Page 9 of Healed
Vince laughed, knowing full well she wanted her favorite flavor. “Strawberry?”
“Yes, please!”
“Coming right up.” Vince turned his back to her and started making her milkshake, just the way she liked, with extra strawberries.
As Daisy watched, murmuring voices from the far left of the place caught her attention. The murmurs were accented by drunken giggles and laughter. She focused a little more on the couple’s voices and realized one of them was very familiar.
“Is that Remi I hear?” Daisy asked.
Vince glanced over his shoulder at her as he pushed the button on the commercial blender and nodded as he rolled his eyes. “They been in here all damn day. You’d think at some point he’d manage to get himself to work. Don’t know what’s going to happen with that boy.”
“He’s going through a hard time,” Daisy said sadly.
“No, he’s got his head up his ass. There’s a difference.”
Daisy smiled and shrugged a little as Vince poured her milkshake into an extra-large to-go cup and handed it to her.
“Maybe he’s got his head up his ass because he’s going though a hard time.”
“He ain’t the first. You can’t let it wreck your whole world or where you going to be when things get straight again?”
Daisy just looked over toward Remi and whoever his friend was, then back at Vince. “Hope he figures it out soon. I feel bad for him.”
“You’re too sweet. Gotta toughen up some.”
“My daddy says that all the time.”
“He’s right. You want some food or a snack or something?” Vince asked.
“No. This is it. I’m just a little addicted,” she said, handing him a ten dollar bill.
“Nah, it’s on the house,” Vince said, trying to hand her back her money.
“No, it’s not. You have to make money or you won’t be here next time I want a strawberry shake,” Daisy said, grinning at him.
“Let me at least give you change.”
“Nope!” she said, backing away from the bar. “It’s a tip. I love you! Bye!”
“Love you, too, baby. Drive safe,” Vince called out.
As the door closed behind Daisy, the girl Remi was with imitated Daisy. “I love you, bye!” she mimicked, laughingly. “He’s far too old for her. She should try getting somebody her own age.”
Remi, who was leaning on the table, doing his best to stretch out while still seated at the table, forced himself to a semi-seated position and kind of wobbled a bit as he looked toward the exit. “I think she might be my cousin,” he said, trying to focus bleary eyes on the door.
“You think? You don’t know?” Olivia asked.
“I didn't look.” He lifted his nose into the air and sniffed dramatically. “Yeah, smells like Daisy.”
“Well, Daisy just stopped by a bar to buy a milkshake and tell the bartender she loves him. It’s pathetic really.”
“Pathetic?” Remi asked.
“She’s hitting on somebody old enough to be her dad. It’s gross.”
“He’s our uncle,” Remi said.
“The bartender is her uncle?” Olivia said condescendingly.
