James, Im pregnant! Poppy shouted as she stepped into the doorway, leaving Thomas no time to guess what she meant. He froze, glanced sideways and sighed, Well if thats how it turned out, before planting a quick kiss on her cheek, as if trying to run from his own feelings.
Poppy had first fallen for Thomas back when she was still a university student. He worked in the firm where she was doing her placement young, goodlooking, already deputy department manager practically a prince from another realm. A modest girl from a markettown never imagined hed ever glance her way. Yet on the last day of her placement he walked over, handed her a box of chocolates and asked her out for drinks. And thats how their story began.
On their first date he confessed hed grown up without parents. His mother remarried and left, leaving him in his grandmothers care. Poppy didnt reveal that her own parents had never taken any interest in her either. A childhood of cold indifference, no warmth at all. Both knew what loneliness felt like, and perhaps thats why they clicked so quickly.
A month later Poppy moved into Thomass rented flat. Soon after came the modest wedding nothing flashy, just hopeful. They dreamed of a future, a house of their own, a quiet life. The only snag between them was children. Poppy had wanted a baby for ages; Thomas kept dragging his feet: Were fine as two, why rush?
When the pregnancy test showed two pink lines, Poppy hesitated to tell him. She feared judgement, the blame. At last she gathered the courage.
Are you happy well be parents? she asked.
I thought that would be later he replied, disappointment plain on his face.
He didnt accompany her to the first ultrasound, waiting in the car instead. Poppy returned with tears and a grin twins. Two tiny heartbeats thumped inside her.
Twins?! Thomas went pale. That wasnt the plan. We need to think about an abortion!
What are you saying?! Ive already seen our babies I cant Poppy sobbed.
She hoped hed come round, that hed understand. But each day he drifted farther. He started criticising her weight, saying shed lost her shape. She tried to ignore it. After the babies arrived, things only got worse.
Olivia and Evelyn the twins became the centre of her world. Thomas, meanwhile, stayed later at work, withdrew, and never helped with the kids. Poppy endured it all for the children, for love, for family.
When the girls were a year and a half old, Poppy mentioned returning to work. Thomas sat opposite her, eyes glued to the floor.
Ive had enough, he muttered. Im leaving. I wont abandon the kids, but Im going to live with someone else.
Poppy was left speechless.
You promised youd never end up like your parents! she choked out through tears.
He walked out. At first he still turned up now and then, then disappeared for good. Poppy was left alone, penniless, without support. Move back to the countryside? No jobs there. Stay in the city? Jobs existed, but no roof over her head.
Her boss stepped in, arranging a room in a university hall. A tiny flat, a fresh coat of paint, two infants she scraped by. One rainy afternoon, as she tried to push the pram out onto the street, a voice called, Can I give you a hand? Im John, I live next door.
He helped without a question, then offered to lend a hand with the renovation. He started picking the twins up from nursery. At first Poppy kept her distance fear, pride but day by day John became part of their lives.
He was ordinary, dependable. His own marriage had collapsed when his wife left him for a friend after learning they couldnt have children. Now he had two little ones to love with all his heart.
When John proposed to Poppy, she first turned him down.
Ive got kids. Youll find a woman without baggage.
I want to be with you. The kids arent a problem; theyre like my own.
They wed. A week later Thomas reappeared.
Poppy, Im sorry. I get it now. Lets start over
Its too late. Im married. My children have a real dad now.
From the doorway John stepped forward. Meet my husband.
Thomas glanced, gave a halfwave and walked away for good.
A year passed. Poppy and John bought a modest house of their own. Where Thomas is now, she doesnt know and doesnt want to. Because happiness isnt the one who promises it, but the one who actually stays.
