Trying to ignore the overwhelming smell of flowers, Daisy leaned against the counter of her cousin Camila’s flower shop. While Camila put together a dozen pink roses with baby’s breath into a glass vase, she closed her eyes and took a deep floral-scented breath. Drawing from some inner courage, she announced, “I’m pregnant.”
Camila stopped moving. She looked at Daisy with wide brown eyes, her mouth partially open, and then finally asked, “I beg your pardon?”
Daisy nodded. “Pregnant. According to the Internet, I’m due February twenty-sixth.” Suddenly, sharp tears filled her eyes. “Oh Lord, what have I done?”
Camila rushed around the counter and pulled Daisy into her arms. “Oh, Daisy, I’m so sorry. What can I do?” She patted her on the back and then asked, “Is it Jason’s?”
With a snarl, Daisy replied, “According to him, it is if I let him pay for an abortion. Otherwise, he’s already signed the necessary forms to revoke all of his parental rights.” She wiped her eyes, wishing she could simply refuse to shed any more tears about this. “It is not his. It is mine. He’s married.”
“Married?” Camila gasped. “Are you kidding?” Daisy shook her head, and her cousin said, “Oh, I have a few choice words that would describe him. But I don’t think God would approve, so I will keep them to myself.”
Despite the conversation, Daisy chuckled. “You’re the only one who knows.”
“My cousin, your secret is safe with me. I have your back. If you need anything, you let me know.”
After taking a series of deep, cleansing breaths, Daisy said, “I honestly feel a lot better now. I think I just wanted someone else to know.”
“Is this why I haven’t seen you at church?”
Guilt burned heat into her cheeks, and her stomach knotted. “I’ve been there. I’ve just been filling in with the kids. I had nursery last week and the two-year-olds the week before.”
“Mmm hmm.” Clearly, her cousin knew she had intentionally avoided the music and sermons. Camila went back to putting the bouquet together. “I have to finish this because Xavier will be here to deliver it in just a few minutes.”
“I know. It’s okay.” She leaned against the counter again and drew her finger along the edge of an index card that Camila had taped to the glass. “I’ve also been dating Ken Dixon.”
Camila stopped working again and stared at her. “Wait. The Ken Dixon?”
With heat flooding her cheeks, Daisy nodded. She knew that Camila knew about her crush on Ken from the moment it happened. Camila’s brother Xavier attended youth group with Ken and his brothers. So, Daisy and Camila would often hang out while waiting for her older brother to get out of youth group. “How did you manage to get a date with none other than the Ken Dixon?”
She shrugged. “His construction company is funding a house project next month. He just showed up at my office. Neither one of us knew who we were meeting that day. Irene had set up the meeting without names.” She met her cousin’s eyes. “I tell myself after every date that I won’t see him anymore. Then it’s so perfect to be with him. But it’s wrong. I’m not being fair to him.” She made a small noise of frustration and looked back down at her thumbnail as it played with the edge of the tape.
“Daisy, you are not going to be a size two for very much longer. You’re going to have to say something.”
With a snort, she replied, “Yeah, I know. I’ve been practicing. How about this? Ken, I really like you, but I’m pregnant by this married guy. Hope you don’t mind.”
Camila nodded. “I see you’ve been working on what to say.” She pursed her lips. “I don’t envy you.”
“Yeah.” She straightened as she heard the bell ring, announcing the opening of the door. “Me either.”
She turned her head toward the door as her cousin Xavier strolled into the building. “Daisy! Good to see you.” He looked at his sister. “So, delivery boy wrecked your van?”
Camila snarled. “Don’t text and drive.” She shook her head. “He’s the third driver I’ve had this year. If I can’t get flowers delivered, then I’m going to have to close down. And now my insurance is going to go way up. Again.”
Xavier went around the counter and put his arm over her shoulder. “I got you, Camila. I work remotely. I can code all night and deliver for you all day. We’ll get you through this.”
Daisy watched them interact and realized how much she missed having her brother around. Maybe she would call him tonight.
“Guess who Daisy’s dating.” Camila wiggled her black eyebrows at her cousin. Daisy gasped, then put her hands to her cheeks.
