Fight For Your Life - Catherine Holland (crime books to read .txt) 📗

born here and wants me to make this my home as well.”
Poppy glanced at her “He sounds like a wonderful man, have you been married long?” Tracey shook her head with a small smile “No, only about two years; but he’s the greatest, he’s a doting father to my Sonya even though she isn’t his and he says that he wants to adopt her and officially make her his daughter.” Poppy noticed the hesitation in her voice.
“So, if he’s a great husband then why don’t you let him adopt her?” Tracey sighed then said “I don’t know, I just feel like I should hold off for a while longer. Paul seems to be OK with it for the moment; but I don’t know how long it will last before he really starts to push for an adoption.” Poppy glanced at her again “If he really loves you and Sonya that much, then he’ll wait; and if your instincts are telling you not to go forwards with this then don’t.”
Tracey patted her hand in a motherly sort of gesture and then moved on to get a massage, Poppy followed her and once settled she asked “So, we should go out for a drink sometime soon; my eighteenth birthday is only a few days away.” Tracey smiled brightly at her “Why that sounds wonderful.” Poppy and Tracey made a lot of small talk after that, and Poppy agreed to come back the following day. She then paid the receptionist and left the parlour and made her way back over to the motel where Sean would be waiting.


Chapter Two

Two Weeks Later

Poppy lay awake staring at the dark ceiling, she’d been awake for most of the night and no matter how hard she’d tried; sleep had evaded her, she knew that she should be happy as today was her eighteenth birthday, but she could find no happiness in the occasion.
On her previous birthdays she’d faked enthusiasm and had done such a good job of it that she’d eventually believed it, she knew that on the other bed Sean was awake and had been awake for a few hours but neither of them had spoken. As the dark ceiling slowly brightened, Poppy threw back the covers and grabbed a change of clothes and her toiletry bag and headed for the bathroom.
As she showered Poppy thought back over the previous week, she’d gone to the beauty parlour every day without fail and afterwards had had a mug of coffee with Tracey; but whenever Tracey insisted that Poppy meet her husband, she’d found an excuse and had hurried away before Paul turned up. Tracey had eventually cornered Poppy into meeting Paul and she’d reluctantly agreed.
Today she was scheduled to ‘meet’ Paul, she already knew who and what he was; and even though her dad hadn’t seen her in well over three years, Poppy knew that her father would recognise her by her hair. When Poppy was done with the bathroom she stepped outside fully dressed and kept her back turned as Sean went into the bathroom.
Poppy unlocked the motel room and headed for the nearest coffee shop and bought them back coffee and bagels for breakfast, as she put Sean’s coffee and bagel on the small table he came out of the shower and said “Thanks Poppy.” She nodded her head in welcome and then sat down to drink her coffee.

* * * *

Poppy went to a local hairdressers that morning and had her hair cut, styled and then insisted on a temporary hair dye to be put in; she had her hair blow dried and then after paying left the store leaving a hefty tip. She headed to the café where she would normally meet up with Tracey and as she sat down she ordered a mug of coffee to calm her nerves before Tracey and Paul arrived.
Tracey entered the café first, and scanned the café twice before finally realising that Poppy had cut and dyed her hair; she remarked that it was very nicely done and worth every penny she’d spent on it. She then said “Paul’s running a little late this morning, but should be here shortly.” Poppy nodded and replied “That’s OK, I think today’s going to be one of those days.”
Tracey noticed Poppy’s subdued tone and said “Poppy? What’s the matter dear?” Poppy hesitated then said “Today’s my eighteenth birthday.” Tracey grinned at her, “Happy birthday! I wish I was eighteen again, those were the days, what are you planning on doing?” Poppy smiled tightly and said “I’ve never really celebrated a birthday, not since my parents passed.”
Tracey nodded as if she expected nothing less, “Yes, parents passing is always sad but not unexpected, after all we always expect our parents to go before us; you have to live life whilst you have it my dear. Look to the future and not the past.” Poppy sipped her coffee and went to reply when the café door opened again and in walked Paul.
He walked over to their table and kissed his wife on the cheek before settling next to her. “Tracey, sorry I’m late honey; couldn’t be avoided.” He then turned his attention to Poppy and she stiffened, “And who might this be?” Poppy forced herself to relax and smiled and Tracey replied, “This is Poppy dear, the one I’ve been telling you about?” Paul nodded his head and held out his hand for Poppy to shake.
Poppy hesitantly shook his hand and said “Pleased to meet you Paul.” Paul nodded and then took a closer look at Poppy, he saw her deep blue eyes and then looked at her black hair and finally her expensive clothing. “And how old are you Poppy?” Poppy went to answer when Tracey said “She’s eighteen today Paul, isn’t that wonderful?”
Paul nodded his head and they sat in silence for a few moments then Tracey said “So, what plans do you have for your birthday dear? After all you’re only eighteen once.” Poppy smiled and said “I don’t have any plans, I normally spend my birthdays alone, but this year I won’t be alone; my boyfriend is planning to stay with me and watch a few movies.”
Tracey clucked her tongue in disapproval, “Nonsense! You should come over to our place for a birthday dinner isn’t that right dear?” She glanced at Paul who was still looking at Poppy, he nodded slowly; “Yes that should be fine, dear.” Poppy shook her head, “I’m sorry but I can’t accept that offer; I couldn’t abandon my boyfriend like that.”
Tracey again beat Paul to speaking, “Then bring your boyfriend along as well; we don’t mind.” Paul nodded his head and smiled at his wife’s expression, Poppy stopped herself from shivering; there was something not quite right with his smile. Paul suddenly stood up and made his excuses, he left the café in a rush muttering under his breath as he went.

