Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (44 page)

Daisy stared at the water bottle. “It hurts, okay? I mean it was over between Pete and me, but for the first nine months I cried every night for him. Cried so hard and so long I didn’t think I could ever stop. I stayed away from home because of the baby I wasn’t sure I could give him. If I was such a bitch, I could have come home and passed Amy off on him. His dumb ass wouldn’t have known the difference!”

“
Daisy!”

“
No! I’m not the only one around here playing games. I mentioned Nina to him and he didn’t mention her to me. Didn’t say a word. Why would he pick her anyway? Marry her? So he bought her a ring? Bet it wasn't that junk he got me from Wal-Mart!”

“
Good Lord.” Janette threw up her hands.

“
I don’t care if they broke up. He made me think that he wanted… that he wanted me,” she sniffed, her nose running and her eyes burning. She didn’t feel good. “Janette, I’m tired of this. I'm tired of being stuck here and unsure of anything or anybody. Not able to trust myself, or them. I’m tired.”

Janette put her arm around her. “That’s fine. You can be tired. But first, you start with healing. Find out who Amy’s father is. Be honest with Pete and Aiden. In other words, baby-girl, grow the hell up. It’s too late for you to turn back now.”

Daisy sniffed again, holding back a sneeze. She had to smile at Janette cursing. Not like her sister at all. Well at the very least, Janette was there. It felt good to talk to someone: to share with someone how she felt, even if it wasn’t what she was supposed to feel. She needed her sisters more than she realized. “I know, Janette. I know. Tomorrow I will have the test done. Hopefully, they can put in the microwave and give it right back. I just want to know who Amy’s father is and be done with this.”

“
Good… now there’s something I have to tell you.”

“
What now?” Daisy sighed.

“
My flight leaves tomorrow. I’ve got to go home.”

“
What?” Daisy shot up. “What do you mean?”

“
Daisy, I didn’t know what I would find when I came here. I booked it already.”

“
I’ll buy you another one. Amy's party is Saturday.”

“
Girl, Charles is coming apart at the seams and it’s barely been 24 hours. I called Sandra and she told me that Mama ain’t doing well.”

Daisy looked away.

“
I think I know how to fix that. I need to go home. We'll come back in time for the party.”

“
We?”

“
I’m bringing mama to meet Amy.”

“
No. No.” Daisy stood up. “Mama doesn’t want to come here. She made that really clear. She doesn’t want to see me. And to be honest, Janette, she won’t understand me having two baby daddies. Please don’t make her hate me any more than she already does!”

“
She doesn’t hate you, Daisy.”

“
She does… she does,” Daisy said, her voice breaking with a sob lodged in her throat.

“
Mama needs you. She needs all of us and more importantly that little girl upstairs needs a real family. I don’t like the way you are surrounded by lies and deceit. That ain’t our way. You got that child in a world of confusion, calling one man daddy and throwing a frisbee with another? She’s a baby, and all I see are a bunch of adults with egos and enough pride to dry up that ocean out there. Doesn’t matter who her daddy is. It shouldn’t matter to those men if they love you and her, and I haven’t heard anybody say that yet.”

“
Janette, please.”

“
No mam. Our family is the foundation that makes Amy strong and proud. I’m not going to let you raise her in a bunch of foolishness. I talked to Sandra and she thinks it’s a good idea. So—”

“
I need you here. Mama will just be more drama. You know she will hate Aiden.”

“
It’s done. You choosing Aiden means he gets more than just you. He gets all of us. And if he loves you, he’ll be a man about it and deal.” She rose. “Now let’s go to bed.” Janette walked off, leaving Daisy standing there with her heart and lungs in her throat.

She dropped back down on the sofa and put her face in her hands.

****

Pete closed the door to her room with a soft click. She had moved through the dimly lit room and already began undressing, asking that he leave…but of course he refused.

Walking inside, he stopped at the sight of her shirt falling away and her hands going to the back of her bra. “Nina, you haven’t heard me… you aren’t listening.”

“
Leave I’ll be gone in the morning.”

“
No.” He walked up behind her as she tried to unhook her bra, his hands staying the action by covering hers. He kissed her shoulder and she stiffened. “We don’t have to talk. We don’t have to debate it, but don’t make me go. I’ve missed you, Nina.”

She turned and looked at him. “Pete, I need more. I can’t do it like this… not anymore. I just can’t.”

“
I know. That’s my burden… mine, okay?” He hugged her. She hugged him back, her face pressed against his chest. His hand, stroking up her back, unhooked her bra, rubbing the ribbed lines that had been pressed into her skin from the tightness. “Can I stay?” he whispered. She lifted her head and nodded. He pressed a kiss to her lips as he moved her to the bed, climbing on top of her. Removing her clothes and his, he positioned between her legs and plundered her pussy until he felt at home again. Heat. Passion. Sweat. Moans. Pain. He made love to her over and over again until he fell asleep in a puddle of their shared fears with her name on his lips.

Chapter Seventeen

It started like any other day except for the splitting headache, runny nose, and watery eyes. Daisy woke to the buzz of her alarm clock; a piercing monotonous drone that gripped her eardrums and rattled her brain, shaking off sleep.

In the past, she’d rise early to catch Amy before she was out of her bed and crawling into hers. The heat of her small body curled up under her breast would wake her and she’d lie there an extra thirty minutes just holding her close. Below, Magdalena cooked a hot breakfast and made a fresh pot of coffee for her. In the past, the biggest worry she’d have was Clara overbooking clients, releasing a tip to the media of a celebrity visit or Amy wetting the bed. That was her life: simple, under her control and satisfying.

