Not everyone knew about the teens’ relationship. As far as Poppy knew anyway. She had no intention of confirming anyone’s suspicions. “Why did sex noises make you think of Casey?”
“Zoey told Val and Faye about her last night,” Preston said. “When Zo found out Casey was coming, she got all hyped up.”
“Put her in Turner’s room,” Poppy said.
Preston frowned. “Where is he going to sleep? You put Charley in your room.”
“We’ll stay down here,” Poppy said. “The closet’s big enough for everything.”
“What if it rains? You don’t want to run down here in the rain.”
“We get laid down here,” Turner said. “We’ll deal with a little rain.”
Pushing onto her tiptoes, her body resting on his, Poppy addressed her love, “Will the lock you bought fit the deck doors? I’ll get the spare key from Tiller, so we’re the only ones with access… If you put a lock on the deck doors, we might have a lot more fun.”
“For that I’ll make it work.”
“You two planning to stick around the estate for a while?”
“Depends how it plays out with Abernathy,” Turner said. “He coming here tonight?”
“He wants to speak to Poppy alone.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Will you talk to Violet today, Candy?”
“Yes. We can’t ambush him with what we know without her permission. If it gets out there, it could be just as embarrassing for her.”
“She didn’t manipulate the media and the general population into believing his fake love story to cover his ass in a business deal and humiliate his ex. Trust me, he doesn’t want the truth getting out.”
Wearing his lawyer hat, Preston laid it out. Poppy was wearing her sister hat and things weren’t so clear cut in that accessory. Primrose would be a good ally to recruit first. If they went to Violet together, there would be a better chance of success. Mending that sororal relationship was probably still too much to hope for. At least they’d be free of Holden; that would be a bonus for everyone.
TWENTY-ONE
The guys were gone by the time Poppy got out the shower. As she dressed and got ready for the day, she considered how best to approach Primrose. Locating her sister on the large estate might be difficult. If she was already with their mom or Violet, getting her alone without raising suspicions would be near impossible.
Those issues were dominant in Poppy’s thoughts as she approached the rear terrace intending to go inside.
Except Primrose was there. Alone. Seated on a bench.
When they spotted each other, Poppy stopped.
Primrose leaped to her feet and came a few steps closer. “Hi,” she said, her nerves as frayed as her tension was tight. “I thought maybe we should… talk.”
Whether Preston had relayed their morning conversation or Primrose only knew he intended to have one, her sister was on edge.
Poppy began to walk again. “Preston? Really?”
“What?” Primrose asked on a modest half shrug. “He’s cute… and successful… I’ve been going crazy in this house and he was sweet to me.”
After the way Poppy had reacted that morning, she really hoped Primrose hadn’t been the user in the couple’s dynamic.
“He’s a good guy and he means a lot to Turner, and to me,” Poppy said, taking both of Primrose’s hands when they met.
“He told you what Vi told me?” Poppy nodded. “He seems to think it will help, but I don’t think Violet will want it used against Holden. What if Daddy finds out about her and Trey?”
“He’s going to find out either way. Why were the Hanovers here on Monday night? Do you think his parents know? The more people who know, the more likely it is to get out. Wouldn’t it be better if Daddy heard it from her?”
“Oh, yeah, because that’s a conversation you’d want to have with our father,” Primrose said, looking up at the house surrounding them or, more accurately, the windows overlooking them. “We shouldn’t talk out here in the open like this.”
If a window was open and someone was nearby, they might overhear the conversation. One of those rooms belonged to Grammie, who’d take the news of an illicit affair better than the Granger Girls’ parents whose room overlooked the terrace too. Their father’s commitment to work was the only potential saving grace; he’d likely already be gone for the day.
“I have to talk to Grammie,” Poppy said.
Her sister was shocked. “She’ll never be able to keep her mouth shut about this.”
“With all the whispering and sneaking around, Grammie will know something is going on. If I don’t talk to her about it, she’ll ask her questions in the most direct and embarrassing way. Grammie doesn’t share Violet’s aversion to infamy.”
After breakfast and before lunch, Poppy almost always spent some time with her Grammie. The woman would expect her. Given everything that was going on with Turner, avoiding Grammie could lead the matriarch to all sorts of inaccurate conclusions.
“Violet won’t want her to know.”
“I assume that, in an ideal world, Violet wouldn’t want anyone to know.” Who would want the world to know they’d done something immoral? “But we have to support her. What’s done is done. Grammie never judges us for taking risks. It’s what she wants us to do. The only thing she might be mad about is Violet going down the aisle knowing she didn’t love Holden. Love is important to Grammie, you must have noticed that.”
Primrose sighed. “I wish none of this had ever happened.”
“Which part? Violet’s engagement to Holden or her affair?”
Stepping closer, Primrose lowered her voice. “If Violet had just married Trey when he asked her, none of this would’ve happened.”
“I didn’t know Trey proposed.”
“Years ago. Before Holden. Before everything.”
“She said no for a reason.”
