Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“You didn’t tell me what was going on,” Tabitha said. That stung. Knowing there was stuff going on in Fort Wills and she was not privy to any of the comings and goings. “I get it, and even though to a point I didn’t get it, Anthony is not exactly the kind of guy to make me forget it, you know.” She chuckled, but it was a forced sound. “He’s ... hurting. I get it. You’re not here and it is killing him that you are not with him. It makes him quite dangerous. I’m sure you already know that.”
She tried to smile, rubbing her hands down her thighs and then looking over to where Daisy’s hand lay with her wedding band on.
“I guess a lot has been going on over here that you didn’t tell me about.” Tabitha reached out and touched her hand, stroking her finger across the ring. “I guess there is now a lot you can’t tell me about. You’re married. We’re both married.” Tabitha sighed. “I miss you, Daisy. I miss how it was between all of us. I think it is why I don’t always come around. I know it can be hard because I’m no longer a Skull. There is only so much we can do together, and it is hard. I wish it wasn’t this way.”
She stopped and pressed her lips together. “Nathan is growing up so fast. I told Anthony you were the first person to hold him. That I was ... that I turned away from the nurse and you actually took him in your arms and loved him instantly, whereas I ... you are a good person, Daisy. You always have been.”
Tabitha looked toward her friend. Even as she lay in the hospital bed hooked up to tubes and the beeping of the machines, she saw that little girl. They had once been tiny children with the whole world ahead of them.
“You’re so pretty,” Daisy said.
“And so are you.”
They had hugged each other. Daisy had later told her she wasn’t pretty. Her parents had often said she was an ugly baby, and that was how Daisy had come to see herself.
Tabitha looked up to see Lacey step into the hospital room. This woman’s hair changed colors so quickly it was hard to keep up. Right now, it was a dark brown and rich purple, each color streaked together.
“Hey,” Tabitha said.
Lacey looked toward her. “Hey. Rachel said you were here.”
“Do you want me to go?” Tabitha wasn’t used to people wanting her to leave, but a lot had changed in recent years.
“No, no, stay. I know it would be good for Daisy to hear your voice. I know she misses you.” Lacey came toward her, putting a hand on her shoulder, before adding another bouquet of flowers to the shelf.
“Ink and Darcy asked me to bring these for Daisy. They want to come, but I know it’s hard for them.”
The whole club had come to the hospital, Tabitha had seen them.
“They’re not coming to visit her?” Tabitha asked.
Lacey sighed. “Yes and no. They ... Daisy means a lot to everyone, and right now, seeing her like this is too hard for them. I know it sounds selfish of them, but right now Lash needs everyone to stand down. He’s got a lot to deal with.”
And Tabitha understood it. Daisy was one of them. She was loved by the whole club, and she had been hurt. To see her hooked up to the machines and not waking up would anger the club. They would want to go to war with the remaining Monsters on the run.
“I get it,” Tabitha said.
“Yes, I get it. You get it. Anthony gets it. Everyone gets it, but Daisy doesn’t. Even to this day, she doesn’t believe she has a place within the Skulls.” Lacey went through some of the flowers, and Tabitha watched as she watered them.
“Daisy’s biological parents fucked her up,” Tabitha said.
She looked toward Lacey, who simply nodded.
“Yes, I know when she moved out, she was doing it so as not to be a burden, and so we could adopt more children.”
“Daisy moved out?” Tabitha asked.
“Yes, quite some time ago, actually. She and Anthony have been living together, not that they have announced it. They never seem to feel the need. No big deal.” Lacey sighed. “They didn’t even need help decorating the place or moving in. It just happened and because they didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, neither did we.”
“I had no idea.”
“They have their reasons.”
“I just thought it would be something she would have told me,” Tabitha said. “It is a big deal.”
“Why? With everything you’ve got going on in Piston County. Daisy didn’t want to worry you.”
She was a horrible friend. She slumped back in her chair. “There is so much going on in her life, and I didn’t ... it’s my fault. Before I left, I told her she got her perfect little life and I ... my life didn’t go the way I wanted.” That was coming back to haunt her now.