by Mynx, Sienna
“Lunch?” she chuckled. “What did you bring?”
“Oh!” Pete opened the lid. “Chips, and sandwiches at this place called Costco, like a warehouse kinda place.”
“I know what Costco is,” she laughed. “Give it here.”
He handed it over, and Daisy looked inside. “Chips huh? And a Frisbee?” She looked up at him. “This is sweet. You ready to meet Amy?”
“Yeah,” Pete said. “I’m ready.”
“Amy! Come here!”
Amy looked up and waved at them both, but instead of obeying, she slid down the slide. She took off again to the ladder.
“Can I go get her?” he asked.
Daisy nodded. “Yeah, go ahead.” She accepted the blanket from him. Pete headed for the sandlot. There were a few kids scattered around, but Amy had the slide all to herself. He dropped his hands in his front pockets, feet sinking in the sand. Pete looked up at her with the sun in his eyes as she climbed to the top of the slide. Once again, she threw her hands up and slid with a wide grin on her face.
“Hi, Amy.”
“Hi, Pete!” she said, immediately recognizing him. That had more of an effect than he anticipated.
“You remember me?”
Amy pushed past his legs to go to the ladder again, but he caught her. He knelt down to her level listening to her panting and quick breaths. With her cheeks red from the sun, she was so beautiful. He was in love. “I was hoping to play with you today. Can we do that?”
“You wanna slide? You too big,” Amy laughed.
Pete looked up at the slide and nodded. “Yeah, but I can swing, and I got something else that's a lot of fun.”
She nodded.
“Ever toss a frisbee?”
“A frizvee. What’s that?”
“Can I show you?”
“Yeah.”
He took her tiny hand in his. Walking her back to Daisy now weighted down with the blanket, basket and frisbee, he felt like a father.
“There’s shade over there,” Daisy pointed.
Pete and Amy followed. She swung his hand back and forth, half walking and half skipping at his side. “Where is it? Where’s the frizvee?”
“Your mom has it. Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” Amy smiled.
“We should eat first and then play. How’s that?”
“Okay, Pete!”
He winked at her. They followed Daisy to a shaded spot. She spread the blanket for all of them to sit on. “So you come here a lot with Amy?” Pete asked.
“When I first moved here she was one, just walking. Well running,” Daisy smiled, putting her sunglasses on her head. “So we’d come here to run, huh baby?”
“Yeah, mommy can run fast.”
Pete stretched out on the blanket. “Your mommy used to run track.”
“Track?” Amy frowned. Daisy looked up at him and smiled as she took out their lunch. Pete reached for Amy’s hand, touching her fingers. “Track… is when you run around in circles. Ever run around in circles.”
“All the time! See!” Amy got up and ran out into the grass. She started running around in circles. Pete laughed. He looked back at Daisy. “She’s a lot like you.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. I do,” Pete said staring at her.
“I want some chips, mommy!” Amy returned reaching for the bag. Pete sat up, helping. He and Daisy looked at each other with shy smiles. The day was improving by the minute.
****
“Mr. McBride?”
Donovan lowered his paper. Nina stood in front of him with her duffle on her shoulder. He nodded. “You decided to join me.”
“I decided to go see Pete and tell him what you and Mr. Keane are up to. Here.” She held out the check.
Donovan didn’t accept it. Nina sighed. “Take it, Mr. McBride. It’s the only way I will get on the plane.”
Finally, he did accept it. “I’m impressed, Nina. Very impressed.”
“Don’t be. I’m not the one that’s different here. You and Mr. Keane play games with people’s lives, their dreams. You prey on weak people and that makes you different. Sad and different.”
"You'd be surprised how many people in the world are just like Aiden and me." Donovan gestured toward the exit, preparing to rise. “Shall we?”
Nina looked out to the jet beyond the wall of windows. “I suppose.”
Donovan rose. “You’re doing the right thing, Nina. Trust me.”
“Never.”
****
Aiden parked in Daisy’s drive. He’d been held up most of the day with business. But he was often distracted by his impatience for Daisy to call. She never did. However, the hospital did reach him. They were ready to schedule the test tomorrow and would have the results in 48 hours from the lab. A rush that he was pushing for may get them sooner. That news, and the fact that he needed to see them both again, prompted him to drive over.
Now, outside of her home, he considered the arrogance of his visit. Maybe he should have called first. Daisy would appreciate him making an effort. He struggled to remember what would be appropriate. Showing up uninvited would put her on the defense. “Fuck this.”
He threw open the car door, bounding up the sidewalk. He’d just tell her he wanted to be with her. Point blank. She needed to know. The days of his playing games were over, if she agreed to meet him half way.
Knocking on the door, he waited. Then he heard the idling engine of a van behind him. It was for a company to repair the patio door. He’d pay for it to make it up to her.
