The Debt & the Doormat(63)

‘And who the fuck is this cunt?’ he says, squaring up to him.

Oh my God. Hearing that word before lunch time is really shocking. Everyone in the bakery turns to stare at the drama unfolding. I glance back at Ryan and he’s already getting up. He stands protectively in front of me.

‘Um...my name is Neville.’

Oh God, he’s a walking bloody victim. He’s going to get himself killed.

‘Don't you call him that word!’ Lilly says aggressively, like a little Rottweiler.

‘You can shut the fuck up as well.’

I feel the anger rising in my body. How dare he speak to Lilly that way? How dare he come into my lovely bakery and scare everyone? I have to say something. I jump up and walk around Ryan up to him.

‘You know, you really should pick on someone your own size,’ I say before I realise what a mistake I’ve made.

‘You fucking what?’ he says, glaring at me with his blood shot eyes.

‘You...you heard what I said,’ I stammer, trying to stand my ground while Ryan grabs onto my waist, pulling me away.

‘Sorry about her. Come on Poppy, let’s go,’ Ryan says, as he tries to drag me away.

‘No! Don't apologise for me,’ I say to him, furious.

‘Come on Pops,’ Lilly says. ‘Scum like that's not worth it.’

‘Yeah, go on, go,’ he spits. ‘You should keep your dog on a tighter lead mate.’

Oh my God. What a nasty bastard. I look up, humiliated. Ryan’s face has changed in an instant. His jaw is locked tensely, his body stiffened.

‘Ryan, don't worry, come on,’ I say, attempting to pull him away, but it's no use. He’s so strong there’s no stopping him.

‘What did you say?’ Ryan growls, going right up to the man’s face.

‘You heard what I said,’ he sneers.

My stomach contracts with nerves as I realise a fight’s about to erupt. Why, oh why did I have to open my big mouth?

Ryan pushes him, the man pushing him back. The guy laughs and for a second I think he’s going to walk away, but he turns and smacks Ryan in the face. Ryan loses his footing for a second, stumbling back onto the tiles.

‘Oh my God, Ryan!’

I run over to him and touch his eye which is already bright red. He doesn’t even look at me, but flings me off in one swift movement. He plunges towards the guy and decks him in the face. The guy falls straight back onto the floor, and Ryan climbs on top of him, continuing to punch him repeatedly in the face.

‘Ryan! Stop! Please, just stop!’ I yell, pulling at him, not wanting to look at the man whose nose is now bleeding.

It’s like he’s possessed!

‘Shit, Pops! Stop him,’ Lilly screams.

‘I’m calling the police!’ Glenda screams.

‘Let’s all just calm down, shall we?’ I hear Neville say. He’s so British. He’ll be telling us to have a cup of tea next.

I jump in front of Ryan, above the man’s battered face, holding my hands up to him in defence. I’m not sure if he’ll even notice and end up knocking me out too. When I open my eyes he’s stopped and is getting up.

‘I’m sorry,’ he says, looking around embarrassed.

He turns and storms out of the bakery.

‘Glenda, I’m so sorry.’

There’s blood all over her floor.

‘Don't worry darling. You go after your man,’ she smiles.

‘Actually, I’m her boyfriend,’ Neville says.

‘Shut up Neville,’ Lilly snaps. ‘Pops, I’ll see you back at work.’

I nod and run after him, but I can barely keep up, still out of breath from the drama. When I catch up with him we walk for a few minutes in complete silence.

‘Well, that was scary,’ I eventually spit out, sick of the silence.

He ignores me and carries on walking, his face hostile.

‘How’s your eye?’ I ask, trying to touch it with my hand. He knocks my hand away angrily.

‘I don't know why you’re being so mean to me! I wasn’t the one you were having a fight with!’ I shout feeling hurt.

‘No. You were the one that got me into the fight in the first place,’ he says, hostility still in his eyes. ‘You and your stupid friends.’

‘Hey! They’re not stupid! I’m...sorry. But I mean...you didn’t have to fight him,’ I try to reason.

‘Didn’t I Poppy? That's the difference with men and women. Women can go around starting fights with men but they’ll never get punched. But the minute a guy is around they’ll always get into a fight.’

