Daisy was sitting on Phil's desk chair in his room. He'd gone out for a few minutes to talk to Jane Foster. He'd rambled something about the history department meeting and then left. She'd moved to sit in his chair and was working on her bio homework, when she heard the door creak open and looked up to the frowning face of a student. At least she assumed he was a student. He was now looking at her in confusion.
"Where's Mr. C?"
"He stepped out. He should be back any minute though."
"Yeah. And who are you? Does he know you're sitting in his chair?"
"He does. How are you Robbie? Phil came in and went around Robbie heading to his desk. He gazed at Daisy who grinned back at him.
"Nice desk Phil."
"Just pack up. We're gonna leave shortly." He turned around to Robbie. "Something I can help you with Robbie or is this just a friendly visit?
"Oh, I just wanted to thank you. That job program with the cops, it panned out. I got the job. I'm gonna fix their cars. I start on Monday after school. A guy named Mack is gonna be my mentor. I can't believe they're gonna pay me while I learn."
"I'm glad Robbie. "You're gonna quite your other two jobs now, right? That was the idea. So that you could concentrate more on school."
"Sure." He flashed Phil a huge grin.
"Robbie, come on."
"I'm only gonna work Saturdays at Canelo's. I quite my busboy job already. Before they could fire me for breaking all their dishes."
Daisy laughed.
Robbie looked at her and winked. She was cute. He addressed Phil "Who's the girl Mr. C? You helping her study too?"
"Yes. Well actually she's my daughter. Daisy. Daisy this is Robbie. Robbie Reyes. I'm his student advisor."
Daisy waved at him and grinned. "He's cute Phil."
"Didn't know you had a kid Mr. C."
Daisy laughed. "It's a long story. Maybe we could get together sometime, and I'll tell you all about it?"
Robbie smiled. "Mr. C. likes me Chica, but right now he's looking at me as though he would maybe kill me."
"Ha. You think that look is deadly you should see my mom. Her glares will knock you out. Oh and she's like a real ninja."
"Yeah. And so why would I want to go out with you again?"
"What? You aren't up for a challenge. Besides I'm cute just like you."
"Your kid is flirting with me Mr. C." Robbie put his hands up surrendering. "I know better sir."
"Awe... chicken are ya?"
"Chica, are you even old enough to be in high school?"
Daisy looked affronted. "I'm fifteen. I'll be driving next summer."
"Robbie don't you have somewhere to be?"
"I do. I need to go pick up Gabe. Thanks again Mr.C."
Robbie glanced over to Daisy. "Un placer conocerte hermosa. Definitivamente eres un problema. Pero seguro que harías la vida interesante." He turned and left the room.
Daisy looked at Phil. "What'd he say?"
"He said goodbye."
"No that's 'adios'. I know that. Everyone knows that. Come on Phil, what'd the very cute boy say?"
"Figure it out. Come on we have to go. I need to get started on dinner. Lian and William are coming over, remember."
Daisy spent the drive back to Bobbi's place trying to figure out what Robbie had said to her.
Phil headed for the kitchen when they got home, while Daisy hunted for Melinda. She found her in the garage hitting a punching bag she'd hung up. She stopped when she saw Daisy and smiled.
"Hi Daisy. Phil in the kitchen already?"
"Yeah he said he wanted to make dessert first before starting dinner. Hey can you help me translate something from Spanish to English?"
"Sure but you have all weekend to do your schoolwork."
"Yeah I know but I just wanted to get this thing I've been working on done."
"Is that it?"
"Yeah I wrote it down. Here. What's it mean?"
Melinda glanced at the scribbling. "Hey let's sit down. Your writing is not the best. Can you read it to me – maybe that'll help." Melinda sat down on the mat and Daisy sat next to her.
"Okay. The first part is An placer cono- something hermosa. Um... conocerted or something."
Well hermosa means beautiful. Placer is the verb and it has a few meanings. But I think you mean un placer and not an placer. So that would probably be translated 'a pleasure to or 'nice to''. Conocerted is not a Spanish word I know. But conocerte is. So if we go with Un placer conocerte hermosa, it means 'Nice to meet you beautiful'."
"Oh cool." Daisy wrote that down and smiled. "How about this one? Definit mende urus un problema."
Melinda looked stumped at first. "Wait. Do you mean definitivamente?"
"Oh yeah probably.
"There's no urus I know of. Could it be eres. That means you."
