Elliana had been so happy to leave the hospital that she literally did a little dance when they got out onto the sidewalk. Little did she know how stressful it had been on both Tristan and Daisy for those couple of days.
The next several days were a whirlwind as they got Elliana settled into the beach house and continued to nurse her back to health. The first couple of days were a little dicey, and they thought they might have to go back to the hospital once, but then she took a turn and started to get better rapidly.
Tristan had cut back on his work so much that Daisy was amazed. She watched him go from being such a staunch businessman to a doting father only concerned about his daughter’s health.
They spent a lot of time together like a family, and Daisy was starting to get used to the idea that something might actually happen between them. Every time, she had to snap herself back to reality when she thought about what she had done.
"Hello?” she said, answering her phone.
"Hey! How is Elliana?" Megan asked from the other end of the line.
"She's back to her normal, peppy self. We're going down to the beach in a little bit to have a picnic."
"And Tristan Spencer?"
"He's going with us. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw him working. He's totally changed since this happened to his daughter. And, get this, he told me he's actually glad the mall project fell apart because it gives him more time with Elliana."
"You got lucky on that one."
"Yeah, right? So, what's up?"
"I wanted to let you know that the investors from the conservation group have been asking about your property."
"Really? Why would they want my property?"
"Apparently they're interested in using it as their office since it abuts that property they purchased."
"Interesting."
"Wait a minute… You're not actually thinking about selling your grandparents’ place are you?"
"I mean, it wasn't something I was looking to do, but I wouldn't totally rule it out."
Megan sat quietly on the other end of the phone for a moment. "I don't understand, Daisy. You went through all of this to protect the property, and now you’re willing to let it go?"
“A lot has changed. I guess I'm more open to the possibilities that life might have to offer me. And I've been thinking…"
"About what?"
"About staying in January Cove. In fact, I talked to the lady who owns the local coffee shop this morning and she's going to be renting out the apartment above it. She's also looking for an assistant manager, so I was thinking…"
"You're moving there? Permanently?"
"I'm just thinking about it. I like it here. And when Tristan and Elliana leave to go back home, I have to start some kind of life. I feel like I need a clean slate."
"You can't leave me. What am I going to do without you?"
Daisy laughed. "You can always come with me. I'm looking for a roommate."
"Don't tempt me. You know how much I love the beach!"
"So would you like to put in your application to be my roommate then?"
"Application? Out of the two of us, I should be more concerned about your history than mine."
For the next few minutes, Daisy recounted everything that had happened in the last several days. The time that she and Tristan had walked on the beach, the things he’d said…
"So he admitted he has feelings for you?"
"Seems that way."
"Do you have feelings for him?"
"I think I do. But I can't. There's no way I'm starting a relationship on a mountain of lies."
"I'm sorry that you're in this situation, Daisy. I wish I had some advice to help you untangle this mess."
Daisy sighed. "I was never good at word problems, and this feels like one giant, unsolvable word problem."
After hanging up with Megan, Daisy walked downstairs. Elliana was out playing in the sand, enjoying the first day she’d been totally well. Tristan was standing on the deck waving at her and laughing.
"It's so good to see her out there having fun again," Daisy said as she walked up beside him.
"It is. She gave me quite a scare. Where were you?"
“Oh, I was just chatting on the phone with my best friend. Telling her about my possible future plans."
"Future plans?"
"Well, I think I might be staying in January Cove. I have a job lined up and an apartment."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I just feel like I need to take the next step in life. I can't stay in my small town forever, and I like the people here. I just want something brand new. So I'm going to be working at Jolt, the coffee shop down the street. And there's a little apartment above it that I'm going to be renting. And my best friend might actually join me as my roommate!"
Tristan smiled, but it was forced. He didn't look like he was exactly happy for her.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know. I guess I was just thinking about all of this ending and me and Elliana going home. I like it here too. In some ways, I might be a little jealous that you get to stay here."
Daisy bumped his shoulder with hers. “You realize that you're a billionaire, right? You could buy the entire town if you wanted to. What's stopping you from moving here?"
"Oh, just that billion dollar business I run. And Elliana's school and friends…"
"All minor details. I assure you, that little girl down there would be happy as a clam – pun intended – to live at the beach. And she made some great friends at the dance studio who live here full-time. She keeps telling me about some little girl named Haley."
"I'm sure you're right. It's more about my business. I just can't imagine running it from here when all of my contacts are in Atlanta and other big cities."
