“Going to embarrass me.” Daisy wanted to kick herself for correcting him.
“Going to. Anyway, I wasn’t that good. But you really think so?” He bounced the ball back and forth between his legs, showing off. “Where’s Dad?”
“He couldn’t make it, sweetie. If he could, he’d be here. You know that, right?” Tears escaped and ran down her cheeks.
Jay stared into Daisy’s eyes. His expression was serious, not one of a child. “Where is he?” he said, his voice cracking.
Daisy hesitated. “Well, remember the talk we had about your real mom? How she loves you even though she’s not here—”
“Dad died?”
Daisy nodded, wiping her eyes.
Jay threw the basketball across the court. “Everybody leaves me! Are you gonna leave me too?”
“Never.”
Ming Li’s dress was hiked up around her waist as she tried to stretch her too short stockings over her long legs. Daisy shook her head and smiled.
“Ming Li, thanks for going. I appreciate it.”
Ming Li straightened her dress. “You don’t have to thank me. I know I said a lot of bad things about him, but he was my friend. We were close once.”
“I know.” Daisy patted her on the back. “I’m going to check on Jay. I’ll meet you downstairs.” She turned to walk out of the room and collided with Gigi.
“God! You scared me.”
Ming Li jumped.
“Sorry. You two ready? Jay’s downstairs waiting.”
“Don’t scare us like that!” Ming Li said with a sigh. “Knock next time, ring the bell or something. You know I’m already nervous. I don’t do funerals.” Ming Li opened her purse, pulled out her flask, and took a swig.
Daisy shook her head.
“What?” Ming Li put her hand on her hip.
“We’re on our way to church, remember?”
“Well, when we get there, let me know, and I won’t have another sip.”
Daisy grabbed her purse. “You two ready? I don’t want to be late.” She headed for the door.
“Okay, but are you sure you want to go?” Gigi asked. “It might just make things worse.”
Daisy turned around, nodding. “I have to go, Gigi. For Jay.”
“And you? Do you want to go?”
“No, I didn’t want to. Still don’t, but Jay asked me to, practically begged me to. How could I say no? Besides, seeing is believing. And I need clarity. It’s hard for me to believe he’s dead. It’s even harder for me to believe that he was married. I just want to get a look at his wife and give Jay the opportunity to pay his respects. That’s all.”
“I understand. I’m trying to understand. Just please don’t do anything you’ll regret, Daisy.”
“I already have. I was with Jasper.”
Daisy held Jay’s hand as they entered the church. An attendant directed them to sit in the balcony. She wanted to protest, to inform the attendant that Jay was Jasper’s son, but Jay insisted that he didn’t want to sit among the congregation. Relief coursed through her as she smoothed his wavy hair. The last thing she wanted was to sit among Jasper’s friends and family. “It’s okay, baby. Don’t worry about it.” She kissed Jay on the forehead, leaving a faint smudge of red lip-gloss. Whispering in his ear, she assured him that he didn’t have to do anything that he wasn’t comfortable with.
“Thanks, Mom. I just don’t know all those people. Who are they?”
Daisy shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll find out…who a few of them are.”
Daisy peered over the railing and found the lower section filled to capacity. She hadn’t realized that Jasper had had so many friends. There had to be more than two hundred people.
After they’d risen for the prayer and the choir had sung “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” the minister began the eulogy. Daisy held Jay tightly and listened intently, not wanting to miss a word.
“Jasper Stevens was a good man, an honest man. He loved his mother, his father, and his wife. But most importantly, he loved his heavenly Father. Jasper walked in the way of the Lord and did what was right. He died doing what was right and what God would’ve wanted…”
All lies. Daisy tuned out the rest. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the tears down her cheeks. Then she looked at Jasper’s casket, and everything became a blur. She’d been with him seven years, but she was sitting in the church balcony, instead of in the front pew.
Ming Li tapped her lightly on the shoulder. “Are you ready? You don’t want to go say good-bye, do you?” Ming Li pointed to the people lined up waiting to pay their last respects.
“No, I don’t even want to be here. But I do want to see his wife,” Daisy whispered to Ming Li and Gigi, careful not to let Jay overhear.