"Yeah that's it. Eres. I know problema means problem."
"It can. But in this case definitivamente eres un problema most likely translates to 'You are definitely trouble'."
"Oh. Well then. So far I have 'nice to meet you beautiful, you are definitely trouble. The last one was 'pero' which I know means 'but'. Pero sagra kaharius lavida intereststantay. I was able to write that one down. The others were from memory. I mean I wrote them down as soon as I could."
"Daisy. Who said this to you?"
"Huh. It's Spanish. For school?"
Melinda rolled her eyes. "Daisy."
"Did Phil call you?"
"Why would Phil call me?"
"Never mind. Yeah okay. Someone talked to me in Spanish and I want to know what he said. Phil wouldn't tell me."
"Wait. He said, 'nice to meet you beautiful, you are definitely trouble?"
"He's really cute."
Melinda crossed her arms and grinned. "He flirted with you in front of Phil?"
"Maybe. But to be fair I flirted with him first."
"Give me the paper. On your last phrase you put words together and misspelled some. But I'd bet a few of Phil's grey hairs he said, 'but surely you would make life interesting'."
Daisy grinned. "He's not wrong there."
Melinda cocked an eyebrow at her. "Hardly. So how cute is he?"
Daisy looked at her. "Very. I think Phil is like his mentor or advisor or something. He helped him find a job."
"You're not really looking for a boyfriend right now, are you?"
"Nah. But I mean he is cute. But right now, no. Not looking for anyone like that. Not to date. Not anyone at all. I mentioned to him that you're a bonafide ninja.
"Hope it scared him."
"He doesn't seem like the fearful type. Yeah. So, your parents, you think they'll like me?"
"Yes. Speaking of my parents, I need to grab a shower, and then help Phil." She got up and offered her hand to Daisy.
"I thought you couldn't cook." Daisy let Melinda pull her up.
"Not cooking. It's to help calm him down. He will go overboard trying to impress my parents."
"Why?"
"I don't really know. Some misplaced thinking that they never approved of him for me. Come on."
It was awkward, Melinda decided. They were sitting at the table eating the wonderful dinner Phil had prepared. The food was amazing, and Phil really had gone full blown master chef with his presentation. He'd made honey lemon chicken with angel hair pasta and a side of honey glazed carrots, serving butternut squash soup with crescent rolls as an appetizer. Maybe awkward was the wrong word, and floundering was a better one. Cause everyone was so guarded that the conversation had died at least five minutes ago. And they'd just received the main course a minute or so ago. They'd already covered all the innocuous subjects. The weather. Melinda's job. Phil's teaching and how he decided to change careers. Bobbi's nice lawn care and well-kept house. Her new SUV. Phil's corvette, and yes, he still had it, stored in a garage. Yes, he still called it Lola and that got a small laugh from everyone.
The introductions between Daisy and her parents were brief and hesitant and she never had heard her mother stutter and stammer to anyone until tonight. They were a family and yet they were not. Melinda glanced at Daisy who was shoving food in her mouth probably hoping to finish so she could be excused. She exuded nervousness. Everyone was avoiding asking her anything, her parents being extra cautious and everyone afraid of saying the wrong thing. Even Phil was of no help, usually the one with the most common sense and clear head, he was more nervous than both her parents. It was pretty bad, when she, known for being less talkative, noticed how the room screamed silence. Okay then. She needed to get the ball rolling.
"Mom, Daisy told me she likes spicy food. We should take her to that little restaurant I found in Chinatown for Dim Sum. Show her some of her heritage. Maybe this weekend?"
"You never had Dim Sum. I thought the woman who took you was Chinese?"
"Yeah she was. But she, well they died when I was nine."
"Lian, Daisy doesn't want to talk about her past. Or what happened. Do you dear?" William spoke.
Daisy shrugged. "It's okay. She – Jiaying – she never talked much about her family. Or her heritage. She was pretty American. I'm pretty sure she was born here. Cal didn't like Chinese food either. I know I spent a few years in China when I was -when I was first – when they took me. But I don't remember much."
"Well we'll check it out sometime if you want to Daisy." Melinda gave her a smile.
"Sure. The spicier the better. Bring it. Speaking of food, Phil you really outdid yourself tonight. I thought your lasagna was top notch, and everyone knows your Mac n Cheese is A+. Right Melinda?"
Melinda nodded. "He did. But remember I helped with the soup."
