He powered down the phone, unable to deal with it. He took a shaky breath, his grip tightening on the window.
Poppy kissed Diana’s cheek, glancing at the window in hopes of seeing his headlights. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone, struggling for how hard he was trembling. She left the nursery as she called him again, and when there was no answer, she left a voicemail. “Francis, baby, I don’t know what’s going on, but please call me back. Please.”
He ignored his phone, only pulling over after a long while and resting his head on the steering wheel and taking quick, trembling breaths.
She went to the kitchen and began to clean up the uneaten dinner she had made for them, her lower lip trembling as she glanced down momentarily at the small gift box on the counter.
Poppy finished feeding Diana, clearing away her bowl as she brushed back her hair. Diana looked up at her with warm brown eyes, and Poppy felt a pang in her heart. She bit her lip before kissing her forehead. “There’s my girl.” The letter laid unopened on the counter and she sighed, coming over and opening it, slipping it out of the envelope.
The paper was unassuming and plain, and the only thing written on it was an address. The handwriting was an usual cross of print and cursive.
She studied it, her brows furrowed. She looked over at Diana before calling Phos and asking him to come over. She buttoned her trench coat over the bump in her stomach and slipped a gun into her belt.
She walked up to the building, her hand clutching the gun at her side as she looked around nervously.
Her expression was one of surprise and sadness and she shook her head, backing away. One hand rested on her stomach protectively. “You... you died.”
"It was Utrana," he said quietly. "They made me leave.." He looked down after a moment, his eyes widening. "A-Are you..?"
She looked down, and the confirmation seemed to make something click within her. Tears started rolling down her face and she hugged herself, leaning back against the wall.
