Chapter 33 Daisy
The roar of a lone motorbike coming down the street greeted me as I stepped outside.
Bull’s dark eyes glared at me under the helmet as he pulled in next to my car and switched off the bike.
I smiled at him, knowing that the glare was generic resting-Bullface, and not personal.
The glint of a smile softened his eyes in response.
“I’m okay, thanks Dad,” I teased him just as quietly. His glare lost all power, though he tried to maintain it. Finally, a true smile graced his lips and he nodded in amusement.
He leaned forward and pulled the bike stand down before swinging his leg over to dismount.
“I’ve got a favor to ask you, and your mom. Can I come inside?” he rumbled as he took his helmet off.
I nodded and popped open the trunk to get my bag. “Come on in, Bull. Do you want a drink or anything?” I walked back inside with him following.
Mom was still at the table where I left her. She had taken a moment to get up and get a tissue, and was gently wiping away tears. She jumped up when she saw the man behind me.
“Bull! Why are you here? I mean, come in. Oh wait, I mean, can I get you anything?”
Bull swallowed his laughter at her nervousness. I guess Mom didn’t have much to do with him. She was very jittery.
He cleared his throat. “I’ve come to ask a favor,” he said, grabbing a seat and sitting down. Mom sank down in her seat again. “Daisy, this concerns you too.” He waved me over. I dropped my bag in the hallway and went to sit next to him.
“Normally, Matchstick’s son would be the one to lead the ride after the funeral,” he started.
“Oh, I’m happy for my son-in-law to do the honors,” Mom interrupted.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate, seeing as Daisy is in the process of divorcing Blaze.
” He paused. I saw the slight flare of anger rise in Mom’s eyes.
She really didn’t like me divorcing Blaze.
Which was tough for her, seeing as I’d already started the process and it was going ahead, despite the dinner tonight.
Bull ignored Mom’s face and continued, “I was going to suggest Daisy do the honors. Tinker told me that he taught her to ride when she was a teenager, and I was thinking she could ride her father’s bike.”
“No!” Mom snapped. “That’s my place. Matchstick promised me that no other woman would ride his bike while I was alive. He promised!”
“Mom,” I started.
“No, no other woman. He may not have managed to keep any other vows to me, but that one he did, and I will not have it broken.”
Bull nodded and then offered another solution.
“How about a different bike then? I’m sure Tinker would have a spare…”
“No,” Mom snapped. “Blaze is Matchstick’s son-in-law.
He will stand in for the place my son would have had,” Mom said determinedly.
She glared at me as she spoke, and I had second thoughts about staying here.
“My daughter can ride on the back of Blaze’s bike, where she belongs, if she wants to ride. ”
Her glare triggered something in me. I remembered the fights we had when I was a teenager, and how she overruled my wants and dreams with the command to know my place. I clenched my jaw and formed my resolve. Mom obviously felt closer to Blaze than to me, and that was my own fault.
I smiled sweetly at everyone. “It’s okay, Mom. I won’t ride if you don’t want me to.” I put my hand on Bull’s arm. “Thank you for trying. I’ll see you out.”
I picked up my bag and walked with him to my car.
Bull picked up his helmet and turned to me, a sad look on his face. “Hey, I’m sorry,” he said. “I just…”
“You tried.” I sighed. “She adores Blaze.”
He sighed and clenched his jaw.
“Don’t worry about it,” I reiterated, giving him a small smile. “She and I had a talk just before. Apparently, Blaze really stepped up to help out with Dad while I was hiding. She appreciated that.”
Bull snorted. “He only started doing that when Dylan came along, and stopped when Matchstick went into the hospital. Take a guess why. Something to do with babysitting.” He took a deep breath. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow at the service?”
I nodded. “Thanks for coming over, Bull.”
“Pleasure, Daisy…by the way, I’m proud of you. Any decent parent would be. You’ve done well.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks, Dad,” I whispered. He growled playfully at me and started walking the bike back.
“Hey, Bull. Thanks for the welcoming committee,” I blurted out.
He stopped and frowned at me. “What welcoming committee?”
It was my turn to look confused. “Horse and Bear, and some other boys met me on the highway and rode with me until I arrived here,” I explained.
He shook his head. “Nothing to do with me. No idea who organized that.” He smiled as he switched the key on.
I stared after him for a while, trying to think of who it would have been.
The only person who knew I was on the road at that time would have been Jim.
But he was caught up in the final checks of an office refit with an inspector, so it wouldn’t have been him, would it? Could he? Wouldn’t it be suspicious?
I pulled out my phone and sent him a thank you message. He responded right away with you’re welcome. My heart skipped a beat and I smiled. This is what I deserved.
I unlocked the car and threw the bag in, then started my walk around to the driver’s seat.
“Daisy? Where are you going?” Mom came running out of the house. I paused and looked at her over the top of the car.
“Going to find a hotel room. I’ll let you and Blaze have your family dinner together tonight, and I’ll meet you at the funeral home tomorrow morning,” I told her. “You’ve obviously become close over these past four years, and I’m okay with that. I don’t want to intrude.”
Mom looked shocked. Things were definitely not happening according to the plan she had in her head. The look on her face was almost panicky. Her eyes darted around, trying to think, trying to find a solution that would be socially acceptable. She sagged in defeat.
“I really want you here,” she whined.
I walked back around the car and took her hands.
“I’ll come for breakfast and get ready with you in the morning. But I can’t spend time with Blaze. Not when I’m divorcing him. And I am divorcing him, Mom. That relationship is dead. It died four years ago,” I said firmly.
She nodded. “I’ll, um, I’ll cancel dinner with Blaze. Stay here tonight, Daisy. Please.”
I shook my head. I didn’t trust her.
“You enjoy your dinner with Blaze. You can let him know about the ride tomorrow. It’ll be nice.” I squeezed her hands gently and then dropped them again to walk back to my seat. “I’ll bring my things over and stay tomorrow night. We can have breakfast and go to the funeral together.”
Mom’s shoulders dropped in defeat. I felt guilty. With Dad’s death, she’d lost her husband and purpose in life. But I couldn’t live my life how she wanted. I deserved more than what she was content with.