A Gift to Cherish (Road to Refuge Book 2)

by Victoria Bylin

  Chapter 11

  When Daisy went inside after saying good-bye to Rafe, she caught Shane and MJ kissing by the kitchen sink. Not at all surprised, she made a show of rolling her eyes. “Again? You two are ridiculous.”

  Shane looped his arm around MJ’s waist and squeezed her to his side. “Ridiculously in love. By the way, we both like Rafe.”

  Warmth rushed to Daisy’s cheeks, and she had to bite her lips to keep from smiling. Somehow she schooled her voice. “He’s nice.”

  “Nice?” MJ grinned like a fiend—a fiend with wedding-brain. “He’s almost as good looking as your brother, and he brought flowers, which we all know were really for you.”

  “He asked me out for Saturday. I said yes.”

  Shane played it down with a nod, and MJ smiled. “You’re welcome to invite him to the wedding, but only if you want.”

  A wiggle of excitement pulsed through Daisy. She’d been a little nervous at the start of the barbecue, but once her nerves settled, she’d had a wonderful time. “Maybe I will.”

  MJ looked up at Shane and smiled. “You never know what might happen. I’m still amazed your brother walked into my life the way he did.”

  “More like limped,” Shane added.

  The tender look in his eyes—and MJ’s answering smile—shot arrows of longing into Daisy’s heart. She wanted those looks, the private jokes, the soul-deep tenderness—but not until she felt stronger as an individual. She moved toward the door, but Shane called out.

  “Hey.” He waved her over with his free arm. “Get over here, Daize.”

  She scurried back across the kitchen for a family hug, flung her arms around the two people she loved most in the whole world, and squeezed hard. Still smiling when the hug ended, she went upstairs in search of Chelsea.

  The slosh of water, along with Hannah’s giggles, led her to the bathroom. Chelsea, already in yoga pants and a comfy old t-shirt, waited with a towel as Hannah climbed out of the tub.

  Daisy tapped on the doorjamb. “How’s it going?”

  “Just fine. We’re clean and ready for a story.” Chelsea dried Hannah, wrestled her damp body into Hello Kitty pajamas, and sent her to the bedroom. Bending down, she snatched up Hannah’s princess dress and held it out to inspect. Drips of chocolate ice cream stained the bodice, and the taffeta skirt sported a blotch of ketchup. Chelsea shook her head. “At least one of us had fun.”

  “Hannah?”

  “Definitely not me.” Tucking the dress under her arm, she bent to put Hannah’s bathtub toys in a bucket. “Jesse’s nice, but we just didn’t click. You know how it is.”

  “I do.” Daisy had dated a lot in Los Angeles, always the wrong guys for the wrong reasons. But she’d found a new life in Christ and clung to it now. Her heart bled for Chelsea, but they’d had the conversation about Jesus, and Chelsea wasn’t interested. Daisy worried about her, but all she could do was love and pray the way others had loved and prayed for her.

  Chelsea straightened the bath mat with her toe. “I tried to keep things light, but he just was so serious—no sense of humor at all.”

  “He did seem quiet.” Far quieter than Daisy had expected. When Jesse shared stories at AA meetings, the crowd roared with laughter.

  Chelsea gave a shrug. “Enough of that. I can’t let it discourage me, right?”

  “Right. Learn and move on.” It sounded like something Miss Joan would say.

  Chelsea turned off the bathroom light and motioned for Daisy to follow her. “I have to read Hannah a story, but then I want your opinion on something.”

  “What?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Daisy followed Chelsea into the bedroom, where Hannah lay under the covers, already half asleep. Chelsea tossed the dress in an overflowing laundry basket, snagged a Peppa Pig book, and read just four pages before Hannah’s eyes closed completely. Chelsea set the book down and whispered, “Let’s go to your room.”

  She unplugged her phone from the charger, and they tiptoed down the hall. Leaving the door open, they plopped onto Daisy’s double bed, leaned on the pillows piled against the headboard, and sat shoulder to shoulder.

  Chelsea swiped the phone screen to show four dating apps. “What do you think?”

