Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (74 page)

“
I am proud of you, baby. You done good for yourself here. Your own business, everything. You did real good.”

“
Thank you, mama.”

“
Promise me. Promise me that you will always put Amy and yourself first. That you won’t ever forget who you are and what we believe in. Promise that you’ll get that man on his knees into a church,” Martha smiled. “You’re the best of me, Daisy. Not the worst. The best. Okay?”

“
Okay,” Daisy sniffed. “I’ma see ya’ll real soon. Mama, you’ll love Aiden. You wait and see.”

“
Yeah, grandma. You’ll love daddy. He does magic,” Amy joined in innocently.

Martha wiped at her tears. She and Daisy chuckled at Amy’s proclamation. “Who I love is you, my gummy bear. Give me a kiss.”

Amy hugged her neck tightly. Daisy could see her sister’s faces all pressed to the airplane windows watching.

“
I’ll call you when we get there,” Martha said, reluctant to let Amy go.

“
Okay. Okay,” Daisy said. She reached for Amy’s hand. Together they watched her mother go up the steps, then inside. The pilot was the last. She stepped back as the plane began to taxi along the runway. Having made it to the hanger once the Cessna picked up speed, the sonic blast of the engines made their ears pop. It shot like a rocket into the clouds and Daisy felt an immediate sense of loss to see them go. But that did nothing to replace the joy she felt.

“
Mama, where is daddy? He coming next?”

Daisy smiled down at her. “Yes baby. He’s coming soon. Let’s go.”

****

“
You changed the locks to the apartment?” Pete asked.

“
Of course not,” Nina said. She hugged herself at the doors of the hospital. Two paramedics she knew walked past. One that had asked her out several times before, took a slower walk, waiting to catch her eye and give her a sly smile.

“
Hi, Nina,” he said, ignoring Pete altogether.

“
Hi, Dexter,” she answered.

Pete doubled back at the gall, shooting the man a challenging glare that packed several seconds with tension before Dexter slipped inside. “Who the hell was that?”

“
Who?”

“
That dude ogling you.”

Nina sighed, “I think you should stay with your mother. I need some space.”

“
Don’t do that, Nina. We can’t work it out if we’re apart. I don’t want to be away from you.”

“
It’s not about what you want anymore, Pete. It’s about what I need for once. I need some distance. I get so caught up in my feelings for you. I just have to get my head right.”

“
You don’t have to fight us. I won’t hurt you. Not again. I swear it.”

“
I know you mean it.”

“
I do. Second chances. We both deserve one here.”

Nina looked away. “I want you to stay with your mother.”

Her head turned to see Dexter and Milo at the nurses cubicle for admittance, staring. Especially Dexter. “Oh, Pete, stop it. I don’t want anybody else, and you know it.”

“
That don’t change the way he’s looking at you.”

“
Are you kidding? You jealous? After years of me walking in Daisy's shadow, you got the nerve to be jealous!”

“
Damn right I’m jealous. I know how special you are. I’m not letting you go.” He touched her cheek, then held both and drew her face up to his to give a kiss. She put her hands to his arms to stop it, but it was brief. Didn’t last as long as she liked and the release filled her with so much renewed strength.

“
I’ll see you soon,” he smiled weakly and then let her go. Nina watched. She had to admit seeing him jealous of Dexter was an ego boost. But more importantly, seeing him period and hearing his vow to be with her felt right. Then she realized her request for him to give her space went totally unheard.

“
Pete, I’m serious! I need space!”

He threw up his hand and kept going. Nina chewed on her bottom lip, turned and went back to work.

****

Daisy helped Amy out of the tub.

“
And grandma said that I can ride a horsie in Bentucky.”

“
Kentucky.”

“
She said my granddaddy had a horsie.”

“
He did, once.”

“
She said I can go to church with her.”

“
I’m sure you will.”

“
She said that I’m her baby.”

“
You are.”

“
She let me brush her hair too.”

“
She did?”

“
Mmhmm… she said I not to paint my toes no more. To tell you not to put polish on them, mommy.”

“
I see.”

“
She said—”

Daisy went on agreeing to all her pronouncements about what grandma said, trying to get Amy into her panties and nightdress. By the time she completed the task, she already had a cramp in the back of her thighs and lower back. She rose with the assistance of the sink, hearing the doorbell.

“
Go to your room. Okay, baby?” she said, walking out of the bathroom, hand to back, going to the window in her bedroom.

“
Can’t I watch TV in your bed, mommy?”

Daisy pulled down the blind. A limo parked out front brought a smile to her face. “No, sweetie. Go to your room, okay?”

“
Aw!”

“
On second thought, come with mommy.” She took hold of Amy’s hand and led her out of the room and down the hall. She thought
he
was still in Vegas. He said it was an important night. Evidently, nothing was more important than them.

The unanswered bell’s chimes soon turned to several knocks at the door.

“
Who is it, mommy?”

Down the stairs they went with her carefully holding Amy’s hand, leading her daughter’s steps. “Guess?”

“
Daddy?”

