Me: Why are you lying down?
Nell: I need a moment.
Me: What’s wrong?
Nell: You’re not going to believe this.
Me: I might.
Nell: Poppy’s in the kitchen making bacon sandwiches.
Me: Wonderful. The New Poppy has finally come to her senses.
Nell: She isn’t making sandwiches. Our Poppy is.
Me: Our Poppy’s back?
Nell: Yes.
Me: And The New Poppy’s gone?
Nell: No. The New Poppy’s eating fruit salad. She hasn’t gone anywhere.
Me: I thought you said Poppy was cooking bacon?
Nell: She’s wearing a pirate’s hat and throwing sandwiches around the kitchen with her sword.
Me: While eating fruit salad?
Nell: No, that’s The New Poppy. The other six are busy catching the sandwiches with David.
Me: Did you just say ‘the other six’?
Nell: Yes. There are eight of them.
Me: Are you telling me there are eight Poppys in our kitchen?
Nell: There’s only one Poppy. The others are Primrose, Petunia, Peony, Pansy, Petal, Posy and Pat.
Me: I need a lie down now, too.
Nell: They’re her sisters. That’s where she’s been for the last few days. Collecting her sisters and bringing them here to celebrate turning 10 together.
Me: So who is The New Poppy?
Nell: Petunia. She’s a health and fitness expert. She said she’d be happy to cover for Poppy while she was away.
Me: Why pretend to be her?
Nell: She thought it would be fun.
Me: It wasn’t.
Nell: No.
Me: I’m so glad Poppy’s back and she has her sisters all around her.
Nell: She knew you would be. Losing Alex made her realise what sisters mean.
Me: Everything.
Nell: Exactly. Ready to party?
Me: Do you think there’ll be cake?
Nell: Poppy’s home and it’s her birthday. Of course there will be cake.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
