Pushing Up Daisies

by Jamise L. Dames

  “You can. I already have a buyer.”

  “Who?”

  “Me.”

  “Ma, you and Dad already have three cars.”

  “That old red one isn’t a car, it’s a 1976 get-out-and-push. And besides, I need a car when I’m here, and you need the money. So give me the title, and I’ll write you a check.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Well, look at it this way. I won’t give you the money that you need. I worked too hard for my money to give it away. But I will pay you for the Jeep, and you can buy it back from me later.”

  “How much choice do I have, anyway?”

  “Not much.”

  The telephone rang, and Ms. Christine moved to answer it.

  Daisy sat at the kitchen table, her attention drifting from her mother’s conversation to thoughts of Jay. She knew that selling the Jeep was the only way she’d be able to obtain the services of a good lawyer. She sighed, feeling as if she were coming down from a mental and physical high. Exhaustion crept in, and her eyelids became heavy. Her body and mind wanted to relax, but she couldn’t. There was still too much to do.

  “You ready?” Ms. Christine asked.

  “For what?”

  Ms. Christine put on her jacket and grabbed her purse from the back of a chair. “That was Edmund.”

  “Who?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Mr. Wiles. His said I should call him Edmund. He’s such a gentleman.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He said that we can go to his son’s place now. I didn’t know that he was going to rent you his place while he’s away. It’s so wonderful that he’s going on sabbatical. He’s a professor, you know. What a wonderful…”

  Ms. Christine was still talking as they made their way to the car. As much as Daisy loved her mother, she was starting to get on her nerves. One could only tolerate so much chat. I know I should be thankful that she’s here to help, but damn, I swear she’s going to burst my eardrums.

  Daisy drove a little faster than usual. She didn’t want to keep Jacob waiting, and she wasn’t about to give Ms. Christine a chance to start talking nonstop again. She was already on edge, and she didn’t want to risk snapping at her mother and putting another wedge between them. She turned on the radio and surfed through the channels, then thought better of it and turned it off. She remembered that Ms. Christine was also a singer, or thought that she was.

  Then it came to her. She knew how to keep Ms. Christine quiet: give her the opportunity to eavesdrop. Adjusting her ear-piece, Daisy flipped her cell phone open and dialed Ming Li. She hadn’t heard from her in a while and, like Gigi, was getting worried. It wasn’t like Ming Li to disappear.

  “Hello?” Daisy said into the phone after she didn’t hear a ring. “Hello?” She heard someone breathing on the other end of the line.

  “Mom?” Jay whispered.

  “Jay? Is that you, baby?” Relief, sadness, and happiness spread through her at once. She pulled over immediately, wanting to give Jay her undivided attention. Just the sound of his voice brought her comfort. She paid no attention to Ms. Christine, who’d grabbed the door handle to steady herself. Daisy didn’t hear the blaring horns of the cars behind her. She’d almost caused an accident and wasn’t even aware of it. “Is it really you?”

  “Yes.”

  Daisy opened her door and got out, practically skipping as she talked. “Oh, baby. How are you? Where are you?”

  “I’m okay. I’m at some strange people’s house. I don’t know them.”

  “What? Whose house? You mean your dad’s parents?”

  “No, some other people. The lady that came and got me from school brought me here. Me and two other kids. When are you coming to get me? You told me that you weren’t going to leave me, ever.”

  “As soon as I can, baby. I’m doing everything possible to get you back. I’m so sorry that you’ve had to go through this. But I want you to know that I didn’t leave you, Jay. I’d never leave you. Okay? I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom. I gotta go. I’m not supposed to be on the phone.”

  “Okay, baby. But do you know where you are—the address?”

  The line clicked off.

  Daisy leaned against the front of the Jeep and tried to summon her strength. Jay’s voice dominated her thoughts. “He’s in foster care.” She banged her fist and swallowed hard. “My poor baby.”

  “Are you okay?” Ms. Christine asked, her window rolled down.

  “No. That Social Services bitch put Jay in fuckin’ foster care like he’s homeless or something,” Daisy spat, too upset to watch her language in front of her mother.

