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And now to the confrontation...

Chapter 2:

Keys rattled and the front door swung open and then shut. "Daise, are you still up? I'm home."

Without a word, Daisy came out of her room when her mum returned. She found her in the kitchen, retrieving two bowls from a cupboard.

"I stopped to get your favourite ice cream on the way home." her mum smiled. "Now we can chat."

"I'm not eight anymore, Mum. I don't need ice cream." Daisy huffed.

Tess frowned. "Oh. So that's the mood you're in tonight?"

Daisy in- and exhaled slowly. She had spent the last hours trying to calm down. She figured that she wouldn't get answers if she just blatantly accused her mother. She wanted to have a conversation. She needed to hear what had happened from her mouth. So she tried to hold back and start slowly. "I heard you and Dad fight the other day." she said.

Her mum sighed. "Yes… I thought so. That's why you're so distracted, right? I was afraid that this would happen when he'd return."

"What!" Daisy couldn't help but snap.

"What?" her mother repeated a little confused.

"Sorry, it's just interesting that that's the way you go for." she snorted humourlessly. "When I talked with Dad about this he didn't try to make you look bad. He said that you both are stubborn, but you're trying to fix things."

"Hm." she murmured, turning fully towards Daisy, her hip leaning against the kitchen counter and her arms crossed. "Look, I'm sorry. I guess he's right. I don't know what it is. Some people just don't get along anymore no matter how hard we try."

"Well, at least he tries." Daisy mumbled.

Evidently a little irritated now, her mum lifted her brows. "Is that why you wanted to know when I get home, so we can argue about this?"

"I don't wanna argue, it's just… it doesn't seem like you're even giving him a chance. And he deserves one, doesn't he?"

"Of course, he does." She shrugged her shoulders, arms firmly crossed.

"So why are you still fighting?"

"It's…" she sighed. "It's complicated, Daisy. Just something that's between us, you know?"

"Well, I'm old enough to know." Daisy decided, stubbornly crossing her own arms now. "And it concerns me, too. I wanna spend more time with Dad."

"Recently, you're at his place most of the time anyway." her mum huffed.

"That's it, isn't it? That's why."

"Why what?" She had that face now, the same as her dad. The copper face. "What do you want to hear from me?"

Daisy felt her face pounding with anger. Fear was still there, too. Fear of hearing the truth from her. In her mind whirled fragmented sentences and she tried to link them together so she could tell her plainly what she knew. But, in the end, Daisy just couldn't control her emotions anymore and what sprang from her mouth was an accusation. "It wasn't Dad who had an affair during the Sandbrook case, was it? It was you."

She could watch as her mum's facial features completely slackened in shock. It was like a punch to the stomach for Daisy. No more words were needed to confirm the truth.

"What did he tell you?" Her mum spoke with stoic seriousness.

"Dad? No, I won't let you blame him again. I found out myself. There was an article on the internet, saying that it was a DS who lost the evidence because she stopped at a hotel. You and Dave were together before you and Dad were even divorced. I'm not stupid, Mum."

"That's all you're basing your assumptions on?" she asked incredulously. "Why did you even start looking for articles on the internet?"

"Does it matter?!" Daisy raised her voice. Her mum was doing it again; she was trying to place the blame elsewhere. "Fact is that you still haven't answered my question. It was you, wasn't it?"

Her mum clenched her jaw together, fiddling with the bowls on the counter. The ice cream was melting. "Daisy… it's complicated."

Tears were burning in the corners of Daisy's eyes. "No, it's not, Mum. It's an easy question that you refuse to answer."

Her mum took a step towards her. "But what good does it, darling? It will only hurt."

"Hurt!?" Daisy's voice sounded high and pressed. "Didn't seem to bother you before that you hurt your family!"