  Daisy had tried online dating but that was before Eric. The memory of the assault shot through her, and she unconsciously brushed her fingers over the scar hidden by her short hair. Never mind that she’d met him at a party. Online dating struck her as risky.

  She lowered her hand, the bump of the scar still fresh on her fingers. “It’s not for me. At least not anymore.”

  “I thought I was done with it, too.” Sadness tinged her voice. “But I don’t know what else to do. I’m lonely, Daisy. And bored. If I’m going to be here for three months, I need to have some fun other than taking Hannah to McDonald’s.”

  “Of course you do.” Daisy’s heart ached for her friend. “But why use an app? Shane and MJ know a lot of people. Maybe they could introduce you—”

  “Forget it.”

  “Why?”

  “You just saw why.” Chelsea heaved an epic sigh. “Jesse and I couldn’t stand each other. Going through an app gives me more control. I can say yes, no, or walk away. I like that.”

  “Maybe, but I worry about you. Stranger danger isn’t just for kids Hannah’s age.”

  “No, it isn’t. But I know the rules.” Chelsea ticked them off one at a time. “Meet in a public place. Make sure someone knows where I am. Never leave a drink unattended, and if you’re walking around with it, keep your hand over the top so some jerk doesn’t slip in a roofie.”

  Daisy shuddered. “I hate the whole idea.”

  Chelsea leaned closer to her, touching shoulders in a silent show of support. “Eric was a monster. You need to be extra careful because he messed with your mind. But I’ve met some nice guys this way—including Nathan. If I don’t start dating again, I’ll never get over him.”

  Daisy’s stomach knotted, but she saw Chelsea’s point. How else could she make new friends? Dating guys she met at work was a bad idea. Chelsea didn’t have time for hobbies or interests other than raising Hannah, nor did she go to church. As for meeting men in the produce aisle, that happened in rom-coms, not real life.

  Leaning in, she studied the four icons. Like a box of chocolates, the apps were each a little different, ranging from notorious to marriage-minded. “You definitely need to put Nathan in the past. This might be just what you need—but nothing too crazy, okay?”

  “Crazy is the last thing I want.” Chelsea put her fingertip on an app Daisy didn’t like. “Forget this one. I used it once on a dare. Never again.” The icon wobbled and vanished.

  Daisy pointed to an app that had been around for years. An older couple she knew at church had met through it and glowed when they shared their story. “What about this one?”

  “No. It’s too complicated. You have to take a five-hundred question personality test. I’m not looking for a husband. I just want . . .” Chelsea sighed. “I don’t know what I want.”

  Daisy ached for her. “How about a summer romance? Something light and fun?” Images of Rafe spun through her mind, and she decided the plan worked for her, too.

  “That would be perfect,” Chelsea replied. “Then again, I wouldn’t mind if it turned into something more.”

  Surprised, Daisy tilted her head. “But you’re leaving in three months.” And Rafe planned to leave even sooner.

  Chelsea shrugged. “If I met someone special, I’d stay. That’s a no-brainer.”

  “It wouldn’t be that simple for me.” Daisy pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them hard. “Don’t you want to be close to your mom, especially with Hannah?”

  “Sure. But wait—I’ll show you.” She swiped to an awkward selfie of a middle-aged couple. A bright smile lit up the woman’s face, but the man was too close to the camera and scowling in techno-befuddlement.

  Daisy couldn’t help but laugh. “Old people take the
worst selfies. I recognize your mom. Who’s the guy?”

  “My stepdad. They got together after I moved to LA. Steve’s good for her, but I’m not part of their life together. They love Hannah, but I feel like a guest when we visit.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “It’s okay. Really. I’m glad my mom’s happy. They’ll take me in, but I hate feeling like a failure, you know?”

  “I know exactly.”

  “So I’m open to possibilities.” Chelsea opened the FriendsFirst app to her profile page and handed the phone to Daisy. “This is the profile from before I met Nathan. What do you think?”

  Daisy had never used the site, but she’d heard about it. People who met on FriendsFirst pledged to be just friends for at least three dates. Three dates . . . as if that boundary protected anyone. Sadly, Daisy understood that world, but now it broke her heart. The best dating relationship in the world didn’t hold a candle to how much God loved her.