"Tristan, you can run a business from anywhere. That's what a cell phone and a computer are for. Maybe something else is keeping you from making such a big move."
“Like what?"
"I don't know. I guess you have to figure that out for yourself."
She knew in her mind that it was probably his hesitation about living near her and making a firm commitment. She wasn't about to say anything because who was she to judge?
Daisy was becoming all too accustomed to living as a small family with Tristan and Elliana. She was worried about how she was going to react when they were gone from her life for good. It had been such a long time since she felt like she was part of a family that she really didn't want to let that go. And she loved Elliana, almost in a motherly way. She hadn't expected that at all.
She walked downstairs after tucking her in and reading her a story. Although she was doing a lot better, she still had moments of fatigue, especially after playing out in the sun. So when she was asleep, she was dead to the world until morning. She found Tristan standing at the bottom of the stairs, a smile on his face. All of the lights were out except for a couple of candles on the small table outside on the deck.
"What's going on?"
He reached out his hand and took hers as she stepped off the last step. "Come with me."
“Okay…” she said as she followed him out the French doors onto the deck.
She looked at the table and saw two dinner plates, each with a silver lid on it like at some fancy hotel. There were also two glasses of wine and an open bottle in the middle. Soft jazz music was playing from Tristan's phone which sat on one of the glass tables next to the lounge chairs.
"I didn't get a chance to ask you before, but would you go on a date with me sometime?"
She smiled. "Yes, I would. But what would you have said if I said no?" she asked, looking around at the scene.
"I would've cried,” he said with a straight face. Daisy laughed.
"How did you do all of this?"
"That whole billionaire thing. I called up a local restaurant and had them whip up a little date night feast for us. There's an amazing cheesecake in the refrigerator right now."
"This is unbelievable. No one has ever done anything like this for me before."
"Well, I knew we wouldn't get to go out to a restaurant anytime soon, so I brought the restaurant to us."
"And the music?"
"A little after dinner dancing."
He walked over and pulled out her chair. Daisy sat down, her hands shaking in her lap.
Tristan sat down across from her, a satisfied smile on his face. "I hope you like Chicken Cordon Bleu?"
“If I had any idea what that was, I could answer your question. But I like chicken, so I feel safe saying I like whatever that was you just said."
Tristan chuckled. "It's French. And it's good."
"I trust you."
"That's good because I trust you too, Daisy. More than anyone I've ever known."
Sadly, she wanted to get up and run from the table. Never had she felt so guilty in her entire life. She hadn't expected to fall for this guy. She had expected to hate him and have no problem derailing his business plans for her town. Now, here she sat, head over heels for this guy and moving away from the town she had wanted to save.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
"No. Not at all."
He uncovered their plates, and Daisy hadn't seen food that fancy in her entire life. But it looked like the most succulent thing she'd ever seen. They ate and laughed and told stories from their childhoods.
She was surprised to learn that Tristan really hadn't come from money. His family had struggled, but he had done well in school and gotten scholarships which ultimately led him to making contacts to build his business. He had worked so hard for so long, and she had so much respect for him.
She talked about her grandparents and how much she loved them and losing her own mother at such a young age. She almost mentioned Thornhill a couple of times and had to stop herself. The worst part was she couldn't remember the fake town she’d made up so she kept skipping over saying the name.
They talked about Elliana and how great she was and his hopes and dreams for her future.
It was the easiest, most relaxed date she’d ever had. And he was a freaking billionaire. But he was the most down-to-earth person she’d ever sat across the table from. How had she so misjudged him at the beginning?
"Ready for dessert?" he asked.
Daisy leaned back and breathed in deep.
"Not yet. I don't think I have anywhere to put it."
Tristan stood up and reached out his hand. "Dance with me."
“Okay, but I think I should warn you that I'm not the world’s best dancer.”
"That makes two of us." She stood up and they walked a few feet away from the table. She slid her arms around his neck as he pulled her close, his hands firmly around her waist. She couldn't help but stare up into his crystal clear blue eyes and wonder how someone hadn’t snatched him up yet.
"Thank you for such a wonderful evening."
"You deserve the world, Daisy. I hope you know that."
"Tristan, I…"
She didn't know what she was about to say. She wanted to say so many things, like how he didn't know her at all or how she had feelings for him but had lied to him. She wanted to confess everything, but she was too much of a chicken to do it.
