When Laurel arrives at Hardy's house Thursday evening, she finds herself feeling surprisingly bittersweet. If he's still healthy tonight- and he should be- she'll tell him that he's graduated from nurse care. While it's a bit of a victory, him being healthy enough to no longer need her help, she's also come to enjoy his company and she'll miss speaking with him. Still, she feels cheerful as she knocks on the door.
Hardy's been making a good recovery. There's no doubt Laurel's help has been essential, and he still intends to find a way to return the help, some way, some day... This new lease on life has been giving him energy he hasn't felt in ages. Still trouble sleeping at night, of course, but breathing easier, less lethargy during the day... Easing up on the medication. It's been over two years since he's felt anywhere near this good, and now to top it off - Daisy will be here in an hour.
He pulls open the door to welcome Laurel inside when he hears her knock. "Evening."
"Hi!" Laurel says with a grin as she steps past him. "I've got news for you, love. If everything's still alright tonight, I think I won't need to check you anymore. You're really doing quite well."
Raising his eyebrows at the news, he closes the door behind her.
"Am I doing that well?" he asks as he finds his usual place on the couch. He's actually a little surprised.
"You are! You'll still need to keep follow-up appointments with your surgeon, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, you're just about past needing regular check ups." She's honestly a little proud of him. He's recovering well despite his workload.
"Well. That is good news, then. Think I may miss these appointments, though. I can't thank you enough." He clasps his hands.
"Oh, really?" she asks, pleased. "It's really been lovely getting to know you. It's been my pleasure. I'm glad you're doing well enough to not need me, though. Next time we'll meet under better circumstances, yeah?"
"Better than hospital visits," he says a little wryly, shrugging. "Anyway, likewise. And I'm sure we will."
She takes his blood pressure and his temperature. "Alright, let me get one last look at your incisions there."
"Mhm," he murmurs, beginning to unbutton his shirt.
She lightly prods the skin around the fresh scars, feeling for heat that would indicate an infection. She doesn't hear someone approaching the door behind her.
Daisy is already grumpy from the long ride before she even gets out of the car. She gives her mum a truncated hug goodbye, grabs her bag, and tries not to stomp as she approaches the door.
It's a glass door, though, and she can see straight through it. There on the couch, some blonde is- ugh, touching her father's chest- and Daisy's mood goes from bad to worse. She raps on the door, looking to interrupt and already regretting her visit. "Really, Dad!?" she demands loudly, knowing he can hear her.
Hearing his daughter's voice, Hardy jumps, getting to his feet and hurrying to the door. He closes up his shirt as he goes, pulling the door open. "Daisy!"
Daisy rolls her eyes. "Couldn't have let your girlfriend-" she pulls a face and gestures to the couch- "do that before I arrived?"
"This is Laurel. She's been looking after me," he corrects gently.
"I don't care what her name is."
"Daisy—"
Laurel is standing with one hand frozen midway through packing away her blood pressure cuff, horrified.
"Don't 'Daisy' me. Just tell her to piss off," the 15-year-old snaps. Laurel does not need telling twice. She scurries to finish packing her bag.
"You're early." Hardy's voice holds some warning.
"So!? You knew I was coming today, Dad! Jesus, I should just go home." Too bad Mum's already pulled out.
Hardy's a little trapped. "Laurel- sorry. Please, just-"
Laurel shakes her head, eyes wide, and edges around them out the door toward safety.
He rubs his face, watching her go. He'll call later to explain. She's been too good to deserve this and he's feeling obligated to call and apologize on behalf of his very rude daughter. "Daisy, listen."
Daisy glares at her father and shoves past him into the cottage. "I don't want to hear it."
"They had to cut me open to put it in, the pacemaker." He feels just the slightest bit helpless.
"I know!" she snaps. "You told me already!"
"So she's been checking for infection! Honestly. Daisy."
"'Checking for infection,'" she scoffs. "Is that what you kids are calling it these days?"
"Does your mother let you talk to people like that, hm, Daisy?"
"Like what?" She feels quite entitled to her righteous anger.