  Ms. Christine hopped out of the passenger side. “She did what? Oh, hell no! Not my grandson—no, she didn’t. Come on, baby. We have a lot of work to do. We can cry later. I guess they don’t know who they’re dealing with. We’re Parkers. We may bend, but we don’t break.”

  “What can we do?”

  “First, we get this apartment. That’s the most important thing, having a place for Jay to stay. Then we get the lawyer, and you gather your check stubs and paperwork. We’ll handle it. I don’t give a damn how much it costs. When there’s no bridge, you build one.”

  Daisy and Ms. Christine slipped into the apartment building as someone walked out. Daisy had wanted to ring the bell, but Ms. Christine had insisted that they go in on their own and check out the whole building without interference from Jacob.

  “It’s better to see for yourself,” she’d said. “That way, you can take your time and not miss anything. You don’t want anyone rushing you.”

  After they’d inspected all ten floors, Daisy stood in front of Jacob’s apartment. She pulled a note from the door. He’d had to leave for a few minutes, and he’d instructed them to go on in.

  “It must be pretty safe around here,” she said to her mother as they stepped inside.

  “And he must trust us. I wouldn’t just let some stranger walk into my house when I wasn’t home.”

  Daisy walked through the large apartment. She’d decided to work her way from the back to the front. She could tell that Jacob Wiles was a bachelor by his sparse furniture, almost empty kitchen cupboards, and the overall lack of detail that a feminine touch would have provided.

  Daisy smirked at her own thoughts. She was supposed to be checking out the place, not the man. Still, she couldn’t help it. She picked up a picture from a distressed dresser, wondering if it was of Jacob. Something about this man she hadn’t yet met was intriguing. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew that it had something to do with his career, and his smile—if it was him in the photo. She’d always been attracted to educated men and found herself extremely interested in meeting him all of a sudden. I wonder what makes him tick.

  His office was in disarray, and his large bedroom seemed small because it was cluttered with books and papers. She picked up a book and nodded. Seventeenth-century literature; he could be boring.

  She returned to the living room. Overall, the apartment was nice. Not exactly what Jay had grown accustomed to, but wonderful in comparison to their last place. The building was quiet, the neighborhood safe, and there were two bedrooms.

  Daisy relaxed. She was thankful and knew that Jay would be appreciative too. I’ve lucked up again. Given her mediocre credit history, length of employment, and small salary, she would’ve had a hard time renting a suitable place elsewhere.

  “So, what do you think?” Ms. Christine asked.

  “I like it.”

  “I’m glad,” a deep voice said from the doorway.

  Daisy turned and smiled. Jacob was the man in the picture, only more attractive in person. He didn’t look like his father, and she wondered what his ethnicity was. His complexion was a light, coppery brown. Her glance easily roamed his body. Slowly and carefully she memorized him like the alphabet. Whew, he’s beautiful! Again she looked into his trusting, gentle hazel eyes. Marveled at his curly black hair, which was cut just abov
e his shoulders, giving him a boyish look. She wondered if he made women’s toes curl like his locks, then smiled. Not bad at all. But a definite no-no.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come in. I’m Daisy Parker. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Jacob grinned and shook her hand. She melted. “It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. Daisy Parker. It is Ms., isn’t it?” He held her hand a moment too long.

  “Yes, it is.” She didn’t pull away.

  Jacob turned his attention to Ms. Christine. “Oh, hello.”

  “Hello.” Ms. Christine nodded. “You have a nice place here. Seems my daughter likes it too.” She shot Daisy an I-see-you-checking-him-out look.

  “So, Ms. Daisy Parker, are you interested?”

  Daisy laughed flirtatiously and wondered if he was asking about himself or his place. “Yes, as interested as I can possibly be. I want it.”

  “It’s yours.”

  “That easy?”

  “Why, should it be difficult? I have a need, and so do you. We can blame it on economics—supply and demand.”

  Daisy licked her lips. “Yes, economics.”

