Poppy's Passions (14 page)

She could all but feel the venom in the stare between Mary and Gerty. Neither woman backed down, but Poppy wasn't surprised when it was Gerty who finally looked away. She wondered if there were other people in the store listening on, but if so, at least for the moment they were staying absent.

She followed Mary and began shopping, the other woman adding things to her cart and giving orders like the little general she was. After the insults, she thought their outing might be ruined but Mary wouldn't let it. By the time they passed the bananas they were laughing and chatting like a crazy woman hadn't accused them of being Godless sinners.

A dropped pacifier in the produce section led to a lengthy discussion about tomatoes with a little girl's mother. Mary played envoy like a professional, easing Poppy into the conversation with the local woman. Before they moved on to the cereal aisle, she learned about the great children's programs offered by the library. Tara, the woman with the tomatoes, was the children's librarian and told Poppy about the story series and education opportunities they offered. She was a local, born and raised in Morris and graduated with Michael. When her daughter fussed, she gave Poppy a business card with her number and email.

"See, honey, I told you. Not everyone is horrible. Tara Binks—oh, she'd be Mueller now—is a sweetie, and she knows exactly what's going on at our house. Michael used to do school reports on polyandry and stare down the other kids, daring them to say anything. He's always been one to educate and facilitate understanding before kicking butt,” she said, pride obvious as she spoke of her eldest. “You'll have to call her after the babies are born. There aren't a whole lot of people your age around having babies, so I'm sure she'll appreciate a play date. If you liked her, that is. Ignore me if I'm butting in."

"No, it's fine.” Mary's meddling was something she'd been warned about, but in this instance she appreciated her guidance. “Tara did seem nice. I'll call her."

"Good. I don't want to be one of those pushy mothers-in-law who don't know when to shut up. Mine used to criticize my taste in dish towels. Can you imagine that?"

"Nope, and don't worry, I'm sure the guys won't let you get too out of control. I don't really know any better but they seem to."

"Those boys.” Her laugh made her sound younger. “I'm surrounded by the eternal means to keep me focused and in balance. Oh, and who is this coming my way? Harper Angel."

She sounded like she found a hundred dollar bill, and when Poppy looked up from grabbing a box of cereal, she had to admit it was a fine discovery.

"Mary Paraby, you look well.” The tall, darkly handsome Latino man set a box of granola in his cart before approaching. “Your treatments are done?"

"They are. You are looking at a cancer-free woman,” she announced, with a huge smile Poppy couldn't help but mimic. “And the heat lamps you and Ayden put in are absolutely wonderful. Even though I'm feeling better, I love using them. Where is your handsome man today?"

"He is, ah, right here,” Harper said as a slim, curly haired blond man sidled to him with two gallons of milk.

"Ah, pretty Mary Paraby.” The new man's voice and grin were made for breaking hearts. “Looking much better, I see. How've you been?"

"As I was telling Harper, I feel much better,” Mary said warmly. “Oh, and this is Poppy, my future daughter-in-law. Honey, these are the men who remodeled my bathroom last year. Ayden Clooney and Harper Angel. Ayden is from Dublin, isn't that just wonderful?"

"It's nice to meet you both.” She gladly shook hands with the smiling men. “Mary's bathroom is beautiful."

"You'll have to tell whichever one you belong with you'd like an upgrade for Christmas.” If she had to describe his accent, Ayden's was pure sex.

"Maybe.” It was impossible not to smile at the handsome Irish man and his friend.

"And a granny too?” Ayden asked Mary. “I suppose you'll be after the other two to find wives and get cousin-making soon?"

"Yes, to the grandma part.” Mary paused, and Poppy wasn't sure what she was going to say next. “But I don't think the boys have to worry about pressure from me."

"Another arrangement like you have with your men?” Poppy blushed hard at Harper's perceptiveness. “Don't worry,
corazon.
We happen to be the only gay men in Morris. No judging here."

"I see.” That announcement had surely broken many female hearts in town. “And no judging here, either. I really don't care what you do in your bedroom."

