Page 15 of Pushing Daisy
“You really should see if they can find you a new partner. Your father and I can talk to the council if you’d like. Let them know that the project would work much better with someone more worthy as a partner.”
This isn’t the first time she’s heard comments like these from her parents. They’ve spent her entire life making sure Sloan knew who was appropriate to associate with and who was not. Her mother believes in this magical elitism, but after the Premier Witch competition last year, Sloan can firmly say that she doesn’t share those opinions. She wants to help, not harm. But pushing against her mother is like pushing against a brick wall. Unmoving and wasted effort. “The council has selected us because we both bring unique skills to the table, and they want us to utilize them together.” Her mother clicks her tongue in disapproval. “I appreciate the concern, Mother. But Daisy and I will be okay. I will not let the family down.”
Her mother scoffs lightly. “Oh, darling, I’m not worried about you letting us down. I’m concerned about how associating with the likes of her will tarnish what could be a successful project. Something that could really catapult the Wilkses to new levels within the community.” It’s always something with her. Always seeking new ways to have their family be better than others.
“I appreciate the concern,” Sloan says, desperate to get out of this conversation, “but I assure you, we will be successful. Anyway, I am about to head home, and I’m tired.”
Thankfully, her mother doesn’t try to keep the discussion going. “Okay, my girl. Talk soon.”
“Bye, Mother.” Sloan hangs up and lightly tosses her phone on the passenger seat. Her mother doesn’t even know Daisy. She’s judging her based on what her parents did. But she’s not her parents, just as much as Sloan is not hers. As she starts the car, Sloan hopes that someday she’ll be able to be known for being Sloan rather than for being another Wilks.
On her way home, she stops at her favorite bookstore, picking up a new thriller to keep her company for the night. What’s better company than a book about a serial killer on the loose? Arriving home, she turns on the fireplace with a flick of her wrist and changes into her comfy clothes, settling in on the couch with a small cheese and meat platter and her new book.
As the evening wanes, she begins to think about Daisy and this new project they’ve been assigned. Placing her book face down on the table, she picks up her phone and brings up the message thread with Daisy. Sloan sent Daisy her email address nearly a week ago and hasn’t heard anything back. Normally, she would have followed up with a client at least twice by now with a reminder, but she knows things are sensitive with Daisy. Sloan needs to treat this interaction as if she is approaching a wounded animal. Slowly.
It takes almost an hour of going back and forth in her mind before Sloan musters up the courage to send Daisy a follow-up message. She reminds herself that it’s been nearly a week, and that seems like it’s been long enough in between messages.
Sloan
Hi Daisy. I may have missed it, but I don’t think I’ve received anything as of yet about the plans you mentioned.
I look forward to working on this project and would love to get started on it.
Hope to hear from you soon.
She holds her phone in her hand, watching the screen. She sees the messages go to read, and three dots momentarily appear, but no reply comes.
“Why does she need to make this so difficult?” Sloan says to the empty room as she picks up her book again and continues to read into the wee hours of the morning.
CHAPTER 9
Daisy
Her phone lights up as another message from Sloan comes in. Another message she’s going to ignore. Pretty, perfect Sloan, with her impeccably styled hair and wonderful clothes, may think she deserves to work on this project, but Daisy knows differently. She knows that Sloan always gets what she wants, and this is something she’s not getting her hands on. At least not if Daisy has any say in it.
As she continues to gather information for her community event over the next few days, pieces begin to fall into place. After talking with another venue, a fully formed idea lands in her mind’s eye. She can picture every detail of what she wants to create and what exactly she wants to get from this event. It’s not enough for her to simply put on a night of fun times. No, whatever she does needs to be memorable. She needs to show this town that they’ve always underestimated her. They need to see what they’ve been missing by brushing her aside. And what better way to do that than to run not just a single night, but an entire weekend dedicated to building community and welcoming those who have been outcasts back into the fold?
Standing with her eyes closed, she pushes her power out. She’s been trying to practice using it to familiarize herself with her increased ability. Today, she wants to use it to help her pack. Focusing on where the clothes she wants for her girls’ night at Petra’s are in the closet and drawers, she pictures them in her mind, willing her magic to follow her silent command. A loud bang has her rapidly opening her eyes to see violet tendrils knocking over a lamp on her dresser while another pulls a drawer right out of it. With a sigh, she draws her power back in and begins packing by hand. Placing a folded shirt into her overnight bag, her phone vibrates in her back pocket.
Swiping across the screen, she answers, “Hello.”
“Good afternoon. May I speak with Daisy Hale?”
“This is her.”
“Miss Hale, this is Charlotte from The Dandelion Inn and Spa. I’m calling on behalf of Ms. McGovern, whom you spoke with the other day.”
“Yes. We arranged for me to visit in a week for a consultation and to check out the space to see if it would suit the needs of an event I am planning for the supernatural council in town.”
“Yes, she did tell me that. She wondered if, rather than merely a visit, you would be partial to coming for a weekend stay. Ms. McGovern feels it would give you a better sense of the property and its amenities.”
Daisy hesitates for a moment, trying to figure out if she has the funds set aside to afford a weekend stay at the inn.
Charlotte must have understood the reason for the silence as she continued, “Ms. McGovern is willing to comp the entire stay in hopes that you would consider the inn to host your event. She has instructed me to tell you that the stay would be free of cost for you and a guest.”
Holy shit! A free stay at a top-rated inn? Yes, please!
“That would be fantastic, thank you.”
