Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (70 page)

“
Oh my lord!” Sandra exclaimed, pushing Denise aside. Janette appeared out of the kitchen just in time to witness Sandra attack Daisy's hand. Denise’s eyes bulged in their sockets as both sisters hovered. The gem truly gave a new meaning to the word
bling
. It shined so bright that it actually seemed to grow on her finger.

“
Girl, what is this?”

“
You know what it is!” Denise said, snatching her hand.

“
What’s going on?” Janette asked.

“
I’m engaged. Aiden and I are getting married,” Daisy announced.

“
What?” Martha Johnson asked from behind them. Her sister's heads turned. Martha appeared, holding Amy’s hand, the color drained from her face. Daisy pulled free of Denise. She stepped through her sisters. Her mother’s eyes, glued to her ring finger, seem to mist over with tears in an instant.

“
Mama, I’m going to get married. Aiden and me. Things are… good. He proposed.”

Martha released Amy’s hand. She looked from one daughter to the next, all smiling faces. She stepped back and then turned away. Daisy hurried after her. “Ma, wait.” She touched her arm.

"Did you hear me? I said—”

“
I heard you,” Martha snapped. The look she gave Daisy made her hand drop away.

“
He proposed.”

“
C’mere!” Martha grabbed her by the hand. She tugged hard, leading her through the living room away from those watching. Denise had to take hold of Amy to keep her from following. They went into the kitchen. A breakfast was prepared that they’d have to miss. Her mom walked ahead with hands to her hair. “You said yes?”

“
Of course I said yes. We talked about this. I told you. I love him.”

“
Do you hear yourself?” Martha put her hands to her face. Daisy couldn’t hide her disappointment. She glared back at her mother. She just knew that this would finally bridge the gap of forgiveness between them. That her mother refused to look at her with understanding, maybe a little pride, was still puzzling to Daisy.

“
Mom.”

“
Why? Why! Is money that important to you? Don’t you understand what that man is? Haven’t you lost enough? You lost Pete!”

“
Alright, that’s enough.”

“
You lost your father! You lost your life! And if you let him continue to suck away what I’ve prayed over you, then what will you have? You have a lot more to lose now, Daisy. A daughter. That little girl needs her mother to put her first. What would you do if she bought home a demon like Aiden Keane, because she might… she might!”

“
Oh stop it!” Daisy yelled. “That’s enough. I mean it!”

Martha wept. “You don’t want anything better than this, do you? What I’ve been saying to you these past days meant nothing! There’s nothing I can do!”

“
Yes there is. You can stop blaming me for your mistakes, mama! He’s my demon as you call him, not yours. I’m sick of this.”

“
What are you talking about?”

Daisy bit back her tears. “Forget it, there’s no point in bringing it up.”

“
No, speak your mind. You show so little respect for me. Don’t try to now.”

“
Not true, mama.”

“
Say it.”

“
Fine. I know.”

“
What do you know?”

“
Your past! Okay? What you did. Running away from home with that white man, his going to jail and all the rest! You keep looking at my life and comparing it to yours. Blaming me, but the truth is it was you mama that was blind. Not me. I know what I’m doing.”

Martha touched her throat. She lowered her eyes and then looked away.

“
Mama, I don’t want to fight. I’m sorry, okay?”

“
No. You’re right. I did those things and a few things you don’t know about. Made mistakes, Daisy. Big mistakes. I probably told myself all the things you tell yourself. But at the end of it all, sweetheart, all you have is what you tell yourself. So why don’t you start with the truth? Is Aiden Keane really a man that you want to give your heart too? Is he?”

Daisy tossed her chin upward and locked eyes with her mother. “Yes.”

“
Really. He’s the one?”

“
Yes, mama. He is. He’s my choice. I love him. And not just the good part of him that no one thinks exist.” Daisy stretched her eyes “It’s there too. But even, still, I love the bad part too. Cause he loves me, Jezebel and all. That’s what you and daddy taught me. How love works, mom. No judgment, no restrictions. It just is.”

Martha softened her tone, “I see your happiness, baby, but I see the pain too. That man hurt you.”

“
We hurt each other.”

“
He’s not Amy’s father.”

“
He will be when we get married.”

“
Oh, Daisy!”

“
Mama, he’s the one I want! Point blank.”

Martha put her hands to her eyes. “I just want to save you pain. If I had done more and said more, Charles wouldn’t have died missing you. I should have taught you the difference between real love and those false feelings a man can give you when he's so full of lust and the world to know any better. Sweetheart, learn from my mistakes.”

“
Then teach me, talk to me. Do more.”

Martha looked up.

Daisy took her mother’s hand. “Do more now. Be there for me now. It’s what I need. I need you, mama. Whatever you suffered in the past, is your pain not mine. Aiden Keane is not the man that hurt you.”

“
Charles loved you so much, and I do too.”

“
I can’t change what happened with daddy. If I could, I would. I miss him too. So much.”