"Amen to that.” Ayden winked, his teasing reminding her of Trevor. “It's nobody's business but our own what happens behind closed doors and in back rows of movie theatres. Oh, and in cars, and parks after dark and—"

"You are outrageous, young man.” Mary laughed and Poppy joined in as Harper shook his head at his lover's list. “See, Poppy dear, very few people are as rude as Gerty. Most are perfectly willing to ignore what isn't their business. Then, there's Ayden, our comic relief."

"And sadly, this relief has to get back to work.” Ayden sighed. “Mary, love, I'm glad to see you doing well. Poppy, it was a delight to meet you. I'm sure we'll run into each other often in this tiny town."

"That would be nice, just not in the parks after dark,” she said, shaking his work roughened hand again.

"Cute.” The warmth in Harper's smile told her not everyone appreciated Ayden's humor. “Welcome to Morris. Mary, take care of yourself, and let us know if you need more work done at the ranch."

"Will do, you two have a happy Thanksgiving.” Along with Mary, Poppy watched the two men walk to the checkout counter.

They stood close but didn't touch. That would be too much for the other shoppers and, though he was silly, Poppy didn't think Ayden would actively be inappropriate in public. She could be wrong though, she thought when very casually Ayden's hand slipped across the tight expanse of Harper's butt.

"Those boys.” Mary chuckled. “They've been in town a few years. They do well with their construction company. There are two crews in town, Harper and Ayden, and the other is a very religious, conservative pair of brothers. We started with the brothers. Nice enough, but they kept trying to get me to leave with them to a women's shelter. Finally, Paul fired them and Duane hired Ayden and Harper."

"Women's shelter?” She grabbed several boxes of Pop-Tarts while she waited for Mary's reply.

"They thought I was being abused.” Adding two cartons of oatmeal, Mary shook her head. “To be fair, I'd just started chemo and I looked and felt horrible and they were trying to help. Any other time, I'd have explained things to them. Then if they'd continued to preach and prod I would have fired them, but I was too sick so I let the boys take care of it for me."

"That's what they're there for,” she agreed.

"Yes, exactly. I don't need them to fight my battles. I don't need their money or stuff. I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

"Sing it, sister.” Poppy laughed and applauded when Mary gave a little mock bow.

"Thank you. But I will say, this grown woman adores her men, and lives for their love. Love makes them fight my battles and take care of me. Just like my love makes me take extra time to buy half a dozen kinds of cereal. Love will have me canning jam in July while having a hot flash so my men will have what they like."

Poppy laughed again and stretched her aching back against the cart as she looked up. “Mary, I want to be you when I grow up."

She blushed at the compliment. “Aren't you the sweetest thing? Now, enough, we've got four more aisles and a stop at the creamery too."

Without more distractions they finished their shopping quickly. At the register Sam took ten percent from their bill for their trouble. Poppy was surprised when Mary, usually engaging and forgiving, stayed rigid toward the grocer who all but begged forgiveness. She explained she was just starting to give the grocery store another chance after Gerty, who was conspicuously absent at checkout, called Cody a dirty little bastard ten years earlier. Again Poppy was reminded Mary was not one to anger.

The creamery was as wonderful as promised. Quaint and friendly, she figured it would become her favorite place despite it displaying nearly every item she wasn't supposed to eat. The owner had their order packaged and the bill noted in the leather ledger on the counter when they arrived. SaraJean was one of Mary's favorite people, and Poppy understood why when she brought out a special “milkshake” she made with soy after she heard the newest Paraby couldn't drink milk but enjoyed ice cream.

Stress levels back in the manageable range, she joined Mary debating menu options during the drive home. She liked her sweet potatoes sweet. Mary liked hers savory so back and forth they argued and finally decided they needed a sweet potato cook-off. She was pretty sure they would tie. There was no way in hell her boys were going to side with their mother against her and Paul, Duane and Thomas were too smart to vote against their wife. Even if her delicious, banana-pecan sweet potatoes kicked Mary's chipotle butter yams off the table.

"Oh, good,” Mary said as she backed into her garage with skill Poppy envied. “All the boys are here to carry the bags. I could use a cup of coffee and some of those cookies SaraJean made. How about you?"

"Sounds good to me."

