Clayton’s truck pulled into his side of the driveway. She felt the corner of her lips tug into a smile. He made her smile without trying, without even knowing he did. He made her smile when she didn’t feel like it. She started to stand up to meet him, but a SUV pulled up behind him just as he stepped out of his truck. It was one of those flashy ones that was built for military missions, but blinged out for show offs. A very good looking blond man got out. He wore sunglasses over his eyes and a watch so big it blinded Daisy even from where she sat.
Clayton seemed to know the man and Daisy watched them have a brief conversation. They spoke quietly and even though they weren’t that far away from her she couldn’t make out what they were saying and she wondered if Clayton had done that on purpose. Probably. It was none of her business anyway, but still she was curious as to who the man was. He left a few minutes later and Clayton had come over to her and plopped himself down on the porch swing next to her.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He kissed the side of her neck. “You want to go out to dinner tonight? It’s too nice to stay inside and cook.”
“If you want to. I don’t mind cooking.”
“I want to take you out. To someplace with table cloths and glasses. There’s a new Caribbean joint in town.”
“Okay.” She tucked her knees beneath her and rested her head on his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him, knowing that was exactly what she needed. “What’s the matter, Daisy?”
“Nothing. Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes. Anything you want.”
“Who was that man you were talking to?”
“Harvey Kurt. He works for the defense contractor that offered me a job.”
“Oh.” She didn’t ask him anymore. She didn’t need to. “I think we need to talk about how we are going to end this.”
“What?” She felt him stiffen beneath her.
“Maybe we don’t need to wait till summer is over. I don’t think the Scotts are really going to try to fight for Aubrey as long as I let them see her and with you going away it doesn’t really make sense to drag this out. We can tell them that we rushed into the engagement. That–”
“No. We’re not doing this now. We’re not talking about ending this when we just got started.”
“But Clayton–”
“No. When the time comes to end this we will, but until then we’re together and I don’t want to think about us being over.”
She fell quiet then. There was nothing more she could say to that.
Chapter 14
Clayton had lived in Durant most of his life, but he had never spent time at Canterbury Lake before. It was a private lake that the wealthier residents of Durant frequented. The thousand dollar a year membership fee keeping unaffordable for most of the middle class families in town. But he was here now with his family celebrating the Fourth of July. He looked over at Daisy who was next to him in a beach chair. Aubrey nearly glued to her side. It was getting dark. The fireworks were going to start in a little while and he was preparing himself for them.
He was hoping that because he was so hyper aware of them that he wouldn’t flashback. That he would stay in the moment and get some enjoyment out of being here with his family and friends.
“This is nice, isn’t it?” His father took the seat next to him and watched some of Maggie’s friends’ husbands build a bonfire. “I wish I would have been around more to do things like this with you kids.”
Clayton said nothing to that, not really wanting to have this discussion with his father right now. It had been a good day. He built a sandcastle with Aubrey. And played Frisbee on the beach with Abraham and Jonathan. He swam with Daisy. They ate and drank and laughed, and it was the most fun he had with people in years. It was the most relaxed he had ever felt at home. And now his father was talking to him, trying to bring up past failures, but Clayton didn’t want to hear about it.
Daisy slipped her hand into his. She didn’t look at him. Didn’t take her attention off of Aubrey who was telling her a story about one of the babies she played with that day. She just quietly slipped her fingers through his and stroked her thumb across his palm. He felt a little calmer then, some of the tension from his father’s presence easing out of him.
“I’m looking forward to being a grandpa. I had a long talk with your sister the other day. She made me a list.”
“A list?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“She made a list of all the things she wants us to do with them.”
“Us?”
“Your mother and I. That was one of her stipulations. And that her children were not allowed to call Tina grandma or any other variation of the word.”
“Did she make the same rule for Gordon?”
“No.” He laughed softly. “She said she thought Grandpa Gordon was kind of cute. And that she was pregnant and pregnant women got to be unreasonable every once in a while. But I think the truth is that Gordon has proposed to your mother on more than one occasion and that Maggie is secretly hoping that she’ll break down and marry him one of these days.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“No? I’m not surprised that your mother didn’t tell you, but I am surprised your sister didn’t say anything.”
“Would you be okay with Mom getting remarried?”
“A little piece of me died when she told me that he had asked. But that’s not fair of me, right? I wasn’t a good husband to her.”
“And she wasn’t a loyal wife to you.”
“But I was worse to her than she ever was to me. I don’t deserve her.”
“She said no to Gordon. He’s a good guy. There must be a reason she said no.”
Clayton watched as his father’s eyes wandered to his former wife. The look of love mixed with hurt was undeniable. Betty looked back. She was with Gordon near the water, chatting with the Scotts, but she must have felt her ex’s eyes on her because she looked right at him and gave him a sweet smile. It was a private smile that one might give to a lover.
Rationally his parents should be apart after what they had put each other through. It made sense. It was for the best, wasn’t it? But love wasn’t rational, was it? And they forgave each other, even though it seemed their actions might be impossible to forgive.
