Page 96 of Daisy Chain
What would it be like holding Kade’s baby? Would it have his eyes? His stubborn jaw? My heart swells. I can’t wait for the day.
“How’s your graphic design course going? Are you managing to get work done with Remi?” Two weeks ago, Natasha enrolled in the course. She doesn’t want to rely on Kade, Lincoln and Asher forever. She wants to make it on her own. ‘No more handouts.’ She’d said. I admire her for it.
“I love it. When Remi sleeps, I get work done.” She sits on the couch next to me and folds her legs up like a pretzel. I can see the excitement on her face because she’s doing something for herself and something she loves.
When I enrol in nursing school, I hope to have that same feeling. “That’s great. If you need any help with Remi so you can study, let me know.”
“Thanks. I will.”
Remi’s smiling face turns to little whimpers as she opens her mouth and turns her face toward my chest. “I think it’s feeding time.” I giggle and pass her over to her mother.
Natasha kisses Remi’s neck before she places her against her breast. Motherhood is what I want too. Kade and I haven’t talked about a future with kids. After the upbringing he’s had, he mentioned that he didn’t want them. Has he changed his mind? If not, can I imagine a life without them?
This is something we need to talk about. The sooner the better. Maybe after he finishes work tonight.
“Are you ready to celebrate your big eighteenth birthday tomorrow?” Kade booked a restaurant close by. Everyone’s going, including Giselle and Daphne. Natasha’s even invited a few girlfriends from her old school. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. Once she’s eighteen, she won’t have to worry about Bruce demanding her to come home.
“I can’t wait. I’ve never had a party before.” Seeing the excitement on her face makes me happy.
“I’m going to the club. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
“No thanks. Daphne will be here soon.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head into the elevator and down to the lobby. I smile at the security guard at the door and step out onto the sidewalk. A strong breeze blows through, and I close my jacket against the chill. I scan the street for cars before I cross. I take two steps in the direction of my car when a black, beat-up van pulls up alongside me. Before I realize what’s happening, I’m thrown into the back. My elbows hit the metal floor and pain shoots up my arms. Tires squeal as the vehicle takes off, tossing me from side to side.
Fear lances through me. What’s happening? What are they going to do to me?
I need to find a way out.
Fast.
thirty-four
KADE
Ontheobservationdeck,I touch base with the bartender to make sure everything is running smoothly. Once I’m happy all is well, I stand by the railing looking down onto the dance floor.
I can’t be on the ob deck without thinking of the first time I touched Daisy. How responsive she was. How her body belonged to me even when I didn’t realize it. The instant connection. The deck will always make me think about her. Heck, I think about her 24/7, and I love every minute of it. If anyone had told me I’d be so in love with a woman, I would’ve laughed in their face. Now all I do is laugh with Daisy.
She is my heartbeat.
A moment later, I get a buzz in my earpiece from front door security telling me Jude Barlowe is trying to get into the club to see me.
I tell him to send him up to my office, and I wait for him. What the hell is he doing here?
Soon, he barges into the room. From the stern look on his face, this isn’t going to be a ‘let’s work things out so we can be a happy family’ kind of talk.
“Mr. Barlowe, it’s good to see you.” I stick out my hand for a handshake.
He looks at my hand like it’s a snake ready to strike. At first, I think he isn’t going to take it, but a second later, he gives it a quick shake.
His gaze travels over me. Not masking that he’s taking me in, and by the pinched expression of his face, not liking what he sees. Next, he scans the room. Not yet speaking to me, he walks over to the screens, bending slightly toward them to get a closer look. Is he here to check out what kind of business I run? He’s not going to find a holy space where people unite, hold hands in a circle and listen to clean music. If he looks at the top left screen, he’ll see a couple on the edge of the dance floor near the bar. They aren’t holding hands, but their hands are definitely doing something.
“This is all very indecent. What have you done to my daughter to convince her this is what she wants? Thatyou’rewho she wants?”
I’ve let her make up her own mind.
“I haven’t done anything. In fact, I tried pushing her away from all this. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I knew her upbringing was sheltered. Yet, she kept coming back. This is what she wanted. AndI’mwho she wants.”
