Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (48 page)

“
You had him around Amy confusing her. What was I supposed to do?”

Daisy stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t see anything wrong with it. Do you? You can’t just throw money at your problems, Aiden. You created all this damn havoc in my life because you want what you want!” Her voice broke under the strain.

“
Havoc? I’m trying to love you.”

“
Trying? Aiden you’re killing everything that I want to believe about you. Every time I try to trust you, you go and do this.”

“
I didn’t give her any money. She came here because she wanted too, not because of no big scheme. There’s no crime here.”

“
You’re not listening! You never listen! What am I doing? This can’t work. We don’t fit.”

“
Daisy—”

“
You won’t change.”

“
I was going to tell you.” He reached for her and she swatted his hand away while backing to the door, her body now shaking with fever and anger. Daisy coughed through her reply. “When? After we made love again or before? I asked you on the beach to be honest with me. You opened up to me. No matter what any of them think, it was just you and me. Why can’t you just be honest, damn it! That was your chance, Aiden. You blew it!”

His hand dropped away and he looked at her, totally confused. Wounded, Daisy saw the truth in his eyes. He just simply didn’t know how. And she couldn't raise two children. She looked away, spent. My God, she had nothing left to give.

“
Why do you care? Answer that. You still want Pete? Do you? You heard him. What he thinks of you! That part of your life is over. Your life is with me.”

“
I’m not something you own, damn it!”

“
That’s not what I said.”

“
What have you done since you found me, Aiden? What? Opened your checkbook and wrote check after check to get into my life.”

“
Got damn it! I can’t win with you. You’re making me fucking crazy!” he shouted at her.

“
And that’s what it’s all about.
Winning
. Pete wins pride, you win the girl and my daughter loses. I was right to keep her away from you both. No one cares about her but me."

"I love her, and I love you."

"I'm tired, and I don’t trust you. I can’t trust you. You won’t let me.”

“
You need to face some facts, Daisy. This is what I am and who I am. Your sister isn’t here. It’s me and you, doll and it’s time for you to be with me, and not against me. Not when I’m fucking tearing myself apart to be with you!”

“
I don’t want to hear this.”

He reached and pulled her hand to him; she snatched away but didn’t leave. She just glared at him. “This is it. I can’t turn it on and off like that for you. You have to give me time.”

“
Times up.”

“
So that’s it? You want out before we even begin. You saw Nina and now you know Pete isn’t fighting as hard as you think.”

“
Shut up!”

“
All that stuff you said by the sea was what? You playing games with me?” Aiden said in a low almost menacing voice.

“
Please… you’re the one with the games.”

“
You care more about what Pete thinks of us than what—”

"I care about what
you
think of me. You and I are supposed to be different. I don’t care if no one in the world gets us, Aiden, as long as we do. I don’t give a damn what it cost us if we can get there… together. And from what I see, you make me feel the same as he did. Hell, you two should hook up. You seem to get off on pushing each other’s buttons. It’s your egos, pride… and let me tell you something. No woman can compete with the ego of Aiden Keane!”

“
Fuck my ego! You want to talk about pride? Why was it I found you in the hall when I got here? Answer me, Daisy. Was it Nina? Could your pride take seeing him walk through the door with Nina?”

“
Shut up!”

“
You saw her with Pete and you couldn’t handle it. So he’s not some hero. He's just a man like any other, fucking anything he chooses.”

“
Shut up!”

"That's right. He wants pussy just like I do. Except, he won’t fuck you and I will!”

Daisy turned to leave, but he blocked the door. “I love you damn it, but I can’t break myself down any further than this. I won’t, Daisy. You’re going to have to accept me as I am. What I am!”

“
Let me out.”

“
I mean it, damn it! I’m only in it if you are. Make up your damn mind. Stop torturing me.”

“
I can’t accept you. I don’t like what you are.”

“
I think you do.”

Daisy looked back at him. “You’re wrong. You’ve done nothing but pushed and pushed and pushed your way into my life! I was wrong to think you could be honest and decent. I was wrong to think you had any feelings in that black heart of yours.”

“
Why? Because I treat you like a woman. Like my woman?”

“
No, you treat me like you do anybody else that you’ve bought and paid for.”

“
That’s bullshit!”

“
Is it? I don’t want a man that rather pay for my love than earn it. I never wanted that!”

“
You don’t know what you want,” Aiden sneered.

Daisy sniffed, shaking her head. “How’s this then? I want you to stay the hell away from us. If she is yours—”

“
If? Now it’s if?”

“
We’ll deal with it. But you and me, that’s over. Over.”

“
Daisy, if you keep running from me and telling me you don’t want me, then I’m going to believe you.”

“
One can only hope!” she tossed back, walking out.

****

Janette rose when she walked out. Not a word passed between them. Pete and Nina were gone and her sister couldn’t even look at her. It didn’t matter. She was sick, tired, stressed and now heartbroken. She took Amy’s hand and hurried out before Aiden tried to stop her. He didn’t. She looked back twice, expecting to see him charging after them and trying to convince her to listen, maybe even begging for her forgiveness. He didn’t. She did, however, notice when she strapped Amy in the back seat, Donovan McBride walking out of the Hospital.

