Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (30 page)

“
I’m not with him, Pete. It’s not what you think.”

“
You’re sleeping with him.”

“
And who are you sleeping with, Pete?” she shot back. He tensed, realizing he was jealous of her and Aiden, over her choosing him. He had to let her go. “Doesn’t matter, Daisy. All I want to do now is find out if Amy is mine.”

“
Okay. That’s why I called. I’ll arrange to have the test done.”

“
When?”

“
Soon.”

“
Tomorrow?”

She didn’t answer. Pete chewed on his bottom lip. “What are you stalling for, Daisy? Don’t you want to know?”

“
No,” she said and he could hear the sob in her voice. “No, I don’t want to know. I don’t want her hurt. Can’t you understand that? I’m scared, Pete. I’m scared I’ll do something or I’ve done something that could hurt her. I just can’t… she’s my baby. I want it to stay that way.”

“
What do you think will happen? That her father will exercise his right to be part of her life, because that’s exactly what would happen, Daisy. You can’t be that selfish to think that either of us would walk away from Amy.”

“
I suppose not. But don’t you have a life in Hollow Creek now?”

“
That’s beside the point!” his voice boomed, and he quickly reigned it back in. “It doesn’t matter what my life is. If she’s mine, that changes. You and I… what we had… it’s done. I know it. I feel it,” he admitted. “But that little girl, she’s a part of me. I can feel that too. I deserve the chance you robbed me of years ago.”

He hit her low and expected her to swing back.

“
You’re right,” she sighed instead.

Pete closed his eyes and exhaled. He rubbed his brow. “Can I see her? Tomorrow?” he asked, suppressing the need to comfort Daisy. Refusing to even consider her tears or suffering, he was more interested in Amy.

“
Not here. I’ll meet you somewhere. There’s a park, Mango Branch… it’s downtown. Can you meet us there around one tomorrow? I’ll bring Amy.”

“
Yeah, I can.”

“
Are you okay? Hurt?” she asked.

“
I’ll live.”

Again a pause. A longer one. It seemed like neither could cross it. He shifted in pain with a deep grunt. He heard her fiddling with the phone as well. That was the most of it. Finally he did speak. “Are you okay? I’ll pay for the damages.”

“
Yeah, Pete, I am. I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. I got it.”

“
About what I said, calling you a whore.”

“
It’s okay. You’ve been pretty clear about what you think of me.”

“
It’s not you, Daisy. None of it is your burden alone, you know? I mean, well not alone… I did just as much. I came here because… I came to tell you that, and—”

“
And to reclaim your pride,” she interjected. “I get it, Pete. Thing is, you have more pride than you admit to. It’s why you can’t stop this anger; the way you punish yourself and me. You don’t want me, Pete. You want what you think you lost in Vegas. Out of the three of us, you were the only one that fought for your soul. Don’t you know that? I admire you. I always have. Things are always so simple with you. So black and white… none of the grey.”

“
And with you things are always full of color, Daisy. It’s what I loved about you; the way you opened my eyes to so much.”

“
Maybe, but I was always searching for something; something bigger than me and you. I just didn’t know it would be my becoming a mother.”

“
She’s a beautiful little girl. Green eyes?” he said, knowing that it was a trait in his family to have blue, but still wondering if that was a sign she was his. “When I saw her Daisy, I knew. She’s mine.”

“
I can’t say that for sure. I did sleep with Aiden without protection.”

“
Doesn’t matter. What we shared was special once.” Pete caught himself. “Doesn’t matter. A man knows his child. She’s mine.”

“
Then let’s agree to be civil until we figure this out. Let go of a little of our anger and pride. Stop with the guilt, okay? I just don’t think it’s about you and me anymore. It stopped being after that night. We can’t go back.”

“
Yeah, I get that,” he said, closing his eyes.

“
We were good once, in our own way. You were my best friend, Pete. You gave me my dreams, took me from the Hollow.”

“
We should have never left,” he mumbled.

“
No, Pete. You should have never left. Hollow Creek is home for you. When this is over, you should go back.”

“
Not if she’s mine. I can’t leave her. I won’t.” He didn’t realize his conviction over it until he said it. He wasn’t going to leave her behind. If Hollow Creek was home, then it would be Amy’s home too. He was certain of it.

“
My family?” Daisy asked, “How’s my family? My sisters? Were you um… there? The funeral, I mean?”

“
Yeah, your father wanted me to be a pallbearer.”

“
He did?” He heard her take a breath. Pete gave a pained smile. “Yeah, said he thought it would bring us together somehow.”

“
He said that?”

“
Yeah.”

He could hear her smile through the phone. “And mama, do you know if she’s okay? Janette, Denise… did you see any of them?”

“
They were holding on. Your mom, well she’s taking it hard, I heard.”

Daisy sighed. "I figured as much."

“
You should go home, Daisy. They need to see you and hear from you. There’s no need, and if Amy is mine. Maybe you should consider returning to Hollow Creek.”

She didn’t say anything more. Pete lifted, his back killing him now. His shirt was wet and sticky with sweat and specs of blood. It seeped through and stained the comforter. “Tomorrow at one,” he breathed, realizing he’d have to take care of himself.

“
Tomorrow at one. Bye,” she said and clicked off.

“
Bye,” he said to disconnected line. He placed the phone back on the receiver and wiped his hand down his face. All day he tried to call Nina. If she had seen him today and if she’d heard him, what would she think? He had to get his act together, and soon, or he’d lose it all. He felt that.