"Dumping in cream and stirring soup is not cooking Melinda." Daisy sassed her.
"He let her in the kitchen?" William asked.
"I know right? No worries. I do have the fire department on speed dial. Took Phil's advice."
"Very funny young lady. You're a real comedian."
"Thanks. It's a special talent. I wonder if it's hereditary too."
"I know for sure that your sassiness is hereditary. Comes right from Melinda." Phil joined the conversation. "You even have the same smirk and eye roll."
Daisy smirked at him while Melinda rolled her eyes.
"Look at that, right on cue."
Daisy grinned and asked, "So Phil, what's for dessert?"
"I made something new. I hope you like it."
"Well bring it on."
"I'm going to make tea. Anyone want any?" Melinda asked.
"Is it that kind you made this morning? That was really good. I'll take some."
"I can make that if you like. Sure."
Daisy smiled at Melinda and gave her a thumbs up.
"What kind Melinda?"
"Huo Shan Huang Da Cha."
"What does that mean?" Phil asked as he started clearing the dinner plates.
"Basically it's yellow tea Phil. You probably won't like it."
He nodded. "I'll just make a cup of coffee then."
William spoke up, "If you are making coffee Phil, I'd prefer that to tea."
"Sure. No problem."
"William never really liked yellow tea." Lian added as an afterthought.
While Melinda and Phil busied themselves making beverages, the table grew even more quiet. Until William cleared his throat and spoke to Daisy.
"This is very hard isn't it?"
She stared at him and then nodded. "You have no idea."
"But it need not be. You've been found. Now we all have much time to get to know each other. It is always best to let natural things be natural."
"Wow. So Melinda gets that zen vibe from you, huh?"
He smiled. "She gets much from me. But also from her mother she gets much. Although the cooking handicap comes out of nowhere."
Daisy burst into laughter. Phil grinned as Melinda glared at her father.
"Speaking of cooking, Phillip, you have done an exceptional job here tonight. I've not had such good American homemade food in a very long time."
Phil brought a cup of coffee and set it down in front of William. "Thank you. It's been great to cook for more than just myself again."
Melinda brought over two cups of tea giving them to her mother and Daisy and then retrieved her own cup. Phil brought his dessert to the table. One a tray. He distributed the small bowls to each person.
"What's this Phil?" Daisy looked at her bowl suspiciously.
"It's vanilla crème brûlée."
"Like pudding?"
"Try it Daisy. It's one of my favorites." Melinda had already dipped into hers.
Daisy watched as everyone else seemed to be enjoying it. "She tentatively put her spoon in her dish and moved it around. "It's all kind of wiggly."
"If you aren't going to eat it, hand it over Daisy. I will." Melinda nudged her with her foot.
"Okay, okay. I'll try it." She picked up a half spoonful and slowly put it in her mouth. "Oh." She looked around and saw four pair of eyes on her. "It's like nectar for the gods yeah?"
Melinda laughed. "Shows you to never judge anything by how it looks."
"Well it sure beats a pudding cup."
"I'm not sure if I should feel complimented or offended with that remark?"
"Definitely a compliment Phil. Although there are some good pudding cups out there. Maybe you could make chocolate cream stuff next time."
"Well I'll keep that in mind."
Daisy nodded as she kept eating the dessert. Melinda winked at Phil who grinned back. And for the thousandth time Lian watched Phil and Melinda communicate silently and wondered how the two idiots could not see they were meant for each other. She turned her gaze to Daisy, her long lost granddaughter, and wondered if she could be the one who would finally bring them back together for good.
Daisy scowled at the phone as it blared out her wake-up call. "Good morning my ass." She grabbed the annoying thing and hit the dismiss button checking the time. It read five- twenty – five just like she had set it for. She laid still for a second, telling herself missing one day of Tai Chi wouldn't hurt. Then she sighed and rolled over and grabbed her shoes to slip on and got up. She grabbed her sweatshirt from the floor as she headed out the door. She arrived at the garage and opened the door and just stood there. To her surprise, not only was Melinda there but so was Lian. They were warming up. Daisy continued to stand there just staring.
"Is she just going to just stand in the doorway?" Lian asked Melinda.
Melinda waved her over. "Close the door, it's pretty cold this morning."
Daisy stepped down onto the garage floor pulling the door closed behind her. She slowly walked over to the two women and started stretching.
