Prelude of Lies (5 page)

Images of Graham, alternating with Tucker, filthy and bare-chested haunted her attempts to sleep. She rolled over and reached under the mattress, grabbing the battered journal her adoptive parents gave her when she turned eighteen. Her birth mother’s flowing script was neat and funky, the i’s dotted with smiley faces or stars.

None of what her mother wrote before she found out she was pregnant made sense to Daisy. She figured the entries were about the band the woman chose, since most of it was a city name, followed by a brief recap of the evening. Her birth mother had definitely been a groupie for some band no one had ever still ever heard of.

The part of the journal around the time of Nadine’s pregnancy never mentioned who Daisy’s father might be. Only that “he” would be so pleased. Obviously, he wasn’t or Daisy would know him. She didn’t know what bothered her more—the fact that her mother had been so happy at first and then dumped her, or that her father had not cared that he’d created a child.

She felt like a garbage baby.

Her parents—the ones who loved, accepted, and raised her—should be enough, right? They’d chosen to keep her when they could have easily turned her over to social services. Maybe they’d kept her out of a sense of family duty, but Daisy didn’t think so.

Shortly after the adoption papers were final, she’d had trouble sleeping and had gone downstairs for a drink and a hug only to hear her parents discussing how irresponsible her birth mother was. She’d heard her mom say that no matter what she wouldn’t give Daisy up, that she couldn’t love Daisy more if she’d been her own blood and how she hated her sister for what she’d done.

The words made Daisy happy, and sadder than she’d ever been. She didn’t remember her birth mother and Daisy couldn’t help but wonder how awful of a child she was for her mother to pawn her off. There had to be a reason. Moms didn’t forget to come back for their babies.

Maybe someday she’d get the chance to ask. Logically, she knew sometimes there were no answers and that she’d done nothing wrong. The fault had been with the woman who gave birth to her. But the little girl in her would always wonder.

Daisy didn’t seem to be good enough for anyone. Sure, her parents loved, supported, and were proud of her but she figured they pretty much had to be. Daisy had never been as good as Sydney at anything—school, sports, or friends.

Sure, she made a great career for herself and she’d continue even if she never left Brookside. She held on to that happy thought, shoving the sadness away. Maybe she’d even open a photography studio at the campground. The possibilities excited her, and she fell asleep rolling ideas around.

CHAPTER 5

Daisy woke to something poking her. She opened one eye to find Sydney sitting on the edge of the bed, her finger ready to jab her again.

“Wake up.”

“No.”

“Come on. I have something to tell you. I brought you coffee.” Sydney pointed to the steaming cup on the bedside table with a smile.

“What is so damned important that you have to wake me at the ass-crack of dawn? I’ve only been in bed two hours.” Two stupid, restless hours.

“For one, Tucker is here and I have gossip for you. Two, we have to meet with the lawyer in an hour, remember? The weekly checks that Vile Violet is making us do?”

“Damn. That’s right. What the hell is wrong with that woman? Why do we have to pass her inspections?” she asked with a growl, grabbing the Styrofoam cup. “I feel like a prisoner.”

“You and me both. We’re doing great here, so no worries. Are you ready to hear what I found out?” Sydney poked her again, erasing her irritation. Daisy sighed. How could she be mad when Sydney was in such a good mood?

“Cut it out. God, you’re totally obnoxious this morning. Maybe you should go fuck Marshal so you can work off some of this insane energy and calm the hell down.” She sat her cup down and moved over so Sydney had more room. “Okay. Let’s hear this gossip.”

Sydney hadn’t turned red at her crude comment. Why? “Tucker is not married, nor is he a father. He’s not seeing anyone. At all.” Sydney stopped, her happy expression fleeting after seeing Daisy’s face.

“Oh. So he’s single. I guess that’s good for him.” Why hadn’t he called her when he found out there was no baby? She stood, trying to forget she wasn’t good enough for him.

“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t think about the fact that it’s been months and he didn’t call you. I’m so stupid.” Sydney grabbed her hand.

“It’s not your fault. He’s the asshole. Fine. You know what? I don’t care. He obviously didn’t feel for me what I felt for him so screw him.” Daisy didn’t know what to do. Her heart was breaking all over again.

“Screw him. Screw them all. Why are there so many men around here anyway?” Sydney had always been quick to take her side, as she’d been for her. That was one thing Daisy adored about her sister.

“I don’t know but they can all go to hell.” Daisy crossed her arms.

“Here’s what we’ll do. After this lawyer meeting, let’s go into town. We’ll get some wine and come back here and drink ourselves smart.” Sydney smiled.

“A perfect idea. Let’s get this lawyer meeting over with.” Thank God for sisters.

