by Jessa Chase
Most of his colleagues had married young; they’d found wives who fit in well in the corporate culture. Many of them were already starting families, while Cole found himself still stuck at the starting line.
He stared at his cell phone and wished suddenly that he could hear Daisy’s voice. Instead of replying to her in text, he decided to be bold and pressed the “call” button by her contact name.
The phone rang and his heart began pounding furiously in his chest. He suddenly wasn’t sure if he wanted her to answer, or if the very thought terrified him to his core.
“Hello?” Her voice rang down the line and he smiled instinctively. It hadn’t been long at all since he’d seen her, but hearing her voice made him happier than he cared to admit.
“I thought this might be easier,” he said, wincing at the way his voice wobbled when he spoke. “I’m starting to question my sanity, though, so I really don’t know.”
He stood and paced, one hand on his forehead and the other gripping the phone like a lifeline.
Daisy laughed. “Don’t worry about it, you aren’t the only one feeling a little crazy tonight.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
He stopped pacing, stopped breathing. “Anything.”
“You were telling me about your time here in Madelia when you were younger, before we-“
“Before I kissed you and we got a little distracted.”
“Exactly.”
Cole sat on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table.
“I spent a lot of summers here, when I was a kid. With my aunt. She took me in, let me get away from my parents for a while.”
“She was really good about stuff like that,” Daisy said with a sigh. “I grew up not far from here, but I don’t remember seeing you around. I feel like I’d remember you.”
Cole laughed. “I was what you’d probably call a bit of a homebody. I don’t think I ventured out much, and when I did I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly. I doubt you’d have given me a second look if you’d seen me back then.”
“I don’t know, cute guy with the sullen teenage broody thing going? That was definitely my cup of tea back then.”
“Sullen and broody? I had that in spades. Didn’t realized I could have been catnip for the ladies all this time.”
“You’re definitely catnip now, even without the broodiness.” He thought he heard her getting more comfortable, imagined maybe she was settling back against her pillows in bed.
“I don't have much to brood about nowadays. I have my aunt Eleanor to thank for a lot of that, actually. She gave me a love of reading, pushed me to check out books at the library. Believe it or not, I cultivated my love for math, for accounting because of her.”
“Sounds like you really enjoyed your summers here.”
Cole sighed happily, remembering his time in Madelia. “I really did. It was so different from where I spent the rest of my time. Everything goes so much slower here, even the traffic. It was like being on an alien planet, except I think it was the rest of the year that I felt like an alien. When I was here, I felt…I felt like I was at home.”
“Madelia has that effect on people. I really love it here.”
“You moved here when you were a teenager, right?”
“I did. My momma kicked me out when I was 16. She didn’t want to be a grandma. Mrs. Shuster took me in, Lord knows why, but she did. And she helped me so much. I’m not ever going to be able to make it up to her, not really.”
Cole listened to her speak and knew he felt much the same way as she did. He regretted not staying as close in touch with his aunt over the years as he’d always meant to. He regretted moving so far away, cutting all his emotional ties, but at the time getting away from his parents had been more important than keeping in touch with his great aunt.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said softly, as he could hear the emotional toll their conversation was having on Daisy. Her voice had been so happy when they’d first gone down memory lane, but he realized that she was feeling regrets as well. It killed him to think he’d caused her any kind of pain.
“Don’t worry about it,” she replied with a sniffle. “Some days I’m just like this. And talking about your aunt, talking about everything she’s done for me and Mason. Well it tends to get me going.”
“Your son seems pretty great.”
“He really is,” she gushed, and he smiled when he heard the excitement rise in her voice again. “He’s so smart. I know I’m biased and everybody thinks their kid is a genius, but he truly is so, so smart. He’s already reading a fair bit and he’s not even 5 years old.”
“That’s impressive. You sound like a pretty proud momma.”
“Oh, I am. And don’t get me started because I will totally talk your ear off about him until you can’t stand it anymore. Believe me, ask just about anybody in town. They know way more about Mason than they ever probably wanted to know. But yeah, I’m a proud momma, and I can’t help it.” She paused, and he pictured her worrying her bottom lip with her teeth again.
“Do you have any kids?”
“I don’t,” he said as he let out a long sigh. “I’d say I haven’t had the time, but that’s a lie. My coworkers all have wives and some of them even have babies, and they are all as busy as I am. So that’s not quite the truth. I just…I don’t know. Growing up the way I did, with the parents I had, didn’t make me all that anxious to jump right out there and get hitched.”
Daisy laughed. “Lord knows a wedding ring isn’t exactly a requirement for babies. Look at me.”
“Did you want to get married?”
“To Mason’s daddy, you mean? Maybe I did, back when I was full of hormones and a teenage idiot. But I know better now. We haven’t seen or heard from him pretty much since the day I found out I was pregnant, so I’m glad I didn’t try to tie him down to me.”
“Sounds like he missed out on something really special. Now, I’ll refrain from making a comment about being tied down to you, but I’ll tell you it’s going to be a challenge.”
Daisy sputtered. “I’d appreciate that. Don’t need any more ideas about you percolating in my head before I head to bed.”
