Page 113 of A Doctor for Daisy

“Jerry finally put an end to it. And my mother wonders why no one tells her anything anymore. I’m glad you can laugh about it though.”

“I understand,” Daisy said. No reason to tell Theo how hurt she was with the comments or questions. Nothing he could do other than what he’d done. It’s as if everyone was trying to keep the peace and she’d do the same now. “She cares for you a great deal. It was coming from love. I could see it.”

Though she found it intrusive, she did see the love in Marion’s eyes when talking with her kids.That was one positive thing, she supposed.

Marion might not approve of their choices in life and maybe made more than one snide remark to the girls about their careers, but she’d follow it up with only wanting the best for them. Daisy did believe that. It’s just what Marion felt was best didn’t seem to align with Theo and his siblings.

“She does care. But she wants things her way,” he said. “That’s the problem. She can’t see her kids are adults and want to make their own decisions in life.”

“I thought Harmony was going to cry at one point she was laughing so hard over the comments on her job.”

“Harmony learned that she has to laugh it off or she will cry,” he said. “We know that. My mother can’t seem to see it though.”

“It’s over with,” she said. “Now we can go relax with your father.”

By seven thirty they were walking in Theo’s door and Erica and Harmony had just pulled in behind them.

She had to admit she was looking forward to seeing Andrew again. He might be quiet, but she did enjoy his company. And he wouldn’t grill her with a million questions let alone make her feel like she wasn’t smart enough to even be around him.

“Pizza just arrived,” Andrew said.

“Thank God,” Theo said. “I’m starving.”

“You ate all day,” she pointed out.

“Not dinner. I don’t know why Mom does that.”

“I heard all about it,” Andrew said. “Harmony was texting me from the car. I got here later than I thought and held off figuring you’d be hungry.”

“You’re the best, Dad,” Harmony said, moving closer to him. “And holy cow, Theo. The house looks great. This has to be Daisy’s doing. No way you would have decorated like this.”

“It was Daisy. She wouldn’t let me put up my little pop-up tree.”

“No way,” she said. “This is my first Christmas with Theo and this house just screams to be decorated. Theo was a great sport about it.”

“How could I not be when it’s so festive? When was the last time we had a festive house for the holidays?” Theo asked.

“The only color Mom had in the family room was the green lights on her white tree. I swear I just want to throw paint on the wall like an out-of-control graffiti artist,” Harmony said.

Daisy laughed. She might have had that thought too.

“The house looks great,” Andrew said. “Better than it ever has before. Everyone get comfortable and let’s eat. No more talk about how it went at your mother’s. Put it behind you and we can have our own little celebration before the morning.”

She and Theo went to his room to change. “Your father is great.”

“Yeah,” he said. “He really is.”

“Your stepfather is too,” she said. “Your mother is luckier than she realizes finding two great guys in her life.”’

He snorted. “She doesn’t think that. But it’s nice of you to say.”

“I say what I see. You’re pretty great too.”

“Yes, I am,” he said. “Thanks to my father and maybe a tad bit to Jerry for being a buffer with my mother at times.”

38

Had No Right

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