The Daisy

by Morgan Dawson

  Soon, I’m hugging Adeline and she squeezes my shoulder tightly. “Bye, Genevieve. And do tell Darlene that I want to come see baby Levi, but it’s a little hard to take these two out.”

  “Oh, Adi. I’m sure she understands.”

  “Hurry up. I want to go home,” Douglas whines, climbing into the wagon.

  I sigh while forcing a smile, before turning back to Adeline with my eyes wide. She laughs and goes back into her house.

  I’m forced to climb into a wagon with two boys I can’t stand and a stepmother I somewhat tolerate but can’t quite get over the fact she’s replacing my ma.

  Chapter 6

  It’s Monday morning and Freida has gone down to the creek with Lydia. Hazel went to get some water from the well and Douglas and Bradley went to chop firewood. I’m left doing the dishes from breakfast.

  Pa sighs in his chair next to the unlit fireplace. “Those boys. You’re having a hard time getting along with them, aren’t you?”

  Swallowing the growing lump in my throat, I look to Pa. “I’m trying to, Pa. Believe me I am.”

  “I know, dear. I’m just trying so hard to keep them happy. I don’t want Freida to feel like her family is causing problems since they’re the ones who moved in.”

  “I know, Pa.” I keep scrubbing at the plate in my hand.

  He clears his throat before continuing. “I know Freida isn’t your ma.” I tense as he says it, looking down at my skirt. “And I just want you to know, I miss your ma…a lot. But, I don’t want to be alone, Genevieve. You girls are going to be leaving soon. And when I met Freida, her smile made me so happy and her kindness made me fall in love.”

  “Pa.” I stop him. “I don’t need the details of your love life.”

  He chuckles, standing up. “I know. I just feel like I didn’t do it right. I didn’t ask you girls if you were okay with me marrying her.”

  “I don’t really care, Pa. I’ll be moving out soon anyway.”

  He sighs. “So you’re counting down the days until you get out of here? That’s not what I want. I want your last memories at home to be happy ones.”

  “Pa. I’m happy. Okay?” I say a little too sharply and look down at the soapy water in the basin. Then without thinking, I turn to him. “Did you ever wonder if Ma was sad when you married Freida?”

  He looks startled by my question as his breath hitches. “I…yes, I did. Several times. Come here.” He holds his arms open, and I move to hug him, holding him tightly.

  “Pa. I still love you. I suppose I’m just struggling to get used to Freida being around.”

  “I know. I don’t expect you to be comfortable right away. Just know I only did what I thought was right.”

  Letting go, I smile up at him. “I know, Pa. I know.”

  * * *

  It’s been a day since Pa and I had our talk while I was washing up. It’s early in the morning because, once again, I couldn’t sleep. My dream was what woke me actually. Ma was there, at the door, crying because Pa had married Freida. She was crying saying, “Lawrence. Didn’t you ever love me?”

  I watched from the window, unable to move. She tried opening the door, but it wouldn’t open. We were separated.

  I shake myself out of reliving the nightmare. Instead, I focus on the fabric in front of me. I’m sewing the fabric Joel gave me into a dress. While working on this, though, I keep finding myself thinking of how I never thought I’d see him again. Heck, I never wanted to see him again.

  But he didn’t seem as angry with life anymore. His face was still scarred with a pink slash, running from the corner of his mouth across his cheek.

  His hair was still a thick mass of black curls. And he still had a sense of humour. No. I stop myself. I am never going to see Joel Adams again. And for good reason. My family will hate me if they find out I gave him so much money all those years ago.

  No, I will never, ever see Joel again.

  Soon, Hazel is climbing down the ladder, already dressed with her hair neatly brushed.

  “Wow, that’s beautiful fabric. Where’d you get it?”

  I hear all the possible lies bounce around my mind. “I found it by the creek.”

  What? I ask myself. Is that seriously the best I could come up with?

  Hazel must not buy it, because she takes a seat in the chair next to me. “The creek?”

  “Uh…yes. I think someone left it there while washing it.” I look down.

  She smiles. “You’re lying. That’s why you’re not making eye contact. Where’d you really get it?”