"Daisy—"

"What? It is true, isn't it? You knew exactly that I didn't talk to Dad for over a year. I was so angry at him. I thought he'd left you behind. Left us! You knew that he tried to reach me!" The tears were rolling over Daisy's cheeks now. "No matter how often I ignored him, he kept sending me voice messages, not trying to blame you but just wanting to know how I am. He never gave up and I hated him for no reason at all!"

"Daisy, listen," She held up her hands and stepped even closer before Daisy could cut her off again. "I know you must be upset. You have every right to be. But at that time... it hadn't been easy for me, too. Your dad hadn't been very supportive. He was barely even home, remember? Long before the Sandbrook case, ever since he got promoted, he had no time for us-"

"But he never lied like that!" Daisy yelled. "He never betrayed you, right?"

She was silent for a moment, looking down. "No. I thought he was, but… he wasn't."

"But you were." Daisy insisted, needing to hear that confession.

Her mum paused again. Her expression was unreadable. Sullen, but sad though. "Yes." Tess said eventually. "It was easier with Dave. He made me happy."

Daisy stared at her unblinking. She didn't recognize the person in front of her anymore.

As she was finally able to talk again her voice sounded much stronger than her heart was really feeling. "I-I know... that it was hard and that Dad missed a lot of dinners and school performances. I… I understand that your marriage was pretty much over at that point and I'm not even that mad at you for cheating on him…" Daisy took a ragged breath, wiping tears from her red, puffy cheeks. Her voice was cold and dead serious as she continued. "But how could you let me believe that everything was his fault? Why did I deserve to lose him, too?"

Daisy saw her mum's eyes glistening. Her lips trembled, trying to find the right words. "Daise, I'm sorry." she tried to touch her arm, but Daisy quickly flinched back.

"Don't." she said, shivering with exhaustion and anger. "You were only thinking of yourself."

"I wasn't-"

"Yes, you were!" Daisy shot back. "How else would you explain it? Dad was getting sick because of all this, am I right? He could've died and I'd have still believed that he destroyed our family. That he's to blame." Daisy took a few steps backwards, clinging to the door frame for support. "While you just had everything for yourself. A job, a new relationship... and me."

"Daisy—"

"Dad had nothing." Daisy sobbed. Then she abruptly turned away and ran for the door. She couldn't stand being near her anymore. The betrayal, the lies, were hurting her physically.

"Daisy, please wait. Where are you going?" she hurried after her, but Daisy whirled around again, making her stop.

"I hate you."

The statement suddenly hung between them like a big balloon full of awful gas. It pushed them against the wall and it grew and grew, not allowing them to breathe. And then Daisy turned and with the slam of the door the balloon popped and left her mother behind in the acrid cloud.

Daisy regretted that she ran out with no jacket and no suitable shoes on but she certainly wasn't going back now.

She ran through dark, slippery streets. It was winter. Melted snow stuck to her soles and her feet were getting increasingly wet. Tears still ran down her cheeks and the biting wind made them freeze and get ice cold. But Daisy couldn't stop. Her destination was as clear as the night's air.

While she was running, her mind kept reminding her of the unanswered voice messages her dad had left after Sandbrook failed. So often had he pleaded with her to talk to him. So often had he apologized. But what for? He left his home, his family, so that Daisy and her mother could live on unaffected by the turmoil of the case. He had sacrificed everything. He was sick and he was alone and forced to start anew.

And Daisy never even questioned anything of it.

Only now she realized that her mum actually never said that her dad had an affair. She just let Daisy come to the same conclusions as the press and she never bothered to put things right. A year passed before Tess encouraged Daisy to build a relationship with him again. Her guilty conscience setting in at last?

Daisy sobbed, almost stumbled and ran faster. Oh, how stupid! How stupid she had been!

Finally, she reached her dad's ground-floor flat and she frantically hammered against the door. Daisy was shivering violently; it was so cold. She heard her dad swear to himself on the other side, then he opened the door and the bad-tempered frown immediately turned to one of pure worry and surprise.

