Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (51 page)

He kissed her forehead. “Night Amy… princess,” he stammered at the words. Feeling awkward saying them but meaning the affection behind each, he blushed out of the sight of any who would make fun of his temerity.

When Aiden left her room, he thought about Daisy. She wasn’t exactly happy to see him when he arrived, and if she cleaned his mess, he could assume she was a little pissed. The kitchen was a disaster, and to be honest, he had no desire to try to put it right. He hated cleaning. Hated it.

So he was convinced, she’d be pissed. Best intentions notwithstanding, he failed the test. Aiden could hear the dishwasher humming as he approached to the sound of pots rattling.

The kitchen sparkled it was so clean. Everything was in its place. He didn’t bother to check the dining room area, but he suspected that it was clean too.

“
Sorry about that. Things kind of got away from me.”

She didn’t respond. She had a rag to the counter, her hand wiping across it, and her ponytail swaying slightly. Aiden scratched the back of his head, drew in his bottom lip, chewing. He looked around then back to her. “So um…you feel better?”

When she kept cleaning, he knew he’d blown it. He could try the apology or fuck it all to hell. He felt like an ass. Constantly. “Look, I’ll go.”

“
No.”

Daisy turned, her eyes unreadable. “It’s late. We got an early morning with the party and all. I’m sure you can have someone bring you some clothes. Go get in bed. I’ll be up soon.”

He blinked at the order. “Bed?”

She smirked, “If she’s sick from all those cookies and God knows what else you pumped into my baby, you’re going to be here to rub her tummy.”

He smiled. “I told her not to eat them. She wouldn’t listen. The kid’s stubborn.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “Go upstairs before you talk me out of it.”

Aiden backed out of the kitchen and left.

****

Daisy looked around once more. Growing up, cleaning house always felt like purifying. Her mother kept everything tidy and neat. Daisy never bemoaned chores. Especially after dinner chores. She enjoyed cleaning up after her daddy. That included bringing him his pipe, hearing him talk to the TV and answering mostly all the questions on
Jeopardy
. She liked arguing with Sandra about who’d scrub the pots and who’d sweep. That feeling of belonging, being safe and being loved, was missing from her life. After cleaning up from Aiden and Amy, she felt it seep in again. She felt so many things.

The phone rang, just as she turned off the kitchen light. It was one in the morning. It had to be Janette calling to say they were coming for the party.

“
Hello?”

“
Daisy, it’s Nina.”

Daisy leaned against the counter in the dark. “Okay?”

“
Sorry to call so late.”

“
Yeah, well… it’s okay. I was up… cleaning.”

“
Oh.”

Silence.

“
About today, at the doctor’s office.” Daisy paused, then continued. “I shouldn’t have been so rude. I wasn’t feeling well and I was stressed… well never mind that. I wanted to um… apologize.” Daisy scratched her brow, her voice hoarse from the rawness of her throat. “I wanted to thank you for everything, Nina. I mean how you helped me see daddy and told Janette where to find me. It was generous of you, considering…well, we were never friends. So yeah, thanks.”

“
No problem. Got a daddy and a sister too. I know what it means to love your family and want to see them. I didn’t call for that reason. Well, actually I did. I think things will be over tomorrow. The nurse said the results would be in.”

“
Yes.”

“
It’s time for all of us to stop the fighting. I mean Aiden and Pete.”

“
I agree.”

Silence.

Daisy felt like she was getting to a point but for some reason held back. She waited for Nina to speak, and eventually she did: “Tomorrow's Amy’s birthday. Pete really adores her, Daisy. I was calling… um I know it’s weird but… and Pete wouldn’t ask. He has too much pride, I guess. I wanted to know if he could come. I heard about what happened between you and him in the doctor’s office. I think it’s important… well important for Amy that we try to get past it. So—”

“
Sure. Amy would want him here. You too. It starts at two here at the house. It’s a beach party.”

“
Okay. Thanks.”

“
Nina?”

“
Yes.”

“
Pete’s a good guy, but he has a hard time dealing, you know, with the side of him he doesn’t like, and that’s my fault. I never wanted to change him. I’m glad I didn’t. I saw the way he looks at you and the way you calm him. I think you two are good for each other. I mean it.”

“
Thanks, Daisy. I hope everything works out for you as well.”

Daisy chuckled. “Well I’ll find my way. I always do. Goodnight.”

“
Night.”

Daisy set the phone on its cradle. There was one less stone in her heart. She went upstairs. Aiden had gotten completely naked under her covers, his clothes tossed aside at the foot of the bed. She smiled at him. Amy must have worn him out. She removed her robe and slipped in with him, barely disturbing his sleep. She eased in close to his body warmth. It was so inviting against her weary bones. It had been a helluva day.

He didn’t stir at first and she couldn’t get closer with the way he laid, so she lifted his arm. The action did wake him. His head turned and he frowned, looking around, half-sleep half-awake. When he recognized her, he readily pulled her down to him.

“
You could have kept your underwear on,” she chuckled.

