“Yeah, I will. Thanks, Ry.”
“You got it.”
Trav left feeling like he’d finally gotten off the roller coaster and stood on steady ground once more.
~ ~ ~
At Liz’s insistence, Daisy joined them for dinner. She really wanted to stay in the guest room. As soon as the reporters left, she’d head home. She just needed to be alone with no one fussing over her. No one trying to take care of her.
“You need any help, sis?” Daisy asked, Bryce in her arms.
Liz was pulling a meatloaf from the oven. Potatoes boiled on the stove, and a steamer was heating something, probably vegetables.
“I’ve got it,” Liz said. “I’m going to mash these potatoes, and everything else is just about done.”
Ry walked in and breathed in the scent of dinner. “You spoil me. Did you make the meatloaf yourself?”
“I just warmed it up,” Liz admitted. “It’s from Garner’s. I know it’s Trav’s favorite.”
Daisy stiffened and turned to Liz. “You didn’t tell me Trav was coming for dinner. He’s gonna bug me about my clothes or keep asking me if I’m okay.”
“Are you okay?” Ry asked.
“I’m fine,” Daisy said.
Liz took in her oversized sweatshirt and jogging pants that she’d borrowed from Ry. “I have a dress that would fit you, just a little higher than over the knee on you. Why don’t I get it?”
“Forget it. I’m comfortable.” She finger-combed her hair back from her face. Her hand got caught in a knot, and she gave up. Instead she focused on Bryce. She put him into his high chair and put on his bib.
Liz went back to the stove. Ry set the table.
Daisy went to Liz’s pantry, organized alphabetically. Her sister had a full stock of organic baby food kept on hand for whenever she watched Bryce. She pulled out some peas.
The doorbell rang.
Daisy shrank back. “Do you think it’s a reporter?”
“I’ll get it,” Ry said. “It’s probably Trav.”
She had to calm down. Just because reporters constantly rang the bell and called didn’t mean every single person was trying to rip her apart. It was just Trav. He wouldn’t do anything worse than act overly concerned like everyone else in her life that had no faith in her.
Trav walked in, concern written all over his face as he studied Daisy. He quickly switched his focus to the baby. “How ya doing, Brycey boy?”
“Da-da-da-da,” Bryce chanted, pounding his high chair tray and bouncing.
Trav grinned and lifted him from the chair. “That’s right. Da-da.” He lifted him into the air to Bryce’s delight.
“He still needs to be fed,” Daisy told him.
“Okay.” Trav put Bryce back in the high chair. “I’ll do it.” He held out his hand for the jar and spoon.
“I got it,” Daisy said. “At least I can do this.”
“Of course you can,” Trav said soothingly.
Daisy fed Bryce, ignoring the fact that Trav was staring at her like she was going to fall apart at any minute.
“Are you okay, Daze?” he asked gently.
She fed Bryce another spoonful of peas. “Fine.”
“Sure?”
“I’m fine,” she said between her teeth.
Liz and Ry brought the food to the table, and they all took a serving. Daisy took a few bites of meatloaf and stopped eating. She didn’t have much of an appetite lately. She finished feeding Bryce and took him to the sink to wash up.
“Do you really think she’s okay?” she heard Trav ask.
“She’s just upset,” Liz said.
Daisy ran the water so she wouldn’t have to hear them talking about her. When she got back to the table, Trav studied her. She avoided his eyes. “You want to take Bryce?” she asked. “I’m not very hungry. I’m going to go rest.”
Trav took Bryce. “You okay?”
“Stop asking if I’m okay! The answer doesn’t change if you ask it more times. I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine!”
Trav’s mouth dropped open. “Okay, okay. I won’t ask.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me.”
He held up a hand. “No one’s trying to take care of you.”
“Good! ’Cuz I’m fine.” She stomped upstairs and threw herself onto the bed.
