The Secrets of Love Story Bridge - Phaedra Patrick Page 0,53
mop. He whistled as he pushed it across the floor.
Later that night, Poppy sang loudly as she got ready for bed, and Mitchell couldn’t ever recall her doing that in the apartment before. It was the song she’d performed around the campfire, but this time she injected it with more oomph and joy. She mimed picking up a watering can and sprinkling pretend flowers.
She’d been full of life since she returned from her day out with Rachel at the park. The Jackson Pollock-like splats of ketchup and ice cream on her skirt offered proof of her enjoyment.
“I’m glad you had a great time,” Mitchell said.
“The bouncy castles were amazing, and we had hot dogs and candy floss and, oh, Rachel’s mum invited me to sleep over tomorrow night. If it’s okay, can you call her?”
“Sure, and we’ll have to take Rachel out somewhere in return.”
“Ice-skating would be great!” Poppy said.
Mitchell laughed. He agreed to ring Rachel’s mum, and he told Poppy how he’d spent the day with Graham. “We’re both going to his and Rosie’s wedding, and he’s invited me to be his best man.”
“Cool,” Poppy said. She jumped up onto her bed. “I can wear my new stuff.”
Mitchell went to the kitchen and took a small bag of oats from the kitchen cupboard. Back in Poppy’s room, he stepped up onto the mattress to join her, and opened the window in her ceiling.
They sprinkled the oats on the roof slates for the pigeons, and Poppy giggled as they cooed and pecked at them.
Mitchell watched, a pleasant feeling of happiness and well-being enveloping him. For once he felt things could be changing for the better. They were moving forward.
He didn’t know what the future held and if he’d ever find Yvette, but when he looked up at the stars he swore they somehow looked brighter tonight, almost as clear as they did from Jean’s forest habitat.
17
DINNER
The next morning, Mitchell received a text message from Liza inviting him and Poppy over that evening. I’ve told Mum and Naomi everything we know, she said. My place at 6, for dinner with us?
Her words made him feel nervous as he wondered how Sheila and Naomi would react to his and Liza’s visit to see Jean, and to the names Connor and Victor.
Poppy has a sleepover, but I’ll be there, he replied. See you later.
Mitchell phoned Rachel’s mum and arranged for her to collect Poppy that afternoon. He offered to take the two girls ice-skating the day after that. When Mitchell told Poppy he was going to Liza’s house without her, she was disappointed.
“You’ll have a much better time staying over at your friend’s place,” he assured her. “Do you remember Liza’s mum had lots of questions for you?”
“Yeah, she was a bit bossy.”
“We’ll be talking adult stuff.”
“About Yvette?”
“Probably.”
Poppy picked up her bag and looked inside it. It was still half packed after their trip to Jean’s place. “You said you’d find Yvette...”
“It’s only been eight days. I’m doing my best to help her whole family.”
“I know, Dad. Do you think she’ll come home?”
He didn’t want to lie to her, but the more he got involved with the Bradfields, the more he worried he wasn’t going to find Yvette after all.
“I hope so.” He wrapped his arm around her. “I really do.”
* * *
Liza appeared distracted when she opened her front door to him. She wore jeans with embroidered roses on the thighs, and a coral-colored T-shirt. Her hair was half in a ponytail and half out.
He handed her a bottle of chardonnay. “How’s things?” he asked.
“Okay...well, not really. I called Mum and told her about Yvette mentioning Dad’s name, Connor. It freaked her out that Yvette might think Dad’s still alive, and she’s not happy I went to see Jean. It brought on one of her anxiety attacks and I wish I hadn’t said anything. I spent ages on the phone talking to her until she calmed down. I persuaded her to still come over tonight.”
“You’re only trying to help,” Mitchell said.
“I know.” Liza’s voice wobbled. “And now I’m behind on cooking dinner. I haven’t even started, and they’ll be here in an hour.”
“I can help you. I’m great at muesli,” he said, trying to cheer her up.
“It might come to that. I’m not kidding.”
Mitchell followed her into the kitchen, where the worktop was covered in utensils and open recipe books.
“I was going to make a cottage pie, but my potatoes are past their sell-by date and have all these sprouts coming out