"When Melinda told me that you have been joining her for Tai Chi in the early morning, I was surprised. Most young people enjoy sleeping in and I know Melinda is always up so very early."
Daisy nodded. "Who wouldn't want to get up before the light of dawn and come into a cold garage to bend their body in ways it's not meant to bend and fall over four times. Wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun."
Melinda laughed as Daisy smirked at her.
Lina smiled. "Melinda tells me you are doing well."
"Great. Now I will probably fall down five times."
"You'll be fine. And last time it was only three."
The three settled in and started their first movement.
Daisy nearly forgot that Lian was there once they got started. She was beginning to really enjoy the movements of Tai Chi and the calm it seemed to bring her. They continued on for about a half hour. Daisy only knew a few movements and Melinda would repeat them a few times and teach her one or two new ones each day.
"Well only one actual fall and two stumbles today."
"Guess I was trying to impress your mom." She grinned at Melinda.
"You don't have to..."
"Consider me impressed." Lian interrupted Melinda. "You did good. Melinda is teaching you well. You have an aptitude for this."
Daisy, not at all used to compliments, turned slightly pink as she shyly answered back. "Thank you."
Lian and William came over for breakfast. Phil made chocolate chip pancakes and bacon. William watched as Daisy grabbed another two pancakes, putting them on her plate and pouring a generous amount of syrup over them. She then reached over and snitched a piece of bacon off of Melinda's plate. William watched as Melinda smiled but said nothing. Daisy shoved the bacon in her mouth and then stabbed at a large piece of pancake. He continued to watch as she ate far too fast and glanced over at Lian. She too was watching Daisy and was about to comment when Melinda shook her head slightly at them and spoke.
"Daisy have you thought about what color you'd like you room to be painted. And what color rug you'd like put in?"
Daisy swallowed her pancake bite and answered. "Not really. I mean it's your house, well yours and Phil's so maybe you should pick the colors."
"It's your house too Daisy." Phil countered. "And your room. You should pick what you like."
"I dunno. I mean any color is fine really."
"Well we need to pick the rug colors for sure this weekend. I need to call the contractor so he can order them. Mel, we have to pick the bath flooring as well. So sometime today we should look through everything he gave me and pick out everything. That way when we go shopping to the get the paint we need, everything will match."
"Okay. Why don't you gather everything, and we can run over to the house and do that now?"
"So you two really did buy a house together."
"Yes dad. I told you we did when I talked with you on the phone."
"And this is a good idea? You're sure?"
Daisy set her fork down and looked around at everyone.
Melinda nodded. "It'll be fine dad. Phil and I talked it through, and this will be best."
"I get that you are doing this for Daisy. But you and Phil are no longer married. You are not legally obligated to each other."
"We both will own the house. We both put down a down payment. We are both on the mortgage. The electric and everything else will be in both our names. We are both going to be on the home-owners insurance. So yes, we are legally obligated to each other."
"When the obvious happens, what then?"
"He means if either of you want to marry another? What then?" Lian spoke.
"Then we cross that bridge when and if it ever happens. Right Phil?"
"Right. It's not like we didn't discuss it William. But really, and I mean this in the nicest way, it's none of your business."
Melinda winced. Daisy bit her bottom lip.
Phil stood up and gathered the breakfast dishes. "After all both Melinda and I are adults. And the house we are moving into, has a nice basement. Melinda can live there. It has a large bedroom, full bath, an efficiency kitchen, a nice living room area, and it even has its own entrance."
Daisy sucked in her breath and looked at Melinda. Phil missed it.
"In fact, why don't you two come along with us and see it. You will see that it's family friendly but also allows for privacy. For both of us adults."
"Or Phil can live there, and I can stay upstairs with Daisy." Melinda quickly added. "Which is most likely what will happen."
"Oh. But I thought you would want to have more privacy. You could even set up some of your gym equipment in the corner over by the patio door. In fact, wouldn't that work out better for all of us."
Melinda shook her head as she watched Daisy's face grow pale. "Phil can I talk to you for a few minutes. Out in the garage. We can gather the samples and files from the construction people." She got up and grabbed his arm as she moved to the garage door.
Once they were in the garage after Melinda closed the door, she turned to him. "Okay look. I know you're excited about things and kind of want to see the positive and have limited parenting experience, but Phil, what the hell is wrong with you?"
He looked at her stunned. "What did I do?"
