Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (67 page)

“
Pete!” Amy exclaimed. She got up from her knees and opened pages of coloring books to run through the living area to him. Suddenly, things didn’t feel as bad. He knelt to catch her as she reached and leapt at him. Her little body of warmth up against his made him smile. To his delight, she hugged his neck and kissed his cheek. Just like her mother, she was a complete charmer.

“
I’m so glad you here,” Amy shouted. “Did you bring the freebee?”

Pete chuckled. “No blossom, I didn’t. Hope that’s okay?”

“
That’s okay. My grandma is cooking dinner. She said she knows how to make McDonalds. I don’t believe her though.”

He lowered Amy, swallowing his grin. Janette, seated on the sofa with Sandra next to her, gave him a welcoming smile. Daisy’s mother came out of the kitchen, hands in the front of her apron. “Pete, I’m so glad you came.” She walked straight over and greeted him warmly. “Where’s Nina?” She looked beyond him.

“
She had to get back home.”

“
We all do,” Sandra grumbled.

Pete looked away from Martha Johnson’s questioning eyes. Amy took his hand and pulled him along. “Come to my room. I wanna show you something.”

He looked back at the Johnson women who indicated he should go, so he allowed Amy to lead him upstairs.

****

“
When is Daisy coming home?” Sandra huffed.

“
Stop it, Sandy,” Denise said.

“
It’s true. She should be here. Her daughter meets her father and she’s off doing God knows what.” Martha threw her hand up.

“
Daisy already introduced Amy to Pete, mama; this isn’t the first time they met,” Janette added.

“
You know what I mean.”

“
Would you all just cool it?” Denise said. “C’mon. She’s the one that called and asked that he come over. She’s doing good with all of this.”

“
She's doing what she always does. Thinking about her self first,” Martha snorted.

Janette shook her head and Sandra rolled her eyes. Denise was the only one to follow Martha back into the kitchen. “Mama.”

“
What?”

“
Don’t you say anything to Amy. Do you hear me?”

Martha didn’t answer, stunned to hear Denise so in defense of her sister.

“
Do you hear me, mama? Daisy and Pete will tell her about her father. Not you. Don’t interfere.”

“
Loving my children is interfering?” Martha slammed a pot down. She whirled on Denise with raw hurt in her heart. “I raised you girls better than this. Your father deserves better than this! Daisy has to put that baby first. Always! For her to not be here, well I just thank God Pete is the father. If she wants to run off to Sodom with Aiden Keane, then maybe it’s best she give Amy to us.”

“
Mama!”

“
Pete is in Hollow Creek, and I don’t have anybody in that house now. I could take Amy, raise her and keep her safe.”

“
Stop it. First you want to chase Daisy from our lives and then when we find her, you want to control her again. Now this. You’re pushing too hard. It’s her life. That little girl is hers. We won’t make it worse, and you won’t go to Pete with these ideas. Promise me. Promise!”

“
I will do no such thing. I will do whatever has to be done to keep this family together and that evil man out of it!”

****

“
It’s my favorite. Daddy and I watch it.” She handed him the DVD.

He eyed the cover. “Barbie Cinderella story?”

“
Yes,” Amy grinned. “Daddy said he was going to buy me more of them. As many as I want,” she beamed.

Pete looked at her and smiled. “Did he?”

“
Yep, and he said he gonna buy me a cooker to make me cereal whenever I want. And he like nuggets too,” Amy grinned.

“
Sounds like he plans to
buy
you a lot of things.”

“
Yep,” Amy nodded.

Pete sat the movie down. He reached for Amy’s hand and kissed her tiny knuckles. “I—” he stalled on the words. “I really want to get to know you, things for just you and me. Anything we can do that no one else does?”

Amy’s eyes stretched. She turned and pointed. “Yes! I got it for my birthday. Can you fix it? Mama said she would, but she not here.”

He followed her point to a large dollhouse. How she’d manage to cram another toy in this room was beyond him. The dollhouse, equipped with an elevator, was still sealed in its box. Pete rose and walked over to it. “I’ll put it together if you’ll help. How’s that?”

Amy clapped her hands. “I can do it, Pete.”

“
I know you can.”

****

Daisy drank and savored the soured taste of the Merlot. She was gorged on lobster, steak, pasta, salad, everything. She burped and blushed, looking around. Dinner was great until someone showed up with a briefcase, and he and Aiden went into another room. When alone, she finished off her meal and part of his.

Pushing back from the table, she walked over to the windows and stared out at the desert night. No stars. Not in the sky anyway. They existed in the trillion flashing, blinking, twinkling lights below. The streets were packed with traffic.

Soon, she was a little homesick for Mango Grove. She loved him, but she wasn’t necessarily in love with all this. Her life had changed. Daisy loved living in a small community where she drove her daughter to school and built sand castles with her by the ocean. Amy’s well-being and nurturing had shifted her priorities and created a new home for them both. What was next? Would he want her to move here with Amy, live out of his suite in the Shamrock?

“
Daisy?”

