Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts)

by Mynx, Sienna

  “It fell. By accident.”

  Aiden nodded. “Well, okay.”

  He noticed the small step stool pushed to the counter. At the back of the counter was a glass jar of cookies.

  “Accident, huh?”

  Amy nodded.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Yeah, me too. How about we order some Thai?”

  “I want cereal.” She walked into the kitchen and pointed up at the box of cereal at the top of the fridge. “Cocoa-Puffs!”

  “Cereal? For dinner? I’m sure your mother wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Yes she would. She give it to me all the time.”

  Aiden frowned. He could see Daisy in bed and imagined that she would be hungry when she woke. It was time to prove to her that he was ready to be a dad. Maybe prove that she could count on him. Prove it. “Okay, cereal.”

  Amy threw her hands up as if she scored a goal. Then she broke out into a little dance, rocking her hips from side to side with her shoulders dipping. Aiden stared at her for a moment. She grinned, and danced for him. She was so beautiful. He pulled down the box of cereal and she cheered. When he went to the counter, she was on his heel, giving him the merits of Cocoa-puffs. He had no clue why a box of cereal would mean more than a million dollars to a kid, but he liked the idea of making her smile. Aiden poured a bowl full of chocolate-coated sugar balls. Amy went to the fridge and got a gallon of milk half her size. She heaved it in her small arms trying to walk it over to him.

  “I got it,” he winked.

  He poured the milk. The cereal reached the rim of the bowl, some spilling over. Shrugging, he found a spoon for her but she was already gone. When he went into the dining room, he saw her in the chair with the padded cushion, waiting.

  Aiden placed it in front of her. “Eat up, kid.”

  “Thanks, daddy.”

  He watched her for a few minutes scooping cereal and spilling some out of the bowl. Then he turned and went back into the kitchen. In the cabinets, he found cans of vegetables, stewed tomatoes, and boxes of pasta. Living on the street, he ate from different kitchens and did a lot of improvising. For all his hustling, he never quite learned to cook, but everybody knew how to make spaghetti.

  ****

  "Hey, you okay out here?” Nina asked. She stepped out on the lanai. The sun, now disappearing from the night sky, had moved in. Pete sat there drinking a beer and staring at nothing.

  “Yeah, I guess,” he mumbled.

  Nina went over to the balcony and leaned on the rail. She looked back at him, concerned. “Talk to me.”

  “Tomorrow is her birthday.”

  “Who?”

  “Amy. I want to… Daisy’s throwing a party and… well I want to go.”

  “Okay. We can.”

  “Doubt she’ll let me in the door after what I said to her. I don’t get her, Nina. Was it always about money for her? I mean back in Hollow Creek, money just wasn’t that important. Everybody wanted it, but nobody was miserable because of it.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Pete. Daisy and I were never friends.”

  “That’s because you’re better than her.”

  “Don’t do that,” Nina sighed.

  “Do what?”

  “Put her down to try to build me up. It’s insulting.”

  He lowered his beer, confused. Nina turned from him and looked down into the parking lot. A man struggled with a cooler while trying to remove it from the trunk of his car. His back was sunburned and his swim trunks were riding low, showing the crack of his ass. She stared at the wife impatiently tapping her foot and holding beach blankets.

  “It’s not about putting her down. I’m just stating the obvious. It’s the reason I love you. It's why I feel safe with you. I can trust and believe in us. I never really could with her. I was an idiot for not seeing it sooner. She used me. She never cared about me.”

  “And that still hurts, right, Pete?” she said softly.

  The man was now yelling at his wife and blaming her for the cooler not budging. The woman, exasperated, tried to tell him what to do to make it work.

  “I don’t know what you mean by hurt. I just feel so stupid at times. And I…I just wish I could take it all back. Then I think of that little girl and I know she needs me. Daisy is with a man that should never be around a child.”

  He went on and on, just like the man below. Pete ranted about the wrongs and injustices in the world that were all aimed at him. The woman below was forced to listen to her husband’s version of the same ole song. Nina, however, was reaching her limit.

  Nina considered herself patient and understanding. But she realized that patience and understanding with men blinded by their pride did nothing for a woman blinded by her love. She was an enabler.

  “I wouldn’t let her be raised in Mango Grove either. Nina, I’m saying I want custody, and I know when I show a judge who Daisy and Aiden Keane are, I’ll get it.”

  Nina dropped her head. “That’s because you already judged and sentenced them both. Am I right, Pete?”

  “Huh? I’m just stating the facts. She’s back with him and he’s around my daughter. She has Amy calling him daddy. When the test results come back, how confused is that kid going to be? You would never do that! Daisy is—”

  “No?” she turned on him. “Maybe not, but I’d chase a man thousands of miles with his baby in my belly while he chases another woman.”

  “Don’t start that, Nina. You know I don’t want her.”