He stares at her like he can't figure out who she is. "This woman's been keeping me alive! But even if she hasn't, you don't - treat people that way." His tone has changed enough to finally slice through the haze of bitter anger and she closes her mouth, listening to him.
He's still staring in disbelief. "Do you, though? Is this the sort of language you're using now? And you're going to talk to me this way, too?"
She swallows, ignoring his demand for the moment. "You meant it, then? She's just... she's just patching you up?" She assumed that it was just a line, a throwaway to get her to shut it.
This earns her a very flat look. "Of course she is." He shakes his head. "I don't particularly want you to see it, but if you can't take my word anymore, then…" He can't help feeling that Tess did this.
Daisy takes a shuddering breath and starts to feel very bad about herself all of the sudden. She's been unfair and immature and she knows it.
Seeing a weakening in the battle lines, he holds out his arms a little weakly. "Haven't even said hello yet… Come here, darling."
He doesn't want her to act the way she did, but he doesn't want her to feel bad, either.
Her lip trembles and- forgetting for a moment that he's just had serious surgery- she launches at him, hugging him tightly and feeling tears sting her eyes. "I'm sorry," she mumbles against his shirt. "It's been a long, shitty day. Shouldn't have jumped to conclusions or talked to you like that."
She's not about to admit that it felt like a punch in the gut to see him with a woman who's not Mum. They're supposed to be a family and he just left, and now he's got a whole life without her and Mum. She knows that case went badly, but... He just left.
Her hug knocks the wind out of him a little, but he holds her very, very tightly in return. "Oh... It's all right, darling. I'm so glad you're here, I've... I've really missed you."
He kisses the top of her head and rubs her back a little.
"I've missed you, too." And she has. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes she longs for a hug from him so badly it aches.
"What happened today, hm?" he asks gently.
"You're not going to kick me out for being rude, are you? Just, it's a long walk back home..." She glances up at him, a tentative half-smile playing at her lips as she teases.
He gives her a little half-smile back. "Well... Do it again, I might have to reconsider..." Completely teasing.
"I'll be careful not to, Officer," she says with mock seriousness. Oh, she has missed him.
"...everything alright at home?" He's laughing just a little. God, she's growing up...
"Mm, yes, mostly."
"...and your mother?"
"She's fine." Her tone is a little more curt again. He doesn't get to ask about Mum.
He nods. He's not particularly keen to do more than touch on the subject, either, but he also gets the hint.
Daisy is ready to change the subject. She pulls away from him and plops onto the couch.
"Anything to drink?" her dad asks as he cleans up more of the various stacks of paper, putting them off to the side.
"Water, maybe?" she answers, and then frowns. "Boys are stupid," she says, apropos of nothing.
He fetches water for both of them, hands one over, and settles next to her. "Can't argue that," he replies, frowning slightly. "Why the sudden wisdom?"
Daisy murmurs her thanks and takes a sip as she deliberates on how much to tell him. "Jeremy started texting Georgia this week, while he's still texting me. And he thinks I don't know."
Hardy quirks an eyebrow, taking a sip. "Did he, now?"
"Yes." It's growled, but then she sighs. "I don't like him that much, anyway. His nose is awfully big."
He nods, as this seems the appropriate response.
She toes her shoes off and then nudges Dad's leg with one foot. "What is wrong with you people, though!?"
"Hah. Don't know how to keep our noses out of other people's business, I suppose," he says, amused, crossing his ankles.
She shakes her head, exasperated. "That's for sure. Honestly, did he think he'd get away with it? Doesn't he know Georgia is my best mate? Boys are stupid," she concludes again.
"Cheers to that," Hardy replies dryly.
Daisy raises her glass to his toast- even though he didn't mean it as one- and sighs.
He clinks her glass anyway, smiling. "Have you spoken to Georgia about this? She's your best friend, after all."
"Yes. She told me as soon as Jeremy texted her. And then we worked together to text him back, only Jeremy didn't know I was with her. And it turns out that he is so unloyal."
"Well, then."
She smirks. "Georgia 'accidentally' dumped her pudding in his lap yesterday. Is that a crime, DI Hardy? Also, is it a crime to laugh at it?"