****

Aiden looked up from his drink. He sat in the hotel lobby near the front by the glass walls, waiting. Donovan moved smoothly on his cane. His eyes focused on him. The call he placed to his friend was an urgent one. He needed immediate action.

“
What happened to you?” Donovan asked, looking at his pasty skin and the dark circles under his eyes. He realized in that moment that besides booze, he hadn’t eaten. “I’m fine. Sit down.”

He did.

“
I need you in Hollow Creek. Tonight, now.”

“
Wha—”

“
Pete’s girlfriend. Find her, and bring her here.”

“
Wait—”

“
I want Pete gone. It’s time for Daisy to know she exists, so he can stop playing the victim!”

“
Aiden!” Donovan snapped. “This has gone too far. Buying her company and going to the kid’s school is over the top. Look at you! We have business to attend to and you’re letting yourself go mad. If you’re worried about becoming your father, then take a look in the mirror, friend. You don’t let her go and that madness, his madness, is yours.”

“
Don’t you ever! Ever! Say that to me!” Aiden yelled.

The hotel clerk and concierge looked over, alarmed. Aiden shook with fury. “Don’t you ever—”

Donovan sighed. “I helped you because I thought it was love. But it’s not. She doesn’t want you and you can’t force her. Go after Pete’s girlfriend and you play into his hands. Have the test, then decide.”

“
I want him gone! Get the girlfriend here. Give her money or whatever she wants. Just do it.”

“
And then what? What if after it is all said and done the kid isn’t yours? What if we are both wrong? Does it end there?”

Aiden drew back. “She’s mine. I... I feel it. She’s mine. And I don’t need Pete here. I have to figure it out. Just get the fucking girlfriend here!”

He rose, but Donovan put up his cane blocking him. He couldn’t believe the gall. He glared at him, exhausted but ready.

“
If the kid isn’t yours and Daisy wants Pete, you let it go, Aiden. You have a life you built from nothing. Don’t let this woman take you down, because if you stop and look at what you’re becoming, you will see what she’s doing to you.”

Aiden stepped away. He felt like every eye in the lobby was on him. He walked briskly to the elevator and pounded on the button until the doors opened. He went inside and waited for the doors to close before he let out another breath. Dropping his head back on the mirrored wall, he let the first tear fall, alone, where no one could see.

Chapter Thirteen

It was not a good morning. First came Magdalena's call. She apologized and explained her absence. Apparently, her sister's recovery would take more time than she initially thought. Daisy learned it would be at least another four weeks. Four weeks! After the worry settled in, Daisy realized there was no need to be too stressed over this development. Having Magdalena there with Aiden’s unpredictable nature and Pete’s mission to claim what is his would just further complicate things. Still, Maggie, as she sometimes called her, had kept her grounded. She was a surrogate mother to give her sage advice on a child that tested every boundary she could from the moment she took her first step.

Before Daisy rolled out of bed, the second news of the day was delivered. Jeffery called and informed her that she would have to take legal action against Clara to keep her from laying claim to her shares of Jahi. It appears Clara Andrews's greed knew no bounds; she wanted to be bought out. The crafty bitch hadn't sold all her shares to Aiden Keane. Daisy's plan to sell the spa and run with Amy was thwarted. She wouldn't dare risk the exposure to her own crimes of fraud. For a brief moment, she considered calling Aiden and demanding he fix the mess he created. But Daisy knew better. Aiden would just use this to indebt her. She was trapped.

She should have stayed in bed.

“
I don’t like eggs.”

Daisy drew away from her running thoughts at the proclamation from her daughter. Amy stood there glaring at the stove. Her little face pinched in disgust.

“
Since when? You love eggs. Maggie makes them for you on Sunday mornings.”

“
Your eggs taste funny,” Amy protested. Daisy looked to the skillet. She added a little milk and didn’t scramble them as hard as Magdalena. Daisy could only smile at her daughter's observation.

“
Where’s my Maggie?”

“
It’s mommy this morning. Mommy’s cooking for you.”

“
I want cereal then.” Amy pointed to the top of the fridge. Tucked between Raisin Bran and a tin of oatmeal was a box of Cocoa-Puffs.

“
Cereal?” Daisy’s eyes lowered to the breakfast she worked with care: pancakes, eggs and bacon. Usually, it was her child’s delight. Now little Ms. Sunshine wanted cereal. Turning down the gas flame under the skillet, she moved the frying pan to a cool eye on the stove. She wiped her hands on the dishtowel hanging from the door of the stove. “Fine, cereal. Go sit.”

But Amy didn’t move. She stood there staring after her mother. At first, Daisy barely noticed. She went around the kitchen island, equipped with a sink and hanging pots above on an iron rack. Her focus was trained on the cabinets near the refrigerator where she located her daughter’s favorite bowl. Yellow with pink flowers, it had a straw out of the side for her to sip milk turned chocolate from her cocoa-puffs. When Daisy turned from the fridge, she nearly stepped on her.

“
Amy, I told you to go sit down.”

“
Will he come back?”

“
Who?”

“
Daddy?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. “Will he come to play with me? I didn’t get to ask him, mommy. He left and didn’t say bye.”

Daisy frowned. They had the 'daddy conversation' after Aiden left and had it once more when she tucked her in bed. Once again, Amy picked at the same wound. She stood before her in bare feet dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of pajama shorts she put on backwards when she got out of bed. Daisy wanted to hug her. She wanted to cry and hold her until all the questions and lies slipped away. She was as confused and lost as her daughter.