"Daisy. You missed her body language as you went on and on about the basement and just assumed that I'd live there. Phil – take a moment and think about that please. Think about what that means for Daisy. And then think about what I told you the other night and why she ran away at the store."
His faced crumpled. "I'm an idiot."
"I'm not going to argue with that. Cause you are really being slow on this. Daisy needs for us, both of us to protect her. I know you would never hurt her. But I don't think Daisy has arrived there yet. Honestly, I don't think she's arrived there yet with me either. But I am less of a threat to her then you are.
"I don't know how to make her understand I would never, could never hurt her in any way."
"You can't make her anything Phil. You have to let her deal with these things on her own terms. You have to give her space. And you have to understand it is not you she is afraid of. She is afraid of what you represent."
"Cause she was abused. Sexually."
"As much as it pains me to even think it, I do believe someone hurt her badly. Some man, or men hurt our baby. They destroyed her trust and instilled fear that is beyond reason. Part of me is terrified of knowing how bad she was hurt. Of what she went through. And yet all my training and working with girls who were trafficked makes me know that she needs to face what happened to heal. Or she never will."
"I'm sorry Mel. I just want – I just want her to trust me. To understand I could never hurt her that way and that I will protect her from anyone who would."
"In the logical part of her mind – she already knows that Phil. But she can't help the way she reacts. She's been trained to be suspicious. To be wary. To mistrust. All those layers will have to come down slowly. If they ever even do. Maybe they never will completely. She ran away from a man who was using her as a punching bag. That's very fresh in her mind. Anything at all you do that half-way reminds her of him, may set off warning signals in her."
"Yeah. I should know that, right?"
"I saw it a lot Phil. In New York. Maybe I can see it easier because of that."
"Melinda. How do I – what can I do. The last thing I want to do is make any of this harder for her. I don't want to hurt her. What can I do How can I be more in tune to her?"
"Just being aware is half the battle Phil. I probably should have said more of this the other night. But I don't know – I didn't want to act – to say – I didn't want you think I was better at this then you. Or that I have it all together. Cause I'm not together Phil. I'm just as lost as you are. I struggle every day to not let her see my anger when I find out anything about her, about what she went through. As much as I want to hit someone or something when I think about it, I know her need to feel safe far outweighs my need to lose it. So I grit my teeth and smile and show her she never has to feel afraid with me. I measure my words, notice my actions. You can do it too. Just follow her lead."
"I thought I was doing that? Guess I need to do better."
Melinda smiled. "You know what else you can do?"
"What's that?"
"Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Just be you Phil. You are one of the most empathetic people I've ever known. Let that work for you. And another thing you can do is talk to Daisy. If you aren't sure about anything just talk to her. She's not shy."
No she's not. Sometimes quiet, like someone else I know," He smirked at her, "but definitely not shy." His face turned more serious. "I haven't really talked to Daisy much alone. You've mostly been here as a buffer."
"I've been called many things Phil. But that's new."
"You know what I mean. Daisy has a connection with you already Mel. That's a good thing. She does feel safe with you. Whatever you are doing – it's working."
"Thanks Phil. We probably should get back in there. I'm not sure Daisy is connecting well with my parents."
"Shoot. We've been out here pretty long haven't we?"
"Come on." Melinda opened the door and they both walked back to the kitchen. Entering through the door, they both stopped short at the scene before them. Daisy was drying dishes while Lian was washing. Daisy was talking a mile a minute while Lian nodded and smiled once in a while, interjecting a few words here and there. Both turned as the door squeaked as it shut.
"Oh hey. You guys get lost?" Daisy smiled and then went back to talking to Lian.
William looked up from the table as he sipped his coffee. "Next time you might want to actually bring back the rug and floor samples. Or Melinda, you could just tell us you need to yell at Phil and be done with it."
They were currently at the new house. Melinda and Daisy were outside in the treehouse while Phil was showing Lian and William around. The first thing Daisy had done when they got to the house was to grab Melinda's hand and run off to the back of the house.
Daisy stuck her head out the treehouse window and then back in and turned to Melinda who was sitting in the corner. "So why'd you drag Phil to the garage Melinda?"
"To talk."
"About me?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"It was a private conversation."
"About me."
"Yes."
"So if you guys were talking about me, I should know why. What about?" She slid down the wall and sat down.
"Daisy."
"Melinda."
"You need to talk to Phil. Explain things to him. Tell him how you feel about things he says. He's a good listener."
