Daisy chose to ride over to school with Melinda. She was still a bit nervous and knew Melinda wouldn't attempt small talk like Phil would. They followed Phil into the parking lot, while he parked his car in his reserved teacher spot and Melinda pulled into a visitor spot. Phil had e- mailed the principal the night before and they were all arriving early to meet. The vice principal was also going to be there.

Daisy looked over at student parking and saw Robbie's car already parked. As they walked toward the entrance, Daisy could see Robbie standing by the door waiting for them. He gave them a smile as he greeted them. Phil used his ID to get in and the four walked down the hall to the conference room they would be in.

Phil knocked on the door before opening it and ushered everyone in the room. The Principal, Alisha Whitley and Vice Principal, Felix Blake were sitting at the table. Greetings were said all around as everyone sat down.

"I was dismayed to get your email last night Phil." Alisha Whitley spoke first.

"Well we were dismayed to hear that once again our daughter was harassed and threatened by Grant Ward." Melinda clipped back in response.

"Of course. It would have been better to hear about this when it happened though. Is there a reason you didn't report this then Daisy?"

"I was – I was just – I wanted it to go away, I guess. I just didn't think – uh..."

"Don't put this back on her. Not in any way. People react differently to stressful situations and to trauma." Melinda stared down the Principal.

"Of course Mrs. – uh – Miss – uh..."

"May. My name is Melinda May."

"Yes. I didn't mean it to sound like I was blaming her, it's just that's one thing he and his parents will bring up. That the incident happened a few days ago."

"It was Wednesday. Thursday Daisy was out of school and Friday was a snow day. Today's Monday."

"Yes of course. That will be noted." She turned to Robbie. "You witnessed this event, correct?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Daisy I need you to leave the room while we talk to the witness."

"I'll go with her. We'll wait next door," Phil stated.

"Okay. I'll send Robbie out to get you when we're finished." Phil and Daisy left the room and Alisha turned to Robbie. "So please tell us what you saw and what you heard to the best of your recollection."

"Okay. I was heading down the hall to leave for the day."

"What class and room were you leaving from?" Blake asked.

"I was leaving the science wing on the first floor. I have chemistry last period. I'd stayed a little late to hand in some extra credit stuff to Mr. Parrish. I like chem, it's one of the few classes I'm doing pretty okay in, and he offers extra credit, and a B is better than a C right?"

"Yes of course. So, when did you see Grant Ward?"

"I saw him as I was about to head down the hall going into the stairwell to head upstairs. As I passed by, I heard him talking to someone and didn't really pay attention till I heard him say something nasty and heard Daisy's voice. So I turned around and told him to get lost. Daisy looked upset. Who could blame her, Ward's a real tool and thinks he can get away with everything. I told him in no uncertain terms to leave and also to leave Daisy alone."

"Can you be a little clearer about the words you heard Ward say?"

Robbie looked at Melinda and then back at Blake. "He uh- well he said she was a slut and that her band of table freaks weren't around to save her this time. Said she caused him to get suspended. Daisy asked for him to leave her alone and he said something like – What if I don't - of course implying he had no intention of letting her alone. That's when I came up behind him, I guess I sprinted up the steps and called him out. Told him if he didn't, that he'd have to deal with me. Of course, he backed down cause he only ever goes after people he thinks are weaker than him."

Melinda had bristled when Robbie had said what Ward had said to Daisy. But when he described what he did and said to Ward she had gotten a small smile on her face. She turned to Robbie. "Did he touch her?"

"I didn't see it if he did. He was right in her space though, and not letting her get around him. He was trying to intimidate her."

"Anything else Robbie?"

"No that's it."

"Okay. Thank you. Would you go and ask Phil and Daisy to come back in the room, and you're excused. Thanks for coming in."

"No problem. Can I wait in that room?"

"Sure."

"I'll have Daisy get you when she finishes." Melinda gave him a smile.

After Daisy corroborated Robbie's story, Daisy and Phil left to go to class with Daisy getting Robbie on the way. Melinda stayed.

"I hope you are going to address this with Grant Ward and his parents today."

"Yes. We will contact his parents and we'll talk to him today. He is actually just finishing up detention for his previous event, so this will not look good for him."

"You mean attack. He attacked my daughter. He put his hands on her, threatened her and caused her to have a panic attack. This latest thing – him harassing and threatening her shows he did not get the message. Therefore, I will be seeing someone later today to start proceedings for a protection order against him for Daisy."