"Daisy? What the-"

"Dad, I'm so sorry. Mum told me everything. I know now, I know it wasn't you who cheated. I know what she did and all this time I-I just believed her. I'm sorry that I blamed you and that I didn't talk to you for so long. I'm so sorry." The words just tumbled out of her like a freezing, trembling avalanche. She sucked in harsh breaths; the air was puffing around her and she just couldn't stop crying.

Her father looked positively shocked.

He was already in his nightwear, hair sticking up and his feet bare. After a second he moved quickly to pull her in. "Come 'ere, darling. Come in, you're freezing."

He hugged her to him and closed the door and it was shocking how warm he was. Daisy buried her face deeply in his grey shirt. "I'm sorry, Dad." she repeated.

"S'alright, love. Calm down. For god's sake, you're shivering all over." he said, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to warm her. "What were you thinking leaving the house like that?"

Daisy was still sobbing. "M'sorry."

"It's fine, you're here now." He steered her towards the sofa, grabbed a thick, woollen blanket from an armchair and wrapped her up in it. "Here, that'll keep you warm. I'll make you some tea." he then announced immediately and vanished into the kitchen.

Daisy pulled the blanket tightly around herself. Her dad was panicking. He knew that Daisy wasn't particularly fond of hot beverages like tea, but he obviously needed some time to prepare himself for an emotional conversation like this. So he went for the British solution.

He came back in with a steaming cuppa in hand and a frown of worry on his face. Daisy had calmed down at least so much that she was able to stop crying. He put the cup down on the table and sat right next to her, hands folded clumsily in front of him.

"Does your mum now you're here?" he asked and Daisy's look only darkened for an answer. "You should call-"

"No!" Daisy exclaimed fiercely. "I don't wanna talk to her. Ever again." she decided passionately.

"Daise…" her dad pleaded. "Whatever happened, you know that's not the solution."

A lonely tear rolled over Daisy's cheek; what he said reminded her of how she had treated him. The guilt was tormenting her, but still, that sure as hell wasn't going to convince her to talk to her mum.

"What happened between the two of you?" Dad asked and Daisy told him everything then. What she had learned from that article and the conclusions she drew and how her mum finally confirmed them. He didn't interrupt her once. His look only turned grim and grimmer.

"I'm sorry that's how you had to find out." he grumbled quietly as she finished.

"It's not you who should be apologizing. It's Mum." Daisy railed. "She lied to me and she betrayed you."

"She wanted to protect you."

"No." Daisy said determined. "Maybe that's what you were trying to do. But Mum just wanted to protect herself."

"That's not fair, Daisy."

"Damn right, it's not fair!" she exclaimed.

"Daisy!"

She ignored the warning about her language. "But it isn't fair, Dad! How could she do that to you? To us? God, I was so angry with you back then and you didn't do anything."

"I wasn't the best father to you." he grumbled shamefully. "Your mum handled you so much better."

"Yah, right. Until she had the opportunity to start a brand new life without you and she didn't hesitate one second to cast you aside, did she?"

"We both decided that it would be best for you-" Alec tried to explain.

"Don't you dare saying that." Daisy pressed out, her eyes getting watery again. "How can it be best for me to hate you? Why did I have to pay for her mistake? What did I do?" Daisy dropped her head, wiping tears away and slightly angling away from her father. Her voice was very quiet when she added, "Were you relieved to be on your own again? Were you glad you could leave us? M-Me?"

"No, Sweetheart, no, of course not." he promised, wrapping an arm around her to hug her tightly to his side and pressing a kiss to her head. "I love you so much, Daisy-darling. It hurt me to leave you."

"Then why did you?" Daisy whispered. "Why did you take the blame?"

He sighed deeply, still hugging her to him. She felt how strands of her hair were sticking to his scruffy beard as he leaned his head upon hers. "T'was all so messed up. We only had awful choices. It just seemed like the best way to keep you away from the case and the press… and I didn't want you to know what your mum did. You two were so close."

"And what about you?" Daisy protested and turned to look at him.