Martha sniffed. She looked to her hand and lifted it to inspect the ring from all sides. “The thing is gaudy, but nice.” She half smiled.

Daisy returned the smile. “It’s my bling."

Martha laughed, sniffing back her tears. “Yes, it blings.”

“
I love you, ma, so much.”

“
I love you too.” She hugged her. “So very, very much.”

“
Okay, I have to get dressed. Pete will be here soon.”

“
You’re going to tell her? Today? Now?”

“
Yes, we’ll take her to her favorite restaurant and do it together. Talk to our daughter.”

“
Are you sure? I mean that Pete and you—”

“
Are over, ma? I’m sure. I need to get dressed. You did Amy’s hair. Brings back memories,” Daisy smiled. Martha touched her face. “You’re my special girl and so is Amy. Such a sweet baby. All of you are so special to me. I love you. I’m sorry if I made you feel differently. It’s just that when I look at you sometimes, I see myself.”

“
You see the best part of you. Right?” Daisy winked. Martha smiled, shaking her head. “Okay, now I seriously have to get dressed. Be down in a few.”

Daisy hurried out, passing the terrace doors. Denise stood on the deck with Amy. She nearly collided with Janette as she rushed about.

“
Everything okay?”

Daisy waved her finger. “Better than okay. I think I want a church wedding. For everyone in Hollow Creek to see—what you think?”

“
Chile, you’ll shut the Hollow down bringing home Aiden Keane. I think it’s a great idea.”

Daisy smirked. “Let Pete in when he comes!”

Janette watched her go. “Congratulations!”

“
Aw, thanks!”

****

Donovan removed his handkerchief. He dabbed at his brow. Aiden paused. He strolled between empty dealer tables. “I’ve left several messages for you.”

“
I’ve been close.”

“
Bullshit. You skipped out after that little sabotage act of yours. Maxine? Since when do you disclose my personal business?”

“
I can explain that,” Donovan said wiping his brow again.

“
Oh you damn right you’ll explain. That and more.”

“
The games tonight. I’ve arranged the usual.”

“
I don’t give a fuck! You told Daisy about Maxine. In fact, you told her to leave.”

“
You and I both know that I handle things. All things! But that matter seems to be settled. Let's just conduct business," Donovan wheezed, finding a chair to sit. “There's other matters to tend to than your love life.”

“
Really? Then you should have been fucking tending to it! You crossed the line, old man.”

“
I did what I always do, Aiden.”

“
That’s right. You
always
take care of things. Like Daisy for instance.” Aiden stopped at a poker table; his fingers tapped the green-carpeted table, his eyes piercing, watchful. “Five years to find her, five years?”

“
Five years of you obsessing,” Donovan corrected.

“
Right,” Aiden chuckled. “I’ve been obsessing, and you’ve been the sanity in my madness. Constantly telling me to move on.”

“
For your own good.” Donovan sipped at the air in a low hiss. He winced as if in pain, wiping again at his brow. Aiden observed his actions and found them strange. “I-I was the one that found her, Aiden, or have you forgotten? I was the one that told you about the kid. I was the one that made sure everything you wanted went down your way!”

“
My way? You damn right it goes down my way! What the hell do you think I pay you for? Everything you ever done came with its rewards.”

“
What I do, I do for more than money. You're a son to me.”

“
You’re not my fucking father, Donovan! You’re my fucking lawyer. Or you were.”

Donovan pressed his hanky to his face. “What does that mean? You can’t possibly be threatening to fire me. I know where all the bodies are buried, Aiden.”

Aiden smirked, “So now you're threatening me?”

“
Of course not. This is getting out of hand. There is no betrayal between us.”

“
You crossed the line, old man. You know what loyalty means to me.”

“
I’m the most loyal one in your life. That young girl is… trouble.”

“
Stop wagging your tongue.” He leveled a finger at him. “I suggest you tread carefully.”

“
She’s a kid, Aiden! You’re obsessed with her!”

“
The only reason why I haven’t cracked your damn jaw is—”

“
Because I’m telling you the truth.”

“
No. Because this is my fault. Gave you too much liberty. It can be rectified."

“
What have I done that is so against what I do? I do the difficult things. The things you won’t do. No one will. What have I done but try to protect you!” Donovan struggled to rise.

“
Following me?”

He froze. “What?”

“
You heard me. What were you doing at the hospital that day?”

"What day?"

"The day the paternity test results were read."

“
I wasn’t,” Donovan wheezed, having difficulty breathing. He let go his cane and gripped his left arm. “I never—”

“
That’s a lie.”

The doors opened behind him. Aiden’s men walked in, the men that Donovan had called upon at times his self. It was clear their purpose. Donovan looked at him shocked. “Aiden, I didn’t.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes on him. “I checked, Donovan. You had a car take you there that morning, and you returned that afternoon. Same time I was there. Now why would you do that?”

“
It’s not what you think.”

“
Answer me! What fucking games are you playing? Why were you at the hospital?”

“
I-I-I… need help,” Donovan wheezed.