Xavier finished going through the orders that had automatically printed as they came into the online portal, then looked her up and down. “Ken Dixon.”
She gasped. “How in the world?” She looked from Xavier to Camila. “If I hadn’t been right here with her this entire time, I’d swear she called you.”
“No psychic powers between siblings.” He held up a piece of paper. “He just ordered you a bouquet of daisies and yellow roses.” Camila plucked the paper out of his hand, and he teased by asking, “Would you like to wait for them, or shall I deliver them?”
Before Camila could read the greeting Ken had sent, Daisy snatched the paper from her. She scanned the order and found the message block.
“I guess it’s good I said something before you saw this order, then,” Daisy said. She fanned her face with the piece of paper. “Yes, I think I will wait for them. Thank you, Xavier. You are very kind.”
She pulled out her phone and started to text Ken but decided to call him instead. She stepped far enough away from the counter that they would have a hard time hearing her. Over in the far corner of the flower shop, she examined the sunflower wreath hanging next to a sign that said, “Order your wreaths for August today.”
Ken answered before the second ring finished. “Hi.”
She smiled and turned her back on her cousins. “I don’t know if you knew this, but my cousin Camila owns a flower shop. And, so, I was just hanging out here talking about my love life, and this order comes over the printer.”
Ken chuckled and said, “Oh, yeah?”
“Thank you. I honestly didn’t need any help thinking about you, but it’ll be nice to have a visual.”
“You’ve been talking about your love life, huh?”
She should feel nervous about flirting with him over the phone, but, somehow, she didn’t. “I was. I really enjoyed watching the ducks with you yesterday.”
“Me, too.”
“Are you free tonight?” What are you doing, Daisy?
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
This flirty banter is fun, but you have to tell him. You need to tell him. It isn’t fair to grow this relationship any further without total honesty. “Can I cook you dinner tonight?”
“I couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening. What time?”
Daisy silently pounded the flat of her hand against her forehead twice. “Six?” You have to tell him!
“I’ll see you at six.”
Say something. Say anything. Why did you call him in the first place? The flowers! Right! “Thank you for the flowers, Ken.”
“Oh, you’re welcome, Daisy. Glad they bought me a home-cooked meal.” She chuckled as he said goodbye.
When she went back to the counter, she watched Camila put the finishing touches on her bouquet. “This is beautiful. Thank you.”
As Camila pushed the vase toward her, she said, “You need to tell him. Quit putting it off.”
“I know.” Nerves danced in her stomach, and she picked up the vase. Her cousin kept staring at her skeptically. “I said I know.” Daisy angrily jerked her head toward Xavier, and Camila relented.
“Fine. As soon as you get home, put water in the vase. There’s already a solution in it to keep them fresh longer.”
As Daisy walked out the door, Xavier made kissing noises and said, “Say hi to Ken from me.”
Daisy chuckled and shook her head.
In the background, the hum of the dishwasher broke the occasional silence. Daisy sat cross-legged on her couch with her back to the arm and faced Ken. She held a glass of water and rolled it between her palms, hoping the cool feel of the glass might anchor her to her current reality and keep her grounded somewhere near sea level.
She’d grilled chicken and served it with Mediterranean flavored couscous and veggies. The baklava she’d found at the store had inspired the meal and provided the perfect ending to it.
Now, Ken sat in the center of the couch with his arm across the back and his body turned toward her. “Your cousin did a nice job with the flowers.”
“I hope she refunded you your delivery fee.” She smiled and turned her head to look at the beautiful bouquet sitting on her dining room table. The yellow flowers perfectly matched the turquoise and yellow decor of that room. “And yes, she did a good job with the flowers.”
“I remember Xavier, but I don’t remember Camila.”
Her mind went to the days of youth group at that church. Camila would ride the bus home with her on Wednesdays. Xavier and Diego would walk home together from high school. Her aunt or uncle would pick up the cousins in the evening. “The nights she came over, she usually stayed in my room. They would come home from school with us on Wednesdays, so she was usually holed away before you guys got there.”
He nodded. “Makes sense.” He set his drink on a coaster on the coffee table. “I have my Wednesday family dinner tomorrow. Want to join me?”