He hesitated. His eyes were full of pain. "I was hardly ever home for months before it happened. I hadn't been a good father or husband."

"Still, you didn't deserve this. You're my dad and it was horrible to lose you."

"I know, darling." he kissed her head again. "I know. I'm sorry."

Daisy hugged him fully now. The blanket and the tea had warmed her up quickly, but it was still immensely comforting to be in his arms. "I feel so guilty now." she said.

"You don't have to be. None of this was your fault. I'm sorry you were pulled into this mess."

"I'm still blaming Mum for this." Daisy told him stubbornly. "For keeping quiet for such a long time. You were sick and you were all alone and she just didn't care."

"I'm fine, darling."

"You weren't." Daisy held vehemently. "You could've died when you had your heart surgery. She should've told me at least then but she just kept me believing it was your fault. Because it was easier for her. She's such a coward. I hate her."

"Oi, don't talk about your mother like that." he now said sternly. "She loves you and she was just as afraid of losing you as I was. Give her a chance, will ya? Don't shut her out completely."

Daisy crossed her arms and tiredly leaned back on the sofa. Hearing her dad still defending her mum made everything even worse somehow. Because, obviously, he knew that this was the right thing to do, yet her mother never defended him back then. Up until now she only talked about him with biting sarcasm. "I don't want to go back to her." Daisy suddenly decided.

"Daise—"

"I'm serious, Dad. She doesn't deserve your defence. You're a much better person than she is, I realize that now. I'm so angry, I can't even think about her!"

"Alright." her dad said conciliatory, covering her trembling fists. "You don't have to talk to her right now. You can stay here tonight and calm down. We're going to figure this out tomorrow, alright? Together."

Daisy didn't answer. One night's sleep couldn't quell her overwhelming emotions; she was sure. But Daisy was too exhausted to argue any longer. For now she was with her dad and to her that felt right and safe and she longed for that.

He stood up but, as always, leaned back down again to give her a kiss upon her hair. She used to love that when she was little. Then hated it as a teenager, but now it gave her so much comfort again. "Go to sleep now, darling." he said. "We'll work this out. Don't worry."

Just as Daisy thought, all was not well again in the morning.

It also wasn't by the end of the week.

Daisy stayed with her father the whole time. Went to school and straight back to him again after picking up some of her clothes from home. He offered her the bed after night three, but Daisy assured him that she was fine on the couch.

She was aware that her mother called at least once a day. Her dad had asked her to come to the phone but Daisy refused. Maybe it was pure teenage stubbornness, but she felt like anything her mother would say would be another lie and she didn't want to hear it. She was sick and tired of her excuses.

Every time Daisy thought back to the day her dad moved out, she was hurting all over again. She remembered the broken family that remained; the many nights she spent alone because her mum was working and no one else was around to talk to. The pain was new and fresh again and this time it was caused by her mum.

Wasn't there anyone in this world she could trust?

Her sadness wasn't improving her achievements in school at all, of course. She didn't talk about her bad grades with anyone, much too afraid to upset or disappoint the one parent she was still talking to. The stress kept adding up until, at one point, she was so angry because of an unfair teacher's decision that she snapped and thoughtlessly talked back.

That did cause her father to find out.

The school secretary seemed sceptical when Daisy begged her to inform her dad, not her mum, about her misstep, since he didn't seem to have been around so far. But she relented at last.

Daisy got suspended from class for two days and would miss an important exam that could've helped her to pass her finals. On the way back home in the passenger seat of her dad's car, Daisy kept her head down and tried to guess how angry he was.

He hadn't said anything since he talked to the schoolmaster and even then his tone didn't give away his mood. He seemed tense, overwhelmed and stressed by the problem she had caused and Daisy shrank into her seat, feeling more guilty and sad than ever.

"Are you sending me back to Mum's?" she finally dared to ask.

"Hm?" he quickly took his eyes off the road to look at her. It seemed like she had ripped him away from deep thoughts. "Why do you ask that?"