Her three men peeked through the door connecting the garage and kitchen. It was the middle of the day and they should have been working, but they were waiting for her. She could see them in the rearview mirror, but from their drawn expressions she knew they couldn't see her. Side by side the similarities in the three faces were startling.

Their brow lines were similar and though their eyes were different colors they were the same shape. So handsome and all hers. She still didn't know how it happened or what she was going to do with it, but she loved them all. Three men for one woman, yet she understood now that love multiplied to meet the need of the heart and her heart grew every day.

Michael opened her door when Mary cut the engine, and unlike when she left, Poppy didn't have to force a smile when she looked up at him. “Hi, handsome.” He lifted her from the high truck and even though she didn't need the help, she let him. “Did you miss me?"

"I did.” The seriousness in his face said more than his words, and she knew he was trying not to pounce for answers.

"It was fine.” She kissed his mouth before he could ask any questions. “I met a few people, bought tons of groceries, and had an excellent soy milkshake at the creamery. The only excitement was when I played backup for Mary in a stare-down against some crabby woman at the grocery store. Not that your mom needed it though, she's scary."

"Damn right I am.” Mary laughed. “And if you don't want that look pointed in your direction, Michael Thomas, you'd better help your brothers."

"I will, Mom,” Michael said, but kept his hold around Poppy's waist. “You're sure you're okay?"

"I promise. It was fun. I'll tell you about it after the groceries are put away. Can you wait?"

"I can wait if you don't need to talk right now."

Her Michael was so sweetly strong and understanding that she threw herself in his arms again. He set her on her feet and joined the others toting the groceries. All three shooed her away when she tried to help, insisting she needed to go put her feet up. Mary did the same when she offered to help in the kitchen.

The running around was more than she was accustomed to and the stress leading to the event had taken its toll. She stretched out on Mary's living room sofa, absently flipping through a women's magazine full of recipes promised to wow Thanksgiving and Christmas crowds.

For anyone in almost any situation, a trip to the grocery store was mundane. Pedestrian or not, Poppy felt pride bubble because she did it and she took joy in the little things. The option to stay buried in their mountain home was one she'd considered. Mary admitted to wanting that on occasion, and really with a doctor in house and half a dozen others Poppy could make herself useful around the house and avoid going to town until the girls were ready for school. Maybe longer if she homeschooled. That option had crossed her mind in the first days when she'd cringed from embarrassment at the thought of what others might think.

Every day those feelings ebbed, and today might have been errands but she couldn't help feel like she'd done more than buy milk. She'd stepped off the mountain and into the world, or at least a small piece of it. In a world that knew her intimate business, she'd managed to hold her head up. Maybe it was just groceries to most, but to Poppy, she'd taken a big step in the rest of her life.

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"I don't think she needs to be riding the damn thing right now,” Poppy heard Michael tell Cody as she and Trevor approached the horse stalls. “I know Buttercup won't throw her, but couldn't all the rocking make her sick or I don't know, puncture something?"

"You weren't worried about that when I rode you half the night.” Feeling beautifully wicked she strode into the stable hall.

"Yeah, ya sneaky fucker,” Trevor said, and she laughed when he pushed Michael's shoulder. “We were going to try to talk her out of being pissed as a team, remember? It would have been great Poppy, trust me."

"I believe you.” At first she'd envied their teasing and camaraderie because she'd never had it, but they made her part of it now and she loved the new feelings.

"It's been three days since she's even looked at me, would you have said no?” Michael shoved his brother back and held out his arms for her. “Hi, beautiful. How are you feeling today?"

"Fine.” She happily rubbed noses with him and moved her hands under his sweater to steal his warmth. “Are my hands cold?"

"Yep, you should probably warm those up before you move any lower. So, are we all three out of the dog house, or are you still mad?"

She thought of the reason for their placement on her shit list. Three days earlier she'd had a doctor's appointment. Due for full lab work and a pelvic exam in addition to her regular check up, she'd planned to follow all the websites’ advice and not be intimate the eve of her appointment. She'd turned down sex with Cody and Trevor because of the pelvic, but they'd talked her into trying other ways.