He rolled her over, nuzzling her neck and she laughed. His hands went to hers. pinning her to the bed. She looked up into his green eyes as he fitted himself between her thighs.

“
You surprise me, Daddy dearest,” she joked.

“
I’m sorry about what I said in the doctor’s office."

“
You pissed me off,” she smirked.

“
Yeah, well you can—” his words stuck. He sighed. “Didn’t quite mean to.”

She laughed. “Yes you did.”

He kissed her chin, then underneath, keeping her hands down. “Aiden?”

“
Mmmm.”

“
I don’t want you to change.”

He stopped and looked up at her. “What?”

“
I don’t think you should change out of a sense of obligation or to please me. It won’t work for either of us.”

“
I’m trying to give you what you want.”

“
You’re failing, because you’re not being real with me.”

He studied her for a moment. Daisy touched his hair. “I may be the last woman on earth to say this and mean it, but I think there’s good in you, deep down under all this armor. Amy and I see the real you.”

“
A good boy? Hmmm… been called a lot of things, but never that.”

“
Stop joking. I’m serious. I just want you to stop trying to convince everyone you’re not. That get-them-before-they-get-me attitude may have been necessary in your boxing twenties. It’s kind of sad in your forties.”

“
I’m not forty yet.”

“
Aiden, I’m serious.”

“
Okay.” He lifted and moved over. “I get it, Daisy. Its not as calculated. Just think of it as a nervous tick or something. I don’t sit down and think how I can be a dick.”

“
It’s not that hard, Aiden. To focus on the positive a little and not the negative, just think about what you didn’t have from your father. Think about what you want for Amy.”

He silently stared at the ceiling. She put her hand to his chest and rubbed it. “You’ve got a lot of years of doing it your way. Aren’t you tired of the games? I am. I just want us to be us, and I don’t want you feeling like you have to control our lives to be happy. I kept saying I couldn’t trust you. That’s because you don’t trust me.”

“
I do.”

“
No you don’t. Not really. You didn’t trust my feelings for you. If you did you would have never tried to buy my company and never bought Nina here. You wouldn’t constantly try to throw our relationship in Pete’s face.”

“
We have a relationship?”

She smiled. “Trust me. That’s where we start.”

“
I’ll make mistakes.”

“
I’m sure.”

“
I have a temper.”

“
I’ve seen.”

“
I leave the toilet seat up.”

“
Now this is where I draw the line!”

He tickled her, and she laughed, hitting at his chest. He laid his head on her breast. “Tomorrow, it’s over.”

“
Yes. It’s over,” she sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

“
Can I be honest?” he asked.

Daisy smirked, “You can try.”

“
Funny, real cute. Okay, here’s honesty. When you were sick, I kind of tried to put everything in order.”

“
I saw.”

“
Amy scares me. The kid is tough.”

Daisy laughed. “Wonder where she gets that from?”

He lifted his head. “She gets it from you. You’re the only other woman in my life that can make me want to behave.”

He kissed between her breasts.

“
Speaking of behaving.”

He pulled down the sheet and started to lave her nipple with his tongue. Her eyes closed, and she squirmed when his hand cupped her pussy. “Pete’s coming to the party tomorrow.”

All finger play ceased. His head lifted and a frown deeply creased his brow. He stared at her. “Amy would want him here. He’s not a threat to you, Aiden. You know that.”

He sighed and rolled over to his back. Daisy lifted. “I want it all over tomorrow. All of it. The war between you two ends. I won’t waste any energy on the past. And if I have to forgive and forget, you need to try a little as well.”

“
Nothing to forgive. I’m the one.”

“
Aiden.”

“
Right. It’s cool. I’ll be on my best behavior. Besides, I don’t mind showing Petie-boy what… I’ll be cool. I don’t care about him. He stays out of my way, and I’ll stay out of his.”

Daisy saw the twitch to his jaw and heard the strain in his voice. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It would take time. But at least they were nearing a start.

“
So um…can we?” He felt on her curves under the covers.

“
Go to sleep? Sure. I’ve got caterers arriving at ten.” She snuggled him and yawned. “Goodnight.”

He groaned but settled into holding her. It felt right.

****

“
You sure she was okay with this?” Pete asked. The cars arriving were mostly of parents bringing children. He counted about ten. Nina reached to the backseat and got the present she wrapped. “She wanted you to be there. Besides, it would be easier when the call comes in. Right?”

“
You did this for me.”

“
Remember what I said, Pete. This is it.”

“
I remember, babe.” He kissed her hand.

They got out of the car and headed up the walk. The sound of music and laughter could be heard when they walked inside. Pete held her hand, speaking to a few people. It was a mixed crowd that lingered in the corners. The back of the beach house was where the festivities were.

“
Pete. Nina,” Daisy said walking straight for them. She looked refreshed and happy to see them. In a peach sundress, her hair was curled but pushed from her face with a matching headband. She gestured for them to come inside, stopping to introduce parents from the school, also Amy’s teacher.