"Don't say anything. I know all of this is really up in the air. I know you're unsure of what to do or how this would ever work. But for tonight, can we just be two people on a first date that is going very, very well?"
Daisy smiled up at him. “Okay. We can absolutely do that."
They swayed to the music for what seemed like hours, but was really only a few minutes. She found herself getting closer and closer to him. Her arms slipped off of his neck and instead went around his waist, her cheek pressed to his chest. She could feel his heartbeat, going almost as fast as hers.
And then it happened. He wasn't asleep this time when he took one hand and slid it up the side of her neck, cradling the back of her head. She looked up at him, and in a moment, his lips were pressed hers. They were warm and inviting, and she could've gotten lost in them forever.
They stood there, kissing over and over like they couldn't stop. Like both of them were dehydrated from months in the desert and just found a well of unlimited water. She never wanted this moment to end. She never wanted him to leave January Cove or even her side. She was in too deep and getting deeper by the minute.
When they finally came up for air, they stood there, foreheads pressed together. "I have something to tell you," Daisy said.
"Okay. Please tell me it's not bad news or that will totally ruin the moment," he said, letting out a breathless laugh.
"That wasn't our first kiss."
"What?" he said, pulling back and looking at her.
“The kiss you had the dream about… It was real. You kissed me in your sleep."
Tristan's mouth dropped open. "Really? Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I didn't want to make a big thing out of it because I didn't know if it meant anything."
"It meant everything, Daisy. I can't believe you lied to me," he said poking her in the side.
"Sorry."
"Okay, I forgive you… As long as that's the only lie you tell me," he said as he pulled her in and hugged her.
Yes, Tristan. That's the only lie. Ugh.
After their date, things just got more and more intense. Tristan and Daisy started spending a lot more time together, holding hands, watching movies at night after Elliana went to bed. She could feel herself getting closer and closer to him, yet she knew it was wrong. He was leaving soon. They only had a couple of weeks of summer left. She needed to break this off, but she just couldn't. She loved him, although neither one of them had said it yet.
"Where are you going ?" he asked as he walked up behind her in the kitchen and slid his arms around her waist.
"Well, if I don't go to the grocery store, we're all going to go hungry," Daisy said, enjoying the feel of his lips nestling her neck.
"I can go with you."
"No. Remember you promised Elliana that you’d fly a kite with her, and she's already out there waiting."
She pointed at Elliana who was sitting on the deck, kite in her lap, staring at her father through the window.
"She's giving me the evil eye, so I guess I better go. But I'll miss you while you're gone," he said, sneaking a kiss on her cheek. So far, they had tried to keep their relationship a secret from Elliana, but she had caught them a couple of times twirling around in the kitchen or holding hands. She wasn't stupid, so Daisy was pretty sure she knew what was going on.
"I'll be home soon," she caught herself saying. Home. As if they were a real couple with a real home. She knew all of this was about to end, and it couldn't go any further. Somehow, after he left, she'd have to cut off communication and try to get her self respect back after doing such a stupid thing.
In the end, she had ruined the opportunity to be with a man she loved because of her own deceit. And then she’d been so cowardly as to not even tell the truth. But for some reason, that felt like protecting him. Like if she never told him, he would only have good memories of her until she cut off communication and disappeared from his life.
And hurt Elliana. She knew it would hurt Elliana. And she had no idea how to avoid that.
Tristan went outside with his daughter and taught her how to fly a kite. They had a wonderful time running up and down their little stretch of beach, pulling the butterfly shaped kite high above them. The ocean winds were whipping up fiercely, so eventually they had to stop before one of them ended up going airborne.
They sat down on the beach together and stared out over the water.
"Have you had a good summer?"
"Yeah! Except for the hospital."
"Yes, that wasn't exactly a fun time for any of us,” Tristan said.
"Do you love Daisy?"
Her question startled him. What was he supposed to say? He sat for a moment, quietly reflecting.
"I like her a lot," he said. He did love her, but he wasn't going to tell his daughter that before he told Daisy. He was waiting for just the perfect moment to say it.
“Are you going to marry her?"
"I don't know, sweetie. That's a long way off."
"I hope you do. I love her."
Hearing his daughter say that about Daisy made his heart swell. She felt like the perfect fit for their family, like a puzzle piece he'd never realized was missing. In truth, the future he saw always had Daisy in it. He wanted her to be his wife one day, but he also knew that he couldn’t rush things for his own heart and Elliana's.
