Later that week I had resolved the brief eruption of spite and my father and I were better than ever. He invited Daisy round early and they had breakfast together soon after we all made our way out to the pier.
"Come on the boat with us sweetheart" Gatsby said pushing me gently further up the pier. I sat on the boat waiting for the others, the water lapping the sides sloshing sounds relaxing to my ears rhythmically hitting the shore. Nick arrived carrying a camera and some food in a basket he looked a little flustered and wiped his brow with a hand; he wobbled a little when stepping onto the boat the deck tilting as he got on.
My father treated Daisy's arrival like a treasured parade in the glory of summer, a royal occasion and the rest of us subjects in a queen's eye. He made sure she was the centre of our attention basked in our eyes in the flare of the sun and the ever watching eye of God. Daisy's eyes flitted between us with a playful superior gaze as if we were kneeling before her. That's when I saw the total and utter devotion my father had for her, he held her small hand leading her into the boat waving her to her seat at the bow. She wore a cream dress imprints of daisies draped over the fabric in a white lace, her hand carefully held a positioned umbrella above her head shading the balmy heat from her face.
The boat pulled out from the pier it shrunk away while streaks of churned froth streaked away brewing on the surface of the dark blue waters dashing a cover over deep secrets. That's what Nick had said anyway; water was deep full of secrets like a person undiscovered until pulled from hiding he also thought it reflected everyone who lived around it.
My father sat comfortably next to Daisy his arm over her shoulders her fingers mindlessly stroking his hand making him look like he had been blessed by a wonder. I guess that's what Daisy was in his mind, not a married woman with a child, just his childhood sweetheart. She was a wonder to behold and a treasure to cherish even though she belongs to someone else.
"Jay you shouldn't go so far, my husband's home and he might see you" Daisy said sounding worried looking up at him.
"We won't darling not going that far anyway don't you worry your lil mind about it." He said twirling a strand of her hair between his thumb and finger. I turned to Nick leaving them to it.
"Love struck aren't they" I sighed rolling my eyes sarcastically.
"Certainly are but everyone deserves happiness even if it may appear wrong to everyone else" he said thoughtfully.
"Music!" Daisy said abruptly and then I heard the strum of jazz fill the air drifting from the shore.
"Shall we" Nick offered as Daisy and my father rocked around the boat I took his hand and we hopped and tapped to the music for a while before Gatsby pulled me over to dance with him and Daisy spun to Nick giggling hysterically as she leant precariously near the edge. Gatsby twirled me round laughing and I felt his warmth and happiness spread through me all at once and I couldn't help but smile back. He taught me a step to the dance which resulted in funny moments and I felt content as he was.
That soon drew to a close and we drifted back to our partner and dancing turned to conversation a slow drawl from breathless voices. I sat on the deck scooting my legs under the clean white railings; I dipped my toe in the water a tingling feeling tickling my toes as I draped it gently over the surface the suns beams reflecting dazzlingly up to my face.
"Careful the sharks don't bite" Nick said approaching me
"I'm careful enough to know sharks don't tend to be in New York unless they are in a restraint being eaten" I said back smirking, Nick laughed as I sunk my feet in the water round my shins making them numb the feeling jetting itself up my body nudging shivers along my neck and pushing goose bumps to the surface of my skin.
"Oh shit its Toms boat coming at us!" Nick said panicked
"Calm down you will give it away, he will know something's up" I whispered to him. The boat came closer and Tom called over,
"Why hey there little girl, you must be Marilyn where's your father" he asked
"Oh he's out on business so he let Nick come out on the boat with me" I chirped back acting like a ditsy blonde teenager.
"Oh, damn, I was hoping to have a word with him" he said his voice believable but his eyes showed deep disappointment and dark suspicions.
"I'll see you two round then" he said half heartedly and the boat sped up, I watched him pass his eyes scouring the deck and he went to his driver briefly then the boat powered in a rage just as bad as its owner.
"More dangerous business than the sharks don't you thinks Nick" I said kicking the water, he looked uncomfortable after the encounter and laughed nervously.