Daisy laughed. She opened the door with Amy jumping at her side like a spring. It was Aiden, who looked at her then down at Amy with a brow raised.

“
Dadddeeee!!” Amy squealed.

He reached for her first, lifting her up into his arm as if she weighed a pound.

“
I thought you were coming in the morning.”

Aiden winked at her and walked in. Amy riding high in his arms grinned so wide her cheeks puffed and her eyes were almost shut. “What took you so long?”

“
Sorry, peanut. I wanted to get here sooner.”

“
Guess what! Guess what!”

“
What?” Aiden said sitting on the sofa positioning her on his lap.

“
I got two daddies! Two!” She held up two fingers.

Aiden looked to Daisy. She walked over. She wanted to get close as well. There was nothing better than his attention. He opened his arm and pulled her under so he could hold them both. “That’s great, peanut. You're one lucky girl.”

“
I know it! Be right back!” She wiggled off his lap and ran for the stairs, but stopped. “Don’t go anywhere, Daddy. Promise?”

“
I promise.”

Daisy slipped her arm around his waist throwing her leg over his, half perched on his lap and snuggling him. “I was so hoping you’d change your mind and come home.”

“
Home huh?”

“
I told you, mi casa es su casa,” she purred.

“
I have something to tell you.”

Her head lifted. “What, you bought the whole block to keep me all to yourself? Got a plane in the sky writing how much you love me?” she smiled.

“
No. Donovan is dead.”

Daisy's giggles died in her throat. She drew back. Aiden gave her a hard stare. She hadn’t noticed the fatigued sadness in his eyes until then. She was so happy to see him. “Dead? How? What did you do?” she asked.

“
You think I did it?”

“
No, baby. I didn’t mean it that way. Of course not. You… um… would never.”

“
Well, you’re right, “ he said, dropping his head back.

“
I am?”

“
He had a heart attack. Apparently he had an ongoing condition that I didn’t know about. We got into it and he… it took it him out.”

“
Oh Aiden, I’m so sorry. Is that why you were calling me? Why I couldn’t reach you?” She moved over on his lap, kissing his face. “You okay, baby?”

“
No. I’m not.” He didn't respond to her touch. He sat forward, face to hands, shoulders slumped. “He betrayed me. He was like a father to me and he betrayed me. Daisy, there’s more.”

“
Daddy! Here it is!”

Daisy quickly corrected her position, pulling down her sundress. Amy ran straight for him with his golden coin in her hand. “See? I got it. You do me a trick, okay?”

“
Amy, baby, why don’t we go back upstairs and Daddy can come up later.”

“
No, it’s okay.” Aiden reached for the coin. He studied it. She too stared at the shine as he rubbed it between two fingers. She remembered the first time she saw it. That night in the booth. Before she approached him, she saw it rolling over his fingers. He gave her that coin as a token of his heart. He worked it the same way and then made it disappear. Amy squealed. Daisy ran her hand down his back, smiling. Then came the finale, its reappearance from behind her daughter’s ear.

“
Mama! Did you see him do it? Did you!”

“
I did, baby.”

“
Guess I never knew what this coin would mean for me… for us…what it would bring me,” Aiden said, pressing it into Amy’s hand and closing it. “I want you to keep it safe, okay? It’s yours now.”

“
I know it,” Amy said giggling.

Daisy rolled her eyes. “How about a thank you, Amy?”

“
Thank you, daddy.” She rushed him, between his legs, holding his neck. “I love you.”

“
Ditto, princess.”

“
Why don’t you take her upstairs and put her to bed. Read a story. I can fix you something to eat.”

“
Ooooh! Please!! C’mon!” Amy pulled at his hand.

He hesitated.

“
You okay?” Daisy asked.

He nodded and sighed, rising. Picking up Amy, he gave her a look. She couldn’t tell if it was grief or relief. Something un-nameable was in his eyes.

“
Nite, mommy!”

“
Nite, baby. Meet me in the kitchen,” she said to Aiden.

He gestured, acknowledging her offer. Amy, riding in his arms, peeking over his shoulder, waved good night, grinning. Daisy didn’t know what to think of Donovan’s death. She admittedly didn’t like the man. But it was evident that he meant a lot to Aiden.

****

Nina fiddled with her keys. She had to put in some extra time. Bea was all over her thanks to the days she took for her extended vacation in California. Add that to the tiredness settling in her bones and she was beat. Finally, she turned the lock. It gave a soft click and release before she pushed the door open.

The place was crammed with flowers. Everywhere. Baby blue and pink roses. Balloons the shapes of Storks carrying baby bundles in their long beaks, or loud explosive lettering reading: IT’S A BOY! Nina covered her mouth, smiling. “What in the world?”

She walked inside and closed the door behind her. Her eyes scanned to the banner, a long strip with block letters written by hand: PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME GO AWAY.

Then he came from the back room, hands in the front of his pockets. He didn’t look as confident or cocky as she knew he could be. Pete looked as vulnerable as she felt. “Hey. Been missing you, babe. Forgive me. Or at least don’t make me go away. Okay?”