Too annoyed to relax, she got up and opened up Liz’s laptop. She checked her blog to see how her readers had taken her apology from last night. There were more than a hundred comments. She started reading.
You are a lying bitch.
I can’t believe I wasted my time reading your shitty blog.
Whore! Someone else should raise that poor bastard baby.
She stopped reading and shut the laptop.
She stared at the floor. It had all started so innocently. Holidays and baby’s first tooth.
Maybe it wasn’t all bad. What happened to all those nice people who used to comment? Surely some of them would stop by. She opened the laptop and scrolled quickly through the comments.
Honey, get yourself some professional help for your delusional state.
LIAR!!!!
You are an unfit mother.
Her hands started shaking, and she closed her eyes tight against the pain. She knew she wasn’t a perfect mom, she could never live up to her own mom’s example, but she’d never thought she was unfit to be Bryce’s mom.
She moved the cursor to the top of the blog. Delete this blog. Are you sure? Yes.
The blog was gone.
And her perfect life with it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daisy peeked through the front window blinds. The reporters were still camped out in front of Liz and Ryan’s house. Dammit. Didn’t they take Saturdays off? She knew it had been hard for Ry and Liz to get to work the past few days. She hadn’t been to work at all. Her parents understood she needed some time off.
“I’m doing a few errands,” Liz said, coming up behind her. “You want to come along? Nothing exciting, but we could stop for lunch somewhere.”
Daisy shook her head. She really didn’t want to go out. “That’s okay, sis. I’ll just stay here with Bryce.” He was taking his mid-morning nap, usually only an hour.
Liz studied her. “You haven’t gone out at all or called anyone. Why don’t you have some friends over?”
“That’s a good idea.” She had no intention of calling her friends. She just wanted to be alone.
Liz looked relieved. “Good. Okay, I’ll see you when I get back. Call my cell if you need anything. Ryan should be getting off his shift by five.”
“I’m sure I won’t need to call you.”
Liz wiggled her fingers in a goodbye, squared her shoulders, and left by the front door. Daisy heard the rush of reporters approach and her sister’s voice ring out. “Wrong sister. Daisy’s not home.”
“I see her car,” someone said.
“Her friend picked her up,” Liz replied.
A moment later, she heard Liz drive off.
Daisy flipped on the TV and watched a rerun of Law & Order: SVU.
Bryce’s wail carried through from both the baby monitor Liz had set up and from upstairs. The kid had powerful lungs. She took care of him, fed them both lunch, and went back to watching TV. She turned Bryce’s swing the other way so he wouldn’t see any violent images.
She heard a commotion outside and peeked out the window. Omigod. Max was striding up the front steps, brushing off reporters right and left. He rang the bell.
She opened the door, staying out of sight. He stepped in, and she slammed it shut behind him.
“Max, what are you doing here?”
He ran a hand through his thick, black hair. “Nice to see you too, Daze.”
“You shouldn’t have come. The press are going to pick up on who you are. They’re going to say I’m seeing my ex-husband again!”
“Calm down. Nobody cares about me.” He glanced over to where the TV was still blaring Law and Order: SVU and ov
er to Bryce, who was smacking the star mobile that hung off his swing. “Hey, Bryce.” Max spun one of the stars, and Bryce stared at it. Max indicated the leather sofa. “Can we talk?”
Daisy followed Max over to the sofa in silence. She didn’t want to talk, especially with Max, who either wanted to bug her about a relationship (not gonna happen) or talk about the blog fiasco (didn’t want to go there either). But he’d come all the way from the city, and there were reporters outside, so she didn’t kick him out right away. She turned the volume down, but didn’t turn it off.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “How you holding up?”
“I’m fine. You didn’t have to drive all the way out here to ask me that.”
“Blunt as always.”
She raised a brow. She wondered how long she’d have to wait before she could send him on his merry way. “Why are you here? Just tell me.”
“I can book you on Katie to tell the world your side of the story. I called in a favor, but truthfully Katie knows it’s a ratings boon to have you on.”
