Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Daisy
I t was the end of another week. The movie was wrapping up, and Daisy thought it was the best time to break the two pieces of news to her brothers.
Telling them about her mother would be the hardest, so she planned to tell them that first and then she would tell them about her impending marriage in a couple of weeks.
Erica had finished her scenes and was now relaxing and taking care of Isobel.
Daisy called them to the kitchens on Saturday morning. There was no one staying in Edward Hall, so there were no staff bustling about.
As usual, they were sitting on the metal workbenches like birds on a wire, except she was the one facing them. Taking a deep breath, Daisy spoke, her words barely above a whisper, and then she stopped.
Nate took her spot on the row of people sitting opposite her on the workbench. She took a seat on the bench opposite. Daisy had her brothers in front of her, their wives and fiance at their sides. She couldn’t help feeling she was about to break up the gang. One look at Nate, and she found the courage to speak.
The smell of freshly baked bread was in the air. No doubt Jason getting ready to feed them a feast. The aroma deterred her for a moment.
She tapped the countertop twice and found her voice.
“There’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been keeping to myself for a long time,” Daisy said.
“We’re all accepting, Daisy, if you’re going to tell us you’re a lesbian,” Jason said.
Daisy gave him a soft smile wishing it was as straightforward as that. Nate’s chuckle drew their attention, and they dismissed that idea as a group.
Archer’s brow furrowed with concern, and he leaned forward. “What is it? You can tell us anything. You know that.”
Daisy closed her eyes briefly, gathering the courage to continue. “I’ve been in touch with Mum,” she said finally, her voice barely audible.
When she opened her eyes, she looked down the row. Jaws slackened, eyes widened in shock, and then there was a burst of questions from everyone but Nate.
“What?”
That was Jason
“How?” Luke shouted his question.
“When? How long? What the fuck?” All of those were Archer’s questions.
No one moved.
Daisy noticed the women stayed quiet, offering silence and sympathy with their expressions. But none of them moved to her. They stayed with their husbands and fiance. Never had she felt more on the outside than right then. Nate moved to her side and held her hand. She wanted to tell her second piece of news, but her brothers wouldn’t let her off easily.
“You need to explain yourself, Daisy,” Archer said, using his no-nonsense tone.
Daisy nodded, tears streaming down her face now. “I’ve been in her life since I was two. I know I should’ve told you all, but Dad and Mum said it was better this way.”
“You’ve been in contact with our mum for twenty-eight years? And Dad knew? That’s a hell of a fucking secret, Daisy.”
It was Luke who shot out the questions.
He was off the bench, staring her down.
Nate smoothly stood in front of Daisy, facing Luke head-on. She dropped her head to his back and held onto his hips, fisting his jumper in her hands.
“Easy, Luke. It took her a lot to do this today. Remember one of the questions I asked you in the pub? Go easy.”
“Why do you care all of a sudden?” he barked.
“Someone has to,” Nate roared at him.
Daisy steeled herself and looked around Nate’s stone-like body. He stood like nothing was going to get to her.
Luke took a step back. Freya came to his side and pulled him away and back to the bench.
“Look at you all with your judgement. Cynthia Turner will be so proud of the way you’ve behaved. Well done, congratulations.”
Sarcasm dripped off his words, and Daisy held back a sob. She wouldn’t have told them if she knew they would react that way. But Nate had counselled her that to get her memories out, to rid her mind that history would repeat itself, she needed to unburden her secrets .
Not for a secret did she regret taking Nate’s advice, but the reality was hard to swallow.
Archer pulled his hand away from Erica’s, his face contorted with anger.
“Dad knew,” he said brokenly. “He didn’t tell us, but he told you?”
She could hear his feelings of betrayal, not just from her but from a father he loved and respected.
Taking a deep breath, Daisy began to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mum can explain it better than me. She has told me pieces over the years, but I tune out every time she broaches the subject. I’d rather not know. I told myself it would be better that way, but now I’m learning, with Nate’s help, better out than in.”
Archer’s expression turned serious as he leaned in, giving Daisy his full attention. “What is it? What about Mum? Why did she abandon us?”
Daisy hesitated, her heart racing. “Cynthia was poisoning her.”