Though figuring it out wasn’t easy. If Violet didn’t love Trey enough to marry him, it seemed sort of crazy that she’d risk her relationship with Holden for a brief thrill. The only conclusion Poppy could reach was that her sister didn’t love either man. That in itself was sad. As a woman in love, she wanted everyone she cared about to experience the same security and elation.
“You know what Violet’s like,” Primrose said. “Always looking around the corner for something bigger and better.”
That was true. Whatever fad was current, Violet liked to be at the forefront of it. More so in her teens and early twenties, but there was still an element of her desire to be “now” in everything she did. She’d hook onto some fashion trend and be all about it until something else landed in the spotlight.
“Love isn’t like that,” Poppy murmured, feeling even worse for her sister. “When you fall in love with someone, you don’t care about what else might be out there. You only want to keep what you have, to hold onto it.”
“You didn’t. You tried to get Turner to leave.”
“That was different,” Poppy said. “I told him to go because I thought it was best for him. I was willing to sacrifice him for his wellbeing. I wasn’t thinking about being with another man. I wouldn’t be interested in any other man whether Turner was here or not.”
“She hates all of this.”
“We all do,” Poppy said, giving her sister a hug. “We have to stick together. If there’s one thing I’ve learned the Maddox family do better than us it’s acceptance. Whatever happens, we have to be here for each other. It’s going to be difficult for Violet, just like it will be difficult for Mom and Dad, but we’re going to support each other.”
“It’s a shame the Maddox people have to see this.”
Poppy leaned away from their embrace to show her sister a smile. “They’re with us.”
On a gasp, Primrose struggled to back away. “Oh my God! Did you tell all of them?”
“No. I haven’t seen anyone today except you, Preston, and Turner. And, as far as I know, Turner went straight to work, so he hasn’t seen a
nyone either. I don’t need to tell them what’s going on to know that they’ll support us.”
Even when Charley was mad at her and at Turner, she still came to support her family. When her family tried to make her see that David wasn’t the best partner for her, despite remaining unconvinced, Charley didn’t dismiss her family out of hand.
Charley. On top of everything else, Poppy would have to make time for her friend. And Zoey. Inviting Casey to the estate was definitely the right move. After revealing such profound news about herself, Zoey probably had a lot of thoughts to process. Val would be there for her, Faye too, but neither would be a substitute for the woman she loved.
“You’re really lucky,” Primrose said, relaxing. “They do seem like great people.”
“They are the best people and Preston is like family to them.” Her sister wasn’t impressed, but Poppy laughed. “I’m just saying, if there’s something there, it might be worth exploring.”
“We need to get out from under Holden before we can think about what’s next. What’s the plan?”
“I’ll go check on Grammie,” Poppy said, linking their arms to lead her sister inside. “You go and find Violet and bring her outside.”
“Why outside?”
“Because if we do it in her room or yours, Mom might walk in any second… Violet isn’t exactly my biggest fan, but we have to work this out together.”
If their mom walked in, even if Violet told her the truth, there was a good chance Poppy would be outvoted and expelled from the room. Their mom was the one who’d taught Violet that silence was the best policy.
Poppy often wondered about her parents’ relationship, about what they kept from each other. She didn’t believe they’d lie out of malice, but there did seem to be an inherent lack of communication. It was a shame. They could be so much stronger if they would just appreciate how to lean on each other. In her limited opinion anyway. She was still new to love in the grand scheme of things. Maybe she and Turner would end up that way in a few decades time too.
“Work it out together and take it to Mom as a unified front,” Primrose said.
Sounded perfect. “Yes.”
“We’ll have to tell Daddy.”
“Mom will help with that… or Grammie will. Talking to Violet is the first thing.”
They paused on the first floor, still by the stairs. “Violet. Right.”
Primrose’s resolute nod inspired confidence. They’d figure it out… if Violet appreciated why it was necessary. If she didn’t and they were forced to keep the secret, there would be no quick or obvious way out of the mess.
Grammie had known the minute Poppy walked into her bedroom that there was something going on. While she hadn’t walked in with the express intention of revealing every detail she’d learned, there was no point in keeping it a secret.
“I suppose it explains a lot,” Grammie said, admiring the view outside her window.
Being out there in the air might help clear her head, but Poppy couldn’t go far and was keeping an eye, and an ear, out for her sisters going to the back terrace where they were supposed to meet.
“So Holden only used that line about loving me to embarrass Violet.”
“I don’t believe there’s a man alive who wouldn’t fall in love with you given half a chance,” Grammie said, showing her biased smile. “So what’s the plan? Roast him on a spit? I imagine Turner makes mean barbeque.”
“It will be up to Violet.”
Grammie frowned. “The girl made a mess. That’s fine. I have no problem with any of you making messes. But she has let Abernathy dominate her and this family. We won’t stand for that. Your father won’t stand for that.”
“She’s embarrassed. Everyone thought her relationship with Holden was a fairy tale.”
“That ship has sailed,” Grammie said, crooking an incredulous brow. “You need to expose that man. Abernathy and his lies. Using you like he has to make a point. No. It won’t be allowed.”
“The threat of exposure should be enough. He doesn’t want the world to know that he lied about loving me to humiliate Violet. Yes, it was horrible that she cheated on him, but he could’ve just called off the wedding.”