"Mrs.- uh – Miss May I don't think that will be necessary. We will address this and I'm sure that Ward and his parents will come to an understanding to stay away from Daisy." Blake offered.

"I know you know Daisy's background. She has been through way too much for a fifteen- year- old. I will not allow some over indulged, spoiled brat to hurt her in any way again. So yes, I'm filing for an order of protection which means you both will most likely be called to court. As will Robbie, and some of the others. You have my permission to inform the Wards of that later when you call them. Have a nice day." Melinda got up and walked out of the room and out of the school and got into her car. She sat there for a moment and then texted both Phil and Daisy. Then she called Victoria Hand."

Robbie walked Daisy to her first class. Standing at the door waiting for Daisy was Nat.

"Well don't you two look cozy."

Daisy glared at her while Robbie just laughed. "Hey Nat."

"What are you guys doing here so early. I saw Robbie's car already in the parking lot and he's not exactly known to be getting to school early."

"We had to meet with Blake and Whitley."

"The hell did you do Reyes?"

Robbie looked at Daisy who just shrugged her shoulders.

"We had to talk about Ward and the fact that he harassed and threatened Daisy again."

"What? When?"

"Last Wednesday. Jerkoff was blocking her path and talking crap. I set him straight."

"You punch him?"

"No chance to. He ran off when I confronted him."

"What a dirtbag. Hey you okay?" Nat turned to look at Daisy.

"Yeah. They're gonna call his parents and meet with him."

"Big whoop. That's all they ever do."

"Well just keep an eye out Nat. Tell the others. Ward can be dangerous."

"I'll tell the others at lunch. That okay Daisy?"

"Sure. I just don't want any of you guys like confronting him. Getting in trouble. Especially you Robbie. He's not worth it. My mom's gonna get a restraining order. She's completely done with this and him."

"Good. Your mom is right. I'm glad someone is sticking up against him finally."

"Yeah. She's amazing." Robbie nodded. "I have to get to class. I'll see you after your last class okay Daisy."

"You don't have to do that. I'm just going to my dad's room."

"And I'll walk you there. See ya." He turned and strode off down the hallway.

Nat grinned at Daisy. "So you and Reyes huh?"

"Shut up. He's just...we're just friends."

"Sure." They made their way across the room to their desks.

"I mean it. We're just friends. He's a good guy."

"Okay."

"No Nat, Really."

"Look Daisy. He looks at you like you are more than his friend."

Daisy sat down with a sigh. "I'm not sure I'm ready for more ... for ...for that. Not now."

"Okay. Just make sure he knows that, yeah? Robbie's gone through a lot too."

"It's – um – it's just with everything, my parents, just finding them, all the stuff we've all been through. But I do like him. A lot."

"Yeah that's pretty obvious."

"So what has he been through."

"Stuff. Like all of us. Ask him."

"Okay I will." Both turned their attention to the teacher who was starting class.

Robbie was walking Daisy to Phil's classroom. Robbie was talking. "Your mom is amazing. I'm so glad she's not just relying on the school to keep Ward from you. I know a lot of people don't take him as serious as they should. He's dangerous."

"Yeah she is the best." She flashed him a smile.

"I just hope to never get on your bad side chica. Your mom is also a bit scary."

"She likes you. Now my dad..."

Robbie interrupted her." Mr C. loves me. I'm his favorite student."

Daisy giggled. "Were. You were his favorite student. Now you're his daughter's ..." She stopped short, her eyes widening as she started turning a bit red.

"His daughter's what?" Robbie teased her.

She stopped walking and leaned into the wall in the hallway just shy of Phil's classroom. "Friend?" She looked down at the floor.

"Sure chica. We'll go with that. For now."

She looked up sharply at him. "For now?"

He grinned at her. "For today. But after I ask you out..."

"You're gonna ask me out?" She interrupted blurting out the words.

"Yeah. Soon. I've gotta go. I have to get to the police station. Don't want to make Mack mad, right? I'll see you tomorrow morning." He gave her a big smile and turned and walked away.

Daisy watched him leave and a moment after he turned the corner, Phil came out of his classroom.

"What's got you so happy?"

She looked at him blankly. "Huh?"

"Your smile. You look happy."

