Joanne walked toward the front door. Daisy followed to make sure she left. She was grateful to see Esmerelda, ready to offer backup or throw Joanne out herself.
But Cassidy’s mother left without saying anything else. Daisy carefully locked the door behind her and sucked in a breath. Her heart was racing and her hands were sweaty.
“That woman is a nightmare,” she said. “If she shows up again, don’t let her in.”
“Gladly.”
Daisy returned to the kitchen and was surprised to find Cassidy hunched over in her chair, crying as if her heart were shattered. The harsh sobs, the shaking shoulders all indicated that Cassidy was near the breaking point.
Daisy paused, not sure how to comfort her. Under normal circumstances, a hug was called for, but she doubted her sister wanted anything to do with her, which left Daisy in the awkward position of hovering and trying not to ask, “Are you all right?”
She went into the half bath in the hall and grabbed the box of tissues, then offered them to Cassidy.
Her sister pulled out several and cried into them. Daisy retreated to the other side of the island and began moving cookies to the cooling racks. After a few minutes Cassidy blew her nose and looked up at her.
“Is she gone?”
Daisy nodded, not sure if Cassidy would think that was good news or bad. Her sister’s eyes filled with more tears.
“I don’t have anyone,” Cassidy said, her voice trembling as she spoke. “She doesn’t care about me. She never has. I was just a way to stay in touch with my dad. And while he takes care of me, we all know he loves you best.” She covered her face with her hands. “It’s been all this time and she never once came to see me and today her visit was just about hurting you.”
Daisy had no idea what to do. After a few seconds, she decided to risk rejection and crossed to Cassidy’s wheelchair. She pulled a kitchen chair close and sat down, then tentatively patted Cassidy’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Daisy murmured, knowing the words were useless.
Cassidy raised her head and sniffed. Her eyes were red, her face blotchy.
“She used to say I had to choose. That I could only love her or you and that she was my mother and if I picked wrong, I would pay for it for the rest of my life.”
Daisy drew back. “What? She said that?”
Cassidy nodded. “After the divorce. When we moved into that house. She said you were the reason for the divorce and that I’d better be careful around you. That you could make my dad not love me. Sage was all I had.”
Daisy wanted to say that wasn’t true, but she had no reason not to believe Cassidy. Even more important, she knew Joanne was more than capable of being that mean and vindictive.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, wishing she had something more comforting to say. “I’d never do that. Even if I would, Dad loves you because you’re his daughter. That will never change.”
“Sometimes I believe that. It’s just I really didn’t belong anywhere.” She twisted the tissues in her hands. “She doesn’t care, and Dad was busy with his life. Sage was gone. I don’t have a lot of close friends and I’m scared to love a guy.”
Cassidy cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about what I said about Desean. I know you don’t care that he’s Black.”
“You implied I was a racist.”
Cassidy ducked her head. “I know. I’m sorry. I was wrong.” She looked at Daisy. “Thinking you’re awful makes it easier for me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “If you’re not someone terrible, then I picked wrong. If you’re not mean, then we could have been sisters and I would have had someone, somewhere, who cared about me.”
The sobs returned. She cried into her hands, the sound of her pain hitting Daisy right in the heart.
How had everything gotten so complicated? She didn’t want to think Cassidy had been suffering all this time, and she wasn’t comfortable feeling sorry for her or wanting to like her. She had no idea if Cassidy could be trusted. Only she couldn’t help wondering if even thinking that made her an awful person.
Daisy decided to take a chance. She leaned close to Cassidy and wrapped her arms around her. Cassidy hugged her back, her good arm squeezing tight.
“Look at the bright side,” Daisy said, hanging on. “You get to blame your mother. Not only is this all