“Well see, now you mentioned bed, and I have some ideas of my own.” He’d found himself relaxing on the couch as he’d been speaking with Daisy, to the point that he was more relaxed than he’d been in quite a while. “Ideas involving you, and me, and a bedroom with a sturdy headboard and an even sturdier lock.”
He took a swig of his beer and listened with satisfaction to her stuttering on the other end of the line.
“Well that’s not very nice at all,” she said after a moment. “You know, you’re talking to a woman who has read every romance novel in the Madelia library. I’m not sure you want to compete with me when it comes to bedroom ideas.”
Cole couldn’t help himself, he laughed out loud. God, he loved talking to this woman.
“In that case, what are you wearing right now? And what kind of bedroom thoughts have you been thinking about me?”
She chuckled. “I think you can be a little more creative than that, Cole. But since you asked, I’m in my pajamas. I just bought this pair and I’m quite fond of them. They have pockets. A girl can never have too many pockets.”
“Tell me more,” he said quietly.
“Nuh uh,” she replied. “Fair is fair. What are you wearing?”
“I’m embarrassed to admit that I am wearing the same jeans and t-shirt you saw me in the other day. Didn’t really expect to be sticking around this long, so I didn’t bring very many changes of clothing. My t-shirt still smells a little bit like you though, which I’m enjoying a whole lot right now.”
He could just imagine her cheeks flaring red as he spoke, and the image made him smile. He wished she was there with him so he could explore and find out just how far down that blush could go.
She hadn’t spoken in long enough that he wondere
d if she’d hung up. “You still there, Daisy?”
“Mmm hmm,” he heard her mumble.
“I thought maybe I went too far.” In fact, his heart had started beating double-time when she’d stopped responding. He had never been all that good at flirting in the first place, much less flirting with a woman like Daisy. He felt like he was doggy paddling in the deep end without a life preserver.
“You definitely gave me something worth thinking about,” she said after a moment. He was pretty sure he could hear her smile over the phone. “Only seems fair that I do the same.”
Oh boy, he thought to himself with a laugh. It was going to be a long night.
DAISY
Daisy placed three plates on the shiny diner tabletop as Mike, Howard and Frank took their seats. The guys all worked together at the factory nearby and they always came into the diner for lunch together. They also always had the same thing for lunch; burgers with extra meat, three slices of cheddar cheese, extra mayo, and a big order of onion rings for the table.
They were so consistent that now she was able to usually have their food on the table before their butts hit the chairs As she placed a glass bottle of ketchup next to Howard, the guys muttered their thanks and then shifted to their harmless flirting. Daisy flashed them her biggest, friendliest smile.
“Shout for me if you need anything, boys,” she said as she patted Mike on the back. She turned to Enzo and announced, “Bus is here early, I’ll be outside.”
Without looking her way, the cook waved a hand at her to go on. She untied her apron and tossed it on one of the hat hooks on her way out. Pretty much everyone in Madelia knew the highlight of Daisy’s Tuesdays and Fridays was watching people arrive on the twice-weekly Greyhound.
Some days no one got off at all, plenty of days the only person to get off was a local who was returning to town. But some days—some days a stranger climbed down the steps. Those were the days she lived for. On those days she got to look into the face of a person she didn't know the life history of. On those days she could imagine the interesting lives they had somewhere else and think of all kinds of reasons they could have ended up here for a night or a two at the Madelia Inn.
Daisy watched with excitement as the bus doors slid open with a whoosh and a crack. She felt disappointed when Edward Jenkins came off and held an age-spotted hand up to help his wife down the steps. They had gone all the way to Puyallup to see their first great grandchild be born. Daisy had been so preoccupied with what was going on with Mrs. Shuster, and the sudden appearance of Cole, the very handsome great nephew, and she completely forgotten they were due home today.
She leaned back against the diner's brick wall and crossed her arms in front of her as Darrel, the couple’s youngest son, came forward to greet and help them. She hadn’t been feeling very good the last few days, and she’d been really looking forward to the bus arriving to take her mind off of things.
And so she watched and she waited. The doors were still open. There was the chance that someone else would step off.
The sun was pounding down on her head, making her feel warmer than she’d expected to feel this late into the Fall season. Daisy raised the back of her hand to her forehead, felt the difference in temperatures. Maybe she was coming down with something, she thought absently. It was a little early for a cold, but Mason was always bringing something home with him.
Her thoughts broke off as another person suddenly appeared in the open bus doorway, but she recognized him instantly as the bus driver, Billy. She knew he had gotten off to get the luggage for the Jenkins. That didn't mean anyone else would be getting off.
But then another man stepped down onto the paved road and then up onto the sidewalk. He glanced around, his attention landing on her for a moment before he went to retrieve his own baggage. Then another stranger emerged. A woman this time.
Daisy didn't think the two were together. The woman's gaze didn't search out the man who had gotten off before her. Instead her attention settled on the bus driver and she headed toward him.
Two people in one day. And since Puyallup was only a little over an hour away from the tiny town of Madelia, the bus didn't stay around long enough for riders to go into the diner and order a meal or even shop at the few little stores on the same street.