The door opened and Aiden frowned. Standing there was an older version of Daisy, equally as pretty, but conservative in her beauty. Her hair, darker, was smoothed back and pinned to her head. This woman wore glasses perched on her nose and no make up. She looked up at him, confused. “Yes, can I help you?”
“Um, is Daisy home?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Aiden Keane. Can you tell her I’m here?”
Once he evoked his name, the stranger's polite smile faded. Suddenly, he remembered her clearly. She was one of Daisy’s sister’s at the funeral.
“Daisy’s not here. She’s with Pete,” he was informed.
Aiden’s jaw tensed and he narrowed his eyes. “Okay, well… tell her—”
“Come in, Mr. Keane. I think you and I should talk.”
The repairmen headed up the walk with a sheet of glass. Daisy's twin opened the door wider for them to enter. She set her eyes on him the entire time. Aiden considered her offer. He knew it would be wise to decline it. However, the look she gave him left him curious as to what she would say. “Please… come inside.”
Aiden nodded and walked in.
Chapter Fourteen
“I got it! I got it! I got it!!”
The frisbee, a neon colored green saucer, spun across the field and over her daughter's head. Amy’s little legs pumped hard with her arms reaching heavenward. She ran as fast as the wind, screaming to the top of her lungs. To this Daisy laughed, shaking her head at her daughter’s excitement, feeling giddy over the playtime.
A day in the park, sun on their faces, wind in their hair, the fresh smell of cut grass and the ocean breeze that rolled in off the coast was divine. This was something they hadn’t done in awhile. She looked on. Amy, picking up the frisbee, was just happy to have it in her hands. Her little girl ran around in circles so pumped up, possibly off the extra cookies Pete kept stuffing her with over and over. Her energy was boundless.
Other people were scattered about the park. They were seated on benches or lying on blankets, couples snuggling and friends chatting each other up. It was the day to spend at the park.
Pete went for Amy. They were several yards away. After lunch, she watched them play, remembering times in the Hollow when they’d drink beer and she and her friends would watch Pete and his crew play football under the same beating sunrays.
Back then she’d indulge in her fantasies. Not about a life for them both, but a li
fe away, where she could lounge on a yacht or be at some ritzy resort like the one she owned. Her smile faded. She remembered how self-absorbed she was then. She wasn’t completely above it now.
Daisy held herself.
Amy grinned, throwing the frisbee at her new friend, Pete. It hit the grass and rolled away like a coin that dropped flat. Pete stooped to her level. He placed the frisbee back in her hands and drew her near to help with a toss.
“See me, mommy!!” Amy cried out.
“I see you, baby!” Daisy waved.
Pete stood up, the sun to his back, boldly handsome as he always was. He had a smile on his face that had her remembering so many different times with him: good times, naughty times, bad times, sad times, love. He was different now. A stark contradiction of the stubborn redneck who raced cars and enjoyed a good bar fight.
He was a man now, and she couldn’t help but wonder who that man was.
Amy gave the frisbee another toss. This time it flew a little higher. Daisy clapped. Pete swept her daughter up in his arms and nuzzled her neck, which had her squealing with delight and kicking her feet in a fit of giggles.
Amy needed a father. What child didn’t? In fact, Daisy couldn’t imagine her life without the love of her dad. Janette was right. She chose to hide. No one truly forced her. She'd been selfish in the worst way. Now she was ready to make a different choice. It would be one not based on her pride or her fears, but on that smile she saw on her little girl’s face as Pete lifted her to his shoulders and planted her on top. A daddy for Amy would be her new priority.
Together, they gave another toss that sent the green disc sailing through the sky toward her. Daisy went for it, her sandals not exactly appropriate for the sprint. She stumbled and nearly missed the needed traction just as the disc grazed her fingertips. Her balance off, she dropped face first to the ground. Rolling and panting, she laughed to tears, still on her back and frantically brushing her face while ignoring the pain.
The front of her jeans and white top were now speckled with grass stains. She laid there until her laughter was reduced to a never-ending smile. No, this wasn’t necessarily her game or even her idea of a good time, but today she was doing just that, having a good time.
Daisy remained on her back staring up at the clouds, watching them shape shift and move with the breeze from the not so far ocean. The sun slipped behind one.
“You okay, mommy?” Amy grinned, looking down at her. Pete arrived next. The two standing, bent forward staring at her as if she was near madness. Daisy beamed up at them.
“Yeah, baby, I am. Finally, I'm okay.”
Pete knelt, offering his hand, which she accepted. He was firm as he pulled her forward, but to her surprise, once she was standing, he caught hold of her and with just his upper body strength he tossed her up and over his shoulder. Daisy gasped. Amy took off for the forgotten frisbee.
He spun her around, smacking her on the romp. “Stop it, Pete! Put me down! Now!” she coughed out through laughter while hitting him on his ass, hard. The blood rushed to her head. He carried her across the field as if she weighed nothing. Amy skipped behind them.
