Forever Love at Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock #4)

Chapter 59

59

Bex didn’t have any wine or beer in, but Daisy didn’t care. She didn’t feel like a drink, anyway. She didn’t feel like anything other than curling up and crying herself to sleep. It must have been obvious how terrible she looked because although she flinched a little, Bex didn’t say anything as Johnny jumped up on the sofa next to her and placed his head on Daisy’s lap. In fact, the only thing she’d said about Johnny so far was that she wasn’t meant to have dogs in the building, so he’d need to be quiet. Thankfully, she hadn’t told Daisy they needed to leave.

‘I can’t believe your mother said that,’ Bex said, letting out a sigh. ‘I love Pippa, you know I do, but she has some funny ideas about parenting. Claire and I have said it before. She’s always gone for the friend route, not the mother one. I mean, letting you drop out of art college after one term is a perfect example.’

‘I know,’ Daisy said, glancing at her phone, although the screen was black. She’d had three missed called so far from her mother and two from Theo, so she’d switched her phone off altogether. She would speak to them when she was ready and she wouldn’t be pestered into deciding when that was. ‘But the thing is, do you think she’s right?’

‘What?’ Bex’s face scrunched up so much, it became a mass of wrinkles. ‘About you and Theo being destined to fail? Absolutely not. It’s clear that you adore each other.’

‘But that’s not always enough, is it? I mean, you hear it all the time, that love isn’t enough, right? And this weekend has been a disaster from start to finish.’

‘That’s not true,’ Bex said. ‘The hotel was amazing. You had a great time there.’

Daisy let out a long sigh. ‘I know, but that seems kind of insignificant compared to the rest of it. Maybe it was a sign. It’s clear his parents don’t approve of the match either. You’d think at least one set of parents would think it was a good idea.’

‘Maybe, but it’s not your mum or Theo’s parents who are getting married, is it? It’s you guys. Look, you just need to put this behind you. Think of your engagement. It was perfect.’

‘A perfect five minutes when he proposed, you mean? It’s not real life. I don’t know…’

Daisy slowly stroked Johnny along his back before picking up her glass of water, although she didn’t bother taking a sip. Instead, she just stared at it for a moment before letting out a sigh.

‘I just keep thinking how she’s right. At least in one sense. What do I know of real relationships? Puppy love and Theo. That’s all I’ve had.’

‘And Christian?’ Bex offered, although Daisy scowled in response.

‘I can’t count that as a relationship. If I did, it’s definitely a very failed one. Maybe I need to know more about that kind of thing before I actually commit to spending the rest of my life with a person. Take a leaf out of your book.’

‘Out of my book?’ Bex said, her scoff turning into a laugh. ‘Now you can’t be serious.’

‘Why not?’ Daisy questioned. ‘You’ve dated plenty of guys. You know exactly what you’re looking for, and you refuse to settle.’

‘You can’t possibly think of Theo as settling?’ Bex said.

‘I fell for the guy with the boat next to mine. That’s not exactly spreading my wings and seeing what’s out there, is it?’ A heaviness had formed in her chest.

‘Why do you think you have to travel the world or kiss a hundred frogs to find your prince?’ Bex said, her expression still confused. ‘If I had a guy look at me the way Theo looks at you…’ She let the rest of her sentence drift off before she shook her head. ‘I don’t have high standards, Daisy. I have impossible standards.’

Daisy frowned. ‘That’s not true.’

‘Yes, yes, it is. And my parents are partly to blame, too.’

‘Your parents?’ Daisy said, not sure she was following. ‘Your parents are the most in-love couple I’ve ever known.’

‘Exactly, and every man I meet, I’m comparing to them and their relationship. I don’t go into it wondering if we might have adventures together or whether they might pull me out of my comfort zone. Instead, I nit-pick everything they do. If they eat too loudly, they’re out. If they laugh at things I find unfunny, they’re out. I’m too busy thinking about how annoying each foible is going to be after twenty or thirty years that I never get to the one-year mark. That’s not a way to go into a relationship.’

‘Maybe,’ Daisy replied, though it didn’t help her situation at all. Sure, she and Theo both had foibles, and mostly she found them endearing. But was that just naivety? After all, what was the possibility that her soulmate would have the mooring next to hers? If soulmates even existed. He had been there, convenient, and of course she loved him. But then, she reasoned, surely if you spent time with anyone who was as kind and fun as Theo, most people would fall in love with them in some sense or another. Was that really a reason to get married?

‘Do you want me to make up the sofa bed, or would you rather crash in my bed with me?’ Bex said, pulling Daisy from her thoughts.

‘I’ll stay here,’ Daisy said. ‘I’m not sure what time I’ll get up in the morning.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t rush. According to the forecast, it’s going to be heavy showers all day tomorrow.’

Rain. Daisy let out a sad chuckle. It was coming to something that rain felt like a good thing in her life.