Page 10 of A Twist in Fate
“What did you just say to me?” she asks, turning her face to me, away from the glow of the sun but her own shine still remains.
“You heard me,” I say, trying to remain confident even though I think I have just said one of the cheesiest things ever and it was not the first time.It feels like instinct, so I think I am sticking with it.
“Don't call me that again,” she replies sternly. Her cheeks are pink, and she turns away, looking back towards the camp entrance.
“Mhmm. Whatever, sunshine.”
Her face is growing redder, the blush creeping from her neck and across her already pink cheeks. My eyeline follows hers as I spot the same old, baby blue pickup truck approaching the camp. It is still covered in mud around the wheels and the stickers on the back are still there. Seconds after it parks up, the passenger door opens, and a small blonde jumps out. Daisy.
“Do you mind if I quickly go see my mom and sister?” I say, my attention on Ivy.
“Of course not. I'll stay here in case anyone arrives in our group.”She smiles up at me sweetly.
“Are you sure? I know Mom wants to meet you. You are all Bailey has talked about for over a year.”
She looks down and nervously fidgets with her hands again. “I'm okay. Thank you. I'll see her in a couple weeks anyway for Parents’ Day.”
“Okay, only if you are sure,” I reply smiling, hoping to relax her like before. She returns the smile, but it's clearly forced. I feel bad for leaving her when I know she'snervous, but I also know bringing her to my mom would probably only make it worse.
“I'll be quick. I promise.”
Daisy yells my name as I walk over to her and my mom. She's wearing a plain pink dress, and her hair is in two braided pigtails. She also has an adorable smile on her face as I pick her up in my arms.She wraps her entire small body around me, snuggling her head into my neck for a moment, before looking back at me.
“I missed you so much, Daisy,” I say, putting her back down as Mom steps out the car beside her.
“I missed you too,”Daisy says.
“Apparently not as much as you are going to miss the cat.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and says, “I missed you more. I was only upset because Steve has not spent a day without me for like forever.”
My mom rounds the car and pulls me into a hug.
“I'm sorry. I can't stay too long. Anne needs help with tonight’s showing,” she says smiling. She pulls Daisy into a hug saying, “Goodbye honey. I will see you in a few weeks and I’ll get Lucas to show you pictures of Steve that I’ll send him every few days.”
“You mean every single day!” she shouts as she runs off with her bag to Charlie as he directs all the children to their groups. Me and Mom both laugh. I turn my attention behind me and over to Ivy who is still alone and zoned out, until she notices me staring. She gives me a small wave and smile. I awkwardly wave back and turn my attention to my mom again.
Elizabeth Miller may be the greatest woman to ever exist. She has raised three children perfectly, owns a farm and is the entire reason that Lake Sylva is still running today. She's extremely strong and so sweet and she is the best mom a boy could have asked for. She is wearing a long white floral dress and white flat shoes, with small bows on them. Her hair is long, straight and has the same blonde as all three of us children. While my hair has a natural wave, my moms and sisters are completely naturally straight.
“Who is that?” she asks, giving me a knowing look.
“Who is who?”
“Aw baby. You're going red. The brunette girl, the one you waved at,” she says smiling, and then peers over my shoulder to look at Ivy. “She's beautiful. Who is she?”
“Oh, that's Ivy. You know, the one from London. Bailey's friend. Well, she's paired with me for this wholething and uh… yeah,” I say, talking much faster than usual. The words leave my mouth before I have the chance to think about them.
“You like her.”
“What? No, I do not.”I think that might be a lie.
“You're lying.”
“Not like how you think.”I think I might be lying again. “Mom, it doesn't matter if I did, which I don't. She is leaving by the end of this summer. She is Bailey's best friend, and I only met her a week ago.” All of this is very true. I turn away from my mom and look back at Ivy. Her hair is being blown by the breeze into her face a little, so she tucks it behind her ear, a smile on her face. I didn't realise until now that the smile was directed to my youngest sister as she spoke to her with a hand on her hip.
“Honey.” My mom’s voice takes my attention away and I turn back to face her. She has the same look on her face, the one as if she knows something I don’t. “You seem to have thought a lot about this for a man who's not interested in her.”
Those words follow a few moments of silence as I refuse to contribute to the fantasy she's making up in her head. While there is something about Ivy interests me, it is inexplicable and I refuse to give in to whatever I'mfeeling, especially whilst I don't fully understand it myself. Yes, I like her. Yes, she's beautiful but she's also selfless, shy and so smart. She's not like anyone I've ever met. I just want to get to know her better and enjoy this summer with her.