“I asked her why she said no,” he said, his voice low. “She said because part of her still feels married to me.”
“Just because you don’t deserve her back, doesn’t mean you can’t try to get her back.”
“What about Tina? She’s a good woman. And what about Gordon? He’s a good man and neither one of them deserves to be hurt because your mother and I couldn’t get our shit together.”
“I don’t have any answers for you, but it seems wrong to commit yourself to somebody when you’re in love with somebody else. It feels like a different kind of affair.” Clayton looked at him, but his father’s eyes were still on Betty.
“It does, doesn’t it, son?” And then Phillip Calhoun did something that shocked Clayton. He did something he hadn’t done since Clayton was a tiny boy. He kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair. “Good talk. Hey, Aubrey?” He called over to the little girl. “You want to come with your soon to be pop pop to roast some marshmallows?”
“Can I, Mama?”
“Of course you can, Cookie.” And a moment later Clayton was left alone with Daisy.
“He loves you, Clay,” Daisy said to him after a while.
“I know.”
“So stop being a pain in the ass and love him back.”
“You think I’m being a pain in the ass?”
“Yes, love. I do. My parents are gone and I wish they loved me just half as much as yours love you. Let them love you. The worst thing you can do is turn people away who love you.”
He looked over to her, so pretty in the moonlight, and knew that she loved him. She didn’t have to say the words, but he knew. He felt it in his chest. In his bones. In his soul. He would
be a stupid man to turn away her love. “Okay.”
“Okay? It’s as simple as that?”
“Yes.”
“I would kiss you, but you’re too far away.”
“I can fix that.” He knelt in the cool sand before her, and cupping her face he gently kissed her. Just as he lifted his lips he heard the distant sound of fireworks. They were having displays all over the county. He knew it was coming. He heard the neighbor boys setting them off all week, but he had managed to be with Daisy each time that it happened. Cuddled up on the couch, or sometimes with his arms wrapped around her in bed. He hadn’t had a flashback since the first time. But tonight the fireworks were going to be bigger, louder. He was going to be closer. He didn’t want to embarrass himself again. He didn’t want anyone to think he was afraid and he wasn’t, but every time he heard an explosion he thought back to that day. He smelled the smells, and heard the screams and felt the pain all over again. Not just the pain in his leg, but the pain of losing his men and those kids and not being able to do anything about it.
“Go get me a cupcake.”
“What?”
“A yellow one with chocolate icing.”
“You want a cupcake?”
“And maybe a cookie.”
“Okay, Daisy.”
She pressed her mouth to his. “And get something for yourself too.”
He left her then, and she got up as well heading over to the bonfire where most of the guests had gathered. He went to the table where the food was laid out. It had been catered, but Alex had supplied the desserts. He wouldn’t have it any other way and now he was there replenishing the supplies.
“You’re not working tonight,” he said to his friend.
“I know.” He placed more star shaped red velvet, white, and blue cookies on the tray. “I just want to make sure everyone is having a good time.”
“I think they are. It was nice of Mrs. Lancaster to invite us all.”
“She was saying she wants to do it again next year. Maybe make it a tradition. I would love for my kids to experience this.”
Clayton would too, he thought to himself. If he ever had kids. If he ever had a normal life where he could raise them without worrying about his past coming back at any moment to haunt them. “I came to get Daisy a cupcake.” He surveyed the table. “And she wants a cookie too, but she never said which kind.”
“She’s good for you.”
“I know.”
“I hope you really decide to marry her.”
“What?” Alex’s statement made him freeze.
“You are my oldest friend. I know you. And I know you would never ask a woman to marry you if you were planning on taking off. So I hope that means you’re not planning to take off. I can’t figure out what’s going on, but I can tell you that your life would be much sweeter if you went home to somebody who loved you every night.” He motioned behind Clayton. “She must know we’re talking about her. She’s headed this way.”
He turned to see Daisy walking towards him, but unlike a few minutes ago she didn’t look happy. She looked miserable.
“What’s wrong?” He closed the distance between them and grasped her shoulders.
“Nothing. I’m just not feeling great. Can you take me home?”
“Yeah, I’ll grab Aubrey.”
“No. Don’t. Belinda is going to keep her overnight. Aubrey is friends with her daughter and her grandparents are going to pick her up in the morning. She grabbed his wrist as if she were unsteady on her feet. “I just need you to take me home.”
“Maybe we should go to the hospital.”
“No. Just home. I just want to lay down.”
He grabbed his keys and took her home, leaving their beach towels behind. He glanced over at her the whole drive having trouble concentrating on anything else. She was silent the whole time, even when he led her out of his truck and into her bedroom.
“What’s the matter, Daisy? What can I do for you?”
