Page 97 of A Doctor for Daisy

“I never thought much of it, but maybe you’re right. I’ve told myself I won’t raise a child of mine the way my mother did. There has to be a fine line between being a parent and getting along. I just don’t think a parent should be a friend when you’re growing up and need them.”

“And there are a lot of kids out there who would argue differently,” he said. “I think the important thing is to recognize what is going on and talk about it. You should do that with your mother.”

“I don’t want her to feel bad,” she said. “Nothing can change from the past. You know not that long ago I asked her for help or advice with Heather and she told me I was on my own. How much clearer could I get on what I need?”

“You’re right,” he said. “I should keep my mouth shut. I just wanted to try to help.”

“And that is what people in love do,” she said. “They try to help.”

He smiled at her. “That’s right. Let’s go talk with my father. He’s great. He’s quiet but a good guy.”

“If he’s anything like you, he’s a great guy,” she said. “Me, I don’t have any experience with fathers.”

“I’m sorry for you,” he said.

“Don’t be. I’ve got a lot of good examples of it in my life now. I see how Zane, Thomas, Reese and Wesley are. I bet Luke will be a great dad someday too. You’ll be awesome with your little brainy child.”

He laughed. “I hope not.”

“You hope you’re not an awesome dad?” she asked, poking in him in the side.

“No. I hope I don’t have a brainy child like me and have to worry about doing all the things that I felt my parents did wrong.”

“Like me hoping not to be a single parent,” she said.

There really was no comparison and she had to remind herself that often.

They left his room and went to the living room. Erica was gone, Harmony in the kitchen, Andrew on his phone.

“Thank God,” Harmony said. “Erica is dealing with something for work in her room. Dad is texting a patient and I’m starving. We all said we’d not work this weekend, but it never happens.”

“You were talking about work earlier,” Erica said, coming down the stairs. “And you were on the dock video-taping yourself and talking about tranquility. So don’t be a hypocrite.”

“I could use some tranquility in my life right now,” Daisy said to Harmony. She’d been following Theo’s sister’s posts and found the younger woman refreshing and delightful.

Someone that just brought a smile to her face when she needed it.

“I have to have an extra dosage of it with my sister lately,” Harmony said. “I love her and she knows it. I’m trying to cheer her up.”

“I’m sorry,” Erica said. “I’ve got to figure some things out soon.”

“We all have to do that in life,” Andrew said. “Right now I’d say my youngest and oldest are the only ones that have figured out a great balance in life and I’m somewhat jealous of it. Maybe I’ve got to thank you for that, Daisy, in terms of Theo.”

Talk about super sweet. Here was a guy that she was intimidated to be around and he was making her feel welcome.

“Thank you, but I think Theo and I bring it out of each other.”

“Even better,” Andrew said. “Maybe he can tell me his secret.”

“I don’t have that much of a balance,” Harmony said. “It’s not like I’m dating anyone. It’s just work for me.”

“Not just work,” Theo said. “Or you’re working but blending everyday life into things. That’s a balance in itself.”

“Look at us all being so complimentary. I don’t want to ruin it and say how much different it’d be if we were in Greenwich right now,” Erica said.

“Then don’t say it,” Andrew said. “No need to let Daisy think we have no manners.”

She started to laugh. Harmony spoke first. “Dad, Daisy has met us before. She knows what we are like.”

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