  “I’m sorry, do you two want me to leave?” Ms. Christine chuckled.

  “No, please stay,” Jacob said.

  “So how much is the rent, Jacob?”

  “Just the monthly maintenance fee.” He grabbed a pen and paper, jotted something down, and handed it to Daisy.

  “You’re just like your father,” she said. “He writes down all of his figures.” She handed the paper to Ms. Christine. “I’ll take it.”

  “And dinner too?” Jacob asked.

  “With or without dessert?”

  Ms. Christine stood. “Okay, that’s enough. I am sitting in this room—”

  “Ma, we’re talking about food.”

  “Mmm-hmm. I know. I’m old, but I’m not deaf. I can hear what you’re really saying. It was nice to meet you, Jacob.” Ms. Christine headed toward the front door, then turned to Daisy and whispered, “Don’t be foolish. What looks good to you may not be good for you. Too much to risk, and maybe nothing to gain. Remember, he’s going away for a year.”

  Daisy hummed as she covered her body in shimmering pear-scented lotion. It had been a while since she’d been in the company of a man, and she intended not only to look her best, but smell edible. Despite Ms. Christine’s protests, she had agreed to meet Jacob for dinner. She needed to be wined, dined, and entertained as much as she wanted to be in his presence.

  Since that first meeting, she had thought of him constantly. She hadn’t felt so full of desire since Adonis. Licking her lips, she stood in front of the mirror and shimmied into a hips-ass-and-breasts red dress, as Ming Li liked to call formfitting clothes. She tousled her hair and put on translucent red lip-gloss. She puckered and blew herself a kiss.

  “Ma, I’m leaving!” she hollered, running down the stairs.

  Ms. Christine emerged from the kitchen. “Okay. But I still don’t think you should go.”

  “Why?”

  “You know why. Plus, there are other reasons.”

  Daisy kissed Ms. Christine on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Adonis called.”

  Daisy turned. “What?”

  “He said he was going to—”

  “Never mind, Ma. I’m not ready to deal with that now. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Okay, but don’t blame me when—”

  “Love you!” Daisy called back as she walked out.

  Daisy glanced at her watch. It was only 7:35, and she wasn’t supposed to meet Jacob until eight. She’d decided to arrive before him because she hated the feeling of being watched when she walked into a room. As she walked down Bleecker Street, the whipping wind stung her skin and blew her dress against her legs. She drew her charcoal-gray wool wrap tighter around her. It was hard to be cold and cute at the same time.

  “Finally,” she said, as she entered Agozar’s, a cozy, trendy Cuban restaurant.

  She sat on one of the colorful, padded barstools facing the entrance, ordered a Pasión de Agozar, and took in the atmosphere. The warm, gold-toned walls seemed to dance in the illumination of the flickering candles. Red and moss-green fabrics seemed to announce the upcoming holiday season. Cuban beats coupled with African drums made the standing crowd move with a slight bounce. The seated onlookers were tapping their feet.

  Daisy closed her eyes and swayed to the music. She understood little Spanish but knew enough to tell that it was a song about love, and maybe loss. It had an “I’m sorry” quality to it. Feeling a presence looming over her, she opened her eyes. And froze.

  Adonis was standing next to her, sandwiched between her barstool and the one beside her. His leg was touching her thigh, his eyes sucking her in.

  “Would you like another?” he asked, pointing to her drink.

  Daisy dropped her gaze guiltily. “I’m okay. Thanks anyway.” She checked her watch again: 7:50. Damn. Jacob could show up any minute.

  “You look exceptionally nice. You meeting someone?”

  Daisy pretended to be immersed in the hypnotic flow of the music. He could ask her anything else, but not that.

  “Well?” he persisted.

  “No. Yes. No. Listen, I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back.” She gaited toward the ladies’ room to call Jacob.

  In the bathroom, she hesitated. What excuse could she come up with? She dialed his cell number and prayed that he wasn’t close to the restaurant. She breathed a sigh of relief when his voice mail came on.

