Poppy's Fall

Chapter 9

“Hey Marley, just wanted to let you know I’m still alive.” Poppy spoke into the B & B’s telephone receiver to her assistant in New York.  She had only been gone a week and a half but she wanted to check in to make sure things were going smoothly at the office.  While Poppy could technically work from anywhere, she rented a small office space to keep her files organized and had hired Marley as her assistant when her client list became more extensive.

“Great,” Marley answered. “How’s Ireland? “

“Magnificent, amazing, superb…pick one.” Poppy lifted the lid off one of the pots simmering on the stove in Mrs. Callaghan’s kitchen.  Split pea soup with little chunks of ham it seemed; she could already feel her stomach growing hungry at the thought of what was for lunch.  Mrs. C. had to be the best cook she’d ever met, hands down.

“Wow, don’t sound too enthused.”

Poppy could practically see Marley’s perfectly manicured eyebrows shooting up. “It’s great, it really is, it’s just Ellie and I had a bit of a blowout and I’m not sure how to fix it.”

“Well, this should make you feel better,’   Marley started, “Your boy, Kyle, has been calling.  Didn’t you tell him you’d be away for a few weeks?”

“Uh, no, he’s kind of the reason why I left in the first place,” Poppy explained.  As she reiterated the story for what seemed like the thousandth time she was pleased to hear Marley interject some choice words.

“I don’t understand,” Marley finally said after a brief silence.  “He sounds heartbroken that you just left without telling him anything.  Are you sure you didn’t just misunderstand?”

Poppy shook her head but started to feel a little unsure.  “I don’t think so.  Anyway, you said there was something you needed to ask me?”

“Ah yes, our coffee stash is getting low and I know you usually get the pods but can you tell me where you get them and I can replenish it?” 

“Oh sure, it’s at the Corner Café.” Poppy was happy that she wouldn’t have to go considering it was hers and Kyle’s “place”. 

“Really?” Marley questioned, “I thought it was some fancy coffee shop you were keeping to yourself.  Anyway, I’ll go get those during my lunch hour.”

After hanging up, Poppy wandered around the B & B.  It had been two days since the disastrous date with Ryan and the blowout with Ellie.  She hadn’t heard from either of them, not that she had made any effort to get in contact either.  After speaking with Marley now she was starting to doubt how she had reacted toward Kyle.  What if she had blown everything out of proportion?  It’s not like it wouldn’t be the first time.  What if Agnes had been completely wrong about what she had seen?  It’s not like that wouldn’t be the first time either. 

Poppy was suddenly startled out of her thoughts when Mrs. Callaghan touched her shoulder.  When she turned, the older woman quietly placed a set of car keys in her hand.

“Ryan is only about a forty minute drive around the coast.” Mrs. Callaghan smiled softly. “I’m sure he would be delighted to see your pretty face.”

Without a word, Poppy bounded out the door and hopped in the B & B owner’s car.  Having gone to Ballyvaughan once with Ellie, she was sure she could find it again.  In any case, if she got lost, she was fairly sure someone would be able to direct her to McCarthy’s.  Now if she could just figure out how to drive on the wrong side of the road everything would be fine!

Mrs. Callaghan watched Poppy drive away, the smile on the young woman’s face evident.  The poor girl wasn’t even aware she was falling in love with the young McCarthy.  And oh what a handsome couple they made.  Mrs. Callaghan turned from the window; she couldn’t wait to tell Aileen and Patricia all about it.

                                                                                                ***

Ryan was hauling a crate onto the bed of a truck when one of his workers yelled that someone was there to see him.  Curious, Ryan started walking toward the carpark where the other man had pointed.  He couldn’t imagine who would come see him on a Monday afternoon.  He tried to remember if he had told any of his customers to pick up an order early but no, he hadn’t.  Then he stopped in the middle of the pier, his breath seemingly knocked out of him.  There she was; standing there as she had the day he met her.  Was that really only a short week ago?  He hadn’t heard from her after their date, or whatever you wanted to call it and had been too embarrassed to try and reach out. There was no way a woman like Poppy would even want anything to do with him after that.  But there she was waving and smiling at him. 

“Hi,” Poppy wasn’t sure what she was expecting but it wasn’t this warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

“Hi,” Ryan responded.  She had her hair up in a high ponytail, her cheeks were flushed and her smile was contagious.  He felt his own lips curl up in response. 

“I haven’t heard from you so I thought I’d come see you myself.”  Poppy bravely told him.  Was he taller?  He seemed taller today or maybe she hadn’t noticed before that she had to tilt her head slightly up to look at him. 

“I didn’t think you would want to hear from me,” Ryan shoved his hands in his jacket pockets.  He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and kiss her, much as he had wanted to kiss her when they had been stuck in the mud. 

“Ryan McCarthy, why would you think that?” Poppy frowned and placed her hands on her hips.

Ryan let out a small laugh at her stance.  Was she smaller?  She seemed smaller today.  He felt like he was towering over her, maybe she was standing in a hole.  Why couldn’t he seem to get it together when she was around?

“Yeah, ok,” Poppy broke into this thoughts, “that would have sounded so much more menacing if I knew your middle name.”  

“I’m sure it would have but since I don’t want to get in trouble with you I’ll keep my middle name to myself for now,” and then Ryan had a thought as he looked down at his watch. “I’m nearly done here maybe you can give me another chance?”

Poppy had been excited to come see Ryan but about halfway through the trip she wasn’t really sure why she was here.  Marley had thrown her for a loop when she told her about Kyle calling and asking for her.  There had to be a logical explanation for why he took off without a word and she was now convinced there was no other woman.  In the end she had made up her mind to tell Ryan they would just as well be better off as friends.  But when she saw him coming towards her, almost as if in slow motion, she hadn’t expected the warm feelings of “home” coursing through her.  If she wasn’t careful she would start having feelings for him.  She didn’t need this.  Damn it, why were things so complicated? 

She would tell him now.  She would open her mouth and tell him they should just be friends. “Sure, what did you have in mind?” 

That went well.