"Mm, I'll let it slide… Trying not to laugh as we speak." He's grinning at her.
She grins back and elbows him lightly. "Knew I got my devious streak from you. Mum didn't think it was funny at all."
He's more smirking than grinning, honestly. "Oh, well…"
The grin falls off of Daisy's face slowly, though, as she watches him. "Are you sure you're alright, Dad?" She got distracted with her own dramatic entrance and forgot to ask, but she needs confirmation in person now.
"Hm? Oh, yes… Yes, um." He's got to change gears, himself. "Tonight was to be my last check-up, if all was well, which it probably still is, so... " He trails off. "No more problems."
Her face heats up at the mention of his checkup. Oops. She nods, though. "Okay. I'm glad to hear it. Just-" she looks away. "please tell me first next time."
He deliberately sets water down to look at her. "Dais'…"
She ignores his gaze.
"I promise I will. I hope there'll never be a next time, but…"
"Thanks, Dad," she replies softly. She doesn't want to look at him. She doesn't want to /cry/ and she's afraid she might.
"I didn't want you to worry," he explains softly, adding a gentle squeeze to her shoulder.
"How could I not? Even after the fact! I looked it up! 5% of pacemaker insertions have complications! What if something had happened? I wouldn't have known! I wouldn't have been able to say goodbye!" She just can't believe he'd keep this from her.
Watching her somberly, he clasps his hands. "...I know." Now's not the time to mention that the risks were higher in his condition. He chooses his words carefully. "I just… I couldn't bear to put you through that uncertainty."
She's angry with him, frustrated and hurt, but her primary emotion is still bone-aching, soul-consuming relief. He's okay. Thank god, he's okay.
She sets her glass aside and turns to bury her face in his shoulder. "I'm not a kid anymore, Dad," she says quietly. "I can take it."
He gives her a firm hug. "...I know, sweetheart. I should have... should have let you know. I know you could have handled it… I was the one who couldn't."
Daisy nods, feeling her cheek brush against his shirt as she does. Despite her best efforts, a couple of small tears slip out. She's used to him being unshakeable, a constant through everything even as she's continually pushed him away, and it's unsettling to hear him admit this.
"I'm glad you're okay," she offers in a mumble. "I don't want you to die."
"Well... I appreciate that, thanks." A rather weak, shaky laugh escapes him. "I'm not ready to. I still want to see you grow up into the beautiful woman I know you are and you'll become. I don't want to miss that."
This, at least, is familiar territory. "Ugh, Dad, you don't have to get all mushy on me."
He knows he's doing it again, but he can't help it. He feels as if this time, he's allowed. "Sorry, darling, but I mean it."
She pulls away, shaking her head and grinning a little grin. "Of course you do. That's what makes you so cheesy."
"At least I'm made from whole milk now... Okay, that doesn't really work, does it? Whole-hearted...? No?"
It's making her feel better, this pseudo-annoyed banter, and she groans. "What is wrong with you? Why can't you talk like a normal human? Do you know what century we're in?"
He laughs. "Maybe I've been dropped off on the wrong date. Good thing I'm not expired."
She wrinkles her nose. "Better see if they'll return you to the right one, then. Have you got a time machine or something for that?"
Grinning, he pokes her. "I might have…"
Daisy groans again, more loudly this time, and squirms away from the poke. "You're insufferable, you are."
"That's my job, you know. Even before my other one."
Despite the fact that it's still a relatively early hour, she finds herself getting tired as they sit on the sofa. "Mm, insufferable time traveler, where am I sleeping this weekend?"
"Right. I'll show you to your room, cheese-suffering companion…"
Daisy rolls her eyes, smiling a little, and follows after him.
"It's a bit- small. Well, the whole place is. Sorry about the mess." Stacks of papers. Mostly nonsensitive…
She shrugs. "It's cute. And it's a little bigger on the inside, I think. Looks tiny from the outside."
"Well. Maybe it is." He grins. "Anything I can carry? Is that all you brought?"
She snorts. "I've got arms and they work perfectly well. I'm fine, thanks. This is all I've got."
