Chapter 26
twenty-six
DAISY
In the car on our way to see Natasha, Sally asks, “How did it go with your dad?” I find a spot close to the building and pull into it.
By the time I’d gotten back from Las Vegas, he’d already left to attend a week-long retreat.
But as soon as he arrived home this morning, he wanted to see me.
It was too much to hope that he’d forgotten about me missing church and running off to Vegas.
“When I’d confessed to being there with a man, there was a lot of ‘I’m disappointed in you.
This is not the kind of behavior I’d expect from you’.
” We get out of the car. I wrap my sweater around me to ward off the morning chill as we walk the short distance to the building.
“Oh, and the best one was ‘what would our congregation think if they knew you’d skipped church for debauchery’.
” I laugh. It was better to laugh than cry.
“I know I’m his daughter, and he loves me, but sometimes I feel like I’m a child. ”
“Living in the eighteen hundreds,” Sally giggles.
“I know, right? It’s so embarrassing.”
“You’re all he has. After your mother died, he’s clung to you. It’s not fair. He needs to understand that just because he lives and breathes the church, you don’t. You have your own life to live the way you want to. There’s nothing shameful about what you did.”
We stop and watch for traffic before we cross the road. “The church is important to me too.”
“I know. Although, is working there what you want to do for the rest of your life?”
“No. It’s not. I want to go to nursing school.”
“You should tell your dad and find someone to fill your position so you can enrol.”
“He relies on me too much. I can’t leave him.”
We enter the building and step into the elevator.
It’s been a week since I’ve seen or heard from Kade.
I was hoping, after he left me in Las Vegas with only a note, he might reach out to me and explain why he left before I woke up, but I’ve come to realize why he really left.
It was his way of proving it was a one-time thing. In case I had any other ideas.
The thought of never being with him again shouldn’t disappoint me.
It was what I agreed to. I promised all I wanted was one night.
Although, I wasn’t expecting the night to go the way it did.
No one has ever made me feel so special.
Or went out of their way to make the night one I’d never forget.
And it didn’t have anything to do with money or sex.
The way Kade made me feel was priceless.
I’ve visited Natasha twice already this week with no sign of Kade. Not that I wanted to see him. Leaving me in Las Vegas was a shitty move. But it doesn’t stop my heart from pounding a little harder when we make our way to her apartment.
“You need to do what makes you happy sometimes too.” Sally gives my arm a gentle squeeze.
It’s not the first time we’ve had this conversation.
Once we get to Natasha’s apartment, I knock.
My heart rate kicks up in anticipation. What if Kade’s inside?
What would I say to him? After a moment, Giselle lets us in.
I give a quick scan of the apartment and see no sign of Kade.
In Natasha’s room, she’s sitting on the floor with Remi lying on a rug. “Hey, Natasha,” I greet. “Oh, hi, Evan. I didn’t know you were going to be here today.” A smile pulls at my lips. No matter what almost happened between us, I’m always happy to see him.
“Thought I’d check on Natasha and Remi before I do rounds at the hospital.”
“How are you, Sally?” he asks.
Sally gives him a quick glance. “I’m good, thanks. And you?”
Evan slides his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Good. Good. Busy.”
“With babies?” Sally says.
“And expectant mothers.”
“You can’t have the babies without the expectant mothers.” Sally gives an awkward laugh.
“No, you can’t.” His laugh is just as awkward.
What is happening here? Why are they acting so strange?
“Well, I better go. I have rounds.” He shakes his head. “I’ve already mentioned that.”
“Have fun,” Sally says with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Goodbye, ladies.”
“Bye, Evan,” I say.
My frown follows him leave the room. That was the most uncomfortable exchange between Evan and Sally I’ve ever seen. I gasp and cover my mouth as a thought hits me. Turning, I point a finger at Sally. “Was he the man I heard in your bed?”
Sally ducks her head, then kneels next to Natasha. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“When I called from Vegas and heard a man’s voice. You said it was some guy. It was Evan, wasn’t it? You and he had—” I stop when I glance at Natasha. This is a conversation I probably shouldn’t have in front of a teenager.
She rolls her eyes and says, “I’ve had a baby. I know about sex.” She shakes a rattle above Remi’s face, showing little interest in our conversation.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask Sally, a little hurt that she’d keep such a secret from me.
