Chapter 4
It was getting dark outside by the time Daisy had finished straightening and cleaning the art studio.
She’d just about gotten to the point that she was going to call Charlie to see if he’d forgotten about Carson.
It was unlike him to be late picking up the child, but she knew all too well that unexpected issues could sometimes make you be late.
“Carson? It’s about time to start packing up for the day. ”
“But my dad’s not here yet.”
“No, but I’m sure he will be here soon.” The moment the last words of her sentence left her mouth her phone started ringing.
She hurried over to her purse and dug around for it, finally finding it in time for it to stop.
She managed to unlock it and scroll past the lock screen and figure out she’d missed a call from Charlie.
She glanced over at Carson, Charlie’s son, who was busily cleaning up his work station and all his supplies.
She looked down at the phone again before quickly tapping the number to call him back. The line didn’t even finish ringing once and Charlie was anxiously answering.
“Daisy! Hi!”
“Hey, Charlie. You tried to call?”
“Yeah. Listen, I’m running late. This meeting is running over and I’m having a hard time figuring out how I’m going to get there in time.
I’m so sorry. I knew this was going to happen.
It’s the only reason I hesitated enrolling him,” he said, his words running together as he rushed to get all his thoughts out at once.
“It’s okay! It’s not a problem.”
“I knew you’d say that, but you have a life and things you need to do, too, and here you’ve still got my kid. I don’t even know anybody I trust enough to pick him up for me. I’ll be just a little longer and then I can rush right over…”
“No. Don’t rush anywhere. The only thing I have planned tonight is going home. I’ll just take him with me and you can take your time, finish up whatever it is you need to get finished up, and come get him when you’re ready.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be inconvenienced. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m positive. And Carson is not an inconvenience in the least. I’ll text you my address and you can swing by when you’re done. Don’t give it a second thought.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, Daisy. I promise this won’t become a regular thing.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll see you later.”
Charlie finally breathed easy on the other end of the line. “Thank you, Daisy. I’ll try to be as quick as I can.”
“You’re welcome. See you later.”
Daisy ended the call and quickly texted her address to Charlie before slipping her phone back into her purse. She turned around and was a little startled to find Carson standing silently just a few feet away from her, looking right at her. “Oh! I didn’t hear you come over here.”
“My dad’s not coming is he?”
“Sure he is, he’s just going to be a little late. So, you’re coming home with me and we’re going to have a nice night, and have dinner. Okay?”
Carson looked up at her, his deep brown eyes looking trustingly into hers also let her know he was feeling a little afraid. “Are you sure he’s coming?”
“I am absolutely sure.”
“He doesn't know where you live,” Carson said.
“I just sent him my address.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Are you ready? Do you have your paints all sealed and your brushes cleaned?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good job!” Daisy exclaimed. She gathered her purse, and watched as he picked up his backpack.
He walked over to where she waited at the front door, then walked out before her when she held it open for him.
She glanced around the studio once more, then flipped off the lights before locking the door and taking him by the hand to lead him down the few steps to the ground and then over to her jeep.
Daisy took his backpack and settled it in the jeep before helping him climb up into the vehicle and buckling him into the backseat. She closed the door before walking around the front of the jeep. She took the time to make a funny face at him through the windshield as she went by.
Carson grinned at her.
Daisy smiled as she opened her door and got in.
“You’re funny,” he said.
“I’m funny?!” she asked.
“Yes. You’re nice, too.”
“It’s easy to be nice to you. You’re so nice yourself!” she said, winking at him in the rear view mirror as she slowly backed out before angling the front of her car toward the highway and pulling out, starting them on their way.
“Do you live by yourself?” he asked.
“No, I live with my mom and dad.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s home. I just haven’t made one of my own yet.”
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t needed to. I have a piece of land, though. I could build one if I wanted to, but it’s just me. I don’t have a husband or any kids, so I like being home with my parents.”
“So you don’t get lonely?”
“Yes. They keep me from being lonely.”
“My dad is lonely.”
“Why do you think your dad is lonely?” Daisy asked.
“Because when I go to bed I can still hear him in the living room. And he’s all by himself with just the television. And he changes the channels a lot, so I know he’s not really watching anything, but when I ask him why he’s still awake, he tells me he’s watching a movie.”
“Maybe he is watching a movie,” Daisy said.