“Undress me.” It didn’t take long. All she wore was a sexy cover up and an even sexier red, white and black, high waisted bikini. He laid her gently down on the bed naked as the day she was born. She wasn’t feeling well and he knew it was wrong to be so aroused by her nude body, but Daisy was all lushness and curves and warmth. He’d have to be dead not to be aroused by her. Stroking her hair out of her face and as he kissed her cheek he couldn’t help but to notice how good she smelled. Like water, and sunscreen and flowers.
“Do you want a nightgown?”
“No. I prefer having sex naked.”
“Excuse me?”
“I wanted to be alone with you. Completely alone with you tonight.”
“So you faked sick?”
“Yeah.” She grinned at him. “I was very convincing, wasn’t I?”
“Too convincing. I was worried, damn it.”
She reached for his shirt and pulled it off over his head. “I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”
He settled his partially clothed body on top of her nude one. Reveling in the sensation of her skin pressed against his and as he did that he heard a loud boom.
Fireworks.
He knew why she had done this. He knew why she had faked sick. Made him take her home. Made it so they could be completely alone. And it was right then he fell all the way in love with her. Stupidly, insanely, forever in love with her.
Chapter 15
Daisy glanced up at the clock for the twelfth time that hour. She was in the flower shop alone. She had been most of the day. Loretta was on vacation and her small staff had been running around town all day making deliveries. Usually May and June were their busiest times of year, but even in late July they were extremely busy and getting busier by the day. Daisy had a meeting scheduled with an exclusive resort in the area. The shop was doing well, but the more business the better. And another contract like this would be a big help when things slowed down, so she didn’t want to blow it.
But she was in serious danger of doing so. The Scotts had to go to New York City for the day and for the first time in weeks they wouldn’t be able to pick up Aubrey from camp. She had come to depend on them she realized. It was nice to have them in her life. But she was going to have to get used to going back to the way things were. They would be heading back to Washington in a couple of weeks when Aubrey went to camp. But now she was stuck at the shop until one of her employees came back, and even then she was going to be pushing it. She had to pick up Aubrey, bring her back here and hope that Sarah, one of her employees wouldn’t mind watching her for an hour or so. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal if Loretta were here. She always helped when Daisy was in a bind. Mostly because she was a wonderful person, but partly because Danny refused to help her at all. Maybe he would have if she really needed him to, but she never asked because he had made it very clear that Aubrey was her responsibility.
Daisy’s cell phone rang and she looked down to see that Loretta was calling. “You miss me already,” she said when she answered.
“Actually, I do. We’re all up at the Cape and you’re not here and it reminds me that you’re not Danny’s wife anymore.”
Loretta and her family retreated to Cape Cod every summer at this time of year. Daisy usually went for a long weekend, but this year she didn’t go. It didn’t feel right to go. Especially since she had been spending time with another man’s family. She had seen Maggie nearly every day. They had lunch together. And Clayton’s mother had shared recipes with her and called her at night, just to see how she was. And then there was Phillip, who stopped by the house and did fatherly things like check the oil pressure in her car and replace one of the screens on her window even though Clayton was more than capable of doing so. Something had changed with the Calhouns since the Fourth of July, something had changed in Clayton. He was trying a little harder with his family. Seeing them more, welcoming them in. And they welcomed Daisy in. They treated her like she was part of their family.
“I miss you, Loretta,” D
aisy said, feeling almost guilty about growing closer to another man’s family.
“We’re all up here for another weekend. You should come up. Everybody is asking about you.”
“What did you tell them?” she asked as Clayton walked through the door. She was only slightly surprised to see him. He always called her during the day, but today he had stopped by.
“That you were happy. That Aubrey was doing well. Not much else.”
She hadn’t told them about Clay, she thought as he came over and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She could tell there was something off in him. She could feel it, but she didn’t say anything. She kept trying to focus on Loretta and their conversation.
“You didn’t answer me, Daisy. Can you come up?”
“I can’t. It makes me sad.” It was true. Some of the best times of her marriage were spent with his family there. Danny was at his happiest there.
“I understand,” she said softly. “I might come home a little early then.”
“No. Stay and have fun. Don’t rush back. I’ll feel guilty if you do.”
“You shouldn’t. You’re my family too. I’ll see you soon.” She disconnected, leaving Daisy leaning against Clayton.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“I know. I finally really got the chance to speak to Jonathan Davies. The kid I hired who was in the military too. He’s had it tough. Having a hard time readjusting.”
“Oh?”
“I wish I could help him.”
“You did help him, Clayton. You gave him a job and a place to stay. You’re hiring veterans. Abraham told me all about it. He said that your last five hires have been former military.”
“Somebody gave me a shot. It’s my turn to give someone else theirs.” He shrugged off his good deeds, his accomplishments. Even with her. She didn’t know about his heroics on the battlefield until Abraham told her. She hadn’t known that he was hiring vets and mentoring them. She didn’t know that he had given money to the family of a wounded airman when they couldn’t pay their rent until a woman had come up to thank him in the store. He had never said those things to her. She knew he didn’t want to brag, but it bothered her that he didn’t share that side of him with her.
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