"Oh, yeah. Um – good day today. Well I mean after this morning. That kinda sucked. But the rest of the day was cool. What's up Phil?"

He just shook his head. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

They turned and walked down the hallway to the parking lot in the same direction Robbie has just gone.

"So did you get a text about a restraining order against Ward from mom too?"

"Yeah. She's stopping to talk with Victoria Hand after she gets off work. So she volunteered to pick up some Chinese take-out since the restaurant is close by."

Daisy smiled at that knowing which restaurant he meant which was downtown. "Good, I'm starving."

"Well in that case you'll want to grab a snack. She probably won't be home till after six." He smiled. "We could stop for ice cream. Unless you think it's too cold outside for ice cream?"

She smiled. "Too cold for ice cream? Never Phil. Let's go." She turned and practically pulled Phil out the door.

Daisy was sitting at the dining table, doing her homework, waiting for Melinda. They'd gone for ice cream, with Daisy getting a strawberry sundae, and when they got home, Daisy had taken Leia outside and played with her. Phil had gone downstairs to grade some papers. Daisy looked over as Leis's ears perked up and then Daisy heard the garage door open. She grabbed her school stuff and put it in her backpack and set the backpack against the wall. Then she moved into the kitchen and grabbed some plates and utensils from the cupboards and put them down on the dining room table quickly and ran back to the kitchen just as Melinda opened the door and walked inside.

Daisy grinned at Melinda. "I hope you got my favorites. I'm starving."

"Oops. I knew I forgot something."

For a moment Daisy's face fell and then she saw the teasing glint in Melinda's eyes. She grabbed the bags and pulled out the containers with her face lighting up. "Thanks."

"Where's Phil?"

"Downstairs grading papers."

"You mind telling him dinner's here?"

Daisy stopped pulling out containers and walked over to the basement door, opened it and yelled loudly for Phil.

Melinda rolled her eyes. "I meant to go and tell him. I could've done that."

"Well why didn't you?" Daisy sassed at her. She picked up some of the containers and walked into the dining room.

Phil came bounding up the steps and appeared in front of Melinda. A bit out of breath, he said to her, "I hope you got my favorites. I'm starving."

Melinda rolled her eyes as she heard Daisy laugh loudly from the other room.

Later that night, Melinda was getting ready for bed when there was a soft knock on her door. "Just a second." She finished throwing on her pajamas and answered the door.

"Hey." Daisy was standing there.

"Hey yourself. Come on in." She waited till Daisy was in the rom and turned to her. "What's up?"

Daisy shrugged and then sat down on the edge of Melinda's bed. She stared at the floor and started pulling on the edges of her sleeve. Melinda sat down next to her.

"Everything okay?"

"Robbie said he was going to ask me out."

Melinda nodded. "Yeah, anyone could see that coming."

"Really?" Daisy looked up at her.

"Daisy he likes you. And I'm pretty sure you like him. He's good looking, kind, respectful, cares about people, and he understands if he hurts you, I will hurt him."

Daisy gave her a small grin. "He kind of mentioned he's a bit scared of you."

"Good. He's smart too."

"I don't think I'm ready mom."

Melinda took her hand fully understanding what Daisy meant. "Then you're not ready. Just be honest with him."

"You think I should tell him about my past? About – you know?"

"Oh. Not necessarily. I meant to just let him know where you are at right now. That you're not ready to date, or commit, or whatever. You decide how much of your past you want to tell anyone Daisy."

"I like him." Daisy looked up at Melinda with tears forming in her eyes. "A lot."

Melinda pulled her in to her, hugging her tightly. She skipped the trite 'it's okay' words instead just held onto Daisy and let her cry it out till she was ready to talk again.

After a bit, Daisy pulled back and wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She looked at Melinda and started talking. She had started opening up more with Jemma and had mentioned pieces of her past abuse to her, but for some reason could never completely open up and give details. But now – now she just wanted to get it all out there. She needed for Melinda to know. She figured that if Melinda was brave enough to face her worst fears then so could she.

"I don't - I don't know how much you've pieced together about what happened two years ago. So I'll just start at the beginning." Daisy took a deep breathe.

"You know you don't have to tell me anything Daisy."

Daisy nodded. "I know. But I – I have to – I -I - I want to. I need to."

Melinda nodded and took Daisy's hand. "If you get too upset, or you just want to stop, it's okay. Dais, I'm – I need you know I'm not going to be able to keep emotions off my face. I just want you to know – that – that if – if I look angry or upset, it's not at you."