Those days of isolated solace were now gone.
Gone
. They were replaced by the uncertain promises of Aiden Keane. She groaned from the harping stream of buzzing from the alarm clock vibrating across her nightstand. Her teeth felt fuzzy and her tongue even harrier. Daisy slowly forced herself to sit up, sneezing. Last night, an itchy throat and sniffles had incubated. Now, she feared something worse.

“
Not a cold,” she moaned. “Not today.”

“
Mama?”

Amy’s voice, small and soft, was barely heard over the sounds of the drumming pain from her waking headache. With sleep in her eyes, she opened them and looked down to see her baby standing at the bed, sucking her thumb. Amy wore a white dress, shirt and panties, evidently her attempt to dress herself this morning. She noticed lately how Amy started exerting her independence, mostly when it came to dressing herself. She has had increasing fights over what she would and would not wear to school, when all she could wear was her uniform. Daisy reached over and slammed her fist to the top of the radio alarm clock, giving her daughter a smile.

“
Morning, little lady.”

“
Tee-Tee won’t give me my cereal. She say no.”

“
Tee-Tee huh?”

“
She say no!”

Daisy smiled. Amy had taken to calling Janette, Tee-Tee. And Janette had already taken over Amy’s diet. She tried not to laugh at the angry pout on Amy’s face. Her daughter wasn’t used to the word, ‘no’, actually meaning no. It reminded her of another green-eyed devil in her life.

“
Well, Amy—”

“
I want cereal, mommy!”

Daisy tried to move her head in agreement and paid dearly for the action. Her head felt like a bag of sand––dry, coarse and far too heavy to lift or move. She put a shaky hand through her tangles, pushing them away from her face. “Okay, baby, you can have cereal. Give mommy a second,” she said weakly.

“
Oh no she can’t. I cooked breakfast and I told you no cereal,” Janette said, walking in the room.

“
Nooooo!” Amy wailed, stumping her feet and nearing tears; she tried to climb the bed to reach for Daisy. Janette swept her up, kissing her face as she bucked and cried, reaching for her mother once more.

Janette hushed her. Daisy sank back into her pillows. She admired her sister's firm hand but wished they’d take it out of the room and let her get just a few more winks.

“
You okay, sis… you look feverish?”

“
I’m fine. Do me a favor. Get her dressed, fed and everything. I got to make a call. I want you,” she coughed reaching for the cordless, “to go with us to take the test today. What time is your flight?”

“
Around three, I think.” Janette put a hand to Daisy’s forehead and smoothed her hair. “You got a fever?”

“
I’ll take some Thera-Flu. Probably from being out there on the beach last night.” She gestured toward the window. “It happens. I’m fine,” she mumbled, checking her voicemail. When Janette didn’t move and Amy’s whine reached a soprano pitch, she cut her eyes up to her. “I’m fine. Take her for me… give me a sec.”

Janette relented and left, closing the door behind her. She could hear Amy’s protests fading away. Daisy turned off the phone. Another pang of guilt stabbed her heart for not tending to her daughter’s needs. All of it was too much too soon for Amy. Why didn’t her sister just give her the damn cereal?

She pulled herself from the bed, standing unsteadily, the phone in hand. Was she sweating too? The place felt like a sauna. Daisy headed for her balcony, her hand against the cool glass pushed so that the door slid open a little. It was just enough to let in some morning freshness and the rushing sounds of the waves breaking over the shore.

Daisy sneezed. She wore a matronly neck to knee sleeves nightie. It was one she hadn’t worn since she was pregnant, binging on pickles and pistachio nuts. Dropping her shoulder against the inside frame of the sliding door, she stared out at the sea. If she was honest, she knew he was the father. She feared it the moment they slept together without protection. For a long time she battled this truth. Now she found herself thinking of what life would be like for the three of them as a family.

Last night she stayed up for hours thinking on it and other things. There she was pacing and stressing over a future she couldn't prevent, before a fever overtook her and she climbed into bed, emotionally and physically drained. And just as sleep covered her like a familiar blanket, warm and comforting, the truth was clear. She needed to know what and who she was dealing with so she could move forward.

Daisy looked at the phone in her hand. She dialed from memory.

“
Dr. Ramirez’s office.”

“
Hi. This is Daisy… ah… Danielle Locke.” She coughed, sniffed and held to the phone tightly. “I um, my daughter is Amy Locke. I need to schedule a DNA test for today. It has to be today. As soon as possible, please.”

****

“
Morning, beautiful,” Pete whispered.

Nina woke with the thin morning sun teasing pink and pretty through the gauzy hotel curtains. The sheets, warmed with his body heat and hers, had her snuggly tucked with pillow soft comfort. And the remnants of the night of his passion remained sticky in her crest and between her thighs. Oh how she ached in all the right spots. He was insatiable last night, licking, and probing every hole and making love to her until she begged for sleep. Even now, she feared the throbbing member pressed into her thigh and that look in his eye.

“
So beautiful… so beautiful,” he repeated, kissing her cheek. Nuzzling his face into her neck, he pressed soft kisses there.

Nina exhaled and despite it all she allowed herself a slither of happiness to be with him again. His head lifted and her eyes slowly opened to find him watching her. He rested his face in the inside of his palm. Pete wore a lopsided smile, a grin mostly, as he traced the side of her face with his finger. She pursed her lips together and said nothing, and his finger moved lower. Pete’s face dipped to kiss the center of her neck once more. His fingers inched under the covers to weigh her full swollen breast in his palm.