Gigi put a hand firmly on her shoulder. “From here, okay? See her from here.”
“What about Jay?”
Gigi nodded. “I’m going to pay my respects. I’ll take him.”
Daisy turned to Jay and wiped his tears. “Go ahead, sweetie. Say good-bye to your dad. Don’t worry about the people. No one will bother you, and I’ll be right here. I promise.”
Jay shook his head and squeezed Daisy’s hand as if he were holding on for his life. “I don’t want to go without you. Please don’t make me. Only if you go.”
Daisy swallowed and looked away. She had to go. She couldn’t rob him of his last look at his father.
“From here, it doesn’t even look like Dad. He’s not smiling. I don’t want to see him like that.”
“It’s okay, baby. It really is. I’ll stay right here with you.” She kissed his cheek and squeezed his hand. “We’ll wait until everyone leaves.”
Gigi smiled faintly and waved to someone below. “I see Adonis made it. Glad someone else from the family is here. I bet it’s because of my aunt that no one else showed.”
“Adonis is here? Where?” Adonis was the last person Daisy had expected to see at Jasper’s funeral. She wanted to see him, almost had to. But first she needed to see her unknown opponent: the woman who carried Jasper’s name.
Ming Li pointed out Adonis, then turned Gigi’s chin in the opposite direction. “No, Gigi. Look over there.” Ming Li pointed at Marcus.
“Wait, just wait. I’m going to slap fire out of him. I can’t believe he acted as if he didn’t know my aunt. Look at him. I never introduced them.”
Daisy rubbed her pounding temples and popped a pill to calm her nerves. She swallowed hard, forcing it down her dry throat. Jasper had pissed her off more in death than in life. Every time she had mentioned meeting his parents, he’d insisted that they weren’t worth meeting. “Jasper made the introduction. He had to. This whole display is disgusting.” She felt her bile start to rise.
Marcus was hugging Jasper’s mother and wiping her tears. Daisy gritted her teeth. The exchange between Marcus and Mrs. Stevens seemed familiar, almost familial. She held her chest when she noticed the flower pinned to his lapel, which was like five other men’s. “Pallbearer,” she mouthed.
She followed Marcus with her eyes as he walked toward a woman who was adjusting her black, veiled hat. Camille. Daisy held her breath as Marcus bent to kiss her and reach for her hand. She eased forward an inch, as if she couldn’t get close enough. She had to see the woman who’d made Jasper love her enough to marry her. She wanted to confront her, but she’d promised Jay that she’d stay with him. Wonder filled her as Marcus’s body blocked her view. What’s so special about her? Is she prettier? Smarter? She felt a tug on her dress and turned around.
Jay grabbed her and held on. “I want to go home. There are ghosts.”
Daisy bent and kissed the top of his head. “No, baby, there are no ghosts.”
“Yes. Look.” He pointed.
Rays of light danced on the wall. Daisy’s gaze followed them to where they began: Camille’s wedding ring. Even from the balcony, she could see its brilliance.
“It’s just the sun,” she whispered to Jay. She looked down at her own naked ring finger, which told o
f her unimportance. She’s the wife. I was the standby.
“Daisy?” Gigi yelled.
“In the bathroom,” Daisy yelled back, combing her hair.
“Ming Li and I are going to the store. Do you or Jay want anything?”
“No. We’re fine.”
“Okay. We’ll be back in a few.”
Daisy winced at the sound of the front door slamming, then listened for movement upstairs, something to indicate whether the door had wakened Jay. She sighed at the silence. “Good. He needs all the rest he can get.”
She grabbed the remote from the coffee table. “Finally, I get time to myself.” She plopped down on the sofa, reveling in being alone for the first time in more than a week. Just as she was about to turn on the television, the doorbell rang.
“Come in. It’s not locked,” Daisy called out. “What did you guys forget this time?”
The door closed and Daisy heard the lock click slowly and deliberately. Then silence.
Daisy turned to see an unfamiliar woman standing by the door.
“I’m sorry. I know I said to come in, but do you make a habit out of walking into strangers’ homes?”
“You did say come in.”