"Yeah. You're already imagining the worst, huh?"

"I'd be good with being wrong about that."

Daisy gave a small grunt as she grimaced. "Yeah, that's probably not gonna happen."

Daisy took another deep breath and then started speaking in an even monotone voice. "I was taken to live with them on October twentieth. It was a Monday. Most placements are on Sundays or Mondays. Their name was Lewis. Ron and Deanna Lewis. When I was dropped off, she told me to call her Dee. He wasn't home cause a lot of times he worked out of town at construction sites. It was in the suburbs, a kind of nice house but older, you know. It was cold in the winter and Ron, he kept the heat low cause of the cost. He told us to wear a sweater in the house if we wear cold. It was me, Kerrie who was a year younger and the twins, Mady and Macy. They were only nine. They shared a room and me and Kerrie each got our own rooms. It was small but only the second time I'd ever had a room of my own. The first few weeks were actually okay. Dee would drink but she wasn't a mean drunk. As long as we did our chores, and stayed out of trouble, she was almost nice to us sometimes. Ron would only come home on weekends the first couple weeks, and then it got colder in later November. He had to go further away to get work, and sometimes even stayed away on the weekends.

That's when Dee would go out with her friends and pretty much leave us alone all weekend. Me and Kerrie watched the twins and did our chores and homework. It was right after Christmas when Ron came home and stayed home cause there was no work anymore. Him and Dee would argue and yell at each other, mostly about money. Dee drank even more. A couple weeks into January and another foster kid came to stay with us. Tammy was my age but didn't like any of us. She stayed for just over a week and ran away. I didn't know till later that they never reported her missing and kept getting her check from the government. The caseworkers didn't always make it to the homes every month." Daisy paused and grabbed the water bottle she had opened earlier.

Melinda gave her an encouraging smile, but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"I just started noticing more and more, the longer Ron was home, how he'd stare at me, and make comments. So I tried to stay away as much as I could. I worked at the restaurant and went to the library pretty much avoiding him when I knew Dee wouldn't be home. I knew all the signs, you know. Cause of before. And I didn't want to – I couldn't let – let it happen again."

Melinda tried but failed to not gasp at that comment.

Daisy looked up at her sadly. "It gets harder to tell now,"

"You can stop anytime you need to."

Daisy nodded. "Are you okay? Are you okay with hearing this? I just want all the secrets and stuff to go you know. But if..."

"It's okay Daisy. You can tell me anything, Whatever you want. I can take it."

"I just thought that if I can tell you, maybe – that – I don't know – it won't be over or anything – but it'll be better somehow. That sharing, like you did, the worst of everything you are and have done, could help somehow."

"It will. It has. And I know it's scary. And over thinking everything – well that's always been hard for me. It's partly why Phil and I – well why I left." Noticing Daisy's small look of fear, she reached over and pulled her into a hug. "I not ever leaving again Dais. I will never leave. I will never leave you."

Daisy nodded in Melinda's arms and wrapped her arms tightly around her. After a couple minutes, she pulled away. "I never – I should have known. Maybe I did and just pushed it away so I didn't have to feel anything, didn't want to know. I was able to get out, I was more street smart, could stay safer on my own, got a job, and stayed away. So he – he – he went after Kerrie. She was new in the system. Her dad left and wanted nothing to do with her and her mother, finding a new wife and starting a new family. Her mom turned to drugs and she was taken into foster care. The Lewis's were only her second placement."

Daisy took a deep breath and then continued. "I should have protected her."

"Hey. Look at me Daisy. That's not on you. It wasn't your job to protect her. That should have been done by her caseworker, and the other adults."

"But I protected myself. I ran away from it. Deep down I knew Mom. What kind of person turns away and let's that happen? What kind of person am I?"

"Hey. You were just a kid."

"No, don't make me into some innocent kid here. I should have seen it. I should have protected her. Taken her out of the house with me. Said something to her. You know I learned late that the first time he did that to her, was back in December. I bet that's why Tammy ran away. I kind of knew that too but pushed it away. I just knew it wasn't me and I wasn't going to let it be me. Even if some one else got hurt. I was scared."

"It's okay to be scared. It's okay to protect yourself Daisy, especially when no one else would. It's not your fault. None of this is your fault."

"Then why do I feel so guilty?"