Daisy looked back into her lap. "Because I messed up."

"You did." he said and Daisy felt a pang of guilt kicking her stomach. "But I'm not sending you anywhere. You're my daughter. My responsibility. And I messed up, too. Tess and I both did."

Daisy wasn't sure how to understand that. What did her parents mess up? Did he mean her? Was she a failure as a daughter? "I'm sorry, Dad." she whispered. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you angry or disappoint you."

"I know you didn't, Daise. I'm not angry with you, I promise." he said. "I'm angry with myself because your mum and I failed to keep our problems away from you."

"What?" Daisy blinked confused. Suspension from school and her dad wasn't angry?

He looked at her again. "You're so smart, Daisy. I know you are capable of achieving so much more, but look how all of this has affected you." His eyes returned back to the front. "It can't go on like this. We need to talk this through. You, me and Mum."

Daisy recoiled. "No. I don't wanna-"

"Daisy, that's enough." he snapped finally. "You can't keep avoiding to work through your problems if it's affecting your grades and I guess also your private life. You didn't meet up with any of your friends since you've been living with me."

"I don't wanna meet with friends. They don't understand." Daisy protested meekly.

"That's what I mean." her father said. "It isn't good for you to keep it all in. I'm gonna call Tess and ask her to come over tonight and we will talk."

Daisy crossed her arms to show her disagreement, but she didn't say another word. For a short while the car ride was silent.

"I won't let this ruin your life, too, Daise." he dad said then. "You're just starting out. You deserve to be happy."

Pensively, Daisy stared out the window. Right now she didn't see any way that her life could be normal and happy again.

Back at her dad's place, Daisy was a bundle of nervous energy. She dreaded seeing her mum because she expected this to end in an exhausting fight again but at the same time she was excited that her parents finally included her in such serious grown-up talks rather than keeping her away.

Her dad was no better, actually. He decided to compensate his nervousness by making dinner for the three of them which could have ended in a disaster if Daisy hadn't helped out. Her dad usually only ever used the stove to heat up tea. Other than that his food was cold or reheated in the microwave. Daisy seriously wondered how he managed to stay alive on his own for so long.

When it knocked on the door a bit later, Daisy was just setting the plates and her dad opened.

"Oh, you cooked?" she heard her mum say with reasonable surprise.

"Yah, well… Daisy helped."

"She's great in the kitchen, isn't she? Never burned a meal."

By then Daisy decided to come closer and chime in to the conversation. "That happens when you have to take care of the cooking since you're twelve." she remarked snarkily.

Her mum saw her and her shoulders relaxed, apparently relieved. She had a smile on her face despite this little jibe at her.

"Daise, please… at least let us eat without fighting." said her dad.

"It's okay." her mum answered. "It's good to see you, Daisy."

She couldn't bring herself to return the sentiment. Daisy just clenched her jaw and nodded.

Dinner afterwards could only be described as tense and awkward. No one talked. She noticed that her parents were throwing each other meaningful glances, but they looked away whenever Daisy looked up. As if they were silently fighting over who would start addressing the elephant in the room.

It was her mum in the end.

"I heard about you getting in trouble at school."

Daisy rolled her eyes, expecting a lecture.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't thought this would affect you this much."

She looked up, eyes wide with surprise. Another apology? That was fine, but her mum certainly wasn't going to get away this easily. "S'alright." Daisy played it cool. "It's not like that test is going to change much about my grades anyway."

"It's not alright." her mum pressed. "You've been distracted for weeks and I get it now that your dad and I were to blame. Those stupid fights…" she paused. "It could've been avoided. We just weren't thinking straight and went for what felt familiar. And for that other thing… Daisy, I'm sorry, you weren't supposed to find out-"

"What?!" Daisy exclaimed.

"Like that. I didn't want you to find out like that." her mum added quickly. "I know it was unfair of me to keep it from you."

"Yah! Obviously." Daisy replied. "But did you seriously ever plan on telling me that all was your fault?"