  “No, Pete. You just want revenge, to humiliate her and keep her feeling like she shouldn’t breathe the same air as decent folk. You sound like those hillbillies in Hollow Creek. Justifying prejudices to make themselves feel important.”

  “Wait a damn minute!” he snapped. “I’m not prejudice.”

  “That’s not what I mean. That stuff happened with you five years ago. You and Aiden Keane still act like she’s some Vegas pot of gold to be won.”

  “I don’t think of Daisy—”

  “I’m talking about Amy. The man I love would never want to take a child from her mother. I’m pregnant, Pete. Do you think I would want to hear you talk about taking another woman’s child from her?”

  “You’re going to be a mother and a good one. You put everyone before you. I see it at the hospital all the time and with your family. Daisy aborted the first baby we had and then gave this one a fake name and life. She’s got a man that is dangerously obsessed with her, around Amy. Also, she walks around like it’s some kind of joke. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that tomorrow when the doctors say she’s mine, I should just walk away and leave Amy here. With her! Amy should be yours and ours to raise. You are the better mother.”

  Nina walked off the lanai into the hotel room. The sliding door closed behind her. She could hear him, but she didn’t look back. Instead, she picked up the remote.

  “I don’t want revenge,” he said, coming inside.

  “You do.”

  “Its not about me. I’m the only one here thinking about Amy. Aiden Keane isn’t. I can tell you that. He will take her off to Vegas and raise her in one of those slimy hotels and—”

  “Pete! Enough! Damn it, just stop!”

  He fumed and rubbed his forehead. Nina threw the remote to the side. When he walked over to her, she rolled her eyes and it brought him to his knees. “I don’t want revenge. I want that little girl. I fell for her, Nina.”

  “Then be patient. The test results will be back soon. If she’s yours, you can be the father you want to be. You don’t have to punish Daisy to do it. I love you, Pete, but I want a resolution too. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  He frowned that he didn’t.

  “We get the results and you make a choice. No matter who the father is, you decide once and for all if you want to go to war with them or come home and start a family with me. I’m done. I won’t wait around to witness anymore of this.”

  “You threatening to leave me?”

  “I’m telling yo
u that what we have is worth fighting for. That’s why I’m here. But I won’t fight for it if you’re not.”

  She rose and went to the bathroom. He didn’t follow. For that, she was grateful. All of it was wearing her out.

  ****

  “Aaaahhhh!”

  Her scream had him dropping the noodles. They spilled over the floor, the metal strainer spinning like a top.

  "Amy?”

  On the stove, the sauce he dumped from cans into a large pot, was boiling over. He was just about to drop the noodles into a bowl when she screamed. He hurried out of the kitchen. The sounds of little feet pedaling over the carpet toward him could be heard. She ran in as if the devil was after her and what was more shocking than her tears was that she was wet. Milk was on her face, shirt and streaming down her legs. Amy was crying hysterically. “It spilled. All over. I couldn’t hold it.”

  Aiden picked her up. “Stop crying,” he pleaded. She didn’t listen. Loudly wailing in his ear, the sound of her pain rattled him more than he considered possible. He went back to the dining room. A turned over bowl was in her chair. Milk covered the carpet and the dinette table. “How did this happen?”

  “You did it,” Amy said through her hiccups and sobs.

  “I did it?”

  “You gave me too much milk. I couldn’t drink it. You didn’t use my bowl. Mommy always gives me my bowl with the straw. You did it. Mommy’s going to be mad. She’s—”

  He put her down. “It’s okay. I’ll fix you another. Just stop crying.”

  “Mommy!” she yelled up at the ceiling. She made a run for the stairs. Aiden reached out and caught her. “Hey, calm down… just wait a minute.”

  “She’s gon’ be mad. It’s all your fault.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell mommy I did it. Happy?”

  “No!”

  Aiden swiped his hand back through his hair. Her chubby face turned upward to him. She had those same accusatory eyes her mommy had when he fucked up. He could yell and fight with Daisy or sweet talk her. Somehow, he figured the kid wasn’t that easy.

  “Let’s fix some more.”

  She sniffed and popped her thumb in her mouth.

  “I got an idea.” He smiled down at her, hoping to soften her. “How about ice-cream? I saw some in the fridge… a cookie maybe? A cookie and ice-cream.”

  Amy wiped at her tears. She nodded. A huge relief. All kids like sweets. He smirked at having won some points back. His eyes lifted again to the mess and he thought about what Daisy would think. He should clean it. But Amy’s little hand went into his. “Can I have two cookies and strawberry ice-cream?”

  “No problem.”

  He led her back to the kitchen. Having forgotten his mishap, he stopped with Amy and stared at what was supposed to be dinner. The pot of sauce had boiled over, splashing over the stovetop.

  “Stay here.”

  He wasn’t a good foot into the kitchen before he slipped and slid over the spilled noodles. He caught himself by the sink and Amy laughed. Aiden felt like a jackass. Shaking his head, he turned off the sauce. Daisy’s dinner was ruined.