Sally stands. “Because it goes against girl code to sleep with your best friend’s ex.
I didn’t want to upset you. I’m so sorry.
I don’t know what got into me. If you want to yell at me, go ahead.
I deserve it. But please don’t end our friendship over this.
Because it was a one-time thing. It will never happen again. ” Tears shimmer in her eyes.
“I’m not going to yell at you or end our friendship.”
A look of relief washes over her face. “Really?”
“Yes, really. And you didn’t go against girl code because we were never in a relationship.”
“You dated and kissed.”
“We went on a few dates because my dad pushed us together. We were always friends, more than anything else. And the kiss was confirmation of it never moving past friendship.”
She twists her fingers together in front of her. “You’re not mad?”
“No, I’m not mad. Do you like him?”
She gives a small smile. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then go for it. You’d make a cute couple.” And I mean it. I should have seen it from the start. Sally can be a little wild and carefree. Evan may come across more serious and settled, but it’s the perfect combination to balance them out.
Her shoulders droop on a sigh. “What if he doesn’t like me?”
“From what I’ve learned from Evan, he’s not going to sleep with a woman if he’s not interested.” It took multiple dates before we even kissed.
Sally’s eyes brighten. “You think he’s interested?”
“Oh, puleeze,” Natasha groans from the floor. “You sound like the girls at my high school. Just tell him you like him. Have more sex and live happily ever after.”
My eyes lock with Sally’s, and we burst out laughing. “She has a point,” I say.
“Who knew the kid was so smart?” Sally ruffles the top of Natasha’s blue hair.
“Hey.” She swats Sally’s hand away. “Can we please get out of this apartment? I want to take Remi for a walk.”
That’s what we came here to do. Natasha had called, complaining about getting cabin fever. “Sure. Giselle, would you like to come along?” I ask.
“No, thank you. I have some laundry to do. You girls enjoy the sunshine.”
We bundle Remi up, place her in a stroller, and leave the apartment. When we arrive at the bottom and step out of the elevator, Natasha’s foster father appears in the lobby.
Sally and I step in front of the stroller and Natasha.
“Tash, it’s time you come home.” He makes to move around us to get to her, but we block his path.
“I told you; I’m not going anywhere with you,” she snaps.
“The social worker’s been asking about you.”
“I don’t care,” she yells.
“Your mother misses you,” he pleads.
Behind me, Natasha scoffs. “Janice doesn’t give a shit about me.”
His face screws up with anger. “They’ll stop my money.”
“Natasha, get Remi back into the elevator,” I say over my shoulder. “I’ll deal with him.”
Bruce moves forward, and I hold out my hand, keeping him at arm's length. “Don’t come any closer.” I keep my eyes on Bruce in case he makes any sudden movements to get to Natasha.
“You little bitch. Think you’re a fucking princess living in this castle,” he calls out to her.
Natasha steps into the elevator. “You could only dream of living in a place like this. If you think I’d leave it to come back to your filthy shack, you’ve got rocks in your head.
I’m sick of living like a slave and slapping away your filthy hands.
” The elevator door shuts. The girl has guts.
Good on her for standing up for herself.
“You need to leave,” I demand, feeling a little relieved that Natasha is out of harm’s way. Although I’m still nervous that Bruce is still in the building. Who knows what he might do?
He sneers as he eyes me up and down like I’m no more than a tiny ant he could squash under his boot. “Are you going to make me?”
I pull my phone out of my bag and wave it in front of his face.
“If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police.
If I can’t make you leave, they will.” Or maybe I should call Kade.
The size of him is enough to scare the coward away.
If I call him, I’m worried he’ll do some serious damage to Bruce and get himself into trouble.
A sour stench of alcohol wafts over my face, and I have to hold my breath so I don’t gag. “I’ve done nothing wrong,” Bruce says.
“You’re harassing a minor.”
“They won’t believe you.”
Sally sidles up next to me and juts her chin out. “Oh, really? You have witnesses. This is all on camera.” She points to the ceiling. “You won’t get away with anything.”
His beady gaze flicks between us, then around the lobby. “The little bitch isn’t worth it.” He spins around and storms out onto the street.
I let out the breath I was holding on a loud gasp. “He’s insane.”
“Do you think he’ll be back?” Sally asks, her gaze aimed outside.
“I hope not. I need to tell Kade.”
***