Poppy bolted out of her sisters flat.
Are you pregnant? Harriet asked, eyes wide as she stepped out of the bathroom, a damp towel still draped over her shoulders. And why on earth are you here?
Did anyone ever tell you that you cant just nab other peoples stuff without asking? Harriet snapped, slamming her laptop shut and giving Poppy a sharp look.
Poppy realised it would be wiser to retreat to another room. That night she concluded the only sensible move was to get out of the flat entirely, especially since Harriet was hunting down a recipe for her for Poppy!
At twentythree, Poppy met the love of her life right on the high street. A stranger approached, handed her a white rose on a long stem, and said, Mind if we get to know each other?
He looked perfectly ordinary, but his charm was undeniable, and he turned out to be incredibly caring and attentive.
A month later Poppy admitted she couldnt imagine life without Oliver. He felt the same, and within another month shed moved into his twobed flat, swapping her tiny rented room for a shared kitchen.
Six months after that, the lad popped the question.
Hes hes Poppy stammered, trying to find words to describe her fiancé to Harriet, her older sister. In short, I adore him and he feels the same.
Congratulations, Harriet replied dryly.
Poppy ignored the tone. She and Harriet had always been a touch tense, but after Mums death Poppy had nobody left except her sister.
Thanks! she sighed. Only problem Olivers off on a threemonth work assignment. He wants to earn extra cash for our honeymoon.
Right, Harriets voice stayed emotionless. Ill let you know the wedding date. Youre, of course, invited.
Sure.
It was always like this: Poppy gentle, impressionable, delicate, and easily hurt; Harriet serious, tough, and fiercely independent.
Poppy even feared introducing Oliver to Harriet, worrying he might not like her.
Oliver called from the road: Love, its only about 500 miles away. Ill be home on weekends, or you can come over.
They managed to meet only once a month because his workload was relentless. The faster they set everything up, the sooner hed be back. Poppy was happy to wait forever Oliver was doing his best for both of them, and her modest assistantaccountant salary could hardly help their future.
Strange messages started arriving in the second month of his assignment first texts, then voice notes. A flat, robotic voice warned Poppy not to do anything that might upset him. It hinted that the wedding could bring dreadful trouble.
The voice sent shivers down Poppys spine. The number was bizarre, and she couldnt call it back. The messages vanished after a few hours. She told no one, though the fear lingered.
One evening she discovered a voodoolike doll on her doorstep: long chestnut hair, a face cut from a photograph, a needle driven through its chest, and a tiny note bearing the same threats as the messages. Her sensitive nature reacted instantly; she felt faint, claimed a fever, and skipped work without a word.
Only Oliver could have sympathised, but he was busy earning money, and she didnt want to bother him with nonsense. Silly jokes! she muttered, though she wasnt sure whose. She had no friends and no enemies, so the culprit must be someone linked to Oliver, stirring the pot.
Once Olivers back, well get to the bottom of this, she told herself, trying to banish the bad thoughts.
Two days later, as she left the courtyard, a motorcyclist nearly clipped her. He swerved at the last second, missing her by inches. Startled, Poppy lurched, tripped over a curb, and crashed headfirst onto the pavement.
A passerby, despite her protests, called an ambulance. In hospital she was diagnosed with a mild concussion, a couple of bruises, and surprise pregnancy.
She refused to be admitted, blamed the fall on herself, and when she got home realised she couldnt return to Olivers flat. Someone was clearly out to get her, and aggressively so.
Now she couldnt take any more risks she was carrying Olivers child and needed to protect it.
Can I stay with you a few days? she begged Harriet over the phone.
Whats happened? Harriet sounded annoyed. Did your boyfriend throw you out?
Olivers on assignment and
Oh right, fine. Come over and tell me everything.
Poppy spilled the whole story: the creepy messages, the doll, the nearmiss on the bike.
I dont want to distract Oliver, she sighed. I need to tell him about the baby in person he loves everything to be perfect.
Harriet, though she reminded Poppy that her flat wasnt a hostel, softened when she saw her sisters exhausted face: Alright, a couple of weeks, not more.
That was a relief. Oliver had mentioned hed been promised a twoday stayhome next week, so hed be back soon and they could sort everything out.
It felt awkward to impose on Harriet. After Mums death theyd sold the family house and split the proceeds. Harriet, with a stable job and good salary, took out a mortgage; Poppy could only afford a modest studio still under construction. The building was supposed to be finished six months ago, but it wasnt. So Poppy had nowhere else to go. She tried to stay out of Harriets sight, bought groceries, cooked, kept the flat tidy, yet she could still feel Harriets irritation.
Ten days later her phone froze and died while she was hunting for a medication online.
Harriet, can I borrow your laptop? she shouted from the bathroom, slamming the laptop open before Harriet could answer.
She accidentally typed termination of pregnancy and the browser instantly suggested abortion clinics.
Are you pregnant? Harriet asked, eyes widening as she emerged from the bathroom. And why are you here?
Did anyone ever tell you you cant just take other peoples stuff without asking? Harriet snapped again, closing the laptop with a thud.
Poppy fled to another room, and that night she decided the only sensible thing was to leave the flat before Oliver returned, since Harriet was hunting down a recipe for her for Poppy!
She slipped out early the next morning. Nothing, she thought Oliver would be back in a few days, and shed manage. She had a lot to tell him, including her stay with Harriet, which shed kept to herself to avoid bothering him.
Fortunately Oliver finally broke free from his assignment, arriving looking grim and demanding to know who the babys father was.
Of course its you! What are you thinking? Poppy panicked. How did you even know?
He stared at her silently for a minute, then lunged forward and hugged her tightly.
Sorry! I almost lost it when I got that weird message from an unknown number. Im such a w***e! he blurted.
Poppy burst into tears, then, once she calmed, recounted her monthlong adventures. Olivers face flipped from shocked to pale to flushed as she spoke.
Sorry again, he sighed after she finished. I should have told you everything from the start.
Poppys emotions swung wildly she turned pale, gasped, wiped tears.
Oliver admitted that three months before meeting Poppy hed been seeing Harriet. Shed even hinted at marriage, a pushy sort of girl, but something held him back.
I even drove Harriet to meet you, hoping shed set us up shes my sister, after all but she refused, Oliver said. I didnt leave then; I saw you and fell for you straight away. It wasnt my sisters business at all.
Silence fell.
The very next day I told Harriet we were over and waited for you, hoping we could finally meet.
Poppys trembling hand dialed Harriet.
Is this true? Is it you? she asked, voice steady.
Did you think you could just steal my fiancé? Harriet replied after a pause. I was actually pregnant with him once, had an abortion, and now I dont know what to do.
Okay, so what now?
I didnt know
Of course not! I even hoped youd dump him, but nope wedding, baby, the whole lot. What makes you better than me?
Poppy stared at the wall, eyes dry.
They wed a month and a half later, no grand ceremony, just a small gathering later on. Their daughter arrived on schedule. Poppy cut all ties with Harriet.