“Well, he has a ruthless reputation and while he was still involved with the family, there would be little chance of Trey Hanover winning your sisters heart.” Grammie took a deep breath. “I would bet he’s used this in the boardroom too, keeping Hanover on a leash with further threats about what he might do to humiliate Violet further.”
“If that’s true and the threats worked, then Trey must care for Violet,” Poppy said as Grammie came across more discerning. “If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be controlled by them.”
“True,” Grammie said, grabbing her hand. “Now let’s talk about you and Turner.”
Not a subject Poppy had enjoyed much time to reflect on, since the previous night anyway. “What about us?”
“You snuck him away to the music room last night, didn’t you?”
The air of intrigue made her laugh. “It wasn’t a secret,” Poppy said. “We wanted to be alone.”
With the kids through the wall and his family occupying so many rooms on their floor, relaxing to enjoy each other wasn’t easy. Not as easy as it was in the music room anyway.
“To get your freak on.”
“Grammie!” Poppy hollered, laughing just as loud. “Where did you hear that?”
“I don’t know,” Grammie said with an innocent shrug. “Something one of the kids roaming the halls said sometime. I have to say, I do like the house being alive again.”
“I know you do.” Which was why Poppy’s heart would break when the Maddox clan left the estate. “Turner would be happy for you to stay in the Venture with us, if you want to.”
“Oh, I’ll come and visit all the time. I won’t be cramping your style.”
“Our style has a lot to do with keeping the trains running on time… or it will when we get back.”
“It won’t happen overnight. Even if Abernathy backs off, the press will still be intrigued for a while. They’ll want to know what changed.”
“Since when did you start calling him Abernathy?”
Not that Poppy had a problem with it, it was just something Turner tended to do.
“I don’t think he deserves any of us even remembering his first name let alone using it.”
“Turner and I still have things to figure out,” Poppy said. “He has work here, but he can’t let things go on at home without him, not for much longer.”
“I trust him to handle whoever tries to pressure him,” Grammie said. “But his family might be safer staying here a while.”
That implied sending Turner away without her. Less than a week ago, Poppy was trying to do exactly that. Now the idea made her sick to her stomach. But Ritchie had his own business to run and Preston would probably have to get back to his firm too. The partners wouldn’t let him lounge around the estate indefinitely… unless he was bringing in business.
Like she could read her mind, Grammie leaned in. “Turner will love you no matter where in the world you are or how many miles are between you.”
Something Poppy didn’t doubt. “I know.”
Being without him might be necessary and it wouldn’t change their feelings. Those considerations would have to wait a while because as she sat there reflecting, she spotted Violet and Primrose outside. It was time to overcome another obstacle, one that didn’t have support on both sides. It wasn’t fun, it was necessary; Poppy would have to make it work.
TWENTY-TWO
Eating breakfast hadn’t even occurred to Poppy until Grammie offered to have brunch sent to the tables by the grove.
When they were really little, the Granger Girls would spend hours in the grove, looking for fairies and woodland sprites. One year, Grammie spent a fortune having the forest setup with different colored lights and audio effects to really immerse the girls in their fantasy.
It was nice that such a ha
ppy memory accompanied Poppy as she went outside. The warmth of it faded some when she saw her sisters’ expressions. Primrose was sort of solemn while Violet was much more stern.
Before she even reached them, Primrose was backing away, gesturing for her to hurry up. “Come on,” she hissed, grabbing for Violet’s hand to pull her along.
“What’s going on?” Poppy asked, spurred on by the middle sister’s urgency.
“When are the three of us ever seen around together?” Primrose asked, snatching Poppy’s hand too. “If Mom sees us out like this, she’ll know something is going on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Music room,” Primrose said. “That’s like your secret lair. We’ll be alone.”
Despite a couple of decades going by, not so much had changed when the three of them got together alone. It was comforting, exciting almost. At least it was until they got there and the three of them went inside.
The drapes were open and the bed was made, though Violet’s sneer wasn’t approving. “You’re staying here?”
“Turner and I slept here last night,” Poppy said, going over to open the deck doors to let in some fresh air. “Grammie said she’d have brunch sent down to the grove. Do you want me to call the kitchen and let them know we’re here?”
“I’ll do it,” Primrose said, quick to hurry back to the entry hallway where the line to the main house was located.
Giving Poppy and Violet some time alone was, in theory, a good idea. Poppy wasn’t sure where to start. As Violet strolled around the room, taking in details and ending near the deck, she didn’t give any hint that she was in a hurry to talk.
“It’s probably been a while since you’ve been down here,” Poppy said.
“It’s your room, why should I be down here?”
Sleeping in the main house made sense when she was there for dinner anyway. With Turner in the mix, the value she placed on privacy skyrocketed. Until Violet’s statement, Poppy had never spent any time wondering how her sisters viewed the space she valued so much.
“Violet, I’m sorry that all of this has happened,” Poppy said, crossing the room to join her sister as she went out to the deck. “None of us wanted it to happen, I know, but we have a way to fix it.”
Found (Lost & Found Book 2) Page 19
