingIm moving in. Kicked me out once, didnt you? Sent me packing to state care. Now its your turn. Clear offor behave, and maybe Ill let you stay.»
Emily screeched, «Oliver, are you just sitting there? Shes bullying me!»
He fidgeted. «Now, Poppy, be nice to Auntie. This is her home.»
Poppy rolled her eyes. «Blimey, shes got you wrapped right up. Dont fret, Popsme and Auntiell sort this. Might ship her off somewhere!»
Emily shrieked, «Ill call me son! Hell toss you out!»
Poppy snorted. «Your Johnny? Hed sell you for a pint. Tough luckeldest drank himself to death, didnt he? And the youngers heading same way.»
Emily wailed, «Leave my boys alone!»
«Look whos talking,» Poppy shot back. «Landed nicely, didnt you? Snatched a widower, booted his kid, lived cushy. But Im backand Ill make your life hell. Me fiancés got three stretches inside. Hell be here next week. Well fill this house with grandkidsproper family reunion, eh, Dad?»
Oliver nodded weakly.
Poppy smirked at Emily. «See? Nowmake up me bed. And heat the bath. Im filthy.»
Pretending to sleep, she eavesdropped. Emily hissed, «You spineless git! Shell rob us blindor worse! Chuck her out!»
Oliver mumbled, «Shes me daughter. You made me abandon her once. Cant do it again.»
Poppy mentally cheered. So he had a shred of guilt.
A rustle made her peek. Emily loomed with a mulled pillow.
«Going down for murder, Auntie?» Poppy said brightly.
Emily jumped. «II brought you this! For comfort!»
Poppy cackled. «Ta. Nearly thought you were up to no good. Bath ready?»
Emily fluttered. «Your dads heating it. Fancy some pancakes?»
«Bit sudden, this niceness,» Poppy mused. «Poisoned em? Jokes on youIve got an iron gut. Youre still a snake.»
For a week, Poppy worked Emily ragged. Finally, Emily begged, «Have mercy, love. Im not young.»
Poppys voice turned ice. «Where was your mercy when you tore a little girl from her home? Ashamed? Im not. Youll pay for every tear.»
Emily crumpled to her knees. «Forgive me! Lifes punished me enough!»
Poppy sighed. «Get up. Reckon youve suffered. Stay if you likeIm off. No present, eh, Dad?»
Oliver scrambled. «WaitIll give you money!»
Poppy shook her head. «Still dont get it. I didnt come for cash. Just one wordthat you ever loved me. But no. Goodbye.»
She slung her rucksack over her shoulder and left. No one followedthough shed hoped.
A car waited past the village. She climbed in and sobbed like a child. Her bloke hugged her tight.
«Told you it were a bad idea,» he murmured. «Why dig up the past when youve got now? Hurt, eh?»
Poppy looked up, tear-streaked. «Thought hed loved me all alongjust slipped up. But they forgot me.»
He squeezed her. «Shouldve listened to your old man. Kids are asking for you. Lets go home.»
She wiped her face. «Missed em too. Drive fast. Need a showerwash it all off. But firstlets stop by Mums grave. Picked flowers on the way.»
She exhaled. «Dad? Never had one, never needed one. Got you and the kids. Thats enough.»
Her bloke started the engine. «Past stays past, love.»
She nodded. «Had to try. Gods will, I spose. The engine hummed as the car drifted into the night, headlights cutting through the mist. Poppy kept her eyes on the road ahead, the weight in her chest slowly lifting with every mile. The flowers on her lap trembled slightly in the breeze from the cracked window. She whispered, Sorry, Mum, then leaned her head against the glass and closed her eyes. Behind her, the village faded into shadowits silence, its secrets, its ghostsswallowed by the dark.
