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“You think?” he asked, doubtful.
“Absolutely.”
At that moment, the door swung open, and Daisy watched a woman maneuver through it while hauling, of all things, a child’s car seat. Two other women shuffled in behind her. Daisy liked Maria’s, but even though afternoons were apparently pretty slow for lunch, it still didn’t seem like the place for a ladies’ luncheon.
Maria, though, skirted the bar with a wide smile on her face. “Oh!” she practically squealed, which surprised Daisy. Maria seemed like a ball buster really. “Let me see her!”
The ball buster went weak-kneed over the baby, and even Milo put down his sandwich to get a better look. Daisy squinted at them, confused. The mom-in-question had on yoga pants and a tank top. The other two were in tailored business suits. None of them looked like they had the chops to be a biker’s old lady.
The mother tilted her brunette head toward Maria and spoke in hushed tones. Then she glanced meaningfully at Daisy. Daisy bristled and tossed the rag on the bar. If anyone was out of place here, it was Yoga Pants and the Uppity Yuppies. Maria made over the baby a bit more then seated the group at a nearby table. Daisy, reluctantly, grabbed a tray and stocked it with glasses and a pitcher of ice water. She headed over to the foursome.
“I’m Sarah,” Yoga Pants told Daisy.
Ordinarily, Daisy would have a few choice words for someone who eyeballed her the way these women were, but her boss was standing with them, and that seemed like a good way to get fired on her first official day.
“I’m Daisy.” Daisy set the empty glasses down on the table.
“I used to work here,” Sarah said.
Daisy paused and looked up at her. “Oh,” she said, looking from Maria to the women and back. Sarah didn’t seem like the type, but then again, maybe motherhood slowed you down a little.
“Best I ever had,” Maria declared and squeezed Sarah’s shoulder.
It would have been easy to feel slighted standing next to a person whom your boss clearly liked more than you, but in the short time Daisy had known Maria, the woman had not gushed over anything or anyone. Truthfully, from anyone else’s mouth, this wouldn’t actually be considered gushing, but from Maria, it was akin to standing next to Old Faithful.
This woman must have something about her that was worthy of such praise, despite her rather unfortunate appearance. Then again, the baby was pretty small, and Daisy had to admit that she might wear yoga pants too, after pushing a cabbage patch doll out of her hooha.
Maria left to pull drafts, and Daisy filled the water glasses. “It’s pretty busy,” she told Sarah. “I mean on Friday nights, anyway.”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah. Rough crowd, too. I miss it, but I don’t, you know? I’m home with her now,” she said and tugged at the baby’s blanket. “Which is the only place I want to be for a while.”
Daisy glanced down at the sleeping infant and smiled. It was impossible not to. She was adorable. “What’s her name?”
Sarah smiled. Daisy thought if the girl grew up to look anything like her mama, she’d already be halfway to the easy life. “Hope,” Sarah told her.
Daisy smiled back. “Great name.”
Sarah nodded. “She had some complications when she was born, but we’re through it.” She tenderly stroked Hope’s cheek. Daisy didn’t know what kind of complications, but the little girl looked perfect to her, if not small. Whatever they were, they must have been a hell of a trial to inspire that look from her mother. Daisy decided then and there that it was easy to like this woman.
Sarah cleared her throat. “We’re friends of Jimmy’s.”
Or possibly I should stop making hasty judgments, Daisy thought.
It wasn’t hard to see where this was going. Three uppity women who looked like they were Cosmo Models in an article entitled ‘Babies, Husbands, Careers: Secrets to Having it ALL!’ were not about to welcome a tattooed, pierced loud mouth into their inner circle.
“Who?” Daisy asked nonchalantly as she finished filling the glasses. Let them think what they wanted about her. A quickie in a bathroom wasn’t worth all the drama. They’d see she wasn’t planning on invading their garden parties like an ugly weed, and they’d leave her alone.
Sarah cleared her throat again, this time embarrassed, and looked at her friends. “Um, the guy. The guy you… from last night.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Oh, yeah. Sir Speedy.”
The youngest one choked on her water. Daisy bit back a grin and handed her a napkin.
“Wasn’t very memorable,” Daisy explained. “What about him?”
Sarah’s face turned red, to match her friend’s. “We… we just… I haven’t been around lately,” she announced.
Daisy quirked up an eyebrow.
“I’ve been home,” Sarah clarified. “And Abby says,” she nodded to the redhead, “she’s never seen you before.”