He nods. "Right... This is the kitchen, over there- bathroom. Help yourself to anything you need, obviously. And through here… Here's your room." He pushes the door open to the tiny second bedroom. "So- don't mind those books in that corner- but this room is all yours. Always. Any time you want it."
Daisy nods along with the tour, looking around with interest. She's somewhat pleased to discover no signs of another person living here. She's been worried that she'd find evidence of some girlfriend he's been hiding away. It's part of the reason she got so upset at finding him with the nurse. "Thanks, Dad. It's nice, I like it."
Hardy can't help but look delighted. Her approval of everything means a lot to him. "I'll, er- let you get settled, then. Need anything else…?"
"No, I think 'm fine. I'm glad I came." She offers him a little smile. She can tell how badly he wants her to like being here with him, so she's trying, she really is.
He returns the smile, his matching hers in size. "G'night, pumpkin."
"Good night, Dad."
He leaves to clean up the living room a little; somehow, despite the fact that he tried to clear it up earlier, there's stuff everywhere, most of it work-related.
He's only cleaned up one little corner of the table when his phone pings with a text from Laurel. I'm so sorry about earlier. I wouldn't have come if I'd realized Daisy was going to get there so early. I hope I didn't screw up the beginning of her visit.
Pausing amidst the mess, he texts her back. Not your fault. Didn't know she would be here so early. Everything's just fine here, but I want to apologise for her behaviour. I'll be encouraging her to apologise in person, too. She needs to learn to take a little more care; normally she's not like that. I'm sorry if you were made uncomfortable.
He presses send and worries… worries that he said too much, worries that he said too little. Pocketing the phone, he tries to finish up, not sure why this is bothering him so much.
It's only a few minutes before he gets a reply from Laurel. She's a teenager. I've got a sister her age... I'm used to it. ️ I just didn't want to make things difficult for you. I know how much you're happy to have her. He starts to reply but another text comes in before he can, also from Laurel. I hope someday she and I will meet under less hostile circumstances. I'm sure that when she's in her right mind, she's as sweet as she is pretty. She's just a teenager, that's all.
Her easy forgiveness makes him feel a little better, and he doesn't hesitate to respond. Thanks, Laurel. Your support is invaluable. I do hope you'll both meet again sometime in a better situation. Do we still need to complete those last tests some time?
Another text from Laurel: Of course, Mr. Hardy. As for the tests, no, I think you're good to go. If something goes wrong, of course, feel free to call me.
One last message in reply and he's done for the night. Thanks. I really appreciate all you've done. Take care.
He flicks off the lights and heads to bed.
Laurel sits at her dining room table for a while, debating… eventually, she makes up her mind and text Ellie. Are you awake, by any chance?
A few minutes and half a glass of wine later, a reply comes in. Laurel! I sure am. How are things?
Actually, I've got a bit of a story to tell, if you're up for it. Can I call? Laurel writes back.
Ellie rings Laurel a few minutes later, and by now, Laurel has had several glasses of wine, which leads to her feeling much better about the whole thing. "Oh, Ellie," she says immediately upon answering. "I've just had the most awkward moment with Alec Hardy."
Ellie's all cosied up in bed, and she spits out the water she's been drinking, choking a little at that opener. She's not sure what she expected to hear, but it wasn't that.
Laurel is too caught up in her thoughts to hear the aquatic incident.
Ellie's got to laugh a little. "Sorry! Hello! Did you say Alec Hardy?"
"Yes, I did! You know Daisy is staying the weekend, right?"
Ellie gets control over her glass of water and imagines she better set it down for this one. She bookmarks her novel and settles in to listen. "Yes? He did mention it."
"Well, she was supposed to come at half eight."
"Oh, god." Ellie has an inkling of where this is heading.
"I came at half seven to do a checkup. Guess who showed up just as I had my hand in his open shirt, Ellie!?"
"No…" She gasps appropriately. "Oh, no!"
"It was one Daisy Hardy. Let me tell you, she was not pleased to see her father with- and I quote- his 'girlfriend.'"
"No, no... She didn't...? She did—? Oh my god."
"Let's just say that she's got her father's grumpiness and flair for the dramatic. Gorgeous girl, but she's got a temper on her. I got out of there as fast as I could."