“Not changing the channel so much. He just doesn’t want to tell me he’s not tired yet. So he just sits there all alone until he falls asleep.”
“You know what, Carson. I don’t think your dad is lonely because he’s got you. I think he’s very happy because he’s got you.”
Carson thought about it. “Maybe.” He watched everything going past through the darkness outside until Daisy finally pulled off the highway and drove them up a gravel driveway and into the woods. “You live in the woods?”
“Well, not exactly. I live in a house by some other houses, but this road certainly makes it look like we’re going into the woods, doesn’t it?” she asked.
“Yeah. It’s kinda scary.”
“It’s really pretty in the daytime. One day you’ll have to come see it in the daytime.”
“Okay,” Carson said, his little head on pivot as he tried to look forward through the windshield, then left, then right, all at the same time.
It wasn’t long before the lights on Kaid’s porch could be glimpsed through the darkness.
“Is that your house?” Carson asked, pointing toward the flickering lights through the trees.
“No, that’s my Uncle Kaid’s house.” Daisy kept driving until they cleared the trees and Kaid’s house was easily seen.
“Oh, I see it! Your uncle lives there?”
“Yes, and my other uncle and aunt live in that house right there, and my other uncle and aunt live in that one back there,” she said, as they very slowly made their way past Kaid’s, Avaleigh’s, and Maverik’s houses.
She took a left, following the road and it was only a few moments before the other houses started coming into view.
“I see more houses!” Carson said.
“Yep. That’s my cousin, Jobe’s house, but he doesn’t live here anymore. And that is my Uncle Bam’s house, and that one,” she said, pointing to the only house on the right, “is my family’s house.”
“It’s pretty. I like the big stairs and the porch.”
“Me, too. It goes all around so you can sit anywhere on it you want to just enjoy being outside. We used to decorate it every year for each holiday.”
“You don’t decorate it anymore?”
“Not as much as we used to, but we decorate it a little.”
“I would decorate it all the time if I lived here.”
“You can decorate your house.”
“It’s an apartment. We got a lot of other people living in our building, too, and they don’t all like to decorate.”
“You could do your door.”
“We used to where I used to live, but we didn’t do it yet here.”
“I’m sure you will,” she said, pulling her jeep into her usual parking place in front of the house. “Okay, we’re home,” she said. She turned off the jeep and dropped her keys in her purse. “I’m going to come around and help you get out and then we’ll go inside. Okay?”
He was looking up at the warm glow of the amber colored lights in the fixtures on the porch. “Are your parents going to be mad because I’m here?”
“What?! Of course, not. Why would you ask that?”
“Because you didn’t tell them I was coming.”
“They won’t mind. They love kids. And anybody I bring home is a friend of mine, and they’re always nice to my friends.”
He just looked at her, his eyes wide.
Daisy got out of the jeep, slung her purse on her shoulder and hurried around to get Carson out. She opened the door and reached for him.
“I can do it,” he said.
Daisy stood back and allowed him to jump out of her jeep. Once he landed, he looked up and offered her a slight smile.
“Better than I can jump,” she said, stretching to get his back pack out of the jeep. She took his hand in hers and led him toward the house.
A minute later Daisy was opening the front door and leading him inside. “I’m home!” she called out.
“I thought I heard you pull in,” Janie answered from the kitchen.
Footsteps let them know someone was coming toward them, until Bane stepped into view. “I made ribs! Been smoking them all day,” he said. The minute he saw Carson he smiled warmly. “Well, hello. Who are you?”
“I’m Carson.”
“Hello, Carson. Welcome to our home.”
“My dad was late.”
“Oh, I see. Well, sometimes it can’t be helped.”
“Who are you talking to?” Janie asked, coming out of the kitchen to see who besides Daisy had arrived.
“This is Carson. He’s my best student,” Daisy said. “He’s going to hang out with us for a little while until his dad gets here. He got caught up in a meeting at work.”
“Are you hungry, Carson?” Janie asked.
“I don’t know. I never had ribs.”
“My dad’s ribs are the best. He cooks them all day long and they’re so tender and smoky,” Daisy said. “And I didn’t even introduce you, did I? This is my dad, Mr. Bane. And this is my mom, Mrs. Janie.”
Carson nodded and smiled a little, mainly trying not to look anyone in the eye.
“We’ve also got macaroni and cheese, with lots and lots of cheese, and some corn on the cob.”