“I was kidding, but you know what, that’s a great idea.” Sydney jumped up.

An hour later, their evil grandmother’s somber attorney followed their lawyer through the rusty front gate. She and Sydney had known their lawyer, Albert Love, since they were babies. He’d been a constant visitor at Brookside and they’d grown up with his grandchildren. Al, or Uncle Al, kissed them both on the cheek after the bear hugs, much to the other lawyer’s irritation.

“Are these your clients or your girlfriends?” As soon as the question sliced through the air and hit its intended mark, Uncle Al turned quickly, catching the man off guard by shaking a finger in his face.

“Listen, these girls are like my own granddaughters. Shut your mouth and mind your own business. My relationship with them has nothing to do with what we’re doing here.” He turned back to them with a smile. “Now. Let’s see what you’ve done.”

They toured the campsites, now clear of all poison ivy. At Violet’s attorney’s gasp of surprise, Daisy could have hugged Tucker, even though she wanted to smack him silly. The pond had been dredged and the swampy end planted, along with the beginnings of a fence. Tucker’s crew dumped stones for the walkway as the tour group arrived.

“This is great.” Uncle Al pointed toward the previously overgrown seating area near the pond. “I can’t believe you got that poison down. What a difference a week made. What else have you managed?”

Daisy let Sydney do the talking. She listened as her sister explained the various inspections and results, interjecting where necessary and taking over when they were asked how Tucker and his crew were hired. Hopefully, she hid her disgust with him. And the violent thoughts.

After Sydney explained the estimates and inspections due the coming week, Violet’s attorney left, still shaking his head. Uncle Al laughed as the man drove out of the parking lot.

“That guy’s a walking corpse. I’ve known him for forty years and I’ve yet to see him smile. Even at his daughter’s wedding.” He stopped and reached into his pocket. “So, I have good news.”

Daisy hoped he wasn’t going to breech her privacy. She didn’t want Sydney to know she’d asked him to help locate her father. She still didn’t know why she’d done that, but it’d been six months and nothing had turned up yet. Squashing the thread of hope, she waited.

“Violet might have set the terms for these inspections, but Gramps had enough life in him to counteract her underhanded scheme. Think of it as a reward system for putting up with all the bullshit.” He handed the envelope to her, then got into his car.

“Ten thousand dollars?” Daisy passed the check to Sydney.

“Del wanted to make sure you had some financial backing. He knew Violet would make things difficult for you, and she has. These terms were set without her knowledge. Once her time runs out, you’ll get the rest of the money that was supposed to come with the place, even if you have to sell. Until then, every time you pass inspection, you’ll get a check similar to this.” Al leaned out of the car for them to kiss his cheek, then waved goodbye.

Daisy turned to Sydney, both breaking out into a squeal as soon as Al turned his car around.

They returned to the campground, recharged, beautiful and toting several bottles of wine. Not wanting to use Gramps’ money for personal indulgences, Daisy sprang for lunch and manicures and Sydney paid for haircuts and wine.

Daisy didn’t remember when she’d had so much fun. Their day had been perfect. The gems she’d had glued to the top of her fingernails wouldn’t last through their planned campfire, but they were gorgeous now. She didn’t care. They’d fought Vile Violet for so long both sisters had neglected to take care of themselves.

They’d told Marshal they wouldn’t accompany the crews tonight, much to his disappointment. Daisy looked forward to the evening plans. Sick of cooking over the fire, they’d grabbed take out from Sydney’s favorite chain restaurant.

“I’ll start the fire. You get the wine.” Daisy tossed her purchases onto her bed and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt.

“You got it. Which should we start with?” Sydney unloaded the various bottles of wine.

“You pick. I’ll drink anything.” She stepped out the door, nearly crashing into Tucker.

“Sure. Make the uneducated wine drinker pick. No complaints if it sucks,” Sydney yelled.

“Hey. Heard you had a good inspection.” Tucker smiled, and Daisy resisted his charm. Kind of.

“Yep. We’re celebrating. Sister night.” Hopefully that was enough to let him know he wasn’t welcome to hang out and share their campfire. What was he still doing here anyway?

“Nice. Good for you guys. I waited around because I wanted to update you on our status. Sydney said you’re in charge of all the landscaping work.”

Daisy would kill her. Sydney had done that on purpose, probably hoping to force them together enough to hook up again. Of course, Daisy knew when Sydney told him that, she hadn’t known what had happened between them.

“What’s up?” She tried to hide her irritation. Tucker didn’t need to know how much he’d hurt her.

“We’ll probably be another week or two on top of my original estimate. Does that screw you up?”

She got stuck on the word “screw” and took a second longer than she should have to answer him. “Oh. No. That’s fine. You’re working in the middle section of sites now, right?”

