Page 52 of Choosing My Happiness
Mom was still at the table where I left her. She had taken a moment to get up and get a tissue, and was gently wiping away tears. She jumped up when she saw the man behind me.
“Bull! Why are you here? I mean, come in. Oh wait, I mean, can I get you anything?”
Bull swallowed his laughter at her nervousness. I guess Mom didn’t have much to do with him. She was very jittery.
He cleared his throat. “I’ve come to ask a favor,” he said, grabbing a seat and sitting down. Mom sank down in her seat again. “Daisy, this concerns you too.” He waved me over. I dropped my bag in the hallway and went to sit next to him.
“Normally, Matchstick’s son would be the one to lead the ride after the funeral,” he started.
“Oh, I’m happy for my son-in-law to do the honors,” Mom interrupted.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate, seeing as Daisy is in the process of divorcing Blaze.” He paused. I saw the slight flare of anger rise in Mom’s eyes. She really didn’t like me divorcing Blaze. Which was tough for her, seeing as I’d already started the process and it was going ahead, despite the dinner tonight.
Bull ignored Mom’s face and continued, “I was going to suggest Daisy do the honors. Tinker told me that he taught her to ride when she was a teenager, and I was thinking she could ride her father’s bike.”
“No!” Mom snapped. “That’s my place. Matchstick promised me that no other woman would ride his bike while I was alive. He promised!”
“Mom,” I started.
“No, no other woman. He may not have managed to keep any other vows to me, but that one he did, and I willnothave it broken.”
Bull nodded and then offered another solution.
“How about a different bike then? I’m sure Tinker would have a spare…”
“No,” Mom snapped. “Blaze is Matchstick’s son-in-law. He will stand in for the place my son would have had,” Mom said determinedly. She glared at me as she spoke, and I had second thoughts about staying here. “My daughter can ride on the back of Blaze’s bike, where she belongs, if she wants to ride.”
Her glare triggered something in me. I remembered the fights we had when I was a teenager, and how she overruled my wants and dreams with the command toknow my place. I clenched my jaw and formed my resolve. Mom obviously felt closer to Blaze than to me, and that was my own fault.
I smiled sweetly at everyone. “It’s okay, Mom. I won’t ride if you don’t want me to.” I put my hand on Bull’s arm. “Thank you for trying. I’ll see you out.”
I picked up my bag and walked with him to my car.
Bull picked up his helmet and turned to me, a sad look on his face. “Hey, I’m sorry,” he said. “I just…”
“You tried.” I sighed. “She adores Blaze.”
He sighed and clenched his jaw.
“Don’t worry about it,” I reiterated, giving him a small smile. “She and I had a talk just before. Apparently, Blaze really stepped up to help out with Dad while I was hiding. She appreciated that.”
Bull snorted. “He only started doing that when Dylan came along, and stopped when Matchstick went into the hospital. Take a guess why. Something to do with babysitting.” He took a deep breath. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow at the service?”
I nodded. “Thanks for coming over, Bull.”
“Pleasure, Daisy…by the way, I’m proud of you. Any decent parent would be. You’ve done well.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks, Dad,” I whispered. He growled playfully at me and started walking the bike back.
“Hey, Bull. Thanks for the welcoming committee,” I blurted out.
He stopped and frowned at me. “What welcoming committee?”
It was my turn to look confused. “Horse and Bear, and some other boys met me on the highway and rode with me until I arrived here,” I explained.
He shook his head. “Nothing to do with me. No idea who organized that.” He smiled as he switched the key on.
I stared after him for a while, trying to think of who it would have been. The only person who knew I was on the road at that time would have been Jim. But he was caught up in the final checks of an office refit with an inspector, so it wouldn’t have been him, would it? Could he? Wouldn’t it be suspicious?