"I am so sorry." Ellie Miller officially loses it, a peal of laughter coming out that's actually borderline giggly.
Laurel snorts. "It was alarming at the time... Now, after three glasses of Chardonnay, it's a lot funnier."
"Oh, good! Taking your own advice, there, love? 'Cause I've got to say… Did me good. Oh, you poor creature…"
Chuckling, Laurel agrees. "Sure did. Glad it helped you... Helped me, too. Sometimes the answer's just at the bottom of a bottle, in my professional opinion."
"Is that your medical expertise speaking?"
"How do you think I got through nursing school!?" Laurel replies with a laugh.
Ellie snorts. "Bless."
"On the bright side, Ellie, he's doing quite well and he's done with needing regular checkups... So I won't have to try that again with Daisy around."
There's an audible sigh from Ellie. "Laurel, you are a lifesaver. Literally. Thank you. I hope he thanked you proper, too."
Laurel laughs softly. "Mm, turns out I didn't do much of anything. Just monitored him a bit, didn't have to lift a finger to actually help. You're welcome, though. And he did. It was a joy to do, honestly."
"Oh, but if you hadn't, I'm not sure he'd've taken care as well... This one's been- well. It's not been an easy case." Her voice falls quickly- and then back up. "Good. Well, I'm glad you find him tolerable. I know he's warmed up to you - it's quite clear with him when he has, really… And believe me, he needs to warm up to more people." She laughs.
"Oh, you've both just been lovely," Laurel replies, completely genuinely. "I hate that work is stressing you out, though." She pauses. "I feel as if I'm finally making friends in Broadchurch, so really, I should be thanking /you/."
"Oh, honestly, love... You're too kind. I'm grateful we met, myself. Friendships have been a little strained here, recently, as I'm sure you might know… So…" She bites her lip.
"Mm, I hear everything's tense in this town." She's deliberately misunderstanding here because she doesn't want Ellie to know that she's found out who murdered that boy. She wants to be a friend, not another horrified onlooker. Ellie has enough of those. "We ought to do something together soon. Whenever you've got a babysitter for your kids."
Ellie might be silently happy-crying a little, she can't help it. "Oh-! Yes, it has been, for everyone." sniffs faintly, weak laugh as she listens. "Yes-! Yes, I'm sure I can find someone. Everybody loves Fred… I'll let you know when I've got a few days, yeah? You can tell me which works for you."
"That sounds wonderful!" Laurel says, smiling. "I just work a few nights a week, so I'm usually free. I'm sure we can work something out."
Ellie nods and then remembers Laurel can't see that, so she tries to find her voice. "-perfect! Brilliant. I'll be in touch."
"I look forward to it." There's a smile in Laurel's voice. "Have a good night, love."
"Good night, Laurel." Ellie's smiling, too.
"Bye, Ellie." She rings off.
Ellie hangs up and lets a sob out and downs the rest of her water… Then she settles down with a little smile to read until she falls asleep.
Daisy rubs her eyes as she finishes getting dressed for the day and wonders into the living room of her dad's cottage. "Morning," she says mid-yawn. It's closer to noon than true morning, but, well... How often does she get a school day off?
Hardy looks up over the rim of his glasses because he's nose-deep in a legal book. "Good morning, you night owl. How late were you up?"
Daisy thinks this through. "Mm, not late. Guess I was just tired." This is punctuated by another yawn.
"That's fair. It's been a busy semester, hm?" He steps carefully over some stacks to greet her.
"Always is, yeah." She's mournful about this. She doesn't like school. "What are we doing today?"
"Well… There's a few things we could do. Mm?" He half-smiles. "What d'you want to do about lunch, or- brunch, for starters? Stay in...? Go out?"
"Do you have to work the whole day this time?"
"No- no."
She wrinkles her nose. "If we're leaving the house I need another half hour to put my face on. Maybe just something here."
"The shower's good, if you want that. I'm taking the rest of this day off, if you've got time for me."
She's surprised. "Really? You?" She can't quite hide her smile, though.
"Yes, me." He gives her a wry look, not appreciating the implication there.
