Page 18 of Country

Daisy

Two Months Later

Belle holds her fishing pole over the water as she digs her free hand into a bag of snack crackers.

“Do you think we’ll catch anything today?”

She lands her finger over her lips and whispers, “Dad says if we sit really quiet, the fish will come.” She looks away as though she’s finished talking but spins back just as quickly. “But… only if we sing them the welcome song.”

I can’t help but smile. “What’s the welcome song?”

Suddenly, the whisper is gone, and the pole is on the grass before her. “Welcome fish. Welcome fish. Welcome, welcome, welcome fish. I love you all the sea.” She sits back in the chair and grabs the pole like nothing happened.

Country laughs loudly. “Belle, your song is supposed to be a whisper too.”

“Dad,” she groans, “how do the fish find me if I’m whispering the welcome song?”

He shakes his head. “Got me there. You good on juice or you need more?”

“I need more.”

He digs through the cooler at his side and hands her a grape juice box.

These are the moments I never imagined would happen for me. Quiet days by the river with a family of my own.

Belle looks toward me. “I have something to give you. Dad says I should wait, but I can’t.” She turns around and unzips her backpack.

“Honey,” Country says, “we need to slow down. I should talk to Daisy first. A lot has been going on lately.”

Belle rolls her eyes at her father and continues what she’s doing. “Dad, I was the best girl at your wedding. Of course, Daisy will say yes to me. We’re best friends. She gave me all A’s in school, and we spent all last weekend doing girl stuff without you. It’s fine.”

Belle pulls a piece of construction paper from her bag. It’s bright yellow and folded in half, though I can see the shadow of a dark red marker through the paper. Already I’m swooning.

“I’m sorry,” Country holds my arm and smiles. “She loves you.”

“I love her too. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

He brushes his hand down over his beard. “You don’t have to say yes.”

My curiosity is peaked. Whatever this is, it’s about to be good.

“Daisy,” Belle hands me her piece of paper, “I want to ask you if you’ll sign this.”

I unfold the paper and stare down at the words.

‘I, Daisy, will adopt Belle as my own kid. I promise to take her dress shopping, adopt a puppy, let Belle tell me all her secrets, and do all things mommies do forever and ever. Amen.’

Beneath the words is a hand drawn picture of Belle holding my hand. We’re stick figures and we’re both wearing dresses and high-heeled shoes. This version of us is adorable, and this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

Emotion overwhelms me and I burst into tears, pulling Belle up onto my lap.

“Are you mad? My dad said I should wait and give you time to get used to us.”

I glance toward Country and smack his arm playfully. We’ve been married for six weeks now. We had a small wedding down at the little tree farm in town. It’s an adorable place, even in the summertime. Tall pine trees and a little cabin they use for wreaths in the winter, but now is used for refreshments after a party.

It was just the three of us and the MC club. They even got Chap from Rugged Mountain MC to officiate. He’s definitely used to these weddings by now. “I think Dad is trying to look out for me, but Belle, I knew the second I met you, that I was supposed to be your mommy. Do you have a marker?” I wipe away more tears as she hands me the red marker in her opposite hand.

“Why are you crying, Mommy?”

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