Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (6 page)

Aiden glanced at her. Something in his stare dissolved her smile and made her straighten her posture. Without another word between them, she moved on. Picking up the cigar and planting it between his lips, he again opened the folder before him. Again he flipped through the pictures of Daisy. She was within his reach. He smiled.

****

They hadn't spoken a word on the drive home. Pete watched her as she walked through their place. A tiny apartment consisted of a bedroom, kitchen and living room. He got the impression she needed space. That he understood, because so did he.

“
I’ll be back. Going to pick up something, maybe from the barbeque spot on Milton.”

Nina didn’t respond. Keys in hand, he left. Pete hurried down the sidewalk; head low, he got in his supped up Chevy and raced for the hills of Kentucky. He found the road he used to travel and the tree where he and Daisy parked, all within twenty minutes of his journey. After getting out of the car, he stood there under the large branches staring out at the night. As a place where he was close to her, he felt her most when he was here.

Before –

“
What-chu thinking, babe?” Pete asked, stretched on the blanket. Daisy sat up with her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the stars. “I’m thinking we should go. Just do it.”

“
Do what?” Pete yawned, the three beers making their effect known. He checked his watch. He should get her back before it got risky.

Daisy looked down at him. “Leave Hollow Creek, Pete.”

“
Whaa—”

“
Hear me out. You can’t get into college, and you don’t want to be no grease monkey at your brother’s garage. I can’t stand it here. Daddy wants me to get a job with the mining company. We had a fight about it today.”

“
You and Reverend Johnson? Fighting?”

“
He and momma won’t let up. They’re killing me, Pete. Do you know he already spoke to Mr. Sheffield about it? Some receptionist thing. He makes me sick with his interfering. And mama won’t stand up for me.”

Pete sighed, listening to her go on. Usually, this would blow over, so he hoped. Leaving the Hollow wasn’t something he ever considered. Hell, he loved it there. But Daisy was special, and everybody knew it. Sometimes he feared she’d tire of his simpleton ways for something or someone on another level.

"I can’t do it, Pete. If I stay here, I’ll die. Jessiemae and I were talking.”

“
Here we go,” he grumbled.

She ignored him. “Vegas, Pete. That’s where it’s at. I feel it. We go to Vegas and our luck is going to change. We just need a plan.” She looked down at him. “I love you, sweetie. Don’t you love me? Don’t you want something different?”

It was true. He loved her. Loved her so much it hurt to be away from her. His first love is what she was. Funny, she wanted to talk about this now. His cousin was in town. Got a nice ride and clothes, working out West. Said there was plenty of money to be made in Port Angles. Offered to hook him up. A plan was forming.

“
Yeah, babe, I do,” he said, reaching to touch her face. She lowered and kissed him.

“
Then get me out of here, please.” She rested on his chest. He held her in the night, staring up at the stars.

“
Okay, I promise.”

Pete walked to the front of his car, his hands shoved down in the front pockets of his jeans. He delivered on that promise. Took her from Hollow Creek and lost her still. “Daisy, where are you?”

Chapter Four

Los Angeles, CA

“
Let me look at you,” Donovan said.

He cupped her chin and her face tilted upward. She reminded him of her mother: bright blue eyes and cherry stained lips with hair dark as raven feathers.
Yes, she looks just like his Rebecca, God rest her soul.

“
You ready?”

"I'm so excited, Daddy."

Donovan gave a nod to the chauffeur. His angel slipped inside the awaiting limo. Balancing on his cane, he followed, easing in with care. The cool interior was a welcomed comfort from the hot sunny day, and he intended to make it one she'd enjoy.

“
So lunch, maybe? I’m thinking Spago’s before you burn a whole in my credit card.”

Andria shook her head. An amused smile and the mischief in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Donovan reclined, awaiting the latest on his daughter's heart wish. “What then?”

“
I want to go to
Mango Grove
.”

He blinked. “What?”

“
Mango Grove, Daddy.”

He had six, maybe eight hours to this day before he was in the air heading to Hollow Creek. “Why the Grove, sweetie? Shopping? We can do that on Rodeo.”

“
Nope. Spa! I got us an appointment at Jahi! Can you believe it? Daddy, I’ve been on the waiting list for like six months and they called yesterday. Please… please.”

“
Spa? We can go to—”

“
No, Daddy. It’s much more. It’s Jahi. This place is like the fountain of youth. I swear there’s no other beautification center like it on the planet.

"Beautification center? Is that what they call it today?" Donovan chuckled.

"My friend, Shelia, went with her mother. You know the actress that played in the latest Jack Nicholson movie. That’s her mother. Anyways, they went. Daddy, you would not believe this place, better than anything you and Aiden got in Vegas or Arizona. You just have to let me go.”

Donovan translated the cost of this detour. If tuition didn’t kill him, feeding his Princess’s appetite for the latest trend would keep him working until he was well over 80.

“
Fine.” He pressed the intercom button. “Driver, Mango Grove, to a place called Jahi.”

“
Yes!” Andria leaped on him, arms around his neck, kisses peppered all over his cheek and face.

Donovan shook his head and laughed. “I’m not getting a pedicure, tell you that.”

