Received a Packed Suitcase from My Wife

Hey love, you wont believe the rollercoaster Poppys had lately, so grab a cuppa and listen.

It all started when Toms mum handed over a suitcase packed with her stuff. Dont say any daft things! Poppys mum warned, and thats when Poppy first thought about getting a camcorder. Not just thinking about it she wired one up everywhere in the flat. She kept it a secret from Tom, though, because she wanted it to be a surprise. And surprise it was.

Poppy thought to herself, Good thing she married Tom and not that clumsy Charlie Collins! She imagined herself still living in a cramped council block beyond the M25. In her mind, Charlie never had the ambition for anything bigger. No wonder everyone kept calling him Charlie instead of Sam you name a ship and it sails that way.

Who would ever call a great general Charlie of Macedon? Nobody. Itd be like calling Winston Churchill Bob. But Charlie Barlow does sound oddly fitting, right? If the film had been called Operation Y and Other Adventures of Alexander, itd have been a flop, but Charlie saved it.

Poppy, Tom, and Charlie had been mates since school, both of them smitten with the sweet Poppy. Theyd often hang out together, three of them. Charlie always lost out to the charming, quickwitted Victor, but he never seemed to notice. Their friendship survived the loss, because Charlie was a proper friend.

After their school leavers party, Poppy finally chose Tom and, as the third wheel, Charlie slipped away. Fast forward three months into college, Tom dumped her for a classmate. Thats when Poppy rang Charlie, calling him Sam for the first time. Loyal as ever, Charlie swooped in, lifted her spirits and pulled her out of a low mood.

There was never anything romantic between them, and that was enough for Charlie just being there for his love was his happy place.

Come spring, Poppy fell for someone else: Victor was finally out of her heart. The new favourite turned out to be a guy from her university, a few years older, who she met in the library yes, not everything is online these days. Suddenly, Arthur stole all her thoughts.

Charlie, who after school had gone off to study town planning and architecture, always seemed to be carrying some sort of nonsense, according to Poppy. Ill study a year longer and then Ill have a proper job! hed boast, coming from a large family that valued a steady paycheck. And later I might even go to university!

Poppy was bored with the stiff, wellstitched bloke. She craved love and cuddles, just not with him. Soon enough, she found it. A slightly older tutor, Arthur, opened the door to new feelings. They even talked about getting married after a year together Arthur was finishing his degree, Poppy was on her second year. Why not tie the knot?

Just as they were planning, Charlie called the school reunion was coming up. Going, love? he asked. Poppy thought, Why not? Let Tom see what hes missing! Shed brag to her ex about the upcoming wedding.

Charlie had landed a decent gig at a fancy construction firm, pulling a good salary, and he kept in touch with Tom. Charlie told Poppy that her former flame Tom was now completely single and also heading to the reunion.

The night was set for the first Saturday in February. Poppy picked out a pretty dress with a fauxfur coat, and Charlie drove her over in his own car. When she saw Tom, she realized shed been fooling herself nothing had ever truly moved her. Deep down, something had been waiting for its moment, and it finally arrived.

Tom, too, was glad to see Poppy; shed look stunning after a year and a half. He never mentioned the surprise to Charlie. Charlie, oblivious as ever, always thought Poppy was the most beautiful shed always been that way.

They locked eyes, and without a word, they walked (well, drove) straight to his flat and made up for all the lost time. Charlie? He was the third wheel again.

In August, a pregnant Poppy married Tom. Victor, now her husband, turned into a decent bloke, switched to evening shifts, and worked as a courier a wellpaid gig these days. Poppy hustled through her third year, passed her exams externally, and her parents helped with the money.

Life settled into the usual happyfamily rhythm. Their daughter, Ellie, arrived on schedule. As time went by, Poppys studies were about to start again, and Ellie began toddling. They decided not to send her to a nursery who knows what could happen there, and a toddler cant exactly tell you if somethings wrong.

They hired a nanny because the grandparents were still working. The perfect fit was a 22yearold named Agnes, a parttime student whod also been a nanny before. Agnes wasnt the prettiest, but that was fine no need to dig a grave over looks. She asked for a slightly lower rate, and everything clicked.

Agnes quickly bonded with Ellie. The little girl loved being with her nanny, even ran to her by the hand. When Ellie developed a rash, Poppy handled it herself, opting not to tell Agnes there are so many creams and powders now, after all.

Later, the rash turned out to be allergic dermatitis. Ellie was allergic to a few foods, but Agnes had been warned and the household never kept those items around. When Agnes panicked, she swore, I swear on my life I didnt give her anything! Ive got nursing training! Poppy reminded her that a oneyearold cant steal a whole loaf of bread, and she kept a tight watch on the kitchen.

Tom chimed in, Dont say any daft things. Lets run an allergen test and sort it out, dont stress yourself.

Remember that camcorder? Poppy set it up everywhere, but kept it a secret from Victor surprise! And the surprise was real: with Tom off to his new job, Victor and Agnes were doing their own thing in the bedroom while little Ellie roamed the flat, nibbling on the chips Victor loved and Agnes also snacked on.

When Poppy got back, everything was tidy good on them! It turned out Agnes had once been Victors firstyear love at university, the one hed left Poppy for. After their split, she grabbed her documents and became a nanny. How all that tangled up? Maybe pure coincidence, maybe not perhaps the lads kept chatting and the husband gave a tip about Agnes, dubbing her Aggie in a teasing way.

The flat actually belonged to Poppys parents, so the lovebirds werent given any space of their own. The nanny got a few colourful messages with a dash of profanity, the husband sent a similar note, and they packed a suitcase full of Poppys things. She wasnt about to forgive anyone.

They all left, together, and Tom didnt even try to apologise. Maybe he didnt see anything wrong with his behaviour just Gods mercy, hed say. Poppy felt sick, the same old mistakes hitting her again, and she thought of clumsy Charlie to lift her spirits.

Charlie would have zipped over in a flash with his usual awkward jokes, but this time he couldnt: Cant make it, Poppy! he texted, Im off to the hospital my sons just born, so Im busy! He hung up, and Poppy was left baffled. Son? What son? What wife? He loves you, Poppy! she muttered, but the fact stayed Charlies mate had a baby, and he was too tied up.

Poppy wondered what shed expected. Did she think an older bloke would jump in for her until retirement? By the way, Tom had mentioned a promotion he was now heading a department.

Feeling betrayed, Poppy thought everyone had dumped her husband, friend, everyone. Especially Tom. And to think theyd treat their own child like that! she grumbled. If Ellie choked, they wouldnt even hear from the locked bedroom. What a mess!

Charlie, though, would never have cheated her. He was still the one she could count on, even if he was a bit clumsy.

So thats the saga, love. Poppys life has been a mix of twists, betrayals and a few loyal friends, but shes still pushing through, one day at a time. Talk soon!