feels like.”
The twitch in his eye seemed to question just what she meant by that last sentence. Covering for saying too much, Poppy pasted a smile onto her face and pounced up to her feet.
“Candy?”
She took his hand to draw him up to his full height. “Go bring your sisters back.” She leaned in. “Ashlee’s doing something with chocolate. I love chocolate.”
Poppy tried to leave him there to go inside, but he stayed with her and even kept her hand as they crossed the threshold. His fingers loosened as his mom looked up from the bowl of chocolate in front of Ashlee.
“I’m going to get her,” Turner said to his mom.
Val perked up. “You know where she is?”
“We have an idea,” Turner said, resting a hand on Poppy’s lower back. “I’ll grab Faye and the munchkins too.”
A slow but grateful smile spread on Val’s face. “All of you home?”
“It’s been a while.”
Poppy’s heart swelled when she noticed the tears in the matriarch’s eyes.
“Too long,” Val said.
The Charley fiasco might change Faye’s mind about discussing the state of her marriage. If it didn’t, the night may not be the happy reunion Val was envisioning.
Turner’s hand pressed a little harder. “You okay?” he murmured to her.
“Mm hmm,” Poppy said, glancing up. “Just don’t do anything drastic, okay? Stay calm.”
“Yeah, that seems likely,” he said.
Twisting, she curved a hand around the side of his neck. “Call me if anything happens… or if nothing happens… First?”
It took him a second to relent and nod. Without another word, he turned to stride out of the room.
Charley may have acted without thinking, but if David tried to get in Turner’s way, he’d regret it. After the front door closed, silence hung in the room as they reflected on what was and what would be.
Choosing not to dwell on the negative, Poppy spread a smile on her face and set her sights on little Ashlee. “What you got there?”
All they could do was wait and entertain the little one. Poppy had full faith in Turner. He’d get Charley back and support Faye in whatever she decided. He had so much going on, it was a wonder he kept his sanity.
TWENTY-SEVEN
A couple of hours had gone by since Turner left the Maddox house. Val’s nerves were starting to fray again. Poppy tried to be optimistic, and failed to admit aloud that her own desire to call and check on Turner was almost overwhelming.
Val had started on dinner, so Poppy carried Ashlee upstairs into Autumn’s bedroom where both twins were engrossed in their devices.
“Do you want to watch a movie with Ashlee in your mom’s room?” No response. “Autumn?”
“Whatever.”
Okay, that was some attitude. The girl didn’t even look up.
“Are you guys okay?” Poppy asked, sitting down on the end of the bed, holding Ashlee on her lap. Neither of the twins spoke. “Come on, I can’t help unless you tell me what’s going on… You can’t expect anyone to read your mind.”
Even if Turner had reading hers down to a fine art.
Willow was sitting on the floor, leaning against her sister’s bed. “Everyone in this stupid family thinks we’re stupid,” she said, pulling her knees up higher against her chest.
“No one thinks you’re stupid,” Poppy said. “Why would you think that?”
“We know everyone’s mad at Charley,” Autumn said.
“Yeah and something screwy is going on with Faye,” Willow added.
“But no one talks to us. We’re just the stupid kids who they want to stuff in the closet any time we get in the way.”
“That’s not true,” Poppy said, tucking whisps of Ashlee’s soft hair behind her ears. “Everyone in this family adores both of you. You’re very lucky to have a family who cares so much.”
“Care so much about everyone except us,” Autumn grumbled.
“Okay,” Poppy said, helping Ashlee down when she started wriggling to get off her lap. “What’s this about? You guys are upset about something.”
Ashlee went over to the vanity to clamber up onto the stool. She started to pick at the jewelry box, so Poppy kept an eye on her to ensure she didn’t put anything in her mouth.
“Nobody cares what we’re upset about.”
“I care,” Poppy said. “I might be able to help.”
“You can’t help.”
“Why can’t I help?” Poppy asked, thinking how difficult teenagers could be.
Willow twisted around to look at Autumn, who just shrugged at her sister.
Exhaling, Willow flipped around to address Poppy. “Turner made this big deal about this driver’s ed thing we did after our birthday.”
“We got good grades and everything,” Autumn chimed in.