Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (73 page)

Nina pointed a finger at him. “Eat.”

He forked some potatoes with a shaky hand and brought the food to his mouth, chewing and glaring. She smiled. “I’ll sneak you some jell-o too.”

Out in the hall, she found no trace of Simone. Nina checked the time on her wristwatch and confirmed she was due for her appointment. She scheduled it around her break. Dr. Budim would do the ultrasound. After the stress of Mango Grove, Nina felt so nervous.

As she walked the long quiet hospital wing, her mind drifted to Pete. Every quiet moment seemed to take her there. Today’s visitor would possibly be her best friend, Charlotte. She cried on her shoulder when she landed. Charlotte was the one that told her to make the appointment and get a check-up. Knowing Charlotte, she was here to make sure she did.

Rounding the corner, when she drew near the waiting room, she could see a man pacing. Her steps slowed as she got closer. Through the room’s glass window, she saw him clearly: Pete. Nina stopped in her tracks, watching. What was he doing here? She had no desire to get into it with him now. At work no less. She took a step back, but he looked up at that moment and saw her. That look paralyzed her.

“
You’re back?”

“
Yeah,” he said with a small smile. “I took the first flight out I could.”

“
Why?”

“
Why? Nina…why haven’t you accepted my calls?”

She said nothing. Why should she? She said all she had to say. He wasn’t listening. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that she never thought he’d return to her this soon if at all. Even her best hopes for them had him weeks away from thinking of dealing with them.

“
Nina.”

“
Pete, I can’t.”

“
Wait.” He walked around the dusty-yellow plastic chairs and waiting tables. “Wait, don’t say it. I fucked up… really bad.” He stopped so close to her she thought he’d touch her. He didn’t. “I’m sorry for… everything.”

“
Everything like what?” she asked. The look in his eyes confirmed it. He was just saying what she wanted him to say. Nothing had changed. “Go, Pete. I have work to do.” She turned and walked back toward the doors.

“
I’m sorry for forgetting,” he called out. Nina stopped. She looked back. Pete approached, hand going back through his hair nervously. “I’m sorry for forgetting what we have. What’s important. Why we fit and always will. How happy I am to be… be a daddy… because of you. I’m sorry I forgot, babe. I forgot what was most important to me. You. C’mon, girl, you know I love you.”

His voice, his words, all of it was too much too soon. She hated herself for weakening and for nearly rushing into his arms. Instead, she looked away because his blue eyes had her needing him so bad. “I have work to do.”

“
And so do I,” he said circling to stop her. “Got the life I want, with you and our baby and I’m gonna work on it. Get you everything I promised.”

“
It’s not that, Pete.”

“
I worked things out with Daisy. Amy will visit. She and Aiden are getting married.”

Nina looked up at the news. “Married?”

“
She’s moved on, Nina. So have I. It’s over.”

“
No it’s not. That means Aiden Keane will be Amy’s stepfather. You telling me you’re okay with that?”

“
No, I’m not. That’s the truth. I’ll never be okay with that man, not really. But don’t you see? I don’t have to be. He’s Daisy’s problem. My concern is Amy and I will only focus on her happiness. I’m not looking to have any say in what he and Daisy do.”

“
That war between you too?”

“
Was won and lost the day I found out that I could have it all and pissed it away. Do you think I would let my hatred for him destroy the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”

Nina folded her arms to keep again from reaching for him. Pete slid his hands up and down her arms and then held them. “I want to love and raise my daughter. Teach her the things I was taught. Expose her to the things a father wants for his daughter. That’s all. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s all I’m focused on.”

Pete wasn’t a talker. He usually grunted through his emotions. This was the real thing.

“
Excuse me, Nina?”

Her head turned. There under the arch of the doorway she saw Dr. Budim. The doctor looked from her to Pete’s then back to her. “I’ll be leaving soon and—”

“
The appointment. I haven’t forgotten. Can you give me a moment?”

The doctor nodded and walked off.

“
What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” he asked.

“
A check up. I’m fine. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

“
Can I… can we do it together?”

She bit hard on her bottom lip.

He touched her belly. “C’mon, babe, I came straight here from the airport. Don’t send me away. Introduce me to my son.”

She stepped away from his touch. Her belly burned. She felt heat spread through her, warm and softly comforting from that touch. “I have work to do still. We’ll see the doctor and then you leave. Okay?”

“
I’ll go,” he conceded, hands up in the air, but a big grin on his face.

She walked a few paces ahead of him, fighting the urge to look back. She felt his eyes on her and felt him pulling at her love for him: felt it and didn’t want to deal. It was too hard. She was tired of things being hard. Nothing ever came easy for her when it came to love.

The doctor wheeled over the ultrasound machine. Nina knew the drill. She got on the exam table positioning on her back. Pete took hold of the stool and eased up at the opposite side. Nina didn’t look at him as she pulled her shirt up to her breasts and drew down the band of her pants. She kept her eyes on the blank monitor.

“
Nina,” he said in her ear.

“
Yes.”

“
Nevermind.”

“
How you feeling, Nina,” Dr. Budim asked. “The nausea?”

“
It’s better. I’m a little tired though.”

“
Getting rest?”

Nina blinked away her tears. Pete was so close Nina could hear his breathing.