"Because that's who you are. You are a good person caught in something – something you had not ability to control or stop. Something so heinous that no child should ever have to see, or even know about."

"The time before – I couldn't stop it. I couldn't protect myself. I never want to feel like that again. I never want to not be able to protect myself. Or my friends."

"I'll protect you baby. That's my job now. I'll not only protect you, I'll continue to teach you how to protect yourself."

Daisy gave her a small smile. "Maybe someday I can be a badass ninja warrior like you, huh?"

"To me you already are a badass warrior Dais. You survived so much and came through being this fabulous kid with a heart of gold. Soon you'll be a ninja too."

"You know if I don't tell you everything now, I might never be able to again."

"Okay. I'm here. I'm listening."

Daisy spoke softly telling Melinda about the horrible night. The night she's discovered her foster parent raping the younger girl and had tried to stop him. That she only managed to turn his rage on her, when he then attempted to rape her, but couldn't sustain an erection, and instead hurt her in other ways, including stabbing her. One of the younger twins had ran over to the neighbors and the police had been called and Daisy was taken to the hospital where she nearly died on the operating table. She had spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and after had ended up in the group home she had met Miles in.

"That group home was maybe the bets place I'd stayed in a long while. I didn't even want to go to another foster home. But of course, I had no say. The first foster home they sent me to was almost a year later. I ran away form that one, and the two after. Then I got into a bit of trouble and spent a few months in juvie. This last foster home was my last chance they said. My caseworker said if it didn't work out, I'd probably end up in a lock down youth home till I turned eighteen."

"And he beat you."

Daisy nodded as the tears streamed down her face. "I tried to stick it out a while, staying clear of him, but the last time – I couldn't take it anymore and left. I ended up here and well you know the rest."

Melinda wiped Daisy's tears away with her thumbs. "I'm so sorry baby. We're going to make sure he pays for that."

"You gonna beat him up?" Daisy smirked at her.

"We're going to press criminal charges."

"You could beat him up a little."

Melinda grinned at her. "A little huh?"

Daisy nodded and then shook her head. "Nah, he's not worth it." She threw herself back into Melinda's arms and stayed that way for a while just soaking in the love.

Melinda glanced at the clock as she held and comforted her daughter. It was almost ten-thirty. Phil wasn't home yet which was strange for a school night. Unless he'd snuck in quietly which was highly unlikely. Just so, she decided she wanted to check.

"Hey did you hear Phil come in Daisy?"

"Nope. Course I wasn't really listening. Where'd he go anyway?"

"He said he had to pick up an old friend at the airport and was going to drive them to where they were staying."

"Who?"

"He didn't say. In fact, he was kinda squirrelly about it actually, now that I think about it." She got up and opened her bedroom door and heard noise coming from the kitchen. She looked back at Daisy, "he's home now. I hear the garage door and..." her voice trailed off as she listened, hearing Phil's voice and a female voice.

Daisy noticing Melinda's surprise got up and stood behind her. "What?" Then Daisy heard the female voice too and her eyes widened. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she shot past Melinda through the open door and down the hallway.

Melinda shook her head and reluctantly followed Daisy not really wanting to meet Phil's date. She almost ran into Daisy who had stopped at the dining room entrance and was staring at Phil and Maria. The hell.

"Maria?"

The woman in question waved at Melinda. "Hey." She noted Melinda's surprise and the teen age girl's mouth hanging open and surmised Phil didn't mention she was coming. She turned to Phil, "you forgot to mention I was coming?"

Phil stammered looking at Maria and back to Melinda and then to Daisy. "I – I – I just uh – I thought – I – yeah, I didn't mention it." He smiled at Melinda. "Surprise!"

Daisy giggled. She looked back and forth at her goofy parents as they communicated in that weird no words, eye contact and expressions way they did. Daisy had recognized Maria having seen many pictures and videos of her. She looked older but not much, and that was weird cause Melinda didn't look like she aged much either from years ago. Daisy walked over to Maria and stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Daisy."

Maria took her hand and smiled at her. "Maria. I'm your godmother."

At the sound of Maria's voice, Melinda spoke. "Phil. What the hell?"

