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“Oh, honey.” She reached for Daisy and gave her a big hug. “Why didn’t you tell your mother?”
She started to cry. “Because I didn’t want to be like her. I wanted to end the cycle of single mothers and no fathers in a child’s life. I wanted a better life than what I had for any child I had. I was stupid and had sex without a condom one night with someone I was dating. We had a little too much to drink and were like ‘what the hell, it won’t happen.’ I went on the pill right after that and never stopped and I still use condoms. I was so ashamed of myself and I think I expected my mother to just say something like she wasn’t surprised it happened. I didn’t want to hear that.”
“I know how much you’ve wanted a different life than what you had,” Heather said. “You’ve already accomplished it.”
“Have I?” she asked. “I’m still single and though I don’t have a kid, it’s not like I’ve got a ton to show for it. I don’t own a house and can barely live alone.” She didn’t want Heather to feel guilty over that statement and added, “I could now. Don’t get me wrong. I’m making more than I ever have before and because we share this place I’m able to put a ton of money away. I could do it if I had to.”
“I know you could do it,” Heather said. “But again, you’re beating yourself up and shouldn’t. We are about the same age and I’m in the same boat as you. I don’t own a home. Violet and Jasmine didn’t before they found their spouses or fiancés. Ivy and Dahlia live together. Owning a home doesn’t mean you’ve made it in life.”
She burst out laughing. “Oh my God. I’m not sure why I always thought that it did. Maybe because my mom and I moved so much. I’ve always had these little fantasies of owning a home and feeling like I had my dream.”
“To me a dream is if you’re happy where you are in your life,” Heather said. “Are you?”
“I’m so happy with Theo. I never thought I’d feel this way about anyone.”
“I can see it on your face,” Heather said. “I’m glad we’ve got all day together. Catch me up on the past two months. First date. How it came about. First time you had sex. I want to know it all. It’s only fair to share.”
“It is only fair,” she said, laughing. “But let’s run to the store and load up on junk food. I think today is the day for it. We can swap stories about our men. You know, like best friends do.”
“Sound like the best suggestion I’ve heard in a long time,” Heather said. “The way my week has been with all the ups and downs, I think the makings for sundaes are a must.”
“At the top of our list,” she said.
Daisy and Heather got their jackets and purses and left laughing.
Yeah, this was the happiest she’d been in a long time.
25
Inner Circle
The following Saturday Theo was up earlier than normal for a weekend.
He tried to sleep later than his daily five a.m. but it didn’t always happen. He’d even relaxed in bed until six trying to go back to sleep, but nope.
He’d gotten up and showered, then decided to catch up on work that never seemed to end for him. Since he loved his job so much and dreamed of this for years, it didn’t bother him.
“Breakfast was great,” he said to Daisy hours later. It was nine now, Daisy rolled out of bed at eight thirty. She’d told him that he’d worn her out and she felt bad sleeping so late.
He didn’t care; he was just happy to have her with him. But she’d been working so many hours trying to catch up on orders that Lily had told her to take the weekend off and not step foot in the store for anything. And since they barely saw each other this week, he was going to do his best to not work while she was here.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad you let me cook it for you. Last weekend you didn’t have everything I needed.”
She’d told him what she had planned and that she’d like bacon too, and he’d made sure the makings for her Texas French toast and fruit were here.
He liked cooking for her and found that he might do it more than she did for him.
They’d both had two massive pieces of French toast and had plans to just hang around the house today. Maybe they’d watch a movie or something? They’d play it by ear, but if she wanted to run around the house naked, he’d be game for that too.
“I can cook for you tomorrow morning,” he said, moving closer to her and kissing her.
“I’m going to let you,” she said. “And now I’m going to shower and then we can figure out our day when you’re done working.”
He frowned. “I’m done, I promise.”
“If you need to deal with something, then do it,” she said. “I understand and it’s not as if much is going on. Life can’t always be put on hold and I know how hard you’ve worked to get where you are. Your patients need you.”
“Maybe I’d like to think you need me a little too.”