“Yeah. Except we broke one of the mowers. The part’s on backorder. Let me know if there’s a problem with us taking longer and I’ll do my best to get out of your hair sooner. I could probably borrow the equipment.” He glanced at the big green tractor parked in one of the bigger RV sites.

“No. You’re fine. You won’t be in our way.” As mad as she was at him, she didn’t want him to finish and vanish from her life again.

How stupid was that?

“Great. Listen, call me if anything weird happens. I heard that guy Marshal talking about your granddad’s widow. Why didn’t you tell me?”

The words were on the tip of her tongue.
Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t going to be a father? Why didn’t you come back to me?

She swallowed her feelings and shook her head a little too hard. “We’re handling things okay. And she’s not going to get her way.”

Not wanting to explain further, especially when Sydney hovered by the door to give her time to talk to him, she moved to the fire pit and laid her kindling. Sydney finally burst through the screen door with two glasses and a bucket containing ice and two bottles of wine.

“Hi, Tucker. The place looks fantastic. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the hard work your crew is doing.” Her words were sincere and Daisy echoed them.

“I’ll let you ladies get on with your girl’s only evening. Enjoy. We’ll be here early again. I make no promises about the noise.” His gaze lingered on the wine, the point he made pissing her off.

For an answer, she took her glass from Sydney and downed the whole thing in three swallows. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and held the glass out to Sydney. Tucker shook his head and waved as he left, his smile making her want to follow him and demand those answers.

She didn’t care. Tucker could think what he wanted. She was nothing to him. His silence these past few months proved that. She watched him as Sydney came to stand beside her.

“To hell with him,” Sydney said, handing her a full glass of wine.

“Hell, yes. To hell with him.” She drank half before giving it back and bending to light the fire. As the tinder caught, she plopped down in a camp chair and watched the tiny flames dance.

“He’s an ass.” She didn’t look at Sydney.

“You’re right. They’re all asses.” Sydney downed her wine, her attention on the parking area.

Daisy turned to follow her sister’s line of vision.

Marshal made his way through the parking area toward the crew’s cabin, apparently oblivious to them.

“His is a damn fine ass though.” Sydney grinned and reached for the bottle.

“You need to catch up. I’m already one up on you.” Daisy lifted her now-empty glass, the little bit of alcohol in her bloodstream relaxing her.

“Okay, but you’ll need to get another bottle then. That’s the last.” Sydney filled her glass to the rim and topped off Daisy’s before tossing the bottle in the grass beside them. “One down and it’s not even dark yet. Awesome.”

When another empty lay in the grass beside the first, Marshal appeared. He gently kicked at the bottles before turning his attention to Sydney and Daisy. Sydney couldn’t stop giggling, and Daisy was in the same condition, only a little surlier.

“You guys are drunk.” He didn’t exactly sound like their mother.

“Damn straight.” Sydney finally stood after a failed attempt. “What’s it to you?”

“I wanted to talk to you, but I can see this isn’t the time.” Marshal leaned over, and Sydney grabbed his collar.

“It’s sister night. No boys allowed.” She tried to push him but failed, knocking herself backward. The only things that stopped her from falling in the fire were Marshal’s quick arms.

Damn, but being up against him felt good.

She lost her train of thought and stared up at him, her brain not engaging until Daisy hollered at her.

“We’re out of wine. Again. Dammit.” The third bottle landed with the others.

“Your turn,” she said. Why was she still in Marshal’s arms? Did she want him to let her go?

“Fine. Remember, Marshal, no boys allowed. You’d better be gone when I get back.” Daisy’s threat came out with a slur and a giggle.

“She’s drunk.” Sydney stared up at him, wondering when they’d had time to drink three bottles of wine. Had they eaten yet?

“And what are you?” Marshal’s face was too close and he smelled way too good.

“Stupid.” She was not going to kiss him. Not after her and Daisy’s conversation of the past who knew how long. “I’m not kissing you. I’m not sleeping with you, ever, no matter how much I want to.”

Oh, but she was going to regret that in the morning.

“You’re not?” He smiled as if she’d just told him what he was getting for Christmas.

“Nope. And don’t you forget it.” She swayed a little and he pulled her against him.

“I won’t, but you might. Sounds like you’re denying what you really want.” He grinned and she smacked him lightly.

“You’d better go. Daisy is coming and she’ll kick your ass.” The last part almost came out backward, as Marshal lowered her into the chair.

“In the morning, I’m going to pretend you never told me that.” His warm breath in her ear did incredible things. The only reason she didn’t pull his head back down was the thunder on Daisy’s face.

“What did you say?” Daisy passed a full glass of wine to her when Marshal finally left.