"Ummmmm—"
She gives him a spontaneous hug in answer, interrupting his musing.
"-oh!" He'd been thinking about breakfast food, but he laughs and hugs her back. Before he moved out, he worked so much. This is a nice change.
Hardy sets down coffee mug on the shelf behind her to give a better hug.
Daisy suddenly has a flashback to being four or five years old and giving warm sleepy snuggles on the sofa during Saturday cartoons. She wishes things were still that simple.
Smiling, he kisses the top of her head. Blimey, she's tall now. "Pancakes or waffles?" he murmurs before he can start getting mushy.
Daisy smiles and squishes closer for a moment before stepping back and meandering toward the kitchen, poking her head curiously into the fridge and a few cabinets.
"Pancakes," she answers in a "duh" sort of voice. "I'm not an idiot, Dad."
"Good. That's all I've got anyway." He flips through some higher cabinets before finding the mix.
Daisy laughs. "I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you knew in advance how I'd answer that question."
He shrugs, hiding his smile. "WelI, I do know you fairly well, I like to think."
She's not so sure he does, but she's not going to ruin the moment. "At least when it comes to breakfast."
He grins and finishes pulling out breakfast supplies.
"You've got my standard order down, don't you?" she asks, deliberately light.
"Let's see… Two pancakes, right? Blueberry, if possible." Assembling ingredients as he speaks.
Daisy hops on the counter next to him and swings her legs like a kid as she listens. There's a mischievous grin on her face as she waits to see if he gets it right.
"Syrup, but not the regular stuff."
"Oh, heavens no," she says in her best American film star voice.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Hardy asks, snorting.
"Ever seen Gone With the Wind?"
"...Actually, no. Something always gets in the way. It's so long!"
"Oh, you're such a male. It's terribly romantic and you're missing out."
"Am I?" He's laughing.
"You are," she huffs decisively. "Hopelessly so."
"Maybe you'll convince me to see it, then. You'll have to try hard, though."
She rolls her eyes. "If you still need convincing, you're not ready for its genius, Alec Hardy. I'm not sure you'll ever be ready."
"Is that a challenge?" he asks while testing some of the batter.
She pokes him in the nose. "No. I just don't think your poor little manly mind will ever make it there."
He shakes his head, holding out the spoon for her sampling and hopefully approval. "Alas... Not all of us are capable of understanding the classics."
Daisy licks the spoon and gives him a thumbs up. "At least you understand and admit to it. You're a lesser species and that's okay. Accepting that is the first step."
He laughs, pouring some of the better into the pan. "Thank goodness I've got you here to remind me."
She's very smug. "You'd be lost without me."
He definitely would be lost without her.
He shakes his head, grinning at the banter, and sprinkles blueberries… He'd correctly guessed that Daisy would want them. Almost done, he stacks the first pancakes.
The smell makes Daisy salivate. "You've forgotten something vital, though. Where's the orange juice!?"
He pauses, eyes wide in mock shock.
"Such a disappointment!" she cries dramatically. This calls for revenge.
"Oh…"
She sticks a finger in the pancake batter and drags it down his cheek. "Now every other chef will see your scars and know the price of failure. Next time, it'll be your head."
Gasping a little, Hardy places a hand over his heart. "My own daughter condemns me…"
"She wouldn't have to if you'd remembered the orange juice! You mustn't blame me for your failure." This whole morning has been so lighthearted that Daisy nearly forgets that she's angry with him.
He puts on a grim expression. "Oh, it's worse than that…" Keeping his eyes locked on her, he feels around in the fridge. "...Nope. Nope… Erm…"
Daisy quirks an eyebrow at this display while Hardy gives up and glances into the fridge. "Ah." He sadly brandishes a bottle of apple juice. "I tried. I did try."
"Oh, do you dare present me with this filth?" she demands, fighting back a laugh.
"I know, I know…" he murmurs, closing the fridge with a sigh.
"Trying is not good enough in the Kitchen Kingdom. Your queen is very disappointed in you."
He sets the bottle down with a sad thud. "...it's not even all the way full. I drank some." Expecting this not to go over well, he hangs his head a little.
"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" Daisy cries, grabbing the spatula and brandishing it in his direction.