* * * *

Sean was stood outside a jewellery store, debating on whether to buy Poppy a necklace; she deserved something for her birthday, he’d turned eighteen the week before and she’d bought him a thick gold chain which was hung around his neck.
He finally decided on buying her a gold chain with a pair of golden dolphins with diamonds in them criss-crossing each other, he paid a little extra for the black velvet box, not liking the box it would’ve initially come in and left the store feeling very satisfied with himself. As he was walking down the street he saw Paul leave the café in a hurry.
Sean narrowed his brown eyes and waited until he’d walked down the block before going into the café, he spotted Tracey by her blonde hair; but had no idea who the black haired girl sitting with her was, he then heard Poppy chuckle and headed over to them. Before he could do more than sit next to Poppy the waitress came over and all three of them ordered fresh coffee.
Poppy gripped his hand tightly under the table and Sean squeezed back she said “Sean, I’d like you to meet Tracey; she’s invited us to dinner tonight.” Sean smiled at her “That’s very kind of you Tracey, but we’ll have to decline unfortunately.” Tracey shook her head, “No, no I insist; you both must come it’s not very often we have guests over for dinner.”
Sean looked at Poppy and she nodded her head slightly, Sean sighed and said “That would be lovely Tracey, what time are we expected?” Tracey patted him on the hand and said “Seven thirty, Sonya will be in bed asleep by then, my address is thirty five Goddard Street.” Poppy stiffened slightly but Tracey didn’t seem to notice and she excused herself to use the bathroom. When she was gone Sean turned on Poppy.
“Are you OK? I saw Paul leave here in a hurry, he can’t be happy about tonight.” Poppy replied “I’ve just had to sit here and pretend to not know who my dad is, I had to shake his hand but I think he knew that something was wrong; the look he kept giving me. By the way, I had to introduce you as my boyfriend for it to sound plausible.”
Sean nodded his head and remained silent as Tracey returned to her seat, they ordered another round of coffee and were about to speak when Tracey’s cell phone rang, she answered it and finished the call quickly. “Sorry about that, Paul asks that you come formally for the meal tonight; I hope that’s OK?” Both Poppy and Sean nodded together, then Sean made a show of giving Poppy the necklace he’d bought earlier.
Poppy took the box Sean handed her and couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her face, “Sean, it’s beautiful; thank you.” She then kissed him on the cheek and hugged him. Tracey was watching the event with a smile on her face and then handed Poppy a tissue to dry her eyes with, she accepted the tissue and then checked the watch on her wrist.
She glanced at Sean and then looked at Tracey, “So, Tracey; you said to be at your home for seven thirty this evening?” Tracey nodded and then looked at her own watch, and looked a bit surprised to see that it was almost two in the afternoon. “Yes Poppy, and you Sean; seven thirty this evening, I have to go unfortunately as my little Sonya will need collecting.”
Both Poppy and Sean stood up and let out a sigh of relief as Tracey left the café, they looked at each other and Sean said “I don’t think coffee’s going to be strong enough; c’mon.” Poppy took out a few bills from her purse and placed them on the table as she followed Sean out of the café and blinked in surprise as they stopped outside of the local pub.
Sean held open the door and said “One drink Poppy, in celebration of it being all over tonight.” She nodded her head and two hours later they left the pub to return to their motel room to get ready for what lay ahead for them that night.


Chapter Three


Back at the motel room, Poppy searched in the small closet space for an outfit to wear for the dinner and confrontation that would happen in a few short hours, Sean had picked out dark pants and a dark silk shirt, and had then headed for the shower. Poppy finally selected a dark pair