  “Hi, Jacob, it’s Daisy. I’m at Agozar’s, and I can’t stay. Something unexpected’s come up. I’m so sorry. I’ll explain later, and I hope you’ll allow me to make it up to you.”

  She walked out of the bathroom and checked her watch again: 7:55. She slowed her pace and paused to see if Jacob had arrived. Good. He was nowhere in sight. She searched for Adonis. If his back was turned, she could make a clean getaway and avoid his questions. She spotted him sitting at the bar, facing the bartender. She held her breath, snaked easily—guiltily—through the crowd, and slipped out the door. Once outside, she tried to blend in with the people walking down the street.

  Then a hand touched her shoulder.

  Oh, God. She turned, praying it wasn’t Jacob or Adonis. No such luck.

  “You were just going to leave me?” Adonis asked, his eyes piercing hers.

  Her phone rang. Daisy ignored it, fearing that it would be Jacob.

  “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  “Aren’t you going to answer?”

  She didn’t know if he was referring to himself or her cell phone, which still hadn’t stopped ringing. Whoever it was must have wanted to talk to her pretty badly.

  “Can we walk and talk? I’m freezing.”

  “My car’s right around the corner. We can talk there.”

  “No, that’s okay. My car’s down the street. Why don’t we meet another time—”

  Adonis grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward him. She could smell his scent, which had always weakened her. “No. I’ll walk you to your car. We’ll talk there.”

  Daisy walked meekly beside him. She felt overpowered but not frightened. His tone hadn’t been threatening, only strong. He’d spoken to her as if she belonged to him, as if he still cared.

  Her phone rang again. Again she ignored it.

  “Why aren’t you answering your phone?” Adonis asked as they approached her Jeep.

  Daisy knew that she’d have to answer eventually.

  “Where are your keys?” Adonis asked.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m driving.”

  “Why do you want to drive?”

  “Why not?” he replied, his bass deepening.

  “Fine.” Daisy reached into her purse, handed him the keys, and got into the car as he held open her door.

  The phone rang again.

  Adonis hopped into the driver’s seat. “Daisy, just answer the damn phone! I
already know you were meeting a man at the restaurant.”

  Daisy had never seen Adonis angry before. Silly as it was, she found his jealousy kind of cute. Reluctantly, she removed the ringing phone from her purse. She tried to look at the caller ID to see who it was.

  Adonis grabbed it out of her hand, flipped it open, and handed it back to her.

  She had no choice but to say hello. She sighed a breath of relief when she heard Gigi on the other end.

  “What’s so urgent, Gigi?” Daisy asked. “Why have you been ringing my phone off the hook?”

  “I just called.”

  “Oh,” Daisy replied, careful not to let Adonis know it hadn’t been Gigi calling the whole time. “What’s up?”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in the car with Adonis. Why?”

  “If you two aren’t busy, could you go to Ming Li’s for me? She’s on some sort of retreat, and someone fell in the shop. They’re threatening to sue her. She needs her insurance policy faxed to her immediately. There’s something wrong with my car, and I can’t do it.”

  “Sure,” Daisy said, hoping that she could create some sort of diversion at Ming Li’s to throw Adonis off. “But I don’t have a key anymore.”

  “There’s a spare one in the back of the house, under the red potted plant. The papers are in her closet chest, in the third drawer.”

  Daisy turned to Adonis. “Emergency at Ming Li’s. I have to go there, pronto.”

  He nodded and made a U-turn, as if he knew where he was going. She wanted to ask him how he knew where Ming Li lived, but then thought better of it. If she talked, it would open up an opportunity for a conversation that she didn’t want to have.

  Adonis swung a right, then a left. As he pulled up in front of Ming Li’s, Daisy looked over at him, eyebrows raised. “Seems you know your way here like you know the back of your hand. I wonder why.” She hopped out and started toward the back of the house.

  Adonis opened his door and got out. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean? You’re the one with the secrets.” He slammed the door shut and followed her.

  Daisy took the key from under the plant and walked around him. “Like I’m the only one. I’m sure you looked up Christy while you were in L.A.”