Reaching for his throat, he staggers against the wall. "No...! I just got it insured!"
"You've left no choice! I must make an example of you!"
Accepting his fate, he takes his glasses of with great solemnity and crosses his heart. "If you must, my queen."
"I- just once- will choose mercy. It's life in the dungeons for you," Daisy announces imperiously.
Hardy bows his head."Sorry, my queen, I'm too old to get on my knee. I might not make it up again."
"You should hope that no one misinterprets my wishes and comes to mistakenly kill you on my behalf."
"Will the queen accept pancakes instead?" He's laughing to himself.
"...this is acceptable."
"Here, I'll lead you to our grand patio."
Daisy chuckles and follows along."I must eat away from the peasants, you understand."
"The weather's lovely in these parts… If it doesn't rain..." Hardy glances up at the sky.
Here she breaks character to give him a look. "Dad, have you ever /been/ to England?"
"Oh, yes," he replies, laughing and sliding out the door. "Once or twice."
Daisy mutters something about "lovely weather" under her breath, and Hardy tries not to smile about it. "Be right back," he murmurs. "Apple shame juice," he adds by way of explanation. Setting the pancakes on the little table, he heads inside.
Daisy snorts and sits down. This is /almost/ enough to make her forget how much she resents him for the decisions he's made… almost, but not quite.
Reappearing with the glasses, Hardy slides one to her and settles in on the opposite side of the table.
"Thank you…" Daisy murmurs in keeping with the game… "I suppose."
Seeing the opportunity for another dad joke, Hardy quirks an eyebrow. "...at least it's not PC juice... You know. Apple. PC."
Daisy groans. "I'm rethinking my decision not to decapitate you, thanks."
"Right. Keepin' my mouth shut."
"Smart man."
"Eat your pancakes!"
"Yes'm."
"Actually, you should open your mouth to do that."
"Oh—"
"Too late."
"How are they? Not too mushy I hope."
She grins with a mouthful and swallows. "Don't fish for compliments, Dad. You know you make the best pancakes. Ten times better than Mum's."
Hardy is a bit pleased about this in spite of himself. "Well, in that case…" He's not entirely sure if he should be eating pancakes- are they heart healthy?- but this is something to enjoy with his daughter and he's not going to question it.
Daisy rolls her eyes and takes another bite.
Now that Daisy's got food and appears to be in a good mood, he thinks with some trepidation that it's time to do some parenting. "Daisy, about last night..." He's awkward, casting about for the right words to say. "Er."
"What about it?" She's immediately closed off again.
When he speaks, it's very gently but direct, and he keeps his gaze on her face. "I think… We need to make things very clear." He sets his fork down with a clink, careful and deliberate.
She crosses her arms and taps her foot, waiting impatiently for him to spit it out. "Make what things very clear?" It's not like he's been very clear with her over the last few years, so she's not sure why he's looking at her like she's in trouble. She's got the sinking feeling that the weekend will no longer be as carefree as it has been, even if thusfar it's only been light on the surface.
"Erm..." He glances away for a second because he knows this may be touchy. "I think you need to apologise. To Laurel." He looks back at her, very even. "If it weren't for her, I could still be in a hospital bed. I would- still be, I have no doubt, or I'd be back there."
Daisy immediately rolls her eyes. "Why should I apologize to her? I didn't even say anything to her." The hospital thing feels a bit like a guilt trip, and while she is glad he's home and recovered, she doesn't appreciate his phrasing.
Hardy quirks eyebrow because Daisy has to know that's not true. "This is a matter of learning to take responsibility, Daisy."
"Responsibility!?" Daisy snaps, suddenly sitting up to lean forward and glare at him. "Oh, that's rich, Dad, you're one to talk about responsibility. I'll take it when you do."
Stony-faced, he takes a deep breath. He can't trust himself to try to argue this… He doesn't want to accidentally imply anything or lose it. "Daisy... This isn't about me. Not at all."
Daisy slams her fork down on the table, realizing suddenly that she's been clenching it in her fist. "No, it's never bloody about you, is it, Dad?" It's completely ridiculous that he thinks she's done anything wrong at all, but God, he's being hypocritical right now.