“Yes, but I thought you were somebody else.” Daisy studied the woman. She could’ve been her twin, if Daisy were older. “We’re not related, are we?”
The stranger shook her head.
“This is scary…how much we look alike. Never mind. I’m sorry, can I help you?”
“I want to know why you were sleeping with my husband.”
3
Daisy crossed her arms over her chest, trying to still her racing heart. Now that she was face-to-face with Jasper’s wife, her hurt increased, and her anger settled. In Camille’s presence, Daisy didn’t feel like the person Jasper had once convinced her she was. She felt duped, knowing that she hadn’t been as special to him as he had once made her believe. She realized she had no bearing or position compared to that of the woman standing before her. Daisy swallowed hard and bit her tongue. No way was she going to let Camille see her cry.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re here, Camille?” Daisy asked, refusing to break the stare.
“So, you do know who I am,” Camille said tearfully. “Well, I already asked what I want to know. Why were you sleeping with Jasper?”
Daisy laughed softly. All at once, she hated Camille. She despised her presence, her name, her very being. Daisy detested her because Camille had been married to Jasper and she wasn’t.
But Daisy composed herself. She eyed Camille from head to toe: her shoes, her legs…her stomach. Oh, no. Daisy was consumed with sympathy, anger, and jealousy.
“You’re pregnant?” Daisy whispered, more to herself than to Camille.
Camille placed her hands over her protruding belly. “Oh, what? Jasper forgot to mention that part?”
“Camille, I understand you’re upset. Hell, I’m upset too. Now if you want to discuss this like civilized adults…” Daisy motioned for Camille to sit down, glad that Jay hadn’t awakened.
Camille sat. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, are you going to answer the question or not?”
Daisy sat on the opposite side of the room. “Okay, let’s get something straight, Camille. I wasn’t sleeping with your husband. I was sleeping with my man. I didn’t even know you existed until right after…” Daisy swallowed hard. “Until Jasper died. So you can do us both a favor and turn your attitude down a notch.”
“Your man? You’re going to sit right there and lie to my face? You didn’t know Jasper was married?”
“Isn’t that what I told you? For all I know, you were the one who interfered in our relationship. Hell, Jasper and I were together for seven, almost eight years.”
“We were together more than ten.” Camille rubbed her stomach.
Daisy dropped her head, dabbing her eyes. “You were with him first. I didn’t know.”
“How could you not know?”
Daisy stood and began pacing the room. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You think I’m some sort of home wrecker or something?”
“Think about it. Where was Jasper on Valentine’s and Christmas? How many times did he stay away at work just a day or two longer? How many—”
“I could ask you the same thing. He couldn’t have been with you every holiday because he was with me.” And Jay, she wanted to say. She had no idea if Camille knew about him, if anyone in the Stevens family knew.
Camille laughed. “Oh, I know. I know he spent more time at his office here in New York than at corporate headquarters. I know everything.”
“So why in the hell are you here? You know I’ve been deceived as much as you have.”
“No, Daisy. That’s one thing I can’t verify. I’ll tell you this, though. Whether you want to admit it or not, you knew. You knew, and you weren’t too smart about it.”
“Excuse me? You have a lot of nerve—”
Camille leaned forward, her round belly resting between her legs. “So you think I’m wrong,” she interrupted. “Okay, let me clear this up for you. Why don’t you work? Why don’t you own anything but a car? Why wasn’t your name on Jasper’s bank account? I’ll tell you why. He had you right where he wanted you. You were a kept woman.”
Daisy plopped down in the chair, glaring at her. “Who are you to judge me…to analyze me? Jasper didn’t want me to work. He wanted to take care of me. You need to ask yourself why Jasper chose me after he married you—”
Camille clapped her hands. “Very nice show, Daisy. Who am I? Well, let me see.” She pressed her finger to her lips. “I’m the wife, you’re the mistress. I deal with pitiful women like you all day, every day. So I can analyze you,” she added with a nod. “I can. That’s what I do, Daisy. While you sat at home waiting for my husband’s checks to roll in, I was counseling patients. I’m a psychiatrist. And what are you?”
