the small suitcase she’d packed for the kids. “I’ll have them back by noon tomorrow.”
So much for the private conversation, she thought, ignoring her disappointment.
“Great. Are you sure about the dogs? You can leave them here. It’s no trouble.”
His gaze avoided hers. “I’ll take them. See you tomorrow.”
He ushered the kids and the dogs outside and closed the door. Daisy stood in the foyer, not sure what had just happened. Where was the warm, affectionate man who had taken her to the reunion? Or what about the guy who had shown up at therapy, so concerned about their marriage? Or the angry guy who accused her of not caring? Indifference scared her.
“I really don’t understand him,” she muttered, turning around and walking into the kitchen. They would figure it out. They had to. Her marriage was important to her and she wasn’t giving up. The knot of fear in her chest didn’t mean anything. They were going to be fine.
She walked into the pantry to get tea. When she stepped out, she nearly shrieked when she saw an upright Cassidy, standing with the help of crutches.
“What are you doing?” Daisy asked, her voice slightly strangled. “You’re not supposed to be walking.”
Cassidy grinned. “I’m not walking, I’m kind of hopping and as you can see, I have a new cast.”
Daisy looked at the bright pink cast that went from mid-thigh to the top of Cassidy’s foot. “Is it smaller?”
“A little. I’ll get a walking cast in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I’m allowed to use crutches for a few hours a day. The doctor wants me to get mobile.”
Cassidy sounded more upbeat than she had since arriving. Her color was good and she had more energy.
“We should go out,” Cassidy told her. “Somewhere casual because I can only wear shorts. Oh, wait. I could put on a dress. Please, I’m so tired of being inside. I need to get out and be with people.”
Daisy eyed her sister. “You’re not super steady on those crutches, so we’d need a wheelchair. Your electric one would never fit in my SUV. I wonder if we could rent a van with a ramp.” She glanced at her watch. It was nearly six on a Saturday night. “Maybe there’s some kind of van service I could call because I doubt I could rent one before Monday. Maybe Beverly Center has wheelchairs. I could push you around.”
Cassidy’s eyes widened. “You’d do that for me?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t think I’d push you around in a wheelchair.”
“Hardly a surprise. I’ve always been the nicer sister.”
Cassidy laughed. “You’re right. Sage and I are the mean ones. If we could get a van next week, that would be enough. I can stay in tonight. Want me to text Sage and find out what she’s doing?”
Two months ago Daisy would have been confounded and possibly revolted by the suggestion, but her life had taken a turn for the unexpected, so she found herself saying, “Sure. We can order in.”
Cassidy leaned against the counter and pulled her phone out of her shorts back pocket. She texted quickly, then looked at Daisy. “She’s answering. I can’t remember how late she has to work today.” She returned her attention to her phone.
“She just got home. She’ll get changed and come over. She suggests that Chinese place we all like.”
“I know the one,” Daisy said, returning to the large pantry, where she pulled open a drawer and dug around until she found the takeout menu.
When she returned to the kitchen, Cassidy waved her phone. “You know that stuff is all online.”
“Yes, but it’s easier for us to look at a menu rather than pass around your phone.”
“You’re so last century.”
Daisy ignored that and pointed to the family room. “Go rest until she gets here. You need to get off your hurt leg or it will get swollen.”
“You’re bossy,” Cassidy called, making her way to the sofa, where she collapsed.
Daisy checked the refrigerator and was pleased to see a couple of baskets of strawberries and blackberries. She rinsed the fruit, then collected sugar and the Vitamix.
“Esmerelda’s going to be pissed if you mess up her kitchen,” Cassidy told her. “I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Stop making trouble. Esmerelda doesn’t care if I cook.” Not that making cocktails was cooking. “Besides, she’s off this weekend.”
“So you have time to hide the evidence.”
Daisy laughed. “Exactly.”
She poured a quarter cup of sugar into the blender and added the fruit, then ran the Vitamix until everything