“Pete, stop!!! No! You… you're crazy… stop it… oh God… put me down!” Her voice strained from the shouting, tears in her eyes. Her sunglasses slipped from her head and Amy stooped to pick them up once they landed on the ground. She wasn’t the least bit interested in a rescue. “Amy, help mama!” she called to her. Amy grinned, putting the frisbee under her arms and placing her mother’s sunglasses on her face.
“Amy! Help mommy!”
She ran after them. Pete never broke his stride. Daisy bounced on his shoulder. Pete's caveman routine was surprisingly sexy and comforting. She pinched his side and he howled. Forced to bring her down to the cradle of his arms, with her firmly pressed to his chest, he smirked.
“So you want to pinch?” he panted.
“Will you stop being silly and let me go, please?” Her arms naturally lifted and circled his neck. He parted his lips to speak but stopped himself, his eyes dropping to her lips and hers going to his. Their faces inched in closer and closer. The laughter was gone and her breathing was slow and steady. Her eyes lifted again and connected with his baby-blues.
He was such a good boyfriend once upon a time. They shared so many good memories. And part of her ached to be loved again the way Pete had once loved her. She reached up and stroked the back hairs on his nape. “I'm sorry for everything, Pete. You were my best friend, my first love.” Her hand moved and her fingers lightly went over his jaw.
“Momma!” Amy said kneeling. Hands to knees, she peered down into the grass. Pete released Daisy in an instant but kept her close.
“What is it?” Amy asked. She looked over at them and then back to the grass, stooping lower. For a moment, they could do nothing but stand there lost in their mingled breathing and desires. Her hands to his arms and his on her waist, they stood there staring into each other eyes.
“Momma, Pete, come lookie.”
He withdrew first, turning and going over to Amy. Daisy sucked down much needed air, reminding her lungs of the desperation to breathe, inhale and exhale.
“It’s a hoppergrass,” Pete said, plucking it from a tall blade. The green and yellow insect did a slow crawl along his finger.
“Ewww.” Amy stumbled back.
Pete smiled, holding his finger out for her to see. “Used to catch em when I was your age.
“Opperglass?”
Daisy smiled. “No baby. It’s a grasshopper.”
Amy continued to back away. The insect leapt from Pete’s hand and she screamed, running for Daisy. Pete caught it, laughing.
“It’s a hoppergrass, Amy. It does more hopping than staying in the grass. Right?”
Amy nodded from behind Daisy’s legs. Daisy couldn’t move because her daughter's arms were locked on her knees so tightly. “Okay, Pete, put it down.”
“Really?” Pete said, rising and holding the insect by its hind legs. Amy screamed, stumping. Daisy stepped back feeling a bit squeamish. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Scream for me, mommy.”
“Pete!”
“Come on, mommy! Don’t let it get you!! Don’t let it get you!” Amy yelled, running off.
Daisy literally sprinted past her daughter. “Stop, you’re scaring her.”
“Am I scaring you?” he asked giving chase.
Daisy laughed as they all ran in circles. “Pete!!! Stop! I'm going to pee on myself. Stop playing!”
****
The resemblance was quite remarkable. She carried herself in a different manner. An air of confidence came with wisdom and age. Janette met his stare dead on and didn’t look away.
She was a carbon copy of the future with Daisy and how beautifully she would age. Aiden stood off to the side, watching and listening as she gave instructions to the repairmen. Her voice had a deeper twang than Daisy's. She frowned several times through explanations of the difficulty they faced in replacing the door.
His instinct was to step in, tell the repairmen to shut the fuck up with the excuses, and just fix the damn thing, but she cut him a sideways glance, an accusatory glare, which held him in place. He wasn’t sure how to deal with her. Last night he stayed up pacing and thinking. This morning he had a better plan. He could be humble for Daisy and try a little patience with her. He thought he’d come over and offer to take her and Amy to dinner and spend time with her and the kid. He wanted to move them past the bullshit. At least he thought he’d try.
Daisy was with Pete and that hurt. A hurt he’d cover and ignore like he’s done all other hurts. Amy was his, and soon they’d know it. Pete would be gone and he and Daisy could work through their shit. That’s the plan. Except, he didn’t quite consider her sister as a new obstacle.
He waited. She thanked the men and left them to their work, finally returning to him. “So you and Pete did that?” Janette asked.
“I’ll pay for it,” Aiden said, his voice dr
y with a tint of an apology in it. He cleared his throat.
Janette looked him over. “Why don’t you have a seat. Please, I do want to talk to you.”
Aiden walked around her to the sofa and sat. He’d imagined in their lives a man showing interest in one of the Johnson girls would have to undergo some family initiation, the rules of courtship. Well he was beyond that now, and by the spark of anger and distrust in the hardened stare he received, it was clear there was no point in making a play for it.
“I’m Janette, Daisy’s older sister. I hear it was you that had a hand in our baby-girl’s disappearance.”