Page 27 of Choosing My Happiness
“Yeah, Dad?”
“How do you like Daisy?” I asked.
“I really like her. Her and me were digging a really deep hole today. An’ she said I was the bestest digger today.” His eyes lit up.
“I don’t mean D2,” I groaned. “Big Daisy, the girl who was sitting with your Poppy.”
“Poppy, the man we usually see in the hopstital?” Dylan asked.
“Hospital.Yep that one,” I corrected him.
“She nice.”
“That’s good.” I settled in the seat. It sounded like a good start. He’d learn one day that she’s more than nice. “Do you think she’ll be a good Mom?”
“Mmm maybe,” he answered in a serious tone. “Dad?”
“Yes Dylan.”
“Why did everyone make funny faces when big Daisy and me talked?” His face screwed up in confusion.
My stomach clenched.
“What do you mean?” I asked. We were nearly home, but I still pulled over so I could look at him fully. This was a serious conversation for me.
Dylan hummed and then told me, “They went…” and he pulled some impressions of worried faces, and sad faces. “And D2’s Dad’s face was…” and he scowled like only Bull could do.
I laughed. It was the only thing I could think to do to deflect the conversation.
“Those are some good faces, Buddy,” I said weakly.
“Really?” Dylan looked pleased.
“Yeah,” I backed myself. He grinned and started pulling more faces. I grimaced and pulled out into traffic again. I knew exactly why people were acting the way they did. Dylan was conceived on the night that Junior died, when we ran out of condoms. Everyone knew.
18
Chapter 18: Daisy
Jim lifted Dad down from the truck after we arrived back at the hospital, and placed him gently back in the wheelchair. I quickly connected the lines up as Jim tucked the blanket around Dad. Dad was worn out. Happy, but worn out.
Jim stood up and nodded at me with a smile. “He’s ready to go. I’ll wait for you out here.”
I smiled back and pushed Dad into the ward.
I helped the nurses get him undressed out of his jeans and kutte, and back into pajamas, then settled him into bed.
“Daisy,” Dad grabbed my arm just as I was about to go, “Don’t be mad at Blaze. He didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I sighed. “Dad, don’t,” I pleaded, shaking my head. I was proud of myself for getting through today without screaming or making a scene, although there were moments it was close.
Dad pressed on, “I have to say this, Daisy. He loves you. All those other girls don’t mean anything. He’s waited for you to come back.”
“No, he hasn’t, Dad; he’s just gone on as he always has. He’s got a son, and he still hasn’t grown up.”
“You can always give him another son. That boy doesn’t matter.”
I jerked my head back and then closed my eyes in disgust. “That’s so wrong, Dad. Dylanshouldmatter. He’s Blaze’s son. And Blaze is a single dad. They don’t have anyone else.”
