Page 185 of Five Summers

As we step into the rickety old elevator, its unsettling sounds make me worry it could malfunction any second. I quickly scanthe wall for a maintenance inspection tag to check when it was last serviced. Suddenly, with a mechanical crank, the elevator abruptly stops on the twelfth floor and the doors slide open.

Alex is the first one to race out.

“Alex, wait up!” Poppy calls out, stepping out of the elevator and searching through her bag for her keys.

Keeping my eyes on Alex, I watch him race down the dimly lit corridor. The flickering light at the end contributes to the unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of a scene from a horror movie. He stops at a door, positioned roughly one-third of the way down, and leans against it, patiently waiting for us to catch up.

When we reach the door, Poppy swiftly inserts the key and unlocks it. Alex promptly dashes inside.

Upon entering the apartment, I notice subtle remnants of the life she once had. Despite the limited space in the main room, it’s evident that she has created a comfortable home for Alex. I move further into the room and put Alex’s bag on the worn-out couch. Alex takes off and disappears down a hallway.

While Poppy locks the door, I take in the room, seeing the many music posters that used to hang on her bedroom wall. On the left, I spot the stack of vinyl records that we used to enjoy together, but I can’t help but notice that their number has dwindled. I then glance at the guitar, casually resting against the wall, and start searching for her favorite keyboard. But it's nowhere to be found. I look at Poppy and see her silently watching me.

“I know it’s nothing fancy, but it’s home,” she says.

“Where’s your keyboard?” I ask, glancing around again to make sure I didn’t overlook it.

“I had to sell it. Alex was sick and I needed the money.”

My heart breaks when I hear that. I know how much that keyboard meant to Poppy. She must've seen the hurt on myface, because she comes over, wraps her arms around me, and rests her head on my chest. I wrap my arms around her, silently promising that she will never have to go through that hardship again.

Footsteps echo down the hall, and Alex returns to the room, holding a book in his tiny hands.

“Daddy, can you read this to me?” he asks, racing towards the couch and leaping onto it.

A smile of pure happiness spreads across Poppy's face as she takes a step back, creating enough room for me to join Alex on the couch.

Sitting down, Alex scoots closer and hands me the book. When I look at the book, a grin spreads across my face as I see a cartoon monkey clutching a banana in its hand.

“Your mom told me you love animals,” I tell him, flipping the book open.

As I read the first lines, I’m reminded of my mom reading to me. I always loved how she'd switch up her voice for every character. Mirroring her, I do the same, and it makes Alex smile. I notice Poppy standing nearby, with a smile on her face, as she observes our heartfelt interaction.

Chapter seventy-one

Xander

Through the entire night, I lay beside Poppy, holding her tightly in my arms. The noises coming from inside the building and the constant sirens made it impossible for me to sleep. With just one day remaining before I have to fly back to New Zealand, there is an overwhelming amount of things to take care of.

The removalist confirmed they’d be here at ten to pack up Poppy and Alex’s stuff, so we didn't miss our flight at noon. Kit gave me the good news that Lionel is lending us his private jet to fly home to save time. And she also mentioned that we have a new band manager for our time in New Zealand. I know Lionel isdoing everything to keep us with the label, but I can't wait to go out on our own.

While I never asked Poppy what happened in her mother’s house yesterday, I can see that whatever it was has deeply affected her. She tried to fake a smile for me and Alex, but I could see right through it. I get shitty parents. My asshole father is like the poster boy for fucked up parents.

The crack in the blind allows a soft, golden light to filter into the room, filling it with a warm glow. The sound of footsteps hitting the wooden floorboards reaches my ears. Alex must be awake.

With utmost care, I gently adjust Poppy’s position to free my arm without interrupting her peaceful sleep. Putting on my boxers and jeans, I head out to meet Alex.

When I step into the family room, I see Alex on the couch, a glass of milk in his hand, watching cartoons on the television. The moment he lays eyes on me, a smile breaks out across his face, and I can’t help but notice the milk mustache on his upper lip.

“What are you watching?” I ask, moving further into the room.

“Bluey,” he says, diverting his attention back to the show.

I glance at the television and notice a talking blue dog. I sit with him for a moment, watching it briefly before I get off the couch and go search for some coffee.

While I wait for the coffee to brew, I make my way over to the many boxes that Poppy packed last night. Curiosity got the best of me when I asked her why there were fewer vinyls than before. Reluctantly, she confessed she had no choice but to sell a few of them in order to cover the bills. It’s painful to hear she’s been struggling all these years and had to sell the things she loved. There’s something I haven’t shared with her yet. I haven’t told her about the grand piano that sits collecting dust in myhouse. Now I wonder if I subconsciously bought it for Poppy, not knowing the twists and turns our lives would take.

Never in a million years did I expect my life to unfold the way it has. Reflecting on the younger version of myself, the one who craved it all, the fame, the fortune, and the groupies, I now realize just how naïve I was. Even if I hadn’t achieved success in this industry, I would have continued creating music no matter what. However looking back now, I understand that a desire to prove all the assholes wrong, to show them I was not some worthless piece of shit like they thought I was, fueled my initial drive. People like Poppy’s mom, who still hold disdain for me, can simply go to hell. I’ve accomplished tasks that exceed my wildest dreams.

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