Page 53 of Choosing My Happiness
I pulled out my phone and sent him a thank you message. He responded right away withyou’re welcome.My heart skipped a beat and I smiled. This is what I deserved.
I unlocked the car and threw the bag in, then started my walk around to the driver’s seat.
“Daisy?Where are you going?” Mom came running out of the house. I paused and looked at her over the top of the car.
“Going to find a hotel room. I’ll let you and Blaze have your family dinner together tonight, and I’ll meet you at the funeral home tomorrow morning,” I told her. “You’ve obviously become close over these past four years, and I’m okay with that. I don’t want to intrude.”
Mom looked shocked. Things were definitely not happening according to the plan she had in her head. The look on her face was almost panicky. Her eyes darted around, trying to think,trying to find a solution that would be socially acceptable. She sagged in defeat.
“I really want you here,” she whined.
I walked back around the car and took her hands.
“I’ll come for breakfast and get ready with you in the morning. But I can’t spend time with Blaze. Not when I’m divorcing him. And Iamdivorcing him, Mom. That relationship is dead. It died four years ago,” I said firmly.
She nodded. “I’ll, um, I’ll cancel dinner with Blaze. Stay here tonight, Daisy. Please.”
I shook my head. I didn’t trust her.
“You enjoy your dinner with Blaze. You can let him know about the ride tomorrow. It’ll be nice.” I squeezed her hands gently and then dropped them again to walk back to my seat. “I’ll bring my things over and stay tomorrow night. We can have breakfast and go to the funeral together.”
Mom’s shoulders dropped in defeat. I felt guilty. With Dad’s death, she’d lost her husband and purpose in life. But I couldn’t live my life how she wanted. I deserved more than what she was content with.
34
Chapter 34: Daisy
I stood at the funeral home dressed in a black dress, just behind Mom. True to my word, I had turned up for breakfast, and we had gotten ready together. I helped her choose her best pieces from her jewelry collection, so she looked her best. She was wearing her kutte over her black dress, and greeting everyone like a Hollywood starlet, gushing and thanking people for coming, accepting condolences like it was a competition. I gave her some space so people could surround her, and so I wouldn’t be in the way. It was slightly lonely. I had a few people come to me, giving their condolences, but most of the ol’ladies her age stayed away from me, judging me instead…and the ones my age didn’t know me.
Then Janie arrived with Granny and the kids. Janie immediately came over to Mom and me. She wrapped her arms around me in a hug and smiled apologetically, then greetedMom. Granny looked hard at me. This fierce independent old woman then held out her arms, and I stepped into them. I felt comfort in those little spindly, chocolate-colored arms. Then other little arms, and one cast slipped around my body.
Here, this was my family. These were the people that supported me. Those others didn’t matter. I squeezed Granny a bit harder.
“You’ll be fine…God and us, we’re with you,” she said firmly as she pulled back and glared at me with fierce eyes.
I released my hold and all the arms dropped away.
“Thank you, Granny. Thank you, Stels, Eric, Trey, and D2. You’re all amazing,” I told them quietly. Granny nodded at me, then took the kids into the room. I watched them walk in as a unit, joined by Bull, who was low-key today. Today didn’t involve him as President, just as a brother to a dead club member.
“Big D!!”
I turned slightly and caught Dylan as he jumped. Part of me was intrigued at how readily he accepted me, the other part delighted at his affection.
I hugged him close. “How are you, bud?” I asked.
“M good. Look, I got this for you!” He handed me a squashed flower.
“Thanks, Dylan.” I accepted the yellow daisy. “Did you know D2 is inside? Do you want to go say hello?”
His breath caught in excitement. “Yeah.” He wiggled.
I put him down and he ran inside.
“Hi Daisy. Glad to see you’re over your tantrum.”
I looked over at the man speaking, his arms stretched wide, and his yellow eyes twinkling as he came in for a hug.
“What tantrum would that be, Blaze?” I quickly stepped to the side so he’d miss me.
