Chapter 1
Daisy looked at her older brother. He seemed taller and had wider shoulders than she remembered. The years had been kind to him, well, except for that hair. What was he thinking with that? She vaguely remembered him growing it out when she was in high school. His bangs were always getting in his eyes.
For just a moment, relief crossed his expression, and she thought he was going to hug her. He took a step forward, but he stopped abruptly. His features hardened, his spine snapped straight, and anger radiated off him in waves. Yeah, that tsunami was heading straight at her. Some things never change. She felt her posture mimicking his as she squared her shoulders once again.
Sam, Daisy remembered her name from Leslie, placed a hand on his back, and he seemed to lean back into it, seeking comfort. It didn't stop the glare he shot her way, nor the judgment aimed at her...like always.
Dylan seemed almost at a loss for words as he opened his mouth, shut it, and then opened it again. "Where the hell..." he started to say, but Sam interrupted him when her second hand found his wrist and wrapped around it.
"Not now, Dylan." Sam took a step in front of him, tilting her head at the children.
"Mom?" A small voice grabbed her attention, and she turned to look down at her daughter. Hannah had backed up to her mother and stood between them. Daisy placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders and glared right back at her older brother.
"It's okay, baby." She held her head up high, just daring Dylan to actually say something about her kid. Dylan's gaze dropped down to the little girl, and she saw his features soften.
"Uncle Dylan?" Surprise registered on his face at this little girl, knowing his name. "Your hair looks different than your picture."
"Yeah, you don't like it?" he asked her. Hannah gave a non-committal shrug of her shoulders. "You must have an old picture," he mumbled.
Hey," Sam interrupted. "Hannah, why don't you and Drew go with Dylan to the little park while I talk with your mom and her friend?" Hannah looked unsure, while Drew was already practically jumping up and down with anticipation. She looked at her mom, and Daisy's shoulders drooped. She felt cornered.
"It's okay, Hannah. Go ahead. I'll be there shortly." She gave Sam a look that screamed she didn't enjoy being put on the spot. Dylan seemed at a loss as he ushered the two children down the block aways. She geared herself for the tongue lashing she was sure to receive and was shocked when Sam leveled a look at Leslie instead.
"You knew who he was at the hospital," she accused.
"I did, not at first, but I figured it out."
"She's your roommate you mentioned. I am an idiot. Leslie, we have been having lunch once a week for months, and I told you about how much Dylan was worried about his sister." She turned her attention to Daisy, "Did she tell you that?" she asked as she pointed to Leslie, who seemed intent on studying a pebble that was on the sidewalk.
Daisy scoffed. She wasn't sure anyone was worried about her. "I email him."
"Oh my word, Daisy, he almost filed a police report for a missing person."
"Why would he do that?" she asked, aghast.
"Because I told him the emails might not be from you, and they could be faked."
"Why would you tell him that?"
"Because," Sam stopped and took a deep breath, "Listen." Sam shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. "I'm not judging you or anything. Lord knows I don't have the right, but you need to know how worried your brother and father have been about you." Daisy seriously doubted that. "I'm not saying Dylan isn't furious with you, but underneath all that, he's been beside himself with worry. You need to know that when he lashes out at you."
"Why do you care?" Daisy found herself asking.
"I love your brother with all my being, and he's hurting over you." Daisy bit her lip and looked down the street.
"I have to go get Hannah," she replied absently. "Leslie, are you ready to go?"
"I'll get an Uber. Go ahead." Daisy nodded and walked away. Leslie and Sam watched her walk down the sidewalk; her shoulders hunched up to her ears.
Leslie spoke as soon as Daisy was out of earshot, "I'm sorry, Sam, I wanted to tell you, but Daisy is my best friend."
"She's the one, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"She's the one you knew that was sexually assaulted?" Leslie looked like a deer caught in the headlights, and Sam knew she was right.
"You can NOT tell anyone. She would never forgive me."
"But Dylan..."
"NO!" she vehemently begged.
"You once told me to tell someone."
"I know that, but it's Daisy's place to tell, not mine, not yours."
"You know what he would do? You saw the way he reacted when I was in the hospital."
"I have tried to get her to tell someone. She won't do it. She thinks it was her fault and that her family would judge her like she always said they had."
"You are asking me to keep a huge secret from my fiance'."
Leslie deflated, "I know. I am sorry. I will try again to get her to tell him, but honestly, I have tried for years, even more so, since I met him."
"Okay, I hope this doesn't backfire on everyone."
"Me too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dylan looked up from the bench, where he sat, watching the kids playing on the swings. He was embarrassed that he didn't even know his niece's name; of course, he didn't realize he had a niece either. His sister walked into his line of vision, and she saw his jaw clench, and her anger about overrode her good sense. "Hannah, Let's GO!" she barked.
"Aw, Mom," Hannah whined as she stomped towards her mother. Drew followed in her wake.
"Don't." She shot a glare at her daughter, " We are leaving now." Was he really not going to talk to her at all. She wasn't even sure why that upset her. All her life, she wanted him to leave her alone. Now, she knew if he hugged her, she would lose it. She was already on the verge of tears.
"She's beautiful," Dylan breathed out. Daisy's anger deflated a bit.
"Yes, she is."
"She looks like Mom," he said softly, "And you." Daisy swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat, and dang it, she swiped at a tear. She was eleven when their mother died and was having trouble remembering her. The picture that she kept of her in her room was wrinkled from holding it so much.
"She does," Daisy said softly. She was so glad Hannah didn't look like her father. She really didn't need that reminder every day.
"Is her father..." Dylan's voice trailed off, and Daisy stiffened.
"Not around. NOW, Hannah!" she practically yelled. This conversation needed to end. Stat.
"Is she why you left? I can do the math."
"None of your business, Dylan." Dylan threw up his hands and stood in exasperation.
"Fine. Drew, let's go. Your mom is hungry." He looked at his sister, worried his bottom lip with his teeth, and his posture loosened a bit. "You look good, Daisy. I am glad you are doing alright. And whether you believe this or not, I do love you." He grabbed Drew's hand. "Think about calling Dad. He's been worried and stressed over you long enough," he threw that last parting shot before turning and walking out of the park, leaving Daisy staring after him. She wiped a tear that slid down her cheek with the back of her hand.
"You okay, Mama?"
"Yeah, let's go home."
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