Figures
, she mumbled. He was Aiden’s shadow. They probably arrived together.

She headed straight for the airport: coughing, sneezing and crying silently behind the cover of her sunglasses. Janette was unusually quiet. Daisy would have noticed if it weren’t for the parting words between her and Aiden. The things they said to each other left her hopeless.

Parking curbside, she was out emptying the trunk without thought. Janette came over, standing close and watching her. “Can you fly right back? The party’s tomorrow. Bring mama. I don’t care. I just would like… I need you to come back. We get the results tomorrow and Pete is acting nuts, Aiden is… I just can’t do it, Janette.” She heaved the luggage out. "Besides, Amy wants you to come.”

She looked up to her sister’s silence. Her heart stopped at the sight of tears in Janette’s eyes. Her hand froze on the top of the trunk, and after several minutes, she found her voice. “What is it?”

“
Daisy, be honest with me. Did you have an abortion?”

“
What? Who told you that? Pete? Did he tell you that?”

“
Did you have an abortion?”

Cars passed and parked. Travelers saying goodbye to their loved ones ran to and fro. The noises of honking horns and diesel engines of shuttle busses blared around them. She heard none of the outside world. Just her sister’s words. “It happened a long time ago.”

“
I don’t know who you are. I keep thinking. Never mind what I’m thinking.” Janette grabbed her luggage handle.

“
Janette, wait. Please. Don’t go like this. I can explain.”

“
You don’t have too. You’re grown, baby-girl. I can’t protect you from you. I keep thinking that you need a push and a little direction, but you’re… there’s just things about you that I don’t understand. And I’m trying.”

“
It happened long ago. I have to explain it to you. I’m sorry.”

“
Hush.” Janette took her hand. She felt her face and wiped the feverish sweat from her brow. “Don’t apologize to me. I just want you happy, Daisy, and I can’t tell you what that is. You have to figure that out on your own. Go home. Get some rest. I got to… I have to go.”

“
Will you come back?”

Janette looked to the car. Amy had her face pressed to the window grinning, showing her auntie her purple tongue.

“
I’ll call,” she said, pulling her luggage away. “I’ll call tonight to check on you.”

“
Janette!”

Her sister kept going, swallowed in by the crowds. Disappeared. Daisy stood there on the verge of a complete collapse. She wiped her hand back across her tears.

"Mam, are you okay?” the skycap asked.

She backed away from him into the street, nearly getting hit by a car. Bursting into tears, she got behind her wheel.

“
Mommy, I want McDonalds,” came Amy’s innocent voice.

She swerved away from the curb, gripping the steering wheel, trying hard to keep her eyes on the road.

****

Just before seven o’clock that night, he arrived. Aiden’s car idled low. The cool jets blowing through his vents beat the muggy air from the evening’s setting sun. He stared up at the beach house. After the fight, he left. He hadn’t been that angry in a long time. Well that’s not true. He hadn’t been that angry since their last fight.

A drive along the coast cooled him off and eventually brought him to her doorstep. He had an idea about the amount of southern crow he’d have to eat to get through the front door.

Donovan was right. He was behaving like a brat with a new toy. After all the years of friendship, he actually threatened him today. He cared so little for his affairs, and it was his friend’s job to ensure he did. What was wrong with him? All he could think of was the promise of a family with her and Amy. It had all gotten out of hand. Out of his control. It’s no wonder she backed away.

Aiden dropped his head back and sucked in a deep breath, filling his lungs to the bursting point. The impromptu visit could very well blow up in his face too. He shook his head and smiled at the way she stood up to him. She told him to piss-off and meant it. Damn, she was worth getting torn apart for.

Beside him were cellophane wrapped fresh cut flowers. In the past, he’d sent a few. Actually, he had a girl on staff that handled it for him. Today, he purchased a dozen lustrous bunch of long stem daisies. He smiled at the site of them. No, he’d never asked her about her favorite flower. This was the safest guess he could manage.

His plan was simple. He’d get out, ring the doorbell, tell her he was sorry and leave. It was simple unless she invited him in. Then, of course, he’d stay. But he wouldn’t ask or push. He’d just apologize for the comment about fucking Pete or whatever he said. He’d apologize, sweet and to the point. Simple.

Aiden grabbed the flowers. He threw open the door and headed to her front steps. There he steeled himself and repeated the plan. Easy. He straightened his tie, ran a hand over his hair and paused with a finger over the doorbell. He told her he wouldn’t beg. Well he lied. He poked it and exhaled impatiently.

The door opened after the second press. Aiden couldn’t believe the sight of her. Daisy looked whipped. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut. Her skin was ashen. It had lost all semblance of its vibrant color except for her red, inflamed nostrils. She clutched a ratty blue robe by its collar and the day had been close to 80 degrees. The over washed terry cloth stopped at her ankles. She wore thick socks, one pulled up and the other rolled down. Her hair was wild, a nest of tangles. She blew her nose, looking at him accusingly.

Amy stepped from behind her. Thumb in her mouth, again the little girl was in her panties and a shirt. Why Daisy let her run around bottomless confounded him. He winked at her, and she grinned, thumb still in her mouth.