Daisy laughed softly.
Jameson leaned back, voice low. “She’s wonderful, Daisy. Smart. Polite. Bold. You did a great job with her.”
Daisy gulped down the rising lump in her throat. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
He nodded, saying nothing more. His unease seeped through the silence, and Daisy carried it like her own. The way he looked at Amelia, with affection edged in loss, was proof enough of what he’d missed. Not because he hadn’t wanted it, but because of her fear. Explanations would come eventually. Just not now.
“Have you found a house yet?”
Jameson kept his head forward and said, “Not yet. Haven’t really had the time to look.”
“Will you stay in the city, or move closer to your mom?”
“I’ll probably get out of the city and head further south, but I don’t want to be too far from you guys.”
Daisy appreciated the consideration even though it wasn’t needed; she would understand if he wanted to be closer to his mother. With a heavy heart, Daisy thought of Margot and sighed. “Does she know?”
“Yes,” was all he said, peeking at her from the corner of his eye. Daisy’s cold body began to heat up as she raised her eyebrows at his evasiveness. She was curious and slightly petrified to know how his mother had responded to the news.
“Honestly?”
She nervously chewed her lip and nodded.
“She’s pretty devastated, excited but devastated. On one hand, she never thought she’d have any grandchildren, so Amelia is a welcomed surprise, but on the other, she’s sick with the idea that she’s gone all these years without knowing her.”
Daisy bowed her head and dropped her eyes to the concrete ground. “I had my reasons, Jameson. I’m not proud of myself but…”
“Jameson!”
Amelia interrupted, running from where the group of girls was dispersing.
“Hey, did you have fun?”
Amelia ignored her mother and ran up to Jameson. “Are you famous?”
The question jolted them both. Amelia stood in front of him, eyes wide.
“What?”
“Are you famous? Alyssa said she saw you in a magazine. Said you’re a singer. Said you have tattoos.”
Daisy’s stomach plummeted.
“Who’s Alyssa?” Daisy inquired.
Amelia pointed over to the toe-headed girl she had just played with. She spotted Alyssa with her mother across the playground, already whispering.
Jameson read the panic in Daisy’s face and rose quickly. Daisy grabbed Amelia’s hand. “How about we walk and talk?”
“Okay,” she said happily in agreement, and the three of them left the park.
As they walked down the street together, Jameson tugged his cap lower, shadowing his face.
“Want to come over for breakfast?” Amelia chirped. “My mom can make pancakes.”
“You already had breakfast,” Daisy reminded.
“But I’m hungry again. And I bet Jameson is too.”
