Calum's PoV

I suddenly panicked. I glanced between the older couple in front of me and Poppy beside me who was practically seething where she stood. She'd snapped at them, asking what they wanted and why they were here and I didn't quite know how to behave in this situation. Did I offer her parents to come in so we can sit and discuss everything or did I stick up for Poppy, knowing her personality is normally so sweet - these people must have done something seriously wrong to get her worked up this way.

"Nice to meet you both." I shook their hands, receiving a weak shake back. Poppy scoffed where she stood. I retracted my arm instantly like someone who had just been shocked.

"Pleasantries over, what do you want? How did you even find out where I lived?" Poppy snarled, her arms folded across her chest as if she was protecting her heart from any more hurt.

"It's hard not to when you're plastered all over the front of every magazine and newspaper." Her dad responded with a smile but his tone had notes of irritation. Did he not approve of her new found fame? The one I had given her? My stomach knotted in anxiety. I could tell this meeting wasn't going to end well.

"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Her mum pressed, sucking in a sharp breath as she transferred her weight from one leg to another. I could see Poppy soften for a second, only to roll her eyes.

"Fine. But not for long. We have plans later." She moved aside and gestured the sofa ahead of us as their place to sit. Her mother was slightly unsteady on her feet as she shuffled to the chair, sighing with relief as she sunk into the plush cushions of our sofa. Her dad strode in, like an army sergeant, and leant back into the chair beside the sofa, stretching out in comfort. As we turned from the door and I pushed it shut, Poppy offered me a look that said she apologised in advance for everything that was about to happen. Was I about to get a taste of what Poppy had to put up with for a lifetime?
Nervously I headed towards them, plastering a smile on to cover my butterflies.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked.

"Water would be fine. Thank you." Her mum answered and I quickly got two glasses of water, handing them over before sitting beside Poppy and giving her leg an encouraging squeeze. She already looked exhausted.

"So...  is anyone going to tell me why you've turned up here?" Poppy asked, trying her hardest not to sound too irritated knowing it would make me feel uncomfortable.

"Do we need a reason to see our daughter? To see her growing family?" Her mothers voice was sweet, she sounded like someone who had thought about her answers to try and make sure they sounded good. I could tell Poppy wasn't buying into it.

"Yes, when you've not been anywhere near me for nearly ten years. When I lived with you it was painful, I thought it was best for us all when I moved out." She huffed, shaking her head. I remained silent, trying not to get involved.

"And look how that worked out." Her dad snapped. "You moved in with a druggy and got traumatised." She stopped, narrowing her eyes at her dad.

"So you guys did know about that?" Her mum simply shrugged. "And you still didn't come to help me? Wow. You're possibly even worse than I thought." The words had left her mouth with venom and hatred. It was as if these were bullies she was standing up to, not her parents .

"How dare you. We did everything for you growing up!" Her mum was quick to jump in.

"Did everything to make me hate it there, Yeah!  You treated my brother favourably, you disregarded me and my conversations and my feelings, showing him off like a prized possession but I was the cheap knockoff. You argued with me when I was looking out for him. You made me feel like I wasn't even wanted there!" Her voice was strained, tears welling as everything from the past finally came back to bite her, I pulled her into a hug which she gratefully accepted.

"That's a load of shit." Her dad hissed. "We were telling you about how well he was doing so you could step up your game. He's doing theatre shows in the west end! You were learning nursing all because of your dead friend." His words were fearless, as if he didn't care if he upset Poppy. She sucked in a sharp breath.

"Oh fuck off. You know nothing about me or my life. My nursing meant everything to me." She wiped her tears furiously as she shouted her response. How I wished I could cut in, but it wasn't really my place to say.

"So why are you trying to catch up with your brother?" Her mum asked, catching us both off guard and causing me to furrow my eyebrows.

"What?" Poppy spat back.

"Well, if you loved nursing so much why did you give it up for fame? You knew your brother was doing well and getting known so you had to one up him and marry a celebrity to gain that status without any skills. Sad really." Poppy's jaw dropped, as did mine. Were they really trying to say she only married me for my fame and my money?

"I really don't think-" I began but I was quickly interrupted as if I'd never even spoken.

"See, this is why we never come and see you. Every time we speak it turns into an argument. You always have to be so unreasonable. I hope you calm down when you become a mum." Her dad said, the word mum rolling off his tongue so smoothly without a hint of excitement or anything. That was their grandchild in her stomach.

"Get out." Poppy was quick to jump up, storming over to the front door and opening it with force. "How dare you show your faces after all this time and insult my family. I'll tell you this now, no matter what happens in my life, that kid is going to have an upbringing one thousand times better than mine was."