‘Well, that's wrong straight away. Jazz got punched in the face by some guy in a Uni bar. Look, that's not the point. I said I’m sorry, but I don't know why you fought him anyway. You could have just left it.’

‘What? And let him insult you?’ he spits, his face still tense.

‘Yeah. I don't care!’

‘Well maybe you should.’

‘What do you mean?’ I ask, confused.

‘Nothing. I’m just pissed off. Now I have to go to a meeting with a black eye,’ he says, staring at himself in a shop window. ‘How the hell am I going to explain this?’

‘Err...you could say that you stopped an old lady getting mugged?’ I offer.

‘Well thanks for everything,’ he fumes sarcastically. ‘I’ll see you later.’

Oh my God. Have I really just ruined everything?

I think it's safe to say that I’m not fabulous Poppy today. I wouldn’t even say I’m the joke Poppy. I’d say I’ve been promoted to disaster zone Poppy.





Chapter 24




‘I have to leave! Bye!’ Victor shouts, running out of the office.

I breathe a sigh of relief, pleased that this afternoon will be a bit more chilled out without him. Hang on a minute. He’s gone and his Chinese visa hasn’t arrived yet. He’s flying tomorrow afternoon. Shit. OK, don't panic. I’ll just call the visa people and check that it's on its way.

‘Hello, Visa Application. How may I help you?’

‘Hi. I’m expecting my boss’s Chinese visa back today and I still haven’t received it. He’s flying tomorrow lunchtime and I’m getting a bit nervous. His name is Victor Darlington, order number 073843.’

‘OK. Let me just check for you.’

I drum my fingers impatiently on the table. God, I need a manicure.

‘It says here that it's due to be delivered to you around 6.30pm. Will that be OK?’

‘Not really. We’ll have closed by then. Can we change delivery address?’

‘Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem.’

Great. I’ll just get it couriered back to the house. That way I’ll have it in my hands and won't be panicking all night. I give her my address and let her assure me for the third time that it’ll be OK. I’m sure it will be. Of course.

* * *



Well, I obviously didn’t bank on there being train delays, did I?

‘Please, if you could go as fast as you can,’ I say to the taxi driver as he turns the corner into our road.

I’ve already rung the courier company three times to explain that if I’m not in they could leave it with a neighbour or post it through the door, but you can't trust these courier people can you? A load of jobs worth’s.

As we turn the corner I see him. Red and yellow uniform heading back towards his car.

‘WAIT!’ I scream out of the window.

I throw the money at the taxi driver and run towards him.

‘WAIT!’

He hasn’t heard me. He’s closing the door. Why is he doing this to me? Why is he out to ruin my life?

I run faster.

‘WAIT! WAIT!’

I can hear the engine starting. Please God no. Please fucking God, don't do this to me.

I run to his window, music blaring from it and practically throw myself against it.

‘WAIT!’ I wail.

The poor man jumps out of his skin, probably thinking I’ve just been murdered and rolls down his window slowly.

‘You alright love?’

‘Yes!’ I say, panting. ‘I just want my package.’

‘I posted it through the door darlin’ no probs.’

Oh thank you God. Someone in the universe is rooting for me.

‘Brilliant! Thanks so much.’

‘No probs. That's what we at E & L do best. Get packages to people.’

‘OK great.’

What a weirdo. He drives off and I take a deep breath, smiling to myself. See Poppy, when things are stressful, there's no need to fret. Things always work out in the end.

I open the door and what I find sends a chill down my spine.

Toffee is here. She has the package in her mouth. Her drool is dangling down it. Dear God, if that drool leaks through and runs the ink of his passport. No wait, if she rips it apart with her bare teeth. If she poos on it. For the love of Lassie, there are so many terrifying possibilities.

‘Toffee,’ I say carefully, edging slowly towards her.

No quick movements. I don't want to scare her off.

‘Why don't you give me the package? Hmm?’ I smile sweetly.

Dogs can see when you smile, right? I know they can't see black and white, or was it colours? Anyway, I’m sure they can see smiling, or just catch the general vibe.

She looks up at me and smiles. Maybe she remembers that I rescued her that day.

‘There we go.’

I reach for the envelope in front of her, now released from her jaws, edging my fingers slowly closer to it. It's nearly within my grasp, when she jumps and picks it up again.