Page 105 of Healed
“Yep. He wasn’t going a damn place without you. Come together, leave together. That’s what he told me,” Bane said. “He’s a good man.”
Lucien grinned at Charlie and extended his hand. “I won’t forget that. You didn’t know they wouldn’t leave me, and you stood firm anyway. I won’t forget.”
Charlie shook his hand, then focused on Bane. “Sir, I’d like to ask permission to marry your daughter.”
Bane’s brows were high on his forehead as he turned around to look over the seat at Charlie. “If you’re asking permission to ask her, please do. If you’re asking permission to marry her, the only person that can give you that is Daisy herself.”
“Yes, sir,” Charlie answered.
“But I sincerely hope she says yes,” Bane said, as he turned back around.
Chapter 18
“Daisy?” Janie asked, pushing open the screen door and sticking her head outside to look in Daisy’s direction.
Daisy sat in an Adirondack chair on the far corner of the porch, sipping some chamomile tea. She turned her head toward her mother. “Yes, ma’am?”
“I’m going to have some pie. You want a piece?” Janie asked.
“No, thank you.”
“You sure? It’s key lime.”
“No, I’m not really hungry.”
“Okay. You mind if I come sit with you?”
“No, come on out,” Daisy said. She smiled a little to herself, knowing that no matter where she went, or what she did, her mother would always want her company, especially when her dad wasn’t around. Her parents were inseparable, and when her father was out and about, her mother always gravitated toward her. And that was fine. Daisy actually liked the security.
It wasn’t long before Janie was back, smiling happily at her daughter, carrying a plate of pie and a cup of coffee.
“I don’t know how you sleep at all when you drink coffee so late in the evening,” Daisy said.
“Well, you’re drinking tea,” Janie said.
“Yes, but it’s chamomile. It’s relaxing, to help you sleep.”
“You always did have a bit of insomnia. But I really feel like you do your best work in the middle of the night,” Janie said.
“I do, don’t I?” Daisy asked, sipping her tea again.
“You do.” Janie looked around and smiled. “I do like these pre-fall nights. It’s not summer anymore, but it’s not really fall either,” Janie said.
“I’m so looking forward to it getting cooler. I love the fall and the winter,” Daisy said.
“Me, too. I think I might ask your father to take me for a walk in the woods when he gets home, if it’s not too late and he’s not too tired,” Janie said.
Daisy looked at her mother again. “Where is Daddy?”
“He had a few things to take care of,” Janie said thoughtfully, not wanting to lie, but not wanting to tell the truth either.
“Seems suspicious.”
“Why in the world would it seem suspicious?” Janie asked, giggling.
“Because you’re giggling, which you do when you try to mislead somebody. And because you’re being evasive. Just evasive enough to not tell a lie so I can scent it. And because Uncle Bam told me he saw Charlie drive away with Havoc and Lucien, and Dad went with them, too.”
“Oh, Daisy,” she said, still giggling, “you’re imagining things. And so is Bam!”