That meant the two strangers were staying, if only for a while. Unless someone was coming for them, they would be here until the next bus, days from now. If they didn't want to eat cold sandwiches and junk food during that time, they would have to come into the dinner. There wasn't anywhere else in Madelia to buy a hot meal.
Daisy stepped forward and waved a hand to the two strangers as they grabbed their luggage from Billy.
“Hi there!” She said with a bright smile on her face. “My name is Daisy, I wanted to welcome you to Madelia!”
The wind had picked up a little bit after the bus departed, and was whipping her skirt around her legs, but she was able to settle the fabric down with one hand and continue talking.
“Hi, Daisy,” the woman said after a moment. “Thanks for the welcome. We aren’t going to be around very long, but appreciate it all the same.”
Daisy’s interest was piqued when it was confirmed the two were indeed together. They didn’t seem like they liked each other all that much, something that made Daisy wonder their relationship.
“I’m Carol,” the woman said. “And this is Marc.”
Marc was hauling the majority of their luggage and he looked like he was anxious to get them off the street corner. He tucked his hand into Carol’s elbow and tugged.
“Thank you, again,” Carol said after a quick look at Marc. “We should be going though.”
“Absolutely, didn’t mean to keep you. If you get hungry, the diner here has the best hot meals you’ll find, well pretty much anywhere nearby.” Daisy indicated the diner behind her. “We’d love to have you, and we’re open sunrise to sunset.”
Carol nodded and smiled, saying her brief goodbyes as Marc pulled her across the street to the Inn. Daisy didn’t have much time to ponder the strangeness of the pair, however, as she remembered how busy the diner had been when she’d ducked outside for her break.
“Oh!” She said with a gasp as she turned and headed back inside. She grabbed her apron and tied it back on, her face all business again. She really was so absent-minded these days, she thought to herself. She’d lose her head if it wasn’t attached.
COLE
He was flipping through a stack of receipts when his phone rang. Cole grabbed up his phone and held it between his ear and his shoulder so he could continue his search.
“Hello,” he said offhandedly. He really did need to find one receipt in particular. He wasn’t even sure why he’d answered the phone.
“Hey, Cole,” his coworker Jacob was on the other end of the line. “Wanted to hear it for myself, Michael says you’re visiting family.”
“I am.”
“Well, hell, Cole, I don’t think anybody here even know you had any family. Carly was pretty sure you were an orphan.”
Cole set the papers down and tried to focus on the conversation he was apparently having.
“Nope, not an orphan,” he said through gritted teeth. “My great Aunt is in the hospital, she’s not doing very well. I’m actually going through her financials right now, trying to get a clear picture of her business.”
“Oh? Anything I could help with? You know I love a good audit.” Jacob chuckled to himself. He did a lot of that, Cole thought.
“I appreciate the offer, but I doubt you’re lacking for anything to do back there.”
“Oh I’m buried right now, but it is all the same boring shit. Yours sounds more interesting.”
“Tell you what, I’ll see if somebody in town has a fax machine and I’ll send you some of it. See if you can make sense of it any more than I can.”
“Sounds good. And Cole, the faster you get back here the better. I’m pretty sure you’re in line for the partnership, but they
aren’t exactly looking for a telecommuter.”
The conversation ended on an ominous beat, giving Cole quite a lot to think about while he continued his hunt for the receipt.
All he’d ever wanted was to make partner. He’d put pretty much everything else on hold until he could wrangle that particular achievement.
He hadn't had a serious relationship since, well, since his freshman year in college. He’d dated plenty, but always avoided anything serious because he worried a relationship would get in the way of making partner.
So why was he sitting on his great aunt’s couch, sifting through her financial papers, desperately trying to find a way to make the diner into a feasible business prospect?
He didn't have to think very hard on that one, even if he didn’t particularly like the answer.
Daisy.
It all came back to Daisy, with her wild red hair and her sassy smirks. Daisy, with her faith in the diner and her growing faith in him coming to the rescue.
DAISY
Daisy’s car was held together by duct tape, coat hangers, and more curses than prayers, but it got her where she needed to go and only broke down when she didn’t give it enough love, attention and oil.
That Sunday was going to be one of those times, she realized when she went to turn the engine over and was met with silence instead.
“Dammit!” She exclaimed, before covering her mouth with her hand.
“What’s dammit momma?”
“A word I shouldn’t have said, I’m sorry baby. Momma’s got to figure out what to do here, give me a second okay?”
She pulled her hands out of her gloves, breathed on them to warm her fingertips up, and punched in Cole’s phone number.
It only rang twice before he came on the line, his voice sleepy like she’d just woke him up.
“Cole?” She said when he answered. “I hate to do this to you, I know I’m being a pain in the rear but my car’s dead and we were heading to the hospital.”
“I’ll be right over,” he replied. Without a second’s hesitation, Daisy noted with surprise. Granted, she’d called him hoping he would be available and able to help, but she hadn’t had a lot of experience in her life with men doing what they said they’d do. To have a man like Cole hop out of bed and willing to help, well it was something brand new to her.