Katie was an even bigger show than Mornings with Jessica. It was an afternoon show that even her mom liked to watch. On a normal day, she would’ve been jumping for joy. This wasn’t a normal day.
Daisy shook her head. “No more talk shows.”
“I really think you should speak up. Katie won’t ask any tough questions. In fact, she’ll give you approval over the questions ahead of time.”
“Max, no. I just want this whole thing to go away. I want those reporters out of here with no more stories to tell. Besides, Jessica was right. I’m a liar and a fraud. If I went on Katie, I’d just tell her the same thing.”
He scooted closer and held her hand in a warm grasp. “I can fix this. Let me help you. I’ll write your answers for you ahead of time, put a positive spin on things. Then you just have to memorize them and say them on air.”
She took her hand back. “You weren’t much help when Jessica pitched the show to the higher-ups. You said it was good business. I don’t need that kind of help.”
Max’s lips formed a straight line. He jerked his head in the direction of the reporters out front. “What are you gonna do about them?”
“Nothing. Just ignore them. Say no comment.”
“Come back to the city with me. I’m on the twenty-third floor with a doorman. No one will bother you there.”
She stared at him. “You want me to move in with you.”
“You and Bryce. Yes.”
“And sleep in your bed.”
He laughed. “That is entirely up to you. I also have a pullout sofa.”
“But you’re hoping.”
He raised his palms. “I hope to be with you, yes, because I love you. I will never stop loving you.”
She turned her attention back to the TV. “Please go.”
He stood between her and the TV, blocking her view. “Daze, I don’t want to go. I want to help you. Let me take care of you.”
“I don’t want your help.” She scowled at him. “And I don’t want you either.”
“So you’re with Trav now?”
“I’m not with anyone. It’s just me and Bryce, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay.”
He knelt in front of her and took both her hands in his. She groaned.
“Just hear me out,” Max said. “Here’s what I can give you—a good life in the city, a nice apartment, a fun social life. I can restore your reputation. If you want to work, I’ve got so many connections, I can get you started on whatever career path you want. I will take care of you and Bryce and spend every day for the rest of my life trying to make you happy. Just say the word, Daze. And all this”—he gestured to the reporters—“goes away, and your new life begins.”
The old Daisy would’ve jumped at the offering. The easy life lay out before her. No work, no effort, but also, no self-respect.
“It’s so easy,” she murmured.
His eyes brightened, hopeful. “Yes. It really is that easy. Just come with me.” He stood and tugged on her hand.
She stood and faced him. “I hope you find someone that really deserves you. The kind of person who understands putting ratings ahead of people’s lives. Goodbye, Max.”
He blinked, nodded, and pivoted to the door. She watched him stride away, tension in every step. And then the door shut quietly behind him.
She let out a breath of relief. She was alone again. No one asking about her, no one trying to fix her, just her and Bryce. That was all she needed.
~ ~ ~
Trav sat at Garner’s bar Saturday night, nursing a beer, Rico at his side. The Knicks were playing on TV above the bar, but his mind wasn’t on the game. He turned to Rico. “Ry says Max stopped by to see Daisy, but she sent him packing.”
Rico shook his head. “He shouldn’t have told you that.”
“Why? You wouldn’t want to know if an ex was moving in on your woman?”
“She’s not your—”
“You’d better shut it.”
“You guys gossip like a bunch of old ladies. So he stopped by. Who cares? She kicked him out. Do you feel any better for knowing about it?”
Trav peeled the label off his beer bottle. “No,” he admitted.
Rico inclined his head and turned his attention back to the Knicks.
“He offered to let her move in with him,” Trav said.
Rico’s head snapped around. “Are you kidding me? That’s fucking wrong. I’d kick his ass.”
“See? I told you.”
“What an asshole.”
“I know!” Trav felt marginally better to have Rico back him up. “She should live with me.”
