Poppy's Fall

Chapter 12

It was dark, drizzly and she was drunk when she pounded heavily on the door.  Poppy didn’t care who she woke up, she would not be ignored. 

Only one day had passed since Ryan’s kiss.  The bastard had crawled inside her heart and wouldn’t leave.  Someone was going to pay dearly for her bungled and confused mind. 

“Poppy?”  What time is it?  Are you drunk?”

“I just wanted to come for a visit, see my best friend.”  Poppy didn’t wait for an invitation.  She pushed her way in and sat dumbly on the couch.”  Why did you have to ruin it?”

Ellie hesitantly stood in front of her. “Because I’m happy and I wanted my best friend to be happy too.”

“But who said I wasn’t happy?”  She eyed Ellie with slight disdain. “I know I wasn’t but that’s not the point.”

With a huge sigh, Ellie sat down next to Poppy on the couch.  “You didn’t have to say anything.  I could see it on your face as soon as I saw you at the airport.” Ellie continued before Poppy could interject. “But you’re right, it’s not up to me to decide if you’re happy or not and I’m sorry.”

“And another thing…” Poppy started but stopped and stared wide-eyed at her friend.  Ellie never admitted she was wrong. “You’re saying I’m right and you’re wrong?”

Ellie nodded and couldn’t help the tears that formed in her eyes. “I miss you.” She barely whispered.

Lip trembling, Poppy lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Ellie’s neck.  “I miss you too.”

“If you two are done making up I really wouldn’t mind going back to bed.” A half asleep Aidan stood in the darkened hallway with a slight smirk on his face.

                                                                                                ***

It was dark, drizzly and he held her favorite flowers as he stood in front of her.  The name of his mother etched on the smooth gravestone was an odd comfort to him.  She had been sick and before she died she had told him not to grieve but to celebrate her life.  And that was what Ryan tried to do every day.  He visited with her often, speaking to her of his triumphs and failures. 

“Her name is Poppy,” he said.  He looked down at the flowers he held in his right hand, a small smile playing on his lips. “Funny how she shares the name of your favorite flower.”

Ryan sat down not caring that the grass was wet.  He started and stopped many times not sure where to begin. 

“She came to the docks; that’s where I first saw her.” He finally began.  “We’ve been on a couple of disaster dates I believe she called them.  I didn’t think I’d see her or even hear from her again after the first.”

He shifted uncomfortably, bending his knee to rest his forearm on it. “I never thought I’d be down this road again.  Not after Fiona.”

                                                                                                ***

“I haven’t talked to or seen him since the kiss” Poppy complained.  She sat at a table across from Ellie.  They had stayed up half the night to talk while Aidan snored in his bed down the hall.

Ellie rolled her eyes playfully.  “It’s barely been a day, why don’t you give him a call?  You usually don’t have any problems with this sort of thing.”  Ellie searched Poppy’s face.  “Are you scared?”

“Petrified, actually” Poppy admitted.  “Ellie, I don’t want this.  I’m going back home in less than two weeks”

“Don’t want what?” Ellie’s eyes grew wide as she regarded her friend.  “Are you falling for him?”

“NO!” Poppy answered too quickly, and then. “I don’t think so, I don’t know.” 

                                                                                                ***

But as Poppy walked back to the B & B in the early morning hours she did know.  She suspected she’d known for a while now.  She would let herself in the quiet house and climb the stairs to her room determined to kick this feeling.  She would go back to New York and forget about Ryan McCarthy. 

The sun was just coming up and the birds had already started their chatter as she sauntered up the drive of the B & B.  With her mind elsewhere, she didn’t notice the black truck parked there.  The one she literally walked right by and could have easily reached out to touch.  Nor did she notice the man sitting in one of the rocking chairs as she went up the stone steps to the front door until she was practically face to face with him.

“Ryan?”

Ryan nodded and noticed how tired she looked.  She had dark circles under her eyes and looked rather pale.  “Mrs. Callaghan said you had gone to see Ellie and you weren’t back yet.”

“When did you get here?” Poppy took a closer look and determined he seemed as exhausted as she felt but somehow made it look adorable.

“About an hour ago,” he shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal.

“Why?” She smiled half-heatedly. “Sorry, I just…didn’t hear from you after…”

Ryan nodded knowing exactly what she was talking about.  The kiss.  He had deliberately stayed away hoping to give her some time to think.  To think of him, of them, and maybe roll over the idea of staying. 

“I wanted to give you some time,” He stood up and took her hand, warming it in his. 

He didn’t say anything more, but Poppy suspected he meant he wanted to give her some time to think about them.  And she had.  She had spent all night with Ellie talking about Ryan and Kyle and came to the conclusion that she had no flipping clue what she wanted. 

She had no doubt it could be great between them, but one kiss didn’t mean they were meant for each other.  One fantastic, mind-numbing kiss.  However, she already knew how great it was with Kyle and from the sounds of it she had clearly misjudged the situation...hadn’t she? 

“I also have a bit of business in Galway this morning and wanted to know if you would like to come along.”  Ryan regarded her then quickly added. “You can sleep in the truck on the way there.” 

Poppy remained silent for a bit contemplating what he had suggested.  Being with him was great but it messed with her mind and her heart. 

“Wait, you came here to ask me if I wanted to go to Galway with you?”

Ryan nodded. “I did.”

“You drove 40 minutes the opposite direction.” Poppy couldn’t believe it.  He could have just as easily picked up the phone, instead he added time to his trip.  Maybe he had been afraid she would say no and by coming himself he hoped she’d feel bad enough to accept?

Who was this guy? 

For what seemed like the thousandth time she found herself comparing him to the other man in her life.  She had serious doubts Kyle would do anything like that.  As a matter-of-fact she knew he wouldn’t as she recalled the time he had texted her from the Corner Café and asked if he could order her anything.  She had mistakenly thought he was going to be delivering her coffee at the office.  When she texted him a question mark after half an hour wondering where he was (the Café couldn’t be that busy and she was literally two minutes away) he sent her a quick text telling her he thought she would be coming by to pick it up, didn’t have time to bring it to her and how he was out $3.00.  Trying to be the non-nagging, girlfriend she had actually apologized to him.  But really that had only been one incident and she was sure he had been having a rough day.  Right?

Then you had Ryan over here looking like he would walk all the way to Italy for her if she said she had a hankering for authentic Italian pizza.  She really should just say no and have some time to herself to think.  She needed to be away from it all.

“What time do you need to be there?” She found herself saying. “I really need to shower.”

Why was it so hard to say no to him?