"You know I don't want you to stay in the basement here, right?"
"I do. You need to tell Phil."
"You should tell him."
"I did."
"So that's what you talked about in the garage. So he knows? Then I don't have to tell him."
"You should talk to him."
"He's mad, isn't he?"
Melinda shook her head. "No Daisy. He's not mad."
"Your mom's cool. Guess what?"
Daisy's abrupt change of subject meant she was done talking about Phil. Melinda smiled. "What?"
"Your mom's gonna teach me how to make bao buns and pot stickers."
"Is she?"
"Yeah she said I should learn how to cook real Chinese food cause it's part of my culture and she said you can't cook so she'll teach me so that the recipes aren't lost forever."
"I used to help her make them."
"Yeah? Maybe she can teach you too? I mean re-teach? I mean if you want to."
"We'll see. But for now, we need to get down there and figure out what colors this house should be."
Melinda and Daisy joined the others as they were looking at the living room.
"Oh hey Mel. Perfect timing. Hardwood floors right? In this room and down the hall to the bedrooms, plus the small area here connecting to the dining room and the dining room. Get these rugs pulled up and decent floor put down."
"I think it would look nice, yes. These rugs are well worn and well, outdated."
Phil smiled and then looked at Daisy. "What do you think Daisy?"
She shrugged. "I guess. I mean if Melinda likes it, it's all good."
Melinda added. "I think the lighter color would work best. What was that called Phil, butterscotch right?"
"Yeah. You don't think that one's too light? Unless we go with the grey. That is the trendy color according to Mr. Collins."
"Let's see it again."
While Melinda and Phil checked the flooring samples, Daisy wondered to the bedrooms. She walked into the one across the hall from the master bedroom and looked around. This one would probably be hers. All she had to do was tell them she wanted it. Then pick a color scheme for floors and walls. Right now, it had a cream color rug and was painted a very light beige. The rug was worn and thin and dirty. The paint on the walls was fading and even pealing at some places. The wood trim was nice, and the room had two windows.
"This one's a nice size. You could get a bed, couple dressers and a desk in here easily. Even a bookshelf."
Daisy turned around as Phil spoke.
"Which reminds me that we need to purchase furniture for you. What size bed you think you'd like? We could even do a bunk bed so you could have friends sleep over. If you want. They make those all kinds of ways now. Bunk beds I mean. Totally up to you."
"I never picked out my own bedroom stuff before."
"Well we can stop at a store after we leave here. You'll want your furniture to match the colors you pick for the carpet and walls. I think Melinda said she was going to buy a new bed cause her mattress was pretty old, so she'll want to go too. I remember when we were married, she liked a firm hard mattress. No soft sinking down bed for her she used to say. We can get bed stuff too – like sheets and comforters. Oh and a lamp that matches and you'll need a waste basket, oh and one of those laundry baskets and – and curtains – unless you'd prefer blinds, or both. We could put in both. Oh and a TV. We could get you a nice flatscreen TV and that could go on the wall and wouldn't have to take up much room at all."
She put her hand on his arm. "Phil. You're rambling. Get a grip."
He looked at her sheepishly. "Sorry. I just want – I want – I don't..."
She smiled. "Melinda said I needed to talk to you."
"She did?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"Well I thought you'd go first. You're the adult."
"Oh. I don't – I don't want to say the wrong thing. Sorry. Melinda says I overthink things too much."
"Ah. So that's how I'm like you. Good to know."
"I just want you to know that Melinda will be staying up here. With you. I'll be in the basement. Well I mean that's where my bedroom will be. I'll still be up here. With you guys. Sometimes. I mean I'll be cooking and baking. And we can all still watch TV together if you want, maybe more spy movies that Mel yells at or we could watch other movies like whatever you like and maybe invite Bobbi and Hunter over for a game night or we could play games just the three of us. We could do other stuff too, I could teach you how to cook, cause we know Mel's a mess in the kitchen and if I'm not around then someone has..."
"Phil." Daisy raised her eyebrows.
"I'm rambling again huh?"
She nodded. "But thank you. For – for understanding about- for not – for – you know."
He smiled at her. "we make a good pair. I ramble and you stutter."
Daisy laughed. "Yeah. Maybe we should learn how to communicate without words. Like you and Melinda do."
"It's always been easy for us. Even now, after all these years, it's almost like – but it isn't. Anyway. Have you at least thought about the color of a carpet?"