  Chelsea leaned closer to Daisy and peered down at the screen. “I wrote this over a year ago. What do you think? But don’t think too hard. It’s all about first impressions.”

  Daisy studied the photo with a critical eye. The camera loved Chelsea, but now she wore her hair long. “It’s a good picture, but how about something new? In fact—” Daisy lifted her own phone off the nightstand. “I snapped a few pictures at the barbecue.” Mostly of Rafe, but she had a good one of Chelsea. She held out the phone. “What do you think?”

  Chelsea studied it for a moment. “I like it. I’m smiling big, but you don’t know why. It’s a little mysterious.”

  Daisy sent it to her. “Now let’s read what you wrote last time around.”

  Looking for Love in all the Right Places!

  The most important person in my life is my three-year-old daughter, and that will never change. I know that’s a deal-breaker for some men, and that’s okay. My little girl deserves the best I can give her. If that includes a stepdad, I’m good with it. And if it doesn’t, I’m good with that, too. Mostly I want to be honest, and I expect honesty from others.

  So about me:

  My favorite movie is Christmas Vacation, because it reminds me of my own family. Don’t worry, they live in Michigan!

  I like to laugh, and I like to make people laugh. Life is too short to miss the joke.

  Dangly earrings? Yes, please!

  This is weird, but I like beets.

  My ideal first date is coffee with a thirty-minute time limit. But if we’re lost in conversation and forget to check our phones, that’s even better.

  “That’s really sweet.” Daisy gave the phone back to Chelsea. “What do you want to change?”

  “Just the beginning.” She tapped out a new opening and gave the phone to Daisy. “Is this too pathetic?”

  Looking for Summer Fun!

  Has your life ever gone sideways? Mine did a few months ago (read—broken heart!). Now I’m in the middle of moving from Los Angeles to Michigan. Wyoming is a temporary stop, but I’m ready to put my toe back in the dating water.

  A step at a time, right? But friendship first. No more broken hearts—either yours or mine. Let’s keep things light, friendly, fun!!!

  Now about me . . .

  I’m a mom first. My little girl is four and adorable. I enjoy funny movies, sunny days at the park, and blueberry muffins.

  The rest of the blurb remained unchanged. Daisy read the new beginning a second time. “Are you keeping the part about Christmas Vacation and the beets?”

  “What do you think?” Chelsea tapped her finger on her knee. “It’s true, but maybe—”

  “I like that part.” Daisy had to be honest. “But I’m not sure about the new beginning. It’s honest, which is good, but it makes you sound a little vulnerable.”

  “So you don’t like it.” Chelsea sounded disheartened, as if Daisy didn’t like her.

  “It’s really sweet. It is. It’s just that online dating makes me nervous. Anything could happen.”

  “That’s part of the fun.” Chelsea gave a shiver of excitement. “Who knows? I could meet someone really special, right?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Don’t worry, okay? I know how to protect myself.”

  Daisy held in a wince. A year ago she might have made the same claim. “Just be careful, Chels. I might be a little paranoid after Eric. Or a lot paranoid—”

  “With good reason.” Chelsea’s words burst out. “That’s why I’m proud of you for inviting Rafe today. His brother’s a dud, but he’s one of the good guys.”

  “I like him,” Daisy admitted. “In fact, we’re going out on Saturday.”

  Chelsea gave a happy squeal. “I’m proud of you, Daize. This is your first date since Eric, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. It’s a little scary, but I think it’s time for me to put a toe in the water like you said. Considering he’s going back to Ohio, am I crazy to start something?”

  Chelsea’s face softened into wistfulness. “I think you’d be crazy not to start something. This afternoon—he couldn’t take his eyes off you. If you two fall in love, maybe he’d stay in Refuge, or you could move to Cincinnati.”

  Daisy shook her head. “Ohio? Forget it. You know how much Shane and MJ mean to me.”

  “I do. But you’d make a new family of your own. That’s what Brian and I did when he took the job in LA. Our marriage fell apart, but I’m glad we tried. And now I have Hannah.”

