Chapter 51 Jim
Sending a prospect to help Daisy with getting discharged was hell.
I hated myself for leaving her. I hated not being there for her.
I hated that I’d palmed her off on a kid, but I had to.
I was too angry, the rage too strong, and I knew I was going to lose control if I didn’t let the emotions out.
I just hoped she’d forgive me. Looking back at how she forgave the treatment from her own family so far, I suspected that I would be.
I just wasn’t going to take it for granted.
The most beautiful and strong woman that I knew was treated like a doormat. The most selfless and caring woman was given no respect and care for herself. Everyone that should have cared for her dismissed her. It was amazing that she had grown to be who she was.
I pulled into the florist after my session at the gym. Shaquilla was outside restocking the display. She lifted an eyebrow when I removed my helmet.
“Well hello, Midwife. To what do I owe the pleasure? I’m hoping you’re not here to tell me to stay away from Blaze because his ol’lady is back, like the others?
” She spoke with a lot of snark, her top lip twitching up into a sneer.
I snorted in response. Apart from her bad taste in men, she was pretty good friends with Blaze, even taking Dylan one night a week for him.
The woman was a good person. I’d seen her take on teenagers who were struggling, and give them jobs, food, and clothes.
She maintained a gruff exterior, which was hard to do for someone so young.
“It doesn’t sound like the ol’lady wants Blaze. Pretty sure your cousin is the one responsible for helping the ol’lady give Blaze his marching orders.” I reached out and touched a petal on the flowers in front of me. Shaquilla gave me a calculated look.
“How is Darcy?” I asked politely.
“Good,” she replied suspiciously. I nodded and looked over the rest of the flowers on offer.
“Why are you here?” she asked with a subtle lift of her chin. “If not to tell me to back off.”
I flashed her a grin. “I hear you’re good at apology bouquets,” I told her. “I need something small that won’t get damaged on the bike.”
She groaned. “Fuck sake, Midwife, you’re supposed to be one of the good ones.” She then huffed and walked past me into the shop. “Well, hurry up.”
I was poised to defend myself and tell Shaquilla that the only thing I did wrong was not being where I was supposed to, but then decided against it. That reasoning sounded bad, and besides, it was only Daisy’s opinion that mattered.
“So what do you need to apologize for?” Shaquilla busied herself in front of the fridge of flowers. “Club business taking over? You got drunk with Bull and ran naked in front of her parents?”
I laughed. Wouldn’t that be a sight?
I stepped into the shop and looked around. There were little Teddy bears with love hearts, candles, delicate vases and containers. I stopped by a little red teddy bear and looked at it. I knew I had to get it. “Love you forever” was stretched across its tummy.
“Uh, Shaquilla. I think I’ll get this instead.” I reached for the bear.
She rolled her eyes with a smile, and slunk around the counter. “You’re a bit of a softy, aren’t you?”
“She needs it. I need it. I need her to know that,” I admitted.
“Well, it will travel better in the bag.” She chuckled. “So, when did you meet?”
“Four years ago, when her husband chose to fuck another woman instead of looking after her and her baby,” I said quietly. I watched the realization spread across her face.
Her head shot up. I pressed my finger to my lips and winked. The fire returned to her eyes.
“You’d better—” she growled.
“She’s my queen, there’s no one else,” I interrupted.
“She’s been hurt enough. No taking up with girls on the side like he does.”
“I’m nothing like Blaze,” I reminded her. “I love her, and respect her. And I will show up for her every time, like I have done,” I growled, my temper flaring with the guilt. “I will not hurt her like everyone else has. Even if I have to walk away so she doesn’t see my violence.”
“She got hurt again?” Shaquilla asked in a small voice.
I gave a curt nod. “But I’ll make her feel better. I’m not like him.”
“Can I have that bear now?” I asked.
Shaquilla dragged in a breath through her nostrils and gave a curt nod. “I’d better encourage that divorce a bit harder then,” she murmured.
* * *
I rode down the driveway apprehensively.
I felt a little embarrassed at my outburst in the hospital now that I’d calmed down.
I was still hoping Daisy would be there waiting for me, but I was regretful about demanding she stay.
Daisy was not a possession to be ordered around. She was my queen, for me to obey.
I smiled when I saw her car parked outside my house and found her sitting in the old porch swing. She looked tired and sad. I swung off the bike and walked up the steps to her. She watched me.
“I wasn’t going to be here,” she murmured. “I was going to just stop to say thank you, and then drive home. But I can’t leave now. I don’t want to.”
I sat down beside her and tucked her under my arm. Her head came to rest on my chest, and she took a deep breath.
“I don’t want to leave you any more,” she whispered. “Everything is easier to deal with when you’re around.”
I bent my head and kissed her hair.
We stayed like this for a while, just holding each other and looking out at the yard. It felt peaceful. Daisy’s breathing slowed, and she shifted her body closer.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“What for?”
“I think our cover might be blown. I didn’t really want to cause trouble in the club,” she added.
I laughed. “Blaze isn’t as well-liked in the club as he thinks he is. Besides, it’s common knowledge that he had divorce papers served to him, so most people know that you don’t want him,” I told her. “I’m okay with it being out in the open. I love you, and I don’t care who knows.”
She sighed, and my eyes drifted closed.
“Where did you go today?” Daisy asked.
“I used the boxing bags at the gym,” I hummed, lifting my sore knuckles to rub against her cheek.
“Why?”
“So I didn’t punch Molly out and reunite her with Matchstick.”
I felt Daisy smile. “Jim,” she reprimanded me, but I heard the amusement in her voice. I smiled because she smiled.
“I also got you something.” I opened my eyes as I sat her up, and I stood. She stayed sitting as I walked to the bike and got the bear out of the packs.
“So you know you’re never alone,” I said as I walked back up the steps.
“I haven’t felt alone since I met you,” she croaked, holding out her hands for the bear. I sat beside her again as she squashed the bear to her chest, and I rested my arm around her.
She snuggled into my side again. “I wish you were BJ’s daddy,” she whispered. “He might have lived if you were his dad.”
“He’s mine in my heart,” I replied. “I celebrate his birthday every year. Same as my brother and sister.”
She lifted her head and kissed my cheek. “He was named after you. You’re the only James worth naming my kids after.”
I smiled, my heart swelling with her admission.