She shrugged. "I don't know Phil."
"Well what's your favorite color?"
"Purple, I guess. I like blue too."
"Well in the catalogue for carpets they have both of those. How about we go look at them and at the type of carpet samples?"
"I guess I can do that."
"Try to contain your excitement will ya?"
Daisy laughed as she followed him out of the room.
Daisy watched as Melinda paged through the colors. She'd already picked style of carpet she wanted, which was called Stainmaster Saxony. Now she needed a color.
"I want grey I think. Good grief there are hundreds of greys."
Daisy looked over her shoulder. Well is the paint color gonna be lighter or darker. Cause you would want the opposite of that, I think. That'd probably look best."
"Mauve probably."
"Pink! You like pink?"
"Mauve."
"Which is pink. Yeah, yeah. It's a variation of pink."
"Technically it's more purple."
"Nahuh. It's definitely pink. Hey Phil is mauve purple or pink."
"It's whatever Melinda says it is."
Daisy grinned. "Wise answer." She put her chin on Melinda's shoulder. "But it's still pink."
"Purple." Melinda shot back. "Anyway, I am going to go with this grey. It's a medium shade, not too light but also not too dark. It's called Lava. It's a sort of blend too."
Daisy nodded. "Good choice. It will go great with your pink walls."
Melinda grinned as Daisy moved closer and swung her head into Melinda's view, grinning at her. "I just never pegged you as a pink person."
"Melinda glared playfully at her. "And what colors are you picking Missy?"
Daisy sat back. "I don't know. What do you think I should get?"
"Something you can live with for a long time. Something that speaks to who you are."
Daisy's grin grew larger. "So you're a pink lady then. That's who you are."
Melinda sighed.
Lian laughed. They had entered the room a few minutes ago. "Melinda always did like pink."
"You should see her in her pink skating outfit, Daisy." William spoke up as well.
At that Melinda sighed deeper putting her head in her hand. "Dad."
"Wait. You skated. Like ice or wheels?"
"Ice skating. She competed at the junior level until she quit at age twelve. She was very good," Lian added.
Daisy's eyes grew huge. She nudged Melinda. "You skated at competitions?"
"I have pictures," William said innocently.
"Oh, seriously?"
"Yes I brought photo albums of Melinda as a child along. I thought maybe you might want to see it."
"You thought right."
"It's at Grace's. We can look through it later tonight if you want."
"You bet I want."
"Oh joy." Melinda sighed again.
Daisy grabbed another piece of pizza. Bobbi and Hunter were home after leaving early in the morning to go for a full day of paintball fun with Mack and Elena. Daisy was sitting at the table looking at a photo album with William. Lian had stayed for pizza but than had excused herself to go to a movie with Grace. Phil and Melinda were at the table too, still discussing color schemes and types of carpets and flooring for the rest of the house. Hunter was sitting with them drinking a beer while Bobbi had gone for a shower.
Daisy had settled on getting the same grey carpet for her room, and Phil had decided to just go with that for all the bedrooms. Daisy had then spent a lengthy amount of time picking out a paint color. She'd finally settled on a rich shade of lavender. Melinda and Phil had then decided to go with a lighter periwinkle for the third bedroom.
Daisy munched on her pizza while William and she looked at the last album. Both photo albums had a ton of Melinda pictures spattered with a few of her parents and her with her parents.
Daisy looked at a picture of what she assumed was Melinda in high school. "That one. How old was she there?"
"Fifteen."
Daisy stared at the picture. "Do you think I look like her?"
"Sure you do. Look at those eyes. And face. The chin. Same nose."
Daisy scrunched up her face. "Yeah?" She looked at William who smiled and nodded.
"You look like both of them. But yeah you have your mother's eyes and nose for sure." Hunter nodded at them. "But I'd say you have Phil's smile. Yeah for sure you got here," Hunter patted the bottom of his face, "this part from your dad."
Daisy stared over at Melinda and Phil. They both had heard her and Hunter and were now staring at her with concerned looks.
"It's still so weird." She turned back to the album and then laughed delightedly as she looked at a picture. "You played the flute? In band?" She turned to look at Melinda.
"I did."
"You want to hear the story of how she fell off the stage in ninth grade?" William said with a twinkle in his eye.
Daisy's eyes shown with delight. "Ohmagosh, yes."
"Dad." Melinda whined.