  Daisy’s mind shot down a road that ended way too far in the future—with a little house, Rafe, two kids, and a cat. Did he even like cats? He seemed more like a dog person. Or—Daisy pressed her damp palms to her cheeks. “This is ridiculous. We’re talking about one date. Why am I even thinking about Ohio?”

  Chelsea squared her shoulders. “Let’s both take things a day at a time. You’re good at that, right?”

  The AA saying calmed Daisy’s nerves. Relaxing, she told Chelsea more about Rafe—their tailgate lunch, how he’d chased off the horses, and how much he’d impressed Shane.

  Chelsea tapped her phone to wake it up, then uploaded the new picture, and accepted the profile changes. Satisfied, she tossed the phone down on the bed. Let’s see how many Hello’s I get.”

  In less than ten minutes, five notifications popped up. Daisy and Chelsea checked out the replies together, read profiles, considered photographs, and answered some messages but not others. After an hour or so, Chelsea said yes to a coffee date on Tuesday afternoon with a nice-looking banker who didn’t remind her at all of Nathan.

  Chapter 12

  On Monday morning, Daisy dressed for work in a peacock blue gypsy skirt that swirled around her legs, a white ruffled top, and her favorite pair of bohemian sandals. She didn’t expect to see Rafe today, but since he was working at Heritage House, their paths could cross at any time.

  A zing of excitement danced through her as she settled at her desk. Chelsea’s reminder to take things a day at a time had calmed her fears, and today she felt in control of herself. The computer screen brightened with the mug shot of Jug she’d picked for the background, and she wondered where Rafe would take her on Saturday.

  The photo-editing software was still loading when her intercom buzzed. Daisy answered, and Miss Joan’s voice came over the speaker. “I need your help.”

  “Of course. Your office?”

  “No. It’s a beautiful day. Let’s sit on the deck. It’s time to pick the top five charities for the giveaway, and I want your opinion.”

  Daisy drew back. “My opinion? I’m not qualified—”

  “You’re more than qualified.” Miss Joan’s voice snapped through the phone. “You’re young and smart, and that’s what I need. Meet me in five minutes.”

  They ended the call and Daisy gathered her iPad, a yellow legal pad, and two pens. Young and smart. Miss Joan’s words echoed in her mind as she headed to the Keurig in the kitchen. Young was a no-brainer. But smart? Daisy found it hard—impossible—to believe, but maybe it was true.

/>   Determined to honor Miss Joan’s trust, she brewed a K-cup and went out the back door, taking a sip as she approached the round glass table shaded by an umbrella. Miss Joan sat with her back to the house and her eyes on the mountains, while Ana, Miss Joan’s housekeeper, tilted the umbrella to fend off the sun. A rock held down a stack of papers rustling in the light breeze.

  Daisy greeted Ana, set down her things, and pulled up a chair as Ana went back inside.

  “This is exciting.” She slid the cushioned chair closer to the table.

  “It certainly is.” Miss Joan flashed a smile, then looked down her nose at the papers under the rock.

  A soft breath whispered just over the silence, and her smile sagged—only slightly but Daisy saw it. Giving away her home wasn’t as easy as Miss Joan pretended, but Daisy knew better than to offer sympathy—a lesson learned from her own recovery after Eric’s assault. Today Miss Joan needed an ally to help with hard, rational decisions, not a cheerleader, and especially not a pity party.

  Daisy tilted her head so she could see the first paper in the stack. “Which one do you like best?”

  “I’m not telling.”

  “Why not?” Daisy liked having clues.

  “I want your opinion, dear. Unvarnished. Untainted.” Miss Joan pushed the stack directly in front of Daisy. “Start reading.”

  “Out loud?”

  “No. I’ve gone over them.”

  For the next twenty minutes, Daisy read through the proposals, commenting to Miss Joan about what she liked and didn’t like. After much debate, they picked three of the ten proposals for future visits: Camp Good Times for kids with special needs; the Wildlife Preservation Society, even though Daisy thought it sounded stuffy; and The Hyatt-Howard School for Future Leaders. The school was a mini-university for underprivileged kids in urban areas. Their programs promoted STEM and business careers without neglecting history and the arts—all subjects that appealed to Miss Joan.