  I sigh, deciding to alter the truth a bit. There’s no harm in doing that. “A boy.”

  She raises her hands to her mouth. “A boy? Who is he? What’s his name? Where is he from?”

  I laugh, resting my hand on her knee. “Just a boy that was at the mercantile on Sunday. He saw me looking at it and bought it for me. He didn’t tell me he was going to, though. I would’ve said no otherwise.”

  “What’s his name?”

  I sigh, pretending to look sad. “I don’t remember. Johnny? Joseph? Something like that.”

  She sighs leaning back in her chair. “How dreamy. And someday he’ll ride in on a horse and shower you with bouquets of flowers!”

  I giggle, setting the fabric on the table. “Yeah, right. That’s a total dream world. I’m never going to see him again.”

  “Well, if he’s in Riverbend, you might.” She smiles taking my hand. “Don’t worry, Genevieve. We’ll find your lost Johnny or Joseph…or something like that.”

  I laugh, standing from my chair. “You’re hilarious. Now come help me with breakfast.”

  Still grinning, we begin to prepare some food for when everyone wakes up. I’m happy I can share this with her, but not have to risk bringing the wheat stealer into it. Just some boy. Named Johnny or Joseph.

  Chapter 7

  “And guess what… Genevieve met a boy at the…”

  I drop my fork, hearing it clatter on to my plate. “Hazel!” I warn, faking a smile.

  “Oh, you want to tell it?” She grins.

  Lydia giggles in her seat. “Yes…tell us about this boy.”

  “No.” I cross my arms over my chest.

  “Okay.” Hazel pauses. “Then I will.”

  I flash her a look but she just smiles. “Come on, Genevieve. It’s so adorable.”

  “Fine.” I look down at my scrambled eggs, pretending to be transfixed on something in them.

  “Well she went to the mercantile on Sunday, and a boy bought her fabric. Now she’s making a dress with it. She doesn’t remember his name, though.”

  “Ooohhh. Genevieve’s in love.” Bradley laughs from his seat.

  My face heats up, and I glower at him. “I am not.”

  Freida smiles at me. “What did he look like? Surely we can find him again.”

  “Nope,” I say quickly. “He lives far, far away. I think he said Kansas.”

  I stand from the table taking my plate to the garbage, dumping the remainder of my eggs in the scraps bin. Everyone seems to have moved on from the subject as I begin to do dishes. Silently, I think to myself that maybe I can tell my family. Just not his name or who he is. They’ll never know.

  * * *

  I’m sitting with my feet dipped in the cool water of my new happy place. The sun is beating down on the top of my head, but it’s actually quite nice. The flowers smell fresh and I can hear the bees buzzing around me. It’s peaceful here. Just the way I like it.

  The breeze is refreshing. Not too strong, just blowing gently. I find a bush with red berries on it, that I can tell are raspberries so I smile and reach out to pluck one. It’s juicy in my mouth, so I instantly reach to grab another one.

  “Genevieve?” I hear a familiar voice behind me. Turning to the sound, Freida is standing behind me.

  “Yes, Freida?” I nearly want to cry. My spot is no longer a secret.

  She smiles, sitting down on the grass next to me. “Well I saw you coming out here and I
wanted to tell you something.” Freida pauses, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I saw you sitting with the boy on the bench when you left. I didn’t mean to spy on you, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. I recognized him. When the boys and I lived in our old house, we used to take leftovers for his family. They don’t have a ma or pa.”

  “I know.” I stop her.

  “Oh, well his name is Joel Adams. I could take you to see him again.”

  I stand, glaring down at her. “You will do no such thing.”

  She tilts her head looking at me. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I don’t like him. And you will never say his name again, especially around my father.” I hear my voice rising.

  “Genevieve.” She frowns.

  “No. No. Y-you can’t say his name ever again. And I most especially do not want to know him.”

  She sighs. “Please tell me what this is about.”

  I begin debating whether I should. Maybe if I do she won’t tell or maybe she will. But for some reason, I decide to confide in Freida.