She bit her lip and shook her head, wishing she had the freedom to join him for family dinner. “I have to go to a fundraiser tomorrow.”
“For Gálatas Seis? What kind of fundraiser?”
“A local women’s club is having a silent auction dinner. I have to go with Irene. She sets everything up. I just talk when it’s my turn.”
“Do that kind of thing a lot?”
She shrugged. “A few times a month. We have twenty people on our Board of Directors. All of them work with Irene to create fundraisers inside their spheres of influence.”
He stared at her for several seconds before he said, “Love to go with you one time.”
“Sure.” She grabbed her phone off of the table and scrolled through her calendar. “There’s one the last Tuesday of this month. It isn’t a particular group. The restaurant contacted us about hosting it. The owner is contributing the food and staff. I’m really excited about that one. It’s a Haitian restaurant.”
Ken raised both eyebrows. “Bon Manje?”
Surprised, she asked, “How did you know that?”
He shrugged. “Friend of mine is the owner. She’s an amazing chef. You should have a big turnout.”
“I hope so. The money raised at this fundraiser is going to go to furnishing the house we’re building in September.”
“I’ll be there. So will my family.” His eyes lit up in excitement. “What about Thursday?”
She shook her head. “The second Thursday of every month is a board meeting. My grandfather always brings food in.”
The time had come for her to come clean. Her heart started pounding, and her mouth went completely dry. “Ken, I need to tell you something.” Just then, her phone rang. She pressed her lips together and picked it up to see the caller ID. “Papi?” she asked as a greeting.
“Daisy, I’m at the hospital. It’s your mother.”
She stood. Panic grayed out her peripheral vision. Sweat beaded her upper lip. She needed her purse. And keys. “What happened?”
Ken stood with her and put a hand on her shoulder. Immediately, she felt steadier and calmer. Her father said, “Her blood pressure went very high. They’re admitting her and giving her medicine through an IV.”
That didn’t sound too terrible, provided the medicine did its job. “Which hospital?”
“Atlanta community. She’s in room 603.”
She hung the phone up and looked at Ken with wide eyes. He put both hands on her shoulders and squeezed and rubbed. “Tell me where to drive you.”
Thankfully, Ken drove because she didn’t think she would have the focus to remember how to operate a car, much less how to get to the hospital. Ken asked her to buckle up, then he didn’t say another word. He didn’t ask any questions or try to make small talk. Even in his silence, she felt his presence, his strength. He silently soothed the turmoil in her mind. He drove safely and with precision. Within twenty minutes, they stood in the elevator.
Ken spoke for the first time since asking her to buckle her seat belt. “Has your mom ever had issues with blood pressure before?”
Daisy shook her head. “No. Nothing that I knew about.”
He nodded. “It’s one of those things you don’t know is bad until it gets really bad.”
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his shoulder. He ran a hand up and down her back. “I don’t think I’m thinking very well right now. Thank you for driving.”
He used his finger to lift her chin, so she met his eyes. “If you ever need anything, I’m here for you. Even if it’s just giving you a ride to the hospital.”
Did I truly only reconnect with this man less than a week ago? How can I feel like he had always had a presence by my side? How can I feel like he has always stepped up to help me? Maybe because he’s never left my mind?
The elevator doors opened, and the sign on the wall told them the direction to her mother’s room number. There they found her dad helping to shift the pillow behind her mother’s head. He looked up as they came into the room. “Ola,” he greeted. He glanced at Ken and grinned with recognition. “Which one are you?”
Ken smiled and lifted his hand in a slight wave. “Ken. Good to see you, Marcus.”
“And you. It’s been a long time. Maybe eight years?” He looked down at his wife. “Better?”
“Yes.”
Daisy nervously stepped closer. “What happened, Mamá?”
Her mother replied in Spanish. “I just had such a bad headache. In the back, you know. And then I started seeing spots in front of my eyes, and I felt so nauseated. I tried to talk your dad out of taking me, but he insisted.”
“Beuna,” Daisy said. Good. Then she turned to Ken. “I’m sorry. I just realized that was all in Spanish.”
He shook his head. “¿Era que?” he asked. Was it? With a grin at Daisy’s surprised look, he included her father in the conversation and asked, “Get you a coffee or tea? Anyone?”
