Page 23 of Choosing My Happiness
He stomped ahead to meet me at the truck.
* * *
Mom met us at the clubhouse. She had the Tupperware stacked in her arms and rushed over to greet us.
We did an awkward one-armed hug around the containers as Midwife settled Dad into his chair and reconnected the air hose. Midwife took the food from Mom so she could kiss Dad, while I checked his air flow.
“Now isn’t this great? My family all together today,” Mom said.
I glanced at Jim and rolled my eyes. He hid his smile.
We walked inside and were immediately noticed. Dad was greeted with cheers of “Matchstick, you made it!” Mom took back her containers and headed for the kitchen. And I pushed the wheelchair while Jim walked beside me. We were guided outside to a patio area where all the older boys were sitting, likely reminiscing about the days gone by. I saw Bull supervising the kids on a huge playground, Manny in his arms. Everyone had their kuttes on, including the ol’ladies. Dad had been shrugged into his at the hospital. I was the only one without a kutte, and very glad about that today. I no longer belonged here.
“Daisy?” someone bellowed off to my right. I turned and saw my father-in-law.
“Hi, Tinker.” A lump rose in my throat as the man started barrelling towards me.
“Daisy!” He gripped me in a bear hug. “You’re back. Oh wow!”
“Only for the weekend,” I told him, hugging back. He turned and bellowed, “Maisey, Daisy’s back!”
I heard her squeal as she came running out.
“Daisy! Oh Honey, we missed you. How have you been?” She grabbed me as soon as Tinker released me.
“Blaze! Why didn’t you tell us Daisy was back?” he yelled to the world in general.
“He was a bit busy last night,” I told him. Maisey’s eyes twinkled with hope.
“No, not with me. I saw him screwing a townie. He hasn’t changed at all…” I turned around to take a blanket from a prospect and lay it over Dad’s knees. As much as I would have loved catching up with the two people I’d missed the most in my time away, I had a job to do.
Tinker growled behind my back, “That boy. I’m gonna kill him.”
Maisey gripped his arm. “Not now honey, it’s his birthday party. You can punch him afterwards,” she soothed. Tinker shook his head.
“I can’t be here,” he growled angrily. “I’m out.” He turned abruptly and stormed to the car park.
“I’d better go and stop him. I’ll catch up soon, Daisy. Just got to stop your father-in-law from punching your husband.”
I laughed as Maisey ran off. Some things never changed. Tinker was always threatening Blaze for something or another. He never followed through with it, or so I thought, until I turned back to the men.
They were staring down at the ground and looking sombre. I frowned.
“What?” I asked.
One of the men glanced up and told me, “She’s not joking, Daisy…the last time they fought, he put Blaze in the hospital. It’s taken a few years for him to even talk to Blaze again. Even though they lived in the same house.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“Dylan was dropped off, and Blaze refused to take the girl on. So she shot herself. Bull got the DNA confirmed and forced him to take responsibility.”
Dad shook his head. “He should have wrapped it up. He wouldn’t be in this mess if he’d wrapped it up properly.”
15
Chapter 15: Daisy
I walked over to stand with Bull. Jim sent me away after that bombshell was dropped. The children’s playground was huge, built on woodchips to provide a soft landing if anyone fell. There was a sand pit in one corner, with digging toys out and ready to be played with. D2 was busy digging a big hole, chattering all the time. Stels was on the playground, with Eric watching her carefully and encouraging her with her climbing. Trey was speeding around on the bike track on the outside, making motorbike noises.