  I finish my story of how my pa was in a state of depression after our ma died and how Darlene, Adeline, Lydia, Hazel, and I had been working to get the crop off in time to pay the bank. How one day, the wheat was gone and Robert and Darlene had chased after the wagon going into the distance. And his name was Joel. Joel Adams. That Pa had spared him because he wanted the money for his sick mother.

  Then I told her something I’ve never told anyone before. How I gave him some money behind my families back, and I’d never seen him again. I told her how he wanted to repay me and that’s why he bought me the fabric.

  It’s silent for a minute and I watch Freida as she seems to be taking in my story. “Your father? He was mad at this boy?”

  I nod, looking down at the grass beneath me. “He’d be angered to know I gave him money. I don’t know why I even did. I was only about fourteen then. Maybe because his Ma was sick and I knew how it felt to try to provide. He said his siblings were worried and he decided he needed money to help them.”

  “Do you like him?”

  I sigh. “I like him as a person. I think he means well, but I don’t like-like him.”

  “Hmm…interesting. See, from all my experiences with him, he’s a very polite boy. Thanks for talking to me about it, Genevieve. I know that me moving in with the boys hasn’t been the greatest experience for you. And I know Bradley and Douglas are acting up a lot, but take my word when I say it’s not them. They’ve only been doing it since we’ve moved in and…I don’t know why.”

  “No, I’m glad Pa found someone again.”

  She leans against a tree frowning. “I know you miss your ma and I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m her replacement. Your ma is a very special person, one I could never dream of replacing. I just want to be there for you and your sisters. I won’t tell your pa about Joel.”

  I smile and without thinking, I find myself reaching to hug her. I smile as she strokes my hair. “Thank you, Freida.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. Joel Adams will be our little secret.”

  Chapter 8

  Right now, I’m questioning everything. I’m sitting beside Freida in the wagon as she drives my sisters and me to Riverbend. She said she wanted to take us on a girl’s day.

  This morning we’d prepared a picnic of chicken sandwiches and climbed into the wagon. I was actually a bit excited to go. After Freida and I had our discussion two days ago, things with her have improved. And I’ve actually been sleeping. I still wake up earlier than normal, but I can sleep for more than two hours at a time now.

  Things with Bradley and Douglas, however, have gotten worse. It’s like every day they get more whiny and just plain mean.

  We soon reach Riverbend and Freida stops the wagon by the church. “We can walk to the river for our picnic, perhaps?”

  I smile at the idea because it’s just like our first day in Riverbend two years ago. Adeline was meeting with a man to discuss her teaching at the Riverbend school. She’d gotten the job, of course. That afternoon, we’d eaten by the river before heading to the schoolhouse for the town to meet Adeline. They had to vote whether they wanted her to teach. That day was our first time ever in Riverbend, and now this place is almost like a second home to us.

  Freida, Lydia, Hazel, and I amble down to the river, basket and blanket in hand.

  By the river, we find a shady spot under a large oak tree and I lay out the blanket. The four of us sit down and begin to unpack our food.

  We sit quietly at first as I watch the river rushing past us.

  “So your father told me you once lived in Kansas before moving out here. Do you remember it very well?”

  I smile, trying to think back to our life in Kansas. “Not really. I was quite young when we moved. Hazel and Lydia were only toddlers. You should ask Darlene, though. She remembers more than me.”

  “Yes, I don’t even remember living in Kansas. The only life I’ve known has been here in Nebraska,” Hazel says, taking a bite of her sandwich.

  Freida sighs, her eyes sparkling. “My mother lived there, but she then moved here to marry my father. I’ve always wanted to visit Kansas, to see where my mother grew up.”

  “I’d like to go back someday too. Maybe see where my ma and pa first lived.” Lydia’s voice has a bit of sadness to it.

  “Okay, Genevieve. I know you may not want to share this, but I think us girls can keep secrets fairly well,” Freida starts as she takes the last bite of her sandwich.

  I smile, knowing what she’s referring to. I begin rubbing my sweaty hands on my skirt. “You’re right. Lydia. Hazel. I’ve got something to tell you.”

  And so I launch into explaining how I gave Joel the money and how he was Johnny or Joseph.

