Page 71 of Healed
“She’s not exactly my woman, but you’re right, I’d have no objection to it.”
“Yeah, she is. She hasn’t been with anybody in a long time. And even then she didn’t bring anybody around. She likes you, a lot. But don’t tell her I said that. She might hit me,” Havoc said.
Charlie laughed. “I like her a lot, too. That’s not even nearly enough to explain how I feel about her, but she’s not ready. She’s made it clear she needs some time, and I made it clear that I’d wait as long as it takes for her to feel safe.”
“You know, Daisy wasn’t always so cautious. She was always on the calmer side, but she loved life and she was comfortable in her own skin. If I could figure out who the fucker is that took that away from her, I’d make him sorry he was ever born. And I’m not the only one trying to figure it out.”
“Daddy! We do not say fuck in this family!” Harley stood up and announced indignantly.
Havoc shook his head as he and Charlie tried not to laugh. “You’re absolutely right. We do not say that bad ‘F’ word in this family.”
“You owe Momma five dollars for her swear jar!”
“I thought it was two dollars?!” Havoc exclaimed.
“It was. But Momma said it must not be enough because you kept saying it. So now it’s five dollars.”
“Fine, here,” he said, shoving his hand in the pocket of his jeans and giving her a ten dollar bill. “Go give this to Momma.”
“Come on, Carson!” Harley called.
Carson jumped up and followed her as she ran toward the house.
“I gave her a ten because I’m sure I’ll say it again before the night’s over,” Havoc grumbled.
“I know his name,” Charlie said.
Havoc stabbed his grill fork into one of the steaks marinating in one of Analise’s favorite baking pans and put it on the grill. As it began to sizzle, he turned and looked at Charlie over his shoulder.
“What was that?” Havoc asked.
“I said, I know the man’s name. The guy that hurt Daisy.”
Havoc’s entire expression changed as he abandoned the grill and walked right up to Charlie. “The hell you say!”
“I do. She told me.”
“Tell me. Before she comes back.”
“Professor Bourne. He was one of her professors.”
“A fucking professor! Hurry up, the rest…” Havoc said, his eyes glancing toward the porch to make sure Daisy wasn’t coming back out.
“He didn’t tell her he was married. His wife found out and stalked Daisy. Showed up everywhere yelling insults at her, even outside her classes and dorm. She couldn’t go anywhere without being insulted. He told everybody that she came onto him and seduced him.”
“That motherfucker!” Havoc half-shouted. “And if he knew Daisy at all, he knew how gentle and trusting she is! I’m gonna teach that fucker a lesson, and his stupid fucking wife, too.”
“I want to come,” Charlie said quickly.
“You can’t come. Shit will go down that you probably don’t want to be involved with.”
“I don’t care. I want to come. I owe it to Daisy. To avenge her so to speak.”
Havoc eyed Charlie. “You can’t come. There are things you don’t know that might come to light.”
“I. Want. To. Come!” Charlie insisted.
“Yeah, it’s a little complicated, but we’ll see what we might be able to work out.”
