Chapter 19
19
Unlike her personality, everything about Penelope’s guest room was fluffy. The throw cushions were fluffy, the towels were fluffy and there was even a fluffy teddy bear sat in the middle of the cushions, while the carpet was the densest Daisy had ever stood on. It was undeniably sumptuous and the opulence didn’t stop in the bedroom. The en suite shower was filled with the most luxurious brands of soap, shower gel and bodywash, and Penelope had even gone as far as to lay out little guest toothbrushes, like the types given out at hotels. It was hard to believe that someone who had gone to all that effort would be so vile to her guests, but then, Daisy considered, maybe she had read her wrong. Maybe Penelope had really thought her name was Maisy, and that she was a waitress. If Theo didn’t speak to her that often, then it stood to reason that she would make a couple of mistakes.
‘Was your mum like this to Heather?’ Daisy asked as she took a clean dress out of her luggage and hung it on a coat hanger. ‘Did she act strangely to her?’
Theo barely pondered the question. Instead, he simply scrunched up his nose before he spoke.
‘It was different with Heather. You know, with us growing up together and everything,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’ Daisy asked. ‘I didn’t realise you two grew up together. Did you go to the same school? Is that what you mean?’
‘Well, we did, but it was more than that. Heather’s mum has been best friends with my parents for years. They’ve known each other their entire lives. I think Heather and I even went to the same baby groups together.’
Daisy dropped down onto the bed, feeling a sudden weight flooding through her.
‘How did I not know that?’ she said. ‘I knew you’d been together for a long time, but surely that’s something I should have known?’
A deep furrow formed between Theo’s brows. ‘I don’t know. I guess I didn’t think it was much of a big deal. We didn’t get together until after we’d both left home. We were only ever friends until then. But I suppose that’s why I had such a hard time finishing things. We both did, because we knew how difficult it was going to be on our families as well.’
Daisy stared off into the distance as she tried to make sense of what she’d just heard. Did it really matter that Theo and Heather had known each other that long? Or that his parents probably thought about her as a daughter? It shouldn’t, and on one hand it didn’t. Heather was Theo’s past and she was his future, but it was the fact she hadn’t known any of this that left her feeling uneasy. To start with, she’d have been far more understanding of Penelope’s reaction. Part of her wanted to be cross with Theo for not filling her in on the full picture, but then again, did Theo know everything about her and Paul? Probably not.
‘So, I guess if your parents are still friends, then she’s always going to be in your life, in a way,’ Daisy said, imagining a wedding with Penelope sat on one side of the top table, and Heather on the other, speaking across Daisy as if she were invisible. Panic tightened her chest.
As if sensing the feeling, Theo reached around and took her arm.
‘It’s nothing to worry about, honestly. You don’t need to worry about Heather, and you don’t need to worry about my mum. It’s you and me, always, Daisy May, okay?’
She nodded, although the knot in her stomach remained.
‘Come on,’ Theo said. ‘Let’s go down and get a cup of tea. I’m parched.’