Okay, that’s it. How can I roll her round ass out of here without harming the baby?
The doorbell rang, and both women fell silent. Daisy could hear Gigi and Ming Li arguing over who had the key. A new energy drifted through Daisy’s body, a feeling of certainty, as her two best friends walked in.
“Oh, Daisy, I didn’t know you had company,” Ming Li said.
Gigi smiled, extending her hand toward Camille. “Hi, I’m Gigi.”
“I’m Jasper’s wife, Camille,” Camille said, refusing Gigi’s hand.
“Hmm,” Gigi smirked. “I’m his first cousin, and blood is thicker than mud.”
Ming Li looked from Daisy to Camille. “Wife? What are you doing here? Is there a problem, Daisy?”
Daisy shook her head.
Gigi moved within two feet of Camille. “’Cause if there is, we can handle it.”
“Gigi, stop it. Camille’s pregnant.”
“Yes, with my husband’s child.”
Ming Li tapped her mini-cigar on the pearl-pink case as if it were a cigarette. “I guess smoke isn’t healthy for you, hunh?” she asked, lighting the tip. She took a deep pull and blew it toward Camille.
Camille fanned the smoke away, ignoring Gigi and Ming Li. “As I was saying, Daisy, Jasper didn’t choose you after he married me. I said we’ve been together ten years, not married for ten. Five years,” she went on, holding up her hand and spreading her fingers. “We were married five. Hope that answers your question.” Camille stood and headed toward the door.
“Mom?” Jay called, emerging from the stairs.
Camille froze.
Daisy’s heart pounded. From Camille’s open mouth and wide eyes she could tell that Camille had never seen Jay. “Yes, baby, I’m here. Go back to your room. I’ll be up in a sec, as soon as I put the trash out.”
“Okay.” Jay kissed Daisy on the cheek. “Can you help me pack? I can’t find my shorts.”
Daisy nodded. “Sure, I’ll take care of it. Finish resting. There’s a game coming on later that I know you don’t want to miss.”
&nb
sp; Camille stared at Jay. “Mom? You have a son?” She covered her mouth. “He looks just like—”
Daisy crossed her arms. “Weren’t you leaving?” She brushed past Camille and opened the front door. “Yes, you were. It was a pleasure.”
“Bye,” Ming Li and Gigi sang in unison.
Camille turned. “We’ll meet again.”
“Now what?” Gigi asked.
“Now Daisy gets an attorney, that’s what,” Ming Li spoke up.
Gigi laughed. “An attorney? Why? What’s Camille going to do…sue Daisy for screwing her husband?”
“Maybe not for that, but she can haul me into court for custody of Jay.” The way Camille had stared at Jay had upset Daisy. She hoped that she had rights, since she had raised him. “Do you think they can…will take him?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Ming Li nodded.
“Definitely,” Gigi agreed. “If my aunt finds out about Jay. Think about it. Both of her twins passed away, first Jonathan, now Jasper. Wouldn’t you want custody of your grandson too? He’s the only boy she has left.”
“But they don’t know him—he doesn’t know them! He’s not a part of Jasper’s estate. He’s a boy, not a thing to pass down generational lines…up for grabs to whoever gets him first. I won’t let them take him. I can’t, we belong together. We’re all we have. I promised I wouldn’t leave him, that I’ll always be here for him. Losing Jay is not an option.”
“Okay.” Gigi paused, thinking. “You have to move. Stay with me until you get on your feet.”
“I can’t do that, Gigi. No offense, but I don’t want to be near Marcus.”
“So, maybe you should just go back home for a while. Get some California sunshine.”
“Hell, no. I’m not going back home. I don’t want to be around my family.”
“So you and Jay can stay with me,” Ming Li offered.
With Jay at his friend’s house playing video games, Daisy lay in bed watching videos of her and Jasper’s happier days. She missed him terribly. She felt empty, and her heart ached. Daisy closed her eyes, losing herself in the sound of his voice. She relaxed, allowing her body to be held by the soft fullness of the pillows. Inhaling slowly and deeply, she licked her lips sensuously, as Jasper had many times before.
Pushing Up Daisies Page 4