"She loves you too."
"But why did she delete your text?" Elliana asked.
Tristan froze in place.
"What are you talking about, honey?"
"In the hospital. When that man sent you a text. I heard her tell her friend that you got a text and she was going to delete it. Something about going to the mall?"
Tristan's heart started racing. He could feel the emotions welling up inside of him. Confusion. Anger. Betrayal. Surely, Eliana had just imagined that. Daisy would never do such a thing. What reason would she have?
"You must be mistaken, Elliana. Daisy would never do that."
"I was awake. I heard her talking on the phone and saying that she needed to delete your text. And then she said something about going to the mall."
He knew his daughter wasn't lying. There was no way she could've known about that missing text.
"Elliana, sit here for a minute. I need to make a quick phone call."
He walked up to the deck and pulled out his phone, dialing a long time friend back in Atlanta. "Hey Bill? I need you to do me a favor."
Bill had been a private investigator for over thirty years, so Tristan knew he would get to the bottom of this. The only problem was, he wasn't sure he wanted to know the real truth.
When Daisy got home from the grocery store, she felt a difference in Tristan's attitude. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was like he was angry with her.
Elliana was nowhere to be seen. "Where’s El?”
Tristan didn't turn around. He stood on the deck, staring out at the ocean. "I called her new little friend, Haley’s, mom. They came and took her with them to get ice cream and ride some rides at the fair."
"Oh. That means we have a little time alone. Maybe we can take a walk on the beach or…"
"You're not a nanny."
"What?"
"I said you're not a nanny," Tristan turned around, an angry look in his eyes. He stared at her with such an intensity that it made her uncomfortable.
"I don't know what you…"
"Why did you do this? Are you some kind of con artist?"
"What?"
"I know that you aren’t the nanny I hired. Is your angle to get money or what?" His voice was hateful and cutting. She couldn't believe this was the same man she had left before she went grocery shopping.
"No, of course not. I’ve never asked you for money…"
"Then why? Why did you show up here and pretend to be the nanny?”
She realized he knew everything. He probably knew more than everything. Her heart sank, and she felt like throwing up. The one thing she had hoped would never happen was happening right now, and she had no idea what to say or do.
"Tristan, I wasn't pretending about how I feel about you or Elliana…"
"I could have you arrested, you know. For impersonating someone and damaging my business.”
She stood there, hanging her head, trying to figure out the right words to say. But there were no right words for what she had done.
"Please let me explain."
"I fell in love with you. I was going to tell you in some big romantic gesture, but I don't even know who you are."
“I fell in love with you too. I didn't expect to love you and Elliana so much. I was just trying to right a wrong, and I realized too late what I was doing…"
“You conned me. I trusted you. Elliana trusted you. She loves you. She told me so today. She wanted you to marry me so we could be a family. And the whole time you were lying to us! She’s going to be heartbroken!”
He turned back around, gripping the deck with his hands as he stared out over the ocean.
"I'm from Thornhill. I was a part of that environmental group. I came here to confront you about your involvement, and when you answered the door and thought I was the nanny, I went with it. I thought I could change your mind or derail your deal."
He laughed under his breath and then turned around. "Well you certainly derailed it, didn't you? If I thought I could get any money out of you, I'd sue you until you were living under a bridge."
His words hurt. He hated her, and he was not afraid to show it.
"I'm so sorry. I never intended to hurt you or Elliana. I just didn't know how to get out of this mess. I was so scared I’d lose what we were building…“
"But you deleted the text at the hospital. You could've just not done that. You could have just left it alone, but you deleted it. That was only a couple of weeks ago."
"I know. It was a split second decision. I thought I wanted to save my town from a giant shopping mall. In the end, I realized that you and Elliana are my home."
"Get out. Get your things and get out before my daughter gets back."
"I can't say goodbye? Don't you think that's going to upset her?"
"Don't worry about my daughter," he said stepping forward and pointing his finger. "I will take care of her like I always have. I should've known I couldn’t trust you. I've never been able to trust any woman. Now, get your things and get out."
Without another word, Daisy walked inside and up the stairs to pack her things. She had never expected it to end like this, but she knew she deserved it. Her short lived romance with Tristan Spencer would only be a memory, something she would tell her grandchildren one day if she wasn't too embarrassed to tell the story.