Poppy's Return by Rosier Pat

Author:Rosier, Pat [Rosier, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction, Lesbian
Publisher: Spinifex Press
Published: 2005-04-01T05:00:00+00:00

Poppy stared at the screen, stunned. A string of memories ran through her mind like a newsreel. Her parents in the front of the car, talking to them, the children in the back, not each other. Stefan accusing her of a rosy, unrealistic view of their parent’s marriage. Kate holding a whisky glass up high, offering her one, she refusing and cuddling up – to distract her from drinking? Never, not consciously anyway. And that was Martia’s point, wasn’t it.

‘I hate you Martia Roberts!’ she said out loud, ‘but only because you just might be right,’ and tapped out a short reply, reassuring and thanking her friend and suggesting a phone call. There was a tap on the door and Susanna’s face peered round it.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ she said, ‘but if we’re going to do the shopping this afternoon… George is awake and that tall nurse is here to wash him and do his nails.’

‘Oh, sorry. I’ll just send this and be with you in two minutes.’ An hour-and-a-half had gone by. Something mundane like buying groceries seemed like an excellent idea. While they were out Jane rang and the message she left with George was that she was getting the five o’clock flight to London for something that had come up regarding work and would be back in two days. Poppy was startled, and then relieved, welcoming the opportunity to think some more about her exchange with Martia. It was some time before she realised that she really did not mind that she would not spend the coming night with Jane, a two day wait was okay. She hoped the something that had come up at the museum would progress the difficulties Jane was having; George had picked up allusions and speculations regarding the squabbles over spending the bequest in the Evening Gazette.

That evening Susanna went to bed early and Poppy sat with her father. He had a catheter now and had asked her to not enquire about his bowel functioning, ‘the nurses have that under control.’ Then he told her that he thought he would die soon, holding up a hand that was so thin it was almost transparent.

‘I’m hardly eating,’ he went on. ‘Out of it quite a lot. Not drinking either.’ He had been talking in short sentences for a couple of days, pausing between them for breath. ‘No,’ as she was about to pick up the water, ‘it doesn’t matter. Listen. I’ll be unconscious soon. The lovely doctor Jasmine says…’ he paused a moment, ‘says I won’t know anything after that. Be a few days.’ He told her how he loved her, had always loved her and how glad he was to have had time with Stefan. ‘To do repairs.’

‘Don’t talk any more, Dad. I’ll stay here a while.’ He smiled. ‘Long time since you said “Dad”.’ She nodded. ‘You have been the best of fathers, you know.’ And they sat together, George propped up on his pillows, coughing occasionally, squeezing the morphine pump now and then.

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