Chapter 13 Daisy
Something had previously held me back. A voice in my head sounding suspiciously like my mother saying that marriage is forever, better or worse, your father stepped out on me, but he always came back and that’s what counts.
But I didn’t want a marriage like my parents.
I deserved respect, honesty, and love. But first, I had to free myself up for it.
I may have married one, and I may have grown up in a family with one, but I wasn’t going to be a cheater myself. The tradition ends with me.
I walked out into the kitchen to see if I could help out. It was all hands on deck. An old woman that I assumed was Eric and Trey’s Granny was cooking up a storm with the help of Eric. Trey was setting the table, while Janie was handling Stel’s hair.
Both girls had a sad look on their faces.
“Hey, think of it this way…today we get to plan it all and get things ready. Tomorrow, you two will be absolutely identical. Same clothes and everything.” He winked.
“Thanks, Dad.” She giggled as he kissed her head, and then he reached over and cradled Stel’s chin.
“And today, you get to be a beautiful Puerto Rican princess, like your Momma was.”
Stels smiled sweetly at Bull. “Thanks, Dad,”
“Hey Miz Daiz! Do you want a seat for breakfast?” Trey yelled, noticing me.
“Thanks Trey, but I came to offer my help.” I smiled.
“Oh sit yourself down,” Granny admonished kindly, looking a bit wonky on her feet.
“How about you take my place at the table, and I take your place at the stove,” I told her. “Eric can tell me what to do.”
I saw Bull give a sharp nod, then Eric and Trey both guided Granny to the chair. Bull handed Manny to her for cuddles, with the ulterior motive of pinning her down.
I loved the atmosphere, the noise, and the chaos. It all combined into the making of a family. Eric and I finished cooking and I took the plates to the table, where everyone dug in and ate.
Then Bull took Trey and Eric to school, and Stels and D2 to child care. Granny announced she was taking Manny for a walk, and plonked him in the stroller. She left with a knowing glance at Janie and me.
“You two enjoy your chat.”
“We won’t be long Granny. I’ve got to go back to the hospital,” I replied.
She nodded and walked out.
“She’ll head to Joker’s place. Kimmy isn’t doing too well with morning sickness,” Janie told me.
I had no idea who Kimmy was.
“She’s from Australia. Came for a holiday, and somehow managed to stay. Joker is crazy about her.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Wow, I’m impressed; he was in the running for man-whore when I left. Although, I think Blaze was beating all of them.”
Janie looked uncomfortable.
“I saw him last night,” I told her.
“I heard you blew him off.”
I nodded, then shook my head. “I can’t believe I was that stupid for so long. So many broken promises. He was never going to be a decent man like Tinker. Ironic that he took after my father instead of his own.”
Janie took a deep breath and spoke diplomatically, “We live and learn.”
I nodded then blurted, “I need another favor…I need to find a divorce lawyer.”
“Yes!” Janie almost jumped for joy. “I knew you were smart. When did you decide?”
“It’s been building for a while, but last night I looked at him, and I just saw a waste of time, a mistake I’m done making,” I admitted.
Janie gave me a quick hug. “I’ll see what I can find out for you,” she said.
* * *
I walked into the hospital as the doctor was doing his rounds, and I was able to ask the questions I needed to.
I didn’t get the answers I wanted though. I only got the answers I suspected. Dad was marked as needing palliative care.
“What were you asking the doctor, Love?” Mom wondered as I walked back, pressing my fingers against my forehead.
“Medical stuff, Mom…such as what’s the next step?”
“Oh, it won’t be long they said, they’re just organising a bed in a new ward.”
Yeah, the palliative ward. I just nodded. I knew that telling her that when they said not long, they meant not long until he passes, not long until he’s home, was hopeless. But not long could mean anything from a day, to a couple of months.
I didn’t know what to do. I needed to talk to someone.
“Daisy?” Mom asked hesitantly.
I sighed. “Yes Mom.”
“You said yesterday you work in a hospital. Do you…work…”
“Yes Mom, I do work in a hospital.” I sighed, trying to move the conversation along. I’d always been frustrated at her timidness, and it was in full flight at the moment. She wanted something, and she was expecting to be told no.
“What do you want done?” I asked.
Mom mumbled something.
“I can’t hear you,” I told her.
“Can you see if you can get them to let your father out this weekend? To go to Blaze’s party.”
I closed my eyes in frustration. Fucking Blaze. Their world revolved around him. I was just an accessory.
“They keep saying he’s too sick, but all he needs is his oxygen tank and a wheelchair. He’ll be fine. I’ll look after him,” she whined.
“And that’s the fucking problem, you haven’t been doing that properly. You’ve been letting him get away with shit for years,” I muttered under my breath. I turned to her and said clearly, “What have the Doctors said he needs in addition to those things?”
Mom bristled in agitation. “They said he needs a nurse to watch over him. As if I’m not enough!” she spat.
I looked at the monitors.
“Mom, his oxygen levels are going down. Do you know what to do to fix that?”
“What? How do you know?”
I knew because I was watching him, but the numbers on the screen had dropped five percent and he was in a hospital under the best circumstances.
I sighed…this was probably going to be his last outing and it actually would make everyone’s day.
It would probably be a good idea and a great way for me to say goodbye.
“I’ll go and talk to the nurses,” I told her, feeling defeated as I turned to walk out again.
I did talk to the nurses and the doctors, took down all care instructions, reassured everyone that I could handle this, and then I called Bull to organize transport.
There was no way that Dad and his gear would fit in my car or Mom’s.
After explaining the situation, he told me that Midwife will help me and not to worry.
“Midwife will help you organize everything.” He hung up. I trusted him.
I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. I could trust him. I could trust Jim. I felt relief trickle in. For the second time in my life, I felt like I had support. I ignored the fact that it was provided by the same man. I walked back to let Mom know the good news.