Page 52 of Brewing Up a Bad Boy

“I hope he’ll give him a chance,” Poppy whispered back.

Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea, but she wanted her parents to see this side of Ali. To understand that the man he’d become during their marriage wasn’t the man he was today. Maybe they’d stop blaming him for what happened. Maybe they’d see it all as Poppy did now: that they had both simply been too young.

“Hello, Alistair,” her mum said, leading them into the kitchen and out into the garden where her dad was manning the grill. She was surprised to see her brother and sister both sitting in chairs, talking to him.

“Poppy’s home!” Mae exclaimed, running over to her and hugging her tight. She completely ignored Alistair.

“Hey, Pop,” Barn said. “Drinks?”

“I’ve got that pink gin we like,” mum said.

“That for me. Alistair?” Poppy turned to him.

“Beer, please,” he said to Barn.

She’d rarely seen Alistair look as uncomfortable as he did now. Taking his hand in hers, she wasn’t sure what to do next. What could she say?He’s not a dick anymore?That wasn’t going to help.

“Aunt Regina called to say she had a great time with you two at the reception,” her mum said.

“We enjoyed seeing them too. I had a good meeting with Lancaster-Spencer, and they are going to make an offer to distribute the Amber Rapp tea blend,” Poppy said.

“Are they going to be fair this time, Alistair?” said her dad, finally breaking his silence.

“I believe so. Your daughter really left them few options other than that. We also asked for them to return the Kitchener name to the Earl Winfield tea blend,” Alistair said.

“Glad to hear that. About time Lancaster-Spencer stepped up. What are you doing these days? Still a junior executive?” her dad asked.

“Nope. I left the company about a year and a half ago and started brewing my own beer. I really like it,” Ali said.

When he started talking beer and brewing, Ali relaxed, and soon the men were all huddled around the grill while Poppy, Mae and her mum talked in the kitchen.

“He seems different,” Mum said as they finished making a salad to go with the chicken on the grill.

“Still hot,” Mae added.

“Yes, to both. He is different. He’s serious about not being a part of Lancaster-Spencer. I like him this way.”

“I do too,” Mum said.

Walking Ali to his bike to say goodbye, she was totally aware that her family were probably watching from inside the house.

“That was...”

“Nice,” he said. “They treated me way better than they should have.”

It hurt her heart a little to hear him say that. Putting her hand on the side of his face, she wanted to find the words to thank him for these last few days.

Her perspective and her emotions around Ali and their marriage had changed. The angry girl/woman she’d been when she’d left wasn’t someone that Poppy identified with anymore.

“You’ve changed. You wouldn’t have been aware of that before.”

“I’m glad that you noticed. It’s not easy but the rewards are worth it. I wouldn’t have had this time with you. Wouldn’t have gotten to see your special magic, moon fairy.”

Her heart melted a little more, making her very glad she was heading back to Maine where she would have some time away from Ali to process this all.

He turned his head, brushing his mouth against the center of her palm. “Goodbye.”

He got on his bike and she watched him drive away before going back inside. After Ali had left and everyone was in bed, her mum sat on the couch with her arm around Poppy. “Don’t feel like you owe him anything. Just because he’s changed doesn’t mean he’d be a better husband for you.”

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