Archer’s eyes widened in shock, his grip tightening around the edge of the bench.
“What? Daisy, how could you keep something like that from all of us?” Jason said.
Heidi held him back from approaching.
“I didn’t mean to,” Daisy replied, tears streaming down her face. “I was just so lonely, and she was the only one who understood. She’s always been there for me.”
Archer stood up, releasing Erica’s hand. “I can’t believe you just said you were lonely. You had all of us.”
“Not really. I just had to get on with things. You all left one by one, and I was on my own in that awful house at the hands of Cynthia.”
Luke winced and looked away. She kept her gaze on him. “ You had it out with Jennifer on the lawns, and it brought back memories of something she did to me. I don’t know what it is yet. Do any of you know?”
She saw a sea of blank faces. They all shook their heads one by one.
“I was so lonely,” Daisy repeated, pleading with them.
“That’s no excuse. You betrayed us,” Archer replied.
“You think I betrayed you?”
All three of her brothers nodded.
She gasped in shock.
“You’ve known her your whole life,” Jason said. “You didn’t give us a chance to have the same luxury.”
“You should have told us, Daisy,” Luke said. “I can’t even look at you.”
“It wasn’t up to me to tell you,” she said through her sobs.
“You’ve lied for so long. You could have told us after Dad died,” Luke said.
“Would you have had a different reaction to what you’re having now?”
“Probably not. You’re not the sister I thought you were,” Archer said.
Daisy felt her heart shatter. Luke still couldn’t look at her. Jason was visibly seething with anger. All they were hearing was that she betrayed them, not that their mother was nearly killed by their aunt.
“I need space from you,” Luke said and yanked Freya’s hand to leave the kitchen.
Daisy watched them leave. Freya looked over her shoulder with a face of sympathy, but she still left. Jason and Heidi did the same. Which left Archer and Erica.
“So that’s it? I’m kicked out of the circle, just like she was,” Daisy said, finding her anger .
Nate hugged her tight as she spoke to her big brother. The person who said he would be there no matter what.
Archer didn’t say anything.
“I’ll go. I don’t know how long it will take for you to get another accountant. I’ll ask Warren if he’ll step in for the interim. I’m sure you’ll have no objections as he’s your personal accountant, Erica.”
Erica stared and nodded but didn’t say anything. The tears tracking down her face said enough.
“Let’s go,” Archer said and clasped Erica’s hand.
Erica didn’t want to leave and tried to stand her ground, but in the end, she left with her husband. As soon as the door closed, Daisy howled into Nate’s chest as he held her tighter.
“They’ll come around,” he whispered into her hair.
“They won’t. They’ve made their decision.”
Nate sighed as Daisy’s body trembled in his arms.
“Tighter,” she whispered.
Nate banded his arms around her, and she burrowed in as much as she could.
“They don’t understand how much they’re hurting you,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “But I do. And I will not let you go through this alone.”
Daisy looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “What are we going to do?”
Nate pulled her closer, his hands running through her hair. “We’re going to stick together. You and me. We’ll create our own circle, one that’s filled with love and acceptance, not judgement and exclusion.”
Daisy’s heart swelled with gratitude for Nate. She knew he was the only person who truly understood her and loved her unconditionally. As they stood there, holding each other, she knew they could face anything as long as he was with her.
“We’re getting married next week. Your mother is going to be on the island. We’ll see what happens then. I think we should stay at my place for a few days. Give you space from your brothers.”
Daisy nodded, wiping away her tears. “Okay. I just need some time to process everything.”
Nate leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, Daisy. I promise.”
Daisy smiled weakly at him. “I know you will. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Nate said, his voice filled with emotion.
They left Edward Hall’s kitchen and headed towards her buggy. It was a beautiful evening, the sky painted with shades of pink and orange. But Daisy couldn’t appreciate the beauty of it. Her heart was heavy with sadness and hurt.
As they drove to Nate’s place, Daisy couldn’t help but feel like she was losing a part of herself. Her brothers had always been there for her through thick and thin. And now, they were pushing her away.
But as Nate held her hand and whispered sweet nothings in her ear, she realised she wasn’t losing everything.
She still had him.
She still had her mum.