“
Trying.”

“
Well, you’re in your first trimester, so you have to take care of you.” The doctor typed at the keypad.

“
That’s my job, doctor. I’m on it,” Pete said. She glanced over and he winked. “Gonna take good care of you. I promise.”

When the doctor turned around, she smoothed over the gel on Nina's belly and the ultrasound wand. It gave her shivers as the rest of her grew tense with anticipation. She couldn’t wait to see the baby for herself.

“
Hi, I’m the father. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself,” she heard Pete say.

The doctor laughed. “I guessed that. Congratulations. I’m Dr. Budim.”

“
So, can we know the sex? It’s a boy, right?”

Nina and the doctor both looked over at him, frowning. The doctor smiled and so did Pete. His big goofy grin was contagious to any and everyone but her. She was growing immune.

“
We should be able to tell around the twelfth or thirteenth week.”

“
How many weeks?” Pete pressed.

The doctor looked to Nina for approval and she nodded it was okay. “She’s seven weeks.”

“
Oh babe, I bet we made him when—” Pete reached for Nina’s hand. She drew it immediately away, lifting her arm and placing it under her head. He didn’t finish his statement. She could see the hurt on his face from the corner of her eye but didn’t acknowledge it. He had no idea how many tears she shed for his love. The doctor moved the wand over her lower stomach. The black and white screen revealed something neither of them could determine. A peanut shaped image that fluttered black and white.

“
There we are… well, hello there.”

With a concentrated stare, it became clear to both of them. A jumping bean. A heartbeat.
Their child’s heartbeat
. Beautiful.

Nina glanced to Pete. His eyes narrowed and a smile spread over his face. It was full of wonder and excitement. And she knew it was genuine. “That’s our baby, see,” she said, the hopeful pitch of her voice not intended. She didn’t want to come off as needy.

“
Is that the heart beat?” he asked.

“
Yes.” The doctor answered. “We’re looking really good here.”

“
That’s our baby,” Pete repeated. “Pete Jr!” He surprised her with a kiss. “Our baby.”

****

“
Mr. Keane.”

Aiden turned from the wall of degrees. The office was covered with them—too many for it to mean anything. Slipping his cell phone in his pocket, his vision was singular. The Chief of Staff. The doctor felt the heated accusation in that gaze and looked on puzzled over the summons. When his name dropped in this place or anywhere along the coast and as far east as Oklahoma, gave others pause.

“
Mr. Keane, what can I do for you?”

“
Danielle Locke had a paternity test done here for her daughter, Amy Johnson.”

“
Who is Danielle Locke?”

Aiden stepped from the wall. The doctor went around a desk covered with files and office clutter. “I suggest you find out the answer to that question quickly, doctor. My patience is short.”

“
We provide paternity test to hundreds through this hospital. If you are looking for the results then the nurse can assist.”

“
I’m looking for more than that.”

The doctor frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“
Donovan McBride. Have you met him?”

“
McBride?”

“
He paid your hospital a visit. I want to know what that visit cost me. Now.”

****

“
I love you, girl. Call me, okay?” Denise’s grip on her was so tight Daisy felt as if her eyes would pop out of her skull. “Okay, I will.” Denise then dropped to Amy’s level and pulled the little girl into an equally tight hug until Amy whined for release. “Be good, sugar. Auntie Denise loves you.”

Amy put her thumb in her mouth and tried again to latch on to her mother’s leg. Janette was next. Daisy kissed her sister, blinking away tears. “Thanks, Janette, for bringing them, for everything. I… can’t tell you how much I needed you guys.” A sob caught in her throat.

“
We family, Daze. Never forget that, and I’ll see you soon. I got a wedding to plan.”

Daisy sniffed, nodding.

“
Mommy, why you crying?” Amy asked.

Janette laughed. She stooped. “You coming to stay with auntie?”

“
No. I’m going to grandma house, to Pete house and not yours.”

Janette shook her head. Out of all her aunts, Janette was the strictest and Amy avoided her at all cost. “This girl’s mouth, Daisy. We gonna have to work on that.” She kissed Amy and pinched her butt. “Be a good girl for mommy.”

“
Ow!” Amy said, her lip poked out. Her hand still curled from the thumb-sucking as she rubbed her butt with her other. “Mommieeee, she hit me.”

“
Don’t be pinching my baby,” Daisy said. Janette winked and then headed after her sister. Together, they climbed the ladder to the private jet. Sandra gave Daisy a hug. “Drama girl. That’s what mama and daddy should have named you, Drama.”

“
Whatever, you ain’t no saint,” Daisy laughed.

“
Compared to you…” Sandra hesitated. “Can’t nothing compare to you Ms. Thang. I love you, sis. I’m so happy that you’re okay.”

They embraced again. “Call me,” Daisy said.

“
Yeah, cause um, I got my eye on this Porsche back home and my mortgage. Chile, tell that soon to be brother in-law of mine that sister needs a loan.”

Daisy laughed. She let Sandra go, watched her kiss up Amy, then hurry off. Martha watched them all silently but approached with opened arms. She couldn’t help but cherish that hug. Daddy was dead. She, her mother and sisters only had each other. How she wished this reunion had come sooner. That she had been stronger to return home and be with her family. But this start-over was enough.