****

“
Hey, you okay?” Pete asked. He searched her eyes for the truth. The smile she gave was misleading. But he loved her for pretending. Not since Daisy did he ever believe a woman could make him feel as special.

“
I’ve been meaning to talk to you, about, um things.”

“
Daisy,” she said.

Pete held her stare. Nina avoided the subject and so did he. But today, neither would. The likelihood of Daisy's return and his seeing her was at the front of their minds.

“
Yes, Daisy.”

“
You think she will come?”

“
She loved her father. Nothing would keep her away. Not even me.”

“
You blame yourself too much. Daisy isn’t thinking about you. Not on a day like today,” Nina shrugged. This time her eyes were clear and her meaning precise. He almost thanked her for straight talk. He needed to stay focused. Nina adjusted his tie for him, smoothed it flat to his shirt and gave him a genuine smile. He lifted her chin and forced her eyes to return to his.

“
I believe in us," he said. "Do you?”

“
I do.”

“
Then I’m going to need you to trust me. Daisy, well you know the stuff between me and Daisy is kinda unfinished. Right?”

“
I know. I know.”

“
So her coming home is important, because I need to close that door. Set things straight. I have to do this, babe.”

“
Pete, there’s something you should know.”

The phone rang. He kissed her forehead and walked out. Picking up the phone, he turned to see the bathroom door close. “Hello?”

“
Pete, this is Maureen at First Baptist.”

“
Yes, Mrs. Maureen. What can I do for you?” he asked, frowning at the closed door. Nina wanted to say something. What?

“
Son, I was wondering if you were attending the services today. Reverend Johnson’s funeral that is.”

Pete sat on the corner of the bed, his toes curling into the shaggy carpet. Were the Johnson’s uncomfortable with him coming? Was Daisy here and requesting that he stay away?

“
Yes, mam. Nina and I will both be attending.”

“
Bless you. Reverend Johnson was very fond of you. He requested you as a pallbearer. If you aren’t up for the task, there are plenty of men willing.”

“
No. Uh, he wanted me?”

There was a pause. She spoke with a shaky voice, lowered to a whisper. “He had hoped that Daisy would be home if the day ever came, and that it would be a coming together of you two. Of course this was before the accident. Before the good Lord called him home. The Reverend knew his life was in God’s hands, so he was always prepared. In his heart he always believed you were the key to bringing Daisy back to us.”

This was news to Pete. He stayed away from the Johnsons, fearing the blame and accusations in their hearts. On the rare occasions he saw the minister in town, they barely exchanged hellos. Was Maureen embellishing? Why would she? “I… I’m sorry. I don't want to cause any stress to the family.”

“
No, don’t be. Sister Johnson is in no condition to deal with these matters, so I’m handling the arrangements. If you could sit to the front of the church—”

“
You sure?"

"Yes, Pete, please."

"Okay. I’m honored to do it.”

The door opened and Nina emerged, looking at him curiously.

“
Bless you. See you soon.”

“
Thank you.” He hung up.

“
Who was that?” Nina asked.

“
Reverend Johnson wanted me to be a pallbearer. Had it in his will or something… that was the church.”

“
It’s an honor, Pete. I’m not surprised though.”

Pete looked up from the phone in his hand. “Why not?”

Nina approached. “Because he sees what I see.”

She stopped before him, cupping his face in her hands. Standing between his legs, she looked into his eyes. “He sees what a beautiful soul you are. I love you, Peter Doyle, and I know you love me, even if you can’t say it.”

“
Nina—”

“
It’s okay. I know what I signed on for. I want you whole, however we get there.” She swallowed, her eyes glistening with tears that teetered on her long lashes, threatening to spill. “However we get there is okay with me.”

He stood. She stepped into his arms. The embrace was a warm sealing of their bond. She leaned back as if to pull away and he immediately delivered a soft kiss to her full lips, fusing what was real between them and what wasn’t. Pete decided in that moment that together they’d face his past. It would be the only chance they had at having a future.

****

The door opened. Mathew Sterling squeezed his big frame inside the car, bringing with him the pungent odor of his cigarette habit. “It’s done. We have men at the Johnson’s home, the church, the funeral home, and the cemetery. We also have all the limo services in Louisville under our surveillance. If she comes, sir, we’ll know it.”

“
She will come,” Aiden said softly, his gaze drifting back to the condensation running a stream of tears down the tint of the passenger window.

“
Will you be attending the service?” Sterling asked in a shaky voice.

“
No, I won’t intrude. I’ll go to the cemetery.”

Sterling nodded. “Anything else, sir?”

Aiden returned his gaze. "You fuck this up, cost me her in any way, and your days of being a high priced snoop are over. One shot at this, Mr. Sterling. I suggest you make the most of it.”

Sterling swallowed. “Yes, sir.” He threw open the door and stepped out quickly as if Satan himself had the contract to his soul. Aiden dropped his head back on the headrest, finger tapping his knee and his thoughts nowhere and yet everywhere. He wasn't a patient man. Daisy had changed him. He’d find her soon. He felt it. But he had no plan after that. He couldn’t force her to listen to him, couldn’t make her hear him out. Aiden had been so focused on finding her he hadn’t thought anything else through. He needed leverage and something that would bring her to him. At this point, what could he use?