Page 90 of Connor

“What happened to you?” I ask as I quickly look over him.

“Just a little gunshot graze to my side, baby girl. Nothing for you to worry about,” he murmurs and squeezes my hand reassuringly.

“A gunshot! Oh my God, you were shot!” I nearly scream as I frantically try to sit up, my head still feeling heavy but not able to stop myself.

“Easy, baby. Relax. I’m fine, I promise.” He soothes me as I settle back in the bed, brushing hair away from my face and pressing a kiss to my head. I see a thick bandage under his shirt, and my heart gallops.

“You took a bullet saving me?” I ask as a tear falls down my cheek.

“Pretty heroic, really, isn’t it,” he says, giving me a smirk, throwing in a little humor, which I know is his way of trying to calm me down.

“Very heroic. But are you okay? Really?” I ask again, more worried about him than myself.

“Just a graze, baby girl. I will be fully healed in no time.”

Nodding, I take a deep breath, and he wipes my tears. But I have more questions than answers at this point.

“He said he was my father? Said he knew Soren?” I ask, my brow furrowing, confused.

“Yeah. Well, I will let your parents talk to you about that one, but in my mind, a father is a man who raises you. They are a different species than a sperm donor.”

I agree with him, but it doesn’t take away the pain in my chest.

“In terms of Soren, he knew nothing about this. Your mom got hold of him. He was a few states over, digging up some rose quartz, but is on his way, happy to answer any questions police might have about what he knows of the commune. Your mom mentioned that he wouldn’t know anything. Being a visitor, he would have been kept segregated from the daily happenings of the commune, and probably only tolerated anything because he usually brought news or information on the outside world for them. Including where he mentioned your mom and you, and how you were in Whispers.”

“My mom?”

“They’re right outside. Waiting. I even flew Trisha in, because she was blowing up my phone. Apparently, your mom filled her in on the day, and she called me and demanded that I, and I quote, ‘get my big balls together and get her here for you.’”

I huff a small laugh at my crazy friend, even as my mind whirls, trying to sort through everything.

“I don’t even know who I am anymore… Who my dad is… What my surname is…” I tell him. My family history is all unknown now.

“Sure, you do. You’re the beautiful, sassy yoga queen, kick-ass businesswoman, who’s about to take the world by storm with me by her side,” he says, looking at me with so much love and adoration, another tear falls.

“Here, your mom made you a cup of tea,” he murmurs to me as he helps me sit up, then passes me the cup, the tea still nice and warm. I smell lemon and honey and close my eyes, taking a sip, feeling it soothe me from the inside out. I don’t think I’ll be drinking chamomile for a while.

“Thank you, Connor. For everything. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t found me. I was so, so scared,” I tell him, knowing there’s still a lot about today that I don’t know, yet knowing that he found me and stopped at nothing until he did blankets me with a whole new sense of safety and comfort.

“Today was the scariest day of my entire life. I knew before this that I loved you. I knew before this that you were the other half of my soul. But after today, there’s no way I want to be apart from you in any way. I was willing to put my life down for you, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

More tears form, and I shake my head, not wanting him to do that. Yet I’m sure there’s nothing I can say that will change his mind, because I feel the exact same way.

“Let’s hope our days of kidnapping and assault are behind us…” I tell him, smiling as playfully as I can muster, trying to find a little light in what’s our darkest day.

“No, no more. Only sunshine from here on out, baby.” Like he just remembered something, he pats his pocket, then pulls something out. “I almost forgot. This is yours. It’s how I knew something happened. I found this near the distillery.”

“Oh, my necklace!” I gasp in awe, more tears at the ready.

“It led me to you. And I know how important it is to you. Daisies have a whole new meaning now. I think we’re gonna need to plant some more around our new home, don’t you think?” he says, and I swallow roughly. This man is truly meant for me.

Nodding, I tug on his sleeve to pull him closer. “I love you, Connor.”

“And I love you, Daise,” he says, before placing his lips on mine.

DAISY - EPILOGUE

“Why are we here?” I ask Connor as my stomach growls. “You said we were going to the diner. I’m starving!” With a groan, I jump out of the truck that he has parked up the other end of the street of Rochelle’s, her vegetable soup already calling my name. Not waiting for Connor to open my door, like he always does, his frown tells me he’s not pleased about that fact.

---