Aiden appeared in his black robe and pajama pants, his hands in the pockets. His gemstone eyes seemed especially clear and earnest. Whoever the visitor was, she only got a glimpse, had escaped as discreetly as he had arrived. Daisy smiled. “You conducting business on my time, mister?” she joked.

“
Couldn’t be helped.”

“
Is he gone?”

“
He’s gone.”

She walked over to him, her bare feet across the cool floor chilling her. Damn hotel always stayed cold. She put her arms around his neck. “Dinner is done. How about we go back to bed. I want to get on top again while you feed me kiwi.”

He chuckled, patting her backside. “In a minute. Come with me.”

Together they walked through his suite into the room where he relaxed most. She sat down on the sectional sofa with him standing before her. He got down on his knee and took her hand. “It’s going to take me time to get it right.”

“
It’s not about getting it right, Aiden,” she said, and he understood

“
What I mean to say is you make me feel… you know what I mean.”

“
Happy? Sexed out? What?” she laughed.

Aiden laughed too. She realized how few times she actually heard laughter from him. Chuckles yes, and slick smiles all the time. But never laughter. She liked it when he laughed. It came from some place deep and soulful. “You make me feel whole,” he said, eyes glistening with happiness. He slapped his hand to his bare chest. “Right here is where you fill me up, Daisy.”

“
Aw,” she blushed. Leaning forward, she rewarded him with a soft kiss, holding the sides of his face. “I love you too. You believe me, don’t you? I believe you.”

“
I believe in you, Daisy Johnson. You are quite the woman.” He lifted her hand and checked her fingers. “I want to ask you now, will you, um forever… um me and you?”

Daisy frowned as he stumbled over the words, not noticing the actions with his hand. “What? That makes no sense.”

“
Together, married. Will you marry me?” he said, sliding the diamond over her finger. Her eyes dropped to the glare of the rock. Huge. Pink. A square-cut gem with diamond brackets on either side in a platinum setting was wrapped around her ring finger.

“
Good Lord!” she exclaimed.

“
Soft and pretty, but strong, fierce, just like you.” He kissed her finger. “I saw it, and I thought you’d like it.”

Daisy’s mouth gaped. The thing would cost her entire fortune. She’d never imagined something as extravagant. Well, yes, she imagined it, but she didn’t consider it a possibility. It was remarkable. “I thought we agreed to… to wait?”

“
That’s what engagements are for, right?” he said with a nervous reply.

She looked away from the diamond to him kneeling. He looked pale. His eyes reflected his moment of bashful, nervous humility. She had to smile at how hard he struggled. “It’s beautiful. It’s a dream. So are you. My secret dream.” She got down on her knees with him, hugging his neck as he held her close. “I will marry you, Aiden Keane and make you a couple of babies too,” she grinned.

“
No worries. I took care of that out on the beach, my little insurance policy,” he winked.

She laughed and he brought her down with him on the floor. Daisy sat on his chest staring at the ring. “I can’t wear this to the grocery store. The thing is ridiculous! It should be in a museum.”

“
No grocery shopping for you. In fact, you won’t have to do anything domestic anymore. Your life is going to change as soon as you move here,” he said, putting his arms behind his head.

“
Change how?”

“
Change in every way.”

Daisy's gaze returned to the diamond then shyly over to Aiden. “Sweetheart, we have some things to work out. I mean I have a business.”

“
I know, and you have one here too. You’ll run my spas in our hotels. I’ve already arranged it.”

“
Aiden, that’s not—”

“
We can get someone to actually run them, Daisy. You can decorate or do what you do.”

“
What the hell does that mean?”

Aiden frowned. “What? What did I say?”

She rose from his lap. “I’m not a decorator. I’m a businesswoman. In fact, I’m very successful. It’s why you tried to buy me out!”

He smirked. “I tried to buy you out because I
wanted
you. Your business was just a means. I mean it’s a good business, sweetheart. Fuck, don't look at me like that. I didn't mean it the way it sounds.”

“
Asshole!” she turned and stormed off.

“
Daisy, it was a joke.” She heard him call after her as she marched through the overpriced suite for the room, fuming.

****

“
So, Pete, Sister Patterson at church says that you and Nina broke up.” Martha announced across the table to the silence of everyone. Amy grinned at him. Pete returned his gaze to Martha.

“
That’s not true.”

“
Ma. What kind of question is that? Nina was here. You saw her.”

“
She’s gone now,” Martha shrugged. “And to be honest, Pete and Daisy go way back.”

“
Where they go back to, Grandma?” Amy asked.

“
Hush. Eat,” Denise said. She forced peas back on her fork and directed Amy to eat.

Martha smiled at Amy. “Pete was your mommy's first love. They were boyfriend and girlfriend in school.”

“
Stop it, ma,” Janette warned.

“
Eww, that’s nasty,” Amy frowned. “You and mama kissed?”

Pete winked at her. “You won’t think it’s nasty when you’re older.”

“
Much, much, much older,” Sandra said, pointing her fork at Amy with a warning she couldn’t grasp.

“
They were going to get married,” Martha tossed out.

“
Momma! Stop it!” Denise snapped.

“
Mrs. Johnson, can I speak to you, alone?” he asked.