Rico put his hand up. “Stop right there. She sent him packing when he asked her to live with him. You think you’ll do any better? ’Cuz I gotta say history ain’t on your side.”
Trav took a pull on his beer. “Let her come to me, huh?”
Rico went back to the game. “That’s my motto. And they always do.”
Yeah, but Rico didn’t have a particular woman he wanted to come to him. He could afford to sit back and take whatever came his way. Trav wanted Daisy. He blew out a frustrated breath. He was no closer to having them be a family now than he was the day Bryce was born.
He had no clue how to reach her.
He only knew he had to try.
~ ~ ~
On Sunday the reporters finally left, and Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. Bryce went off with Trav for their daddy-son day. Trav was really becoming a nuisance. He checked in on her every freaking day, studying her like she was going to disappear right before his eyes. She was glad he would be busy with Bryce today.
She pulled into her parents’ driveway, only a ten-minute drive from Ry and Liz’s place, and knocked on the front door. She could’ve used her key, but she’d learned the hard way not to bust in on them without warning. The image of her parents naked on the sofa was burned into her brain. Seriously, there were four bedrooms upstairs.
Her dad answered. “Hey, sweetheart, good to see you. How’re you holding up?”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Fine.” Her standard answer nowadays. “How’re you guys?”
“Good.” He turned and called upstairs. “Heather, your daughter is here!”
“Which one?”
“Which one do you want it to be?” Daisy called.
Her mom came downstairs. “Daisy, just the one I hoped. Honey, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About this.” Her mom approached, lifting a lock of Daisy’s hair, pulling the sides of Ryan’s oversized sweatshirt. “This look is really not working for you.”
Daisy waved that away. “I’m heading back to my place after this. I’ll wear my own clothes again soon.”
Her mother stared. “And your hair. You’ve got to wash your hair. And brush it.”
“I will. Soon.”
Her mom put her hands on her hips. “Liz says you’re not leaving the hous
e and you haven’t had anyone over.”
The freaking Garner police.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Daisy huffed. “I left the house. Report back to Liz next time you talk about me.”
“You want some hot cocoa with marshmallows?” her mom asked, already heading for the kitchen.
The drink promised nostalgic comfort for all those winter days when her mom had cocoa warm and ready for them when they came in from the cold.
“Yes, please.” She followed her to the kitchen and sat in the cozy breakfast nook at the round wood table. She still always sat in her old spot, facing the window, where she had a view of the side yard, trees, and, in the warmer months, blooming azalea bushes.
Her dad stopped by. “I’m heading into town to pick up a new switchplate. Need anything?”
“We’re good, thanks,” her mom replied.
Her dad kissed her mom on the lips. Her parents’ marriage was strong. She could do with a little less PDA in front of the kids, but she was glad. It seemed like they’d always been this way. Totally in love. Working together, enjoying each other. She’d never heard them fight.
Her dad left, and then it was just Daisy and her mom.
Her mom bustled around the kitchen, preparing the cocoa. Daisy sat quietly, watching her mom work, the sight soothing her. A short while later, her mom joined her at the table with two steaming hot cups of cocoa.
Daisy took a sip. “Mom, how did you know marrying Dad was the right thing to do?”
Her mom looked surprised at the question. “Because we loved each other, of course.”
“Yes, but how did you know marriage was the right choice?” She stirred the mini marshmallows in her cocoa. “Was he, like, your soul mate? Like two halves coming together to make one whole?”
Her mom looked at her like she was an idiot.
Daisy pushed on. “Because Max says we’re soul mates. He wants to marry me.”
“Mr. Big Shot Producer,” her mom muttered. “No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean, no, I don’t believe in soul mates, that is, one person just for you. I think people’s hearts are bigger than that. You can love many times over. The person that’s right for you is the person that you genuinely like and want to be with through thick and thin. And, of course, chemistry helps too.” She laughed.
Daisy Does It All (Clover Park, Book 2) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) Page 21
