Untitled Part 15
That only made her cry harder.
"I wanted to go to the hospital and see you, but Mommy wouldn't let me."
"She said you probably hated me now, and seeing me would only make you more upset."
"On Saturday, I went to pottery class and made a little kitten for you. After it got fired, I wanted to give it to you, but I accidentally broke it."
"When you said you didn't want to see me, I just... I got even more scared to apologize."
"I'm sorry... it's all my fault. They were right. I'm a bad kid..."
I hadn't expected her to remember that I liked cats.
That was from when I'd first married Ethan.
It had been a long time ago.
I'd wanted to adopt a cat.
But Ethan said no, because Daisy was allergic to cat hair too.
So after that, I stopped being around cats as much.
I was afraid some fur might cling to my clothes and trigger Daisy when I came home.
I wrapped my arms around her a little tighter and pressed my face lightly against hers.
The fine baby-soft fuzz on her cheek was warm and tender.
I kept soothing her, again and again, patient as could be.
"It's okay. I really don't blame you anymore."
"You didn't do it on purpose, Daisy. That doesn't make you a bad kid."
"You meant well. You were worried about me."
Gradually, her crying eased.
Though she still hiccuped now and then.
Spring had arrived ages ago.
And yet this was the first time since my miscarriage that I truly felt warmth again.
It came from Daisy's little arms wrapping back around me.
All this time, she'd only been afraid I would hate her.
Because I had looked forward to the baby, she had been willing to teach herself to love it too.
Even though she thought that child would take away part of the love meant for her.
She'd built herself this cool, grown-up little persona, so she never said any of it out loud.
But in that moment, I was absolutely sure of one thing.
She loved me too.
In her own quiet way, she had been trying to love me back.
Daisy and I kept talking.
We got so wrapped up in it that I lost track of time.
Until Vanessa's voice cut through the room, sharp with fury.
"Claire."
Her heels struck the floor harder with every step as she stormed toward us.
Then she raised her hand.
"You fed my daughter something she's allergic to?"
Her voice cracked with rage.
"Were you trying to kill her? So she could get out of the way for the child you and Ethan will have someday?"
Daisy threw her arms around me at once.
"Mom! Mom!!"
"Don't hit her! I ate it myself! She didn't know!"
That only made Vanessa angrier.