Page 43 of Choosing My Happiness
The atmosphere at home had been weird since Daisy’s reappearance at my party. Thanks to Horse’s big mouth, Dad refused to talk to me again, even going so far as walking out of the room when I walked into the house, and Mom kept giving me sad glares. So I stayed in the tiny prefab that I’d built in my parent’s backyard when Dylan had been dumped in my lap. Dad had insisted that I was to step up and be his dad, even before the DNA test, and that meant having my own place. I wasn’t going to take a child into Daisy’s house without her permission, so this was it.
Dad also really laid down the law that Mom was only there to be an occasional babysitter as well. She wasn’t raising her grandson. So it had been up to me to find child care and supplies, and look after him. The girl from the flower shop, Shaquilla, helped a lot. But only with Dylan. She sneered every time I tried to hit on her, and blamedmefor Dani’s choices. I don’t know why she blamed me. I was just a willing cock.
It had been hard with a baby, especially after Dani shot herself when I told her that there was no relationship between us. That girl was crazy. It turned out that she’d grown up in a Christian cult thing and escaped as soon as she could. Shaquilla had rescued her from the streets, taken her in, and taught her all she knew. Well, everything except what I’d taught her. Although I kinda liked her better when she was Delilah.
I pulled up to Matchstick’s old house and huffed out a breath. I hadn’t stopped thinking since I left work, and my brain washurting. It sounded crazy that I’d have to chase my own wife, but it seemed that’s what I’d have to do.
I shook off my tension and bad thoughts. I liked my mother-in-law, and she was grieving. No need to put my troubles on her. I jumped out of the truck and invited myself into the house.
“Hey, Dad! Look what I got!” Dylan was the first to see me, and he was holding two Daisy flowers. “Can we go and see D2 so I can give them to her?”
“Not today, Bud.”
His face fell. “Aww, but Big D said it was a good idea.” He pouted.
I squatted in front of him. “Dylan, who is Big D?” I asked, just a little concerned. Did some guy come over and harass my mother in law?
“I think he means Daisy. She was here for breakfast this morning.” Molly came over and brushed his hair. “We had a good talk, didn’t we, Dylan?”
“Yeah, she’s cool. I like her!” he declared. “She said she’s not going to be my Mommy, but that’s okay. She’s going to still be my friend.” Then he ran off.
What?! What did he mean that she’s not going to be his Mom? And when did she arrive? Where was she staying? Who was she staying with? I didn’t think she had friends here in town.
“It’s alright, Blaze, she’ll come around. She’s always been a bit headstrong, but I’m sure you can work things out.” Molly patted my shoulder. “Maybe you just need to buy her some jewelry. Her father always got me such lovely bracelets. Oh, and the rings! He had very good taste in rings.”
“Daisy said she doesn’t like jewelry,” I croaked out, still stunned by the surprises that had been suddenly dumped on me.
“Oh, nonsense. She can’t wear the things you don’t buy her, Blaze.”
I stood up and looked Molly in the eye. “She has three drawers full of boxes of jewelry in the house. Everything I’ve ever bought her is just sitting there. Even her wedding rings are there,” I explained.
Molly’s mouth became a big circle.
“Oh,” she said, “I thought you didn’t buy her any. That’s why she never wore anything.”
“Every chance I got, I’d pick out something for her. You were with me after Junior was born. You saw what I got her.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot. Well,” she huffed, “I don’t know what her problem is.”
Me neither, I thought. I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing, and she wasn’t even giving me a chance. It was getting frustrating. She’s my damned wife, and I was chasing my own tail with her. I didn’t even know when she was in town until someone else told me. I didn’t know where she worked, what she did, or how to contact her. How was I supposed to reconcile if she was not willing to make it work?
Molly’s tutting pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked at her from under my eyebrows.
“What?”
“I really don’t know what’s gotten into her. I don’t understand. She has everything waiting here for her; you, me, a son. She has her whole life waiting, ready to start…and she’s not grabbing it.” Molly shook her head with another sigh, then pressed her hand to her lips. “If only Matchstick was here to talk sense into her.” She kept pressing her lips as tears rolled down her face. I didn’t get why she was so upset. She wasn’t there when he died.
I sighed. “I guess I’ll have to find her myself. Any idea where she might be staying?” I asked, picking up Dylan’s stuff. Molly shook her head, and then sucked in a breath.
“Maybe Janie? She seemed close to the kids last weekend,” she croaked out. I nodded. Looks like Dylan was going to get his wish to see D2.
29
Chapter 29: Daisy
I pulled up in front of a different neighbor’s house and walked to Mom’s house.
“Hey, Mom!”