  “You gave the wheat thief, money?” Hazel exclaims, her eyes wide.

  “Yes, his mother was dying and he needed the money to help provide for his siblings.”

  Lydia looks to Freida, then me, clearly unsure of what to say. She furrows her eyebrows, though, and says. “What if he killed you when you went after him? And how did you know he wouldn’t use the money for something like liquor?”

  I smile at her. “Well, I thought he was at one point going to kill me. But he soon calmed down and started to tell me about his siblings and how his father had left them. I knew I could trust him. I could tell by the tone of his voice and the emptiness in his eyes that he was speaking the truth.”

  “Well, we can’t tell Pa. Good thing Pa didn’t see him talking to you on Sunday.” Lydia smiles, reaching to take a sip of water from the canteen.

  “Girls, I’m going to run to the mercantile and get some things. You can do as you like for a bit. Meet here in an hour, all right?” Freida smiles as she stands up.

  We watch as she makes her way to the mercantile. Lydia helps me pack up while Hazel folds up the blanket.

  “I’m going to go see if Adeline is home.” Hazel looks at us to see if we want to go with her.

  Lydia grins. “Good idea. Want to come, Genevieve?”

  I shake my head thinking of something else I can do. “No, I’ve got another idea for myself. Tell Adeline I said hello.”

  “Okay, we’ll take this to the wagon. See you later,” Hazel calls back as they make their way toward the wagon.

  It looks like I’ve got the afternoon to myself.

  All of the possible things I can do come to my mind. I could throw pebbles in to the river, a fun thing I used to always do as a child. I could wander around town and socialize with some friends. Maybe I could even go visit Polly.

  I decide to just wander around town. Many people are outside today. Some women are outside hanging their laundry to dry and there is a game of hopscotch going on with a group of young girls.

  It’s beautiful out and that’s why so many people are outside. Their houses are probably scorching from the heat. I find myself heading toward the schoolhouse. I know it’s locked, but I climb the steps up
to the porch and I sit down on the creaky bench just outside.

  I miss school. It was something I’d always looked forward to, but now I’m an adult. I’m still living at home, and I have my whole life ahead of me but all of it remains unknown.

  I don’t know where my life is going or what I should be doing at this time. I have no real interest in anything and sometimes I feel like a wilted flower compared to my sisters. Darlene is such a kind person who is a leader in times of crisis. She’s also beautiful. Adeline is stubborn, but in a good way and she teaches here in Riverbend. She makes money and gets to make a difference in the lives of the children.

  Then there’s Lydia. She is a brilliant weaver. She weaves beautiful pieces, which she then takes to the large town a few days from here when Pa goes. She sells them and people always compliment her work.

  Hazel is definitely the wittiest sister. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t instantly like her. She is her own person, unique in every way. She runs through the woods all the time and she was doing it long before I was. She was the one who urged me to enter the bushes for the first time three years ago. I’d always been intimidated by the dark forests and all of the ways I could get lost. She knows every berry and poisonous thing in those bushes. How? I don’t know. Ma must have taught her, or maybe Pa.

  I do nothing exciting or different. I read, but that’s about all I do. I’m not brave like Hazel. I’m not a leader like Darlene. I’m just me.

  A voice pulls me out of my thoughts. One I was hoping to not hear again. “Genevieve?”

  Chapter 9

  “Genevieve? What a surprise.” Joel climbs the steps of the schoolhouse and sits down on the bench next to me.

  “How is it that I’ve never seen you in Riverbend until now?” I laugh, leaning my head back against the wall of the schoolhouse and automatically raise my hand to the pendant.

  He lets out a breath. “I’m not sure. Sunday was my first time attending church. My siblings have always gone, but I always deemed it unnecessary. Until I nearly died. I was lost in the woods, been there maybe two days. I was so thirsty and I’d searched for a water source but there was none for miles. I was extremely weak but I knew how to hunt so I wasn’t hungry. I collapsed after a few more hours of walking. I remember lying there and I started to pray that I’d live. I prayed for my siblings to be all right if I died, and I mostly prayed for a way out. Then I saw it…a cat.” He pauses, looking at me before continuing.