He paused. “Jordan always wants to be the center of attention and the most important person in the room. You make more money than him, you deal with the kids, you manage the house. What does he bring to the table?”
His words upset her. “Dad, I love Jordan. I need him and the kids need him.”
“He should know that but does he?”
“I’ve told him. He complains I don’t pay enough attention to him. I keep feeling like he wants me to say something or do something, but he won’t tell me what it is.”
“Do you want me to come early? I can clear my calendar and be there tomorrow.”
She knew he would do that for her—cancel appointments with his patients and fly back to the mainland, if she needed him.
“Thanks for offering, but I’m okay.” She wiped her face again. “It was just the shock of it. He looked me in the eye and promised not to text anything important. It’s been less than a week and he went back on his word. I don’t know what to think.”
Worse, she wasn’t sure what his actions meant. Had he freaked out or was he letting her know that she didn’t matter anymore?
“I’m worried about you, baby girl.”
“Don’t be.” She tried to inject certainty into her voice. “I’ll be all right. I just needed to hear your voice.”
“I love you, Daisy.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
“Call me tomorrow and let me know you’re all right. I can be there in a few hours.”
“Thanks. I’ll get through it. Hopefully Jordan and I can work this out.” Her first lie of the day, but at least it was for a good cause, she told herself.
Daisy set down her phone, put her head on her arms and gave in to tears. She cried out all her worry and confusion and fear, knowing it wouldn’t help but might make her feel better.
“What’s wrong?”
Cassidy stood in the doorway to her study. Her sister looked concerned as she swayed on her crutches.
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
The automatic response had Cassidy rolling her eyes. “Seriously. What is it?”
Daisy knew there was no keeping what had happened a secret. She would have to tell the kids and they would tell Cassidy, so why not just get it out there?
“Jordan’s rented a house.” She sniffed and waved her phone. “He told me via text, after promising not to give me any big news that way. We were supposed to be talking about stuff like that.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I don’t think he wants to come back.”
Cassidy’s mouth twisted, then she pulled her phone out of her shorts pocket and began texting.
Resentment tasted bitter on Daisy’s tongue. “Telling the world?”
Cassidy looked at her. “Asking Sage to come over so we can talk about this together.”
Daisy was surprised to realize she would appreciate the support. “Oh. Thank you.”
“You need to stop thinking the worst about me.”
“You first.”
Cassidy surprised her by smiling. “I think I can do that.”
* * *
“I need a beach cover-up,” Joanne said impatiently, flipping through the contents of Sage’s closet. “Something cute. We’re going to Mexico. His friends have a very nice house on the beach and I have to fit in.”
She pulled out a Prada sundress Sage had earned giving English lessons, frowned at it, then let it fall to the floor.
“Why are all your clothes so ugly? You’re not helping.” Her mother spun to face her. “Why can’t you be happy for me?”
Sage put her hands on her hips. “Stop,” she commanded. “Just stop. I haven’t said anything, so don’t accuse me of being unsupportive. You barge in here and throw my clothes around, to borrow something without asking, so hey. I’m the only one who gets to have attitude. I’m glad you’re happy with the new guy but that doesn’t give you license to be a bitch.”
They glared at each other. Sage figured there was a fifty-fifty chance that her mother would brush off her comments with a laugh or that they were about to seriously get into it. At this point, Sage wasn’t sure she cared which.
Joanne blinked first, bending over to pick up the dress and hang it back in the closet.
“I’m just excited,” her mother admitted. “I want things to go well with Peter.”
“Me, too.” For more reasons than her mother thought.
Sage crossed to her dresser and pulled out two cover-ups that were cute but large enough to fit her mom.
“Try these,” she said. “They’re flattering and they pack like a dream.”