  “Daddy, you funny.”

  “Yeah, trust me I’m not trying to be, kid.” He didn’t know what the hell he was doing. He could have called someone in to deal with all this. But when he looked back at the little girl covered in milk, sucking her thumb and grinning at him, he had to smile.

  “When we move to Vegas, I’ll hire you a chef who will make you cereal and ice-cream everyday.”

  “Really? What’s Vegas?”

  Aiden snatched off some paper towels and plucked two cookies from the jar. He went back to Amy and began to wipe her down. She ate her cookie, staring at him. “Vegas is your new home.”

  “You gon’ live with us?”

  "Yes,” he answered.

  “Forever?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where you been such a long time? I’ve been waiting.”

  Aiden looked up to her, not understanding. “You have?”

  “Every day I waited and you never come.”

  He stared at her. “I didn’t know… I’m sorry, Amy. I wanted to be here.”

  “It’s okay. You here now. You coming to my school so I can show you on daddy day.”

  “What do they make you do on daddy day?”

  “You stay with me and do whatever I want. We color and eat lunch and play games and Mrs. Brookes reads to us. Everybody daddy does it. Casey has two daddies!”

  Aiden swallowed a smile. “So daddy day is important?”

  Amy nodded.

  "Then your daddy will be there,” he winked.

  She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her wet body into him. “I love you, daddy. I do.”

  “I love you too, Amy. A lot.”

  ****

  Daisy stretched under the warmth of blankets and opened her eyes. She could breathe through her nose. It was the first thing she noticed. She inhaled deeply, letting the cool air fill her lungs. Her body ached a bit but her throat was numbly soothing. The worst of it, whatever it was, had passed.

  “Good grief! Amy!” She jumped up, snatching back the covers. Daisy had fallen asleep and left Amy alone. Lord, she didn’t know how long. Her door was closed. She never closed her door. Daisy was out of the room and running for Amy’s. Her daughter's room was a disaster. She braced for the worst. God, she could have walked out of the front door. And when she found her room empty, it was her next fear. The beach. The ocean.

  “No!”

  She turned and nearly broke her neck running, sliding down the stairs. Nearing the last step, she froze. Her heart could beat again; the ball of panic in her throat was swallowed. Amy was safe and sound with Aiden. He was stretched out on the sectional sofa, shirt open, Amy lying on his chest. Several nursery books were thrown about.

  Daisy stared from the bottom step, taking them in and trying to remember. He came to the door. She remembered flowers. They were evident by the daisies with broken stems tossed over the coffee table and floor. He said he wanted to help.

  She left Amy with him?

  Slowly, she walked down the stairs. A jar of cookies left on the coffee table was half empty.

  “What the hell happened here?” she mumbled.

  Aiden snored, his chest rising and falling. Amy’s face turned away. Her little girl was in the pink and yellow Easter dress she constantly begged Daisy to wear. She even had on tights. That definitely had to be Amy’s idea.

  She approached them carefully, picking up the half eaten jar of cookies. The light from the lamp was on, but the rest of the living area was cloaked in darkness. Daisy padded over the floor to the kitchen, having to pass through the dining room. The hardwood floor and her table that she and Magdalena kept polished to a mirrored shine was covered with sticky spilled milk and chocolate pellets. A large bowl, too big for Amy, was turned over in the seat.

  “What in the hell? Cookies and cereal?”

  She picked up the bowl exhaling and heading for the kitchen. She nearly screamed at what she found. It was as if her fridge had exploded. He’d taken everything out and left it on the counters. The floor had spilled rice, cooked noodles, and circles of red sauce that seeped into the linoleum. Daisy’s mouth gaped. She dropped what she had to the counter, looking around. She had felt better when she woke up, but not anymore. “I’ll kill him,” she said.

  ****

  Wake up…

  Aiden moaned. He heard a soft voice, but it mostly sounded as if it were part of his dreams. “Aiden, wake up.”

  His lids parted, just a fraction. Daisy’s face hovered above him. Her hair was now groomed back into a ponytail. She wore a robe. He could smell the soap on her skin and the mint from her brushing her teeth. Then she smiled and touched his face. “Take her upstairs and put her in bed.”

  He nodded that he understood. He didn’t mean to fall asleep. He wanted to clean up and finish cooking, or something. But the kid wore him out. Sitting up, holding her in place, he looked
around to find the evidence of their night’s adventure gone. The living room was tidy. Daisy walked off toward the kitchen.

  Aiden heaved his daughter in his arms.

  “I not sleepy,” she moaned, her head lolling over as he carried her. He smiled and kissed her. She was more precious to him than anything in the world. He had no idea how much until tonight. Aiden remembered everything from her telling him about her life with mommy in Mango Grove, to her dressing up for him and singing what she sang in church for Easter. She even read to him and did so quite well, from memory of course.