Marcus nodded. “Coffee, please. And, if you can, find some food? Neither of us have eaten. We’ve been here for hours.”
Ken checked his watch and said, “It’s nearly eight. I’ll see if the cafeteria is still open. If not, I’ll work something out.”
Daisy walked to the door with him. He put a hand on her cheek, and she raised her lips for a kiss just as naturally as if she’d done it a thousand times before. “Thank you. You’re my hero.”
With a wink, he left. When she turned back to the room, both of her parents watched her with interest.
“Something to tell us?” her mom asked.
Blushing, she said, “You knew I was seeing him.”
“No. I knew you went to a party at his house on the Fourth. I did not know you were kissing him in front of your father.”
The laugh choked out of her. “I’m sorry, Papi.”
He waved a hand in her direction. “I think you’re old enough.” He rubbed her mom’s shoulder. “The doctor said it was good that I brought her when I did. She had a very dangerous blood pressure, and it wasn’t coming down, so they admitted her.”
“I’m so sorry, Mamá.” She grabbed one of the chairs and brought it closer to the bed. “Is your head better now?”
“I don’t know. They gave me something.” She put a shaking hand on the top of her head. “I have medicine head, and I think the headache is still there, just masked by the painkillers.”
“Well, tell me what I can do for you. Do you want me to call Diego?”
“Your father called.” She held out her hand, and Daisy took it. “It’s not anything you need to worry about. They said they’ll do the IV drugs, and once it comes down, they’ll get me a prescription that will keep it down.”
“And we need to change our diet,” her dad said. He pulled a pamphlet out of his shirt pocket. “I have a list.”
Daisy took it and glanced through it. “This isn’t too bad. No pork. We don’t eat a lot of pork, anyway. You like papaya and guava, so that will be a treat.”
“I’m considering a radical diet change until everything is fully under control.”
She handed him back the pamphlet. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing but plant-based foods until we get everything regulated.”
Daisy smiled, thinking of her parents’ preference for beans and rice over meat and cheese. “With your diet, that would hardly be a change.”
“But some change. Here and there.” He rubbed her shoulder. “It will be okay.”
Daisy could see the distress in his eyes. Clearly, her mom had given him a scare today. She stood and walked around the bed. “Papi,” she said, putting an arm over his shoulders, “You did a good job getting her here, even if she didn’t want to come. Let me know how I can help you with the new diet. I’m here for you.” He leaned into her, and she squeezed him. “Now, have you taken time to pray?”
They called her brother, and while they had him on the phone, the three of them held hands. Daisy bowed her head and said, “God, we love you. And we know Mamá loves you. Please guide the doctors, give them wisdom and understanding, and help Mamá and Papi process everything to understand what’s happening. Bring Mamá’s blood pressure down to a perfect level and let her healing be a testimony to everyone who has anything to do with her for Your healing power. Give them both the strength to make lifestyle choices that will help her. We love You. Amen.”
After each member of the family prayed, they let go of hands, and she took a step back, using her shirt sleeve to wipe at the tears in her eyes. When she looked up, she spotted Ken in the doorway. He held up some aluminum containers. “I just ran over to Bon Manje. Hope that’s okay.”
Daisy asked, “How did you get back so fast?”
Ken shrugged. “My friend Calla met me at the door with some beans and rice and a plantain dish.”
“That’s perfect,” her dad said, taking the containers from him. “What do I owe you?”
“As many times as you fed me when I was a kid? Not a thing, Marcus.” He looked at Daisy. She felt overwhelmed with emotion for him that she didn’t quite know how to label. “You good for a ride? Want me to stay?”
Before she could answer, her dad squeezed the back of her neck. “Can you take Daisy home?” Daisy tensed. Her father met her gaze. “I’ll call you if we need you.”
With a frown, she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Let Ken take you home. We’re in good hands here.” He held up the square aluminum dish. “And now, thanks to Ken, we won’t starve.”
Back in the elevator, Ken pulled her close. He kissed the side of her temple and said, “I love that your family prays together. That was a beautiful thing to see.”
It didn’t require a response. She slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed him close.