Look at this bun Ive just baked! Poppy exclaims excitedly as she and her mother start mixing dough in the kitchen.
Sweetheart, when you grow up youll have a family of your own and youll be a brilliant cook, her mother replies cheerfully. Everyone will love and respect you because youre such a wonderful little person. I just want you to be happy.
Her mothers voice lingers in Poppys ears while tears track down her cheeks. Poppy sits on a neighboring bench, her legs trembling, and everything seems to collapse in an instant. She remembers a longago day when they sat on this same bench eating a chocolate ice lolly. That was in a different life.
Im all alone in the whole wide world, she thinks, and theres no home left for me. After the childrens home they gave me a flat in a hostel, but its noisy and the town feels foreign. I wanted to stay where I grew up, but the house I shared with Mum now belongs to someone else.
Poppy is seven when, returning from the shop one evening, a burly man steps out of the shadows and demands money from her mother. They have spent almost everything they earned, so the man swings his fist. Her mother steps back, trips, and hits her head on a stone.
Poppy kneels beside her, urging her to open her eyes and get up, but her mother doesnt hear. A siren wails, an ambulance arrives, and both are lifted into the vehicle. Social services take Poppy straight to a childrens home, where she struggles to adjust to a life she never wanted.
She sits on a bench outside a neighbours house, recalling her own homeher bed, the photos of Mum in her arms. As she walks toward the front door, an angry aunt bursts out and shouts:
This isnt your place, orphan. The house is mine now, everything in it belongs to me. Get out, or Ill call the police and theyll sort you out quickly.
Poppy knows nobody will help her. She is completely alone.
Poppy? a voice calls unexpectedly.
She looks up and sees a young man with a warm smile. She cant place him yet, still reeling from the memories.
Poppy, you dont remember me, but we were together in nursery and sat sidebyside in Year1 until you moved away. In nursery they called us the bride and groom.
Mick, she whispers, recalling his name, and smiles. Hes grown tall and broadshouldered, a former boxer who once represented the county.
I met Aunt Tina, he continues. She told me youll be back soonyour eighteenth birthday is this year, just like mine. I come by your house every day hoping to catch you.
Aunt Tina, Poppy says, the one who loved my Mum and me.
Aunt Tina, ten years older than Poppys mother, works alongside her and is a close friend. She often says Poppys mother is like a younger sister to her, and Poppy is like a daughter.
Mick, I forgot about Aunt Tina. She lives just three houses down, Poppy says, standing and glancing at him.
Lets go to her, Mick replies. You already know where your home is. He lifts her bag, which holds a handful of clothes, documents, and a few pounds. Theres a lot happening in our village. I know about your house, and Aunt Tina is waiting to take you in.
Poppy nods. They walk slowly to Aunt Tinas cottage, the woman who tried to adopt her after her mothers death but was denied, leading to Poppys placement in the childrens home.
When Aunt Tina opens the door and sees Poppy, tears spill over.
My dear Poppy Im so glad youre here, she says, hugging her tight and planting kisses on her cheeks. She invites Mick inside as well.
Im glad, Mick. Shes safe with us now, Mick says. If anything comes up, Aunt Tina knows where to find me, and Ill be back tomorrow.
Come back whenever you like, Mick, Aunt Tina replies, closing the door behind him. Hes a wonderful lad. He asks about you all the time.
Poppy sits at the kitchen table.
Lets get you something to eat. You need to rest. Did you try to get home? Were you turned away? Im sorry I couldnt warn you, but I was waiting for you. I love you, my girl. Well stay together for a while, because as they say, when two walk together the road feels shorter
Later, she drifts off under a warm blanket, dreaming of walking handinhand with her mother through a meadow, pulling wildflowers. She wakes the next morning feeling upbeat. Over breakfast, Aunt Tina says:
Youll need to visit social services; Ill go with you.
Im fine, Aunt Tina, Poppy protests. Im an adult now and can handle my own affairs.
She steps out toward the bus stop, passing her old house again, when a woman who now lives there shouts:
Youre still here? Trying to steal something, looking for a place to hide? My eyes have seen enough of you!
Before Poppy can answer, Micks voice rings from behind.
Dont spread lies about Poppy. If you continue, youll answer for defamation, he says. The woman turns on him, but they walk away without looking back. She tried to claim your house unlawfully. Well fight for justice; everyone knows she took it by dishonest means.
On the way to the stop, Mick tells her:
Theres a new café down the road hiring staff. Its my fathers frienda former soldier whos opened the place. Well apply, and MrRobert Sinclair has promised to help you.
Sounds good, Mick, but first we need to settle the house issue.
Well try, and truth will win, Mick replies confidently. If it doesnt work here, well go further.
But the house problem proves tougher than expected.
Without a title deed or a proper conversation, the property isnt yours. Go to the police and file a report, a neighbour warns. As Poppy reaches the door of her office, she hears the woman on the phone:
She was just here that orphan
Mick sighs heavily when Poppy shares the update.
Everyone in the village knows the police are covering things up. The chief protects the corrupt. But we wont be scared, right? If we need to, well go to the county. Ill stand by you.
Poppy smiles, trusting him.
That evening, Aunt Tina asks her to buy sugar and biscuits for tea. On the way back, a tall police officer blocks the road.
Listen up, he growls. Forget about your house. You have three days to disappear, or youll end up where your mother is.
Fear tightens around Poppys chest; his voice sounds oddly familiar. She says nothing to Aunt Tina, and the next morning Mick arrives.
Lets head to the café. Ill introduce you to the manager; youll become the head chef one day, he says, grinning.
Poppy tells him about the officers threat.
MrRobert Sinclair, a kindly man, asks about her life and the house.
If anyone threatens you, let me know, he says. I have many friends from my service days, even in the force.
Poppy recounts how the officer ordered her out of the village.
So he threatened you? In a police uniform? Robert asks. Poppy nods.
She loves working at the café. At first shes a kitchen assistant, then Robert notices her knife skills and promotes her to souschef.
You need training, the owner says. Once we sort out your house, Ill send you to culinary college.
Time passes. One night Robert asks Poppy to cover a shift for a chef. Its a dark, earlywinter evening. She wants to stay overnight at the café but worries Aunt Tina will be anxious, so she heads home.
She sticks to the welllit main road, but the narrow lane to her house is shadowed. Suddenly the same police officer appears.
You didnt listen, he snarls. Im done talking. This isnt a joke.
His hand glints with a knife. Poppy closes her eyes, hoping her mother will be there to protect her.
She opens them to see several uniformed officers grabbing the officers arms, shouting:
Hold it right there
Robert steps forward.
Ill take you home, he says. Weve caught your aggressor. I warned my contacts, and theyve been tracking him for his shady dealings. Hes finally in custody. He apologises for not warning her earlier.
The police chief and his team had been involved in illegal house trades for years. Soon after, the department restores the paperwork for Poppys home.
Mike celebrates with Poppy, glad that justice has finally prevailed. Later, Poppy and Mike travel to her mothers grave. Mike steps aside, giving her a moment alone.
Mum, Mike and I now live in our house. Were married. Hes renovated it, made it beautiful. He loves me, and I love him. Robert promised that once I finish college, Ill be his right hand, she whispers, looking at the photo of her mother, feeling her presence watching over her.
