I Left Him at the Altar to Hide Our Daughter, and Now He Owns the Inn Where I Cook novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Wine Cellar

Poppy looked down at the pieces on the grass.

Then she looked up at Eleanor.

She didn't cry.

That scared me more than if she had.

"I didn't make him up," she said. "He's right there."

I was already running across the lawn with the empty tray in my hand.

Hattie got to her first.

She scooped Poppy up in her floury arms and turned her face into her shoulder.

"Come on, chickadee. Fireworks are better from the bakery roof."

"But my present..."

"I know, baby. I know."

Lawrence was on his knees in the grass.

He was picking up the pieces of the drawing one at a time.

Two hundred guests watched him do it.

Nobody spoke.

Eleanor stood over him in her blue silk with her gloved hands folded.

"Get up, darling. People are looking."

He didn't get up.

He found the last piece under a chair and laid it with the others on his palm.

Blair waved at the quartet.

They started playing again, too fast, something cheerful.

I reached Hattie and put my hand on Poppy's back.

Over Hattie's shoulder, Poppy found Lawrence with her eyes.

"Is he mad at me?" she whispered.

"No, baby. Nobody's mad at you."

Hattie carried her up the side lawn toward Front Street.

I went back to my kitchen.

At nine the barge went off over the harbor.

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