"Daisy…" her dad protested softly once more, but she didn't want to hear it.

"Well, when did you want to tell me?" she repeated. "Certainly not when Dad came back; there were a million chances of putting things right but you still kept fighting. You still kept blaming him and keeping him out of our home as much as possible."

"Daisy," her mum sighed deeply. "Please, try to understand. It wasn't easy for me, too. I made a stupid mistake and there was hell to pay. I almost lost my job and I didn't want to lose you, too."

Daisy crossed her arms tightly, trying with all her might not to let any tears show. "Well, you didn't lose your job. In the end you got all that you wanted and you were too much of a coward to tell the truth."

"Because I love you, Daisy." her mum professed and reached for Daisy's hand. "You're my daughter."

Daisy looked at her for a second before she slowly pulled her hand back. "I'm his daughter, too." Her eyes wandered to her dad who looked a little out of his depth. He repositioned himself in his chair, clenched his hands that he had folded on the table and avoided to look both of them in the eyes.

"Anyway…" he then mumbled uncomfortably. "We have to find a solution and need to talk openly, so you can focus back on what's important. Our relationship is over." he glanced at Tess. "I think that's abundantly clear. But you shouldn't be the one suffering from that, Daise."

She uncrossed her arms, fiddling worriedly with her fingernails. "And what do you suggest now?" Daisy wanted to know.

Another reposition. "I don't know…" Helpless glances at Tess. "Maybe if you just repeat one school year-"

"I don't wanna go to school anymore." Daisy immediately interrupted. "It's useless, I can't concentrate."

"Now, Daisy, that's ridiculous." her mum chimed in. "You know you have to finish high school. You're smart, you could do anything you want."

"No, I mean I don't want to go back to this school." Daisy explained fiercely. "I hate it there. I hate the teachers and I don't have any close friends anyway. I just don't wanna spend another year at this stupid place. I need to start from scratch."

Her parents looked at each other. "What do you mean by that?" her mum asked, but from her voice Daisy could tell that she already suspected what she was going to say next.

"I mean that maybe it's time for me to live somewhere else."

"By yourself? You're too young-" her mother immediately started protesting.

"No, with Dad." Daisy decided with determination. "I can go away with Dad."

He blinked perplexed and leaned forward. "Go away? What gave you the idea that I would leave?"

"You said so." Daisy reminded him. "When I heard you fight. You were thinking about moving away again because it didn't work out... I could go with you."

A sigh. "Sweetheart…" he began.

"Daisy, please think about this. You can't just up and leave." her mum cut in a little too desperate.

"I have thought about this." she replied. "You had your chance to come clean and you didn't and I hate you for that. I still can't look at you without getting angry... but... you're still my Mum. And I love you." Daisy had to pause so her voice wouldn't crack. "It's too painful. Understand that, too." she asked finally.

Her mum sat there unmoving. The rest of her food would stay untouched this evening. "I won't just give up on you, Daisy." she stated subdued.

"You have to." said Daisy. "I'm sixteen, I can decide for myself where I want to live and I want to be with Dad." she looked at him. "If he'll take me in?"

He moved a little closer to her. "Darling, of course I will- I-I would take you in." he stuttered. "I just wonder if it's right for you. Your life is here."

Daisy vehemently shook her head. "No, it's not. Not anymore. All I have here now are bad memories." she sank her head, too ashamed to look at her mum. Despite everything she felt like she was betraying her, but Daisy knew this was the only way to get out of her sad and angry mindset. "I need to get away from everything. It doesn't feel like home anymore."

There was silence in Dad's small living room. Not so tense, but still awkward somehow.

"I can't stop you, can I?" her mum asked after a bit.

Daisy shook her head no.

"Daise, you don't have to make a decision right now, alright?" her dad carefully reminded her. "Take some time and think really long and hard about this and then we talk again."

She looked up, determination shining in her blue eyes. "I'm sure, Dad. I want to live with you."

One more chapter to go...