Melinda had finally gotten Daisy to fall asleep, insisting on her need to go to bed cause of school the next morning. Daisy tried to use the guilt about her confessional earlier to stay up, but Melinda put her foot down and stayed with her till she fell asleep promising that in an hour or so she'd join her in case she had nightmares. While getting Daisy to fall asleep, Melinda heard Phil helping Maria in the guestroom with her things and getting the guest bed made. She quietly moved to the door, looking back at Daisy and thought of the revelations she had made earlier knowing she had not processed most of it yet. But now she had to move on and grill her ex-husband, current roommate about why he invited her ex best friend to their house without mentioning it. She entered the dining room and sat at the table where Maria and Phil were already seated.

"I made you some tea." Phil got up to get it and Melinda glared at him till he left the room.

She turned to look at Maria who was already nursing a cup of tea. "Why are you here?"

"Phil invited me. We are still friends you know."

Melinda winced.

Maria continued to talk. "In fact, not only do I talk to Phil, I talk to Andrew as well. And your parents."

Melinda stayed silent just digesting the information.

"And she's beautiful Mel. Looks a lot like you."

"How much do you know? About what happened to her? How we found her?"

"Pretty much everything. Right Phil?" Maria addressed Phil who had entered the room holding a cup of tea which he placed in front of Melinda.

"It's green tea. Thought it would be soothing." He nodded at Maria. "Yes."

Melinda nodded and then shook her head. "I can't do this right now. I need to get back to Daisy. Phil – uh – she um – she talked to me tonight. About her past. What happened that sets off many of her panic attacks."

"Is she okay?"

"No. But she will be. Someday. She didn't want me to leave so I need to go make sure she's okay. I'll um – we can talk in the morning Maria. Phil, your talk can wait till tomorrow night." She got up and took her cup and left the room.

"I assume that's big news for you Phil."

"She's never talked to either us much about what she went through in her past. Mostly vague references and of course the panic attacks. It's good she was able to talk to Mel."

"But you wish she'd talk to you too. Right?"

"She's gotten very close to Mel. Quickly. It's good. She trusts her. And Mel – you should see how good she is with her. Patient. Gentle. Wise."

"How's she doing with her own past? You said she opened up and things seemed much better and then she closed you off again. Has she closed off Daisy about herself as well?"

"I don't think so. In fact, I think she uses her own issues to help Daisy cope. And Daisy does the same."

"But they don't always include you."

"Daisy was hurt badly. Mostly by men. It's hard for her to talk to me about some things."

"And it's hard for Mel to do the same."

"Yeah I guess. I thought we were connecting again. Getting closer. But – I don't know. Maybe I pushed too hard, too fast. Maybe we'll never – it's just sometimes it's there, you know. She's lighter, and funny, and she laughs, and she just – she makes me smile. Makes me miss what we once had. She even flirted a few times."

"You never stopped loving her Phil."

It wasn't a question. And it wasn't wrong. He looked at her and gave her a pained smile. "I think every day, I fall in love with her all over again. And living here, trying to keep my distance and play by her rules – it's killing me. I go to sleep thinking of her, picturing her smile in my head. I wake up and the first thing I think of is her."

"Phil. She's not ready. You know her focus is on Daisy. And from what you've told me – she still needs to heal from both losing Daisy and from this incident that plagues her mind."

"So I need to back off. That's what you're saying right?"

"You need to let Melinda do the leading. Let her guide what happens to you two. If it's meant to be, it will happen. But you can't force it. She'll see it when she's ready. She's not dating. In fact, after Andrew, there has been no one she has been serious with. She loves you Phil. She will always love you just as you will always love her. But if you really want to be together with her, you need to let her heal. And she needs to know that Daisy is healed, and only then can she focus on something else once she feels comfortable enough letting Daisy go a little. The fact that she's in there with Daisy now, protecting her, making sure she's okay is as much for herself as it is for Daisy."

Phil nodded. "They get each other. Whether they are sitting in silence, gossiping, or having a serious talk – they just seem to always be on the same page. They help each other. I don't even think Daisy knows how good she's been for Melinda. How she's brought back the woman I fell in love with all those years ago." He paused and took a sip of his drink. "She organized a Paintball outing. And had a blast. She's started skating again. She's teaching Daisy. She teaches Tai Chi and self-defense to Daisy. She's talking to her parents more and letting her dad tease her and liking it."

"But she didn't call me." Maria looked sadly at him. "She pushed me out of her life little by little till I stopped trying."

"We all stopped trying. She stopped trying."

He got up and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Let's try again."

She nodded back at him.