He leans back, quiet for a moment. Shit. "-that's not what I meant."
"Of course not. No, you never say what you mean. You don't know how to talk to someone who's not a damn suspect!"
"Daisy, come on..." His expression is pained, begging her to stop.
"You know what, Dad? No." The floodgates have been opened and she can't stop now. "I've kept my mouth shut for three years. Three years! And you haven't said a fucking word of substance since then… so no, I'm not going to 'come on.' You want me to own up to my mistakes? Own up to yours."
"Daisy- please- I know you're upset, but-" Alarmed, angry, and above all afraid, his Scottish accent comes out in full force. He straightens and pokes the table, trying to control his tone. "I am your father, and I will not be spoken to like this. Your mother and I have worked out a way to live with our- situation, and you need to respect that. What happened, happened. Alright?"
"And it's our decision as your parents, who both want what's best for you, not to tell you the whole story. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is; you know all you need to know about it. You need to respect both of us on our decision for your sake."
For a moment, Daisy actually sees red, she's so angry. "Some father you've been," she snarls. "Why should I care how you want to be spoken to? You lost that right when you left."
"You don't get to decide I don't need to know something that affects me. I'm not a child anymore, or did you forget to bloody notice that when you moved three hours away from home?"
"You haven't earned any respect!" She leaps to her feet, fists clenched. The whole street can probably hear her- the last word, at least, was yelled- but she doesn't care in the least. Let his damn neighbors talk. He deserves it anyway. "Yeah, Mum lies to me, too, but at least she does it to my face and not over the phone! At least she's there!"
Extremely torn and unable to look at her, he lets his daughter yell herself out, forcing himself to look at her and biting his tongue… as painful as that is. Please, Daisy.
"Tell me, Dad. What happened!? Why did you leave? Were we not good enough for you? Did you want to be free to hook up with your nurse?" She knows that's not the case, at least not the last bit, but she's so hurt that she's throwing it in his face to hurt him, too.
"...No, I..." He shuts his mouth very tightly, and looks at her with an expression of apology. Even if he had more to say, even if he could allow himself to tell her the truth, his throat has closed up and he can't speak.
"Then WHAT WAS IT!?" She feels furious tears spring to her eyes. "Just admit it, Dad. You cheated on Mum. You wanted to find a new woman who didn't come with- with some inconvenient daughter. You wanted to run away from us."
"That case was just a bloody excuse. You fucked up that, so why not keep going? Tell me I'm wrong." It's undeniably a challenge, one he can't meet.
"I'm sorry," he says hoarsely, his voice broken.
"Answer me!" The tears spill over. "You did, didn't you? You cheated. Oh, God, you absolute bastard." She feels sick and can't bring herself to look at him. It's something Mum has always hinted at, but Daisy never wanted it confirmed.
"Daisy... I'm sorry… I love you both, I-" he swallows. "...didn't mean..." He's so close to breaking down it, aware that he's losing her. He feels weak, his throat aching and a pain blossoming in his chest that he hasn't felt since before his operation.
"DON'T SAY THAT!" Daisy roars. "You don't!" Suddenly, she is overwhelmed with the need to leave. Get out, run away, fall into her mother's arms and never look at her father's face again. Shaking her head, she backs away. "I'm leaving. Don't try to stop me… and don't ever call me again."
She turns around and marches back in the house to gather her things. Once she's gone, she'll call Mum, or get a taxi, or something… but she can't stay here any longer.
"Daisy, no- no!" He gets up to follow her, but he keeps a little distance, not wanting to make things worse. "Daisy!" He can't stop her, but he can't let her leave.
Hardy is soundly ignored. She throws things into her knapsack and slings it on her back, kicking the bed for good measure as she passes it. To think, he tried to make her feel so welcome here! He probably just feels guilty about the way he's screwed her over.
"Daisy, please, wait- just- please. I- can't explain- everything, but..." He feels himself growing pale… This is surreal. "Daisy!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ignoring him, Daisy pushes out the door and back outside. Completely done with him, she starts down the narrow street and doesn't look back.
It's time to move on.