Pushing Up Daisies (6 page)

Deep inside, all those times Jasper hadn’t come home when he was supposed to, she’d known something was wrong. She’d always had a suspicion when Jasper conveniently had to be away most of the holidays. Daisy chided herself for not pushing to meet his family.
What kind of man is with you for seven years and doesn’t introduce you to his mother? What kind of fool was I to believe that they didn’t get along, and not even ask why?

Daisy got up, went to wash Jasper’s scent off her.

Daisy set the table while she waited for Ming Li and Gigi to arrive.

The doorbell rang. “Hope you two are hungry,” Daisy sang, opening the door.

“Daisy Parker?” asked a smiling, friendly faced man dressed in a blue suit.

“Yes?”

He handed her an envelope. “Daisy Parker, you have just been served.”

D
aisy, Ming Li, and Gigi sat around the dining room table eating silently. Daisy pushed her plate away. “What am I going to do now? I’m unemployed, and I’ve just been legally ordered to move out.”

Ming Li wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Good question. What about Jasper’s attorney? He had a lawyer, right?”

Gigi took a sip of chardonnay and dabbed her mouth. “Ming Li, I know where you’re going with this. Do you think…she can’t block the eviction, can she?”

Daisy sighed impatiently. “Can you two speak English, please? What are you talking about?”

Ming Li retrieved her flask from her purse, took a sip, and set it on the table. “If you think about it, Camille is Jasper’s wife—”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Daisy rolled her eyes, tired of being reminded.

“Listen to Ming Li, Daisy.”

“Well?”

“Hear me out before you snap. I know you’re tired of being reminded about Camille and Jasper, but technically, because she is…
was
his wife, she has legal rights that you don’t. This house, for instance. Because Jasper died, everything he owned in life she owns by his death, even his Escalade. Where is it, anyway? I thought you guys said Marcus left it here.”

“I let him take it to get cleaned up. Jasper’s blood was in it.”

“Marcus doesn’t have Jasper’s SUV. I would’ve seen it. I bet—”

“Camille! He gave it to Camille.” Daisy clenched her teeth.

“Let me finish,” Ming Li said. “Camille owns everything that was his,
unless
Jasper’s will states otherwise. Let’s not forget about Jay,” she added with a wink.

Gigi laughed. “She can’t overthrow his will, Daisy. Or his heir. Even if Camille has this house, as much money as Jasper had, you know you’re gonna be alright.”

“I hadn’t even thought of that. But…” Daisy held up her eviction notice. “Is this any good? Do I really have thirty days to vacate?”

Ming Li nodded. “Technically.”

“Call his lawyer, Daisy. Do you need me to get the phone? I gotta hear this,” Gigi said.

“Ming Li, give me a sip of whatever you have in that flask first, then I’ll go find the number. I have a feeling it’s stronger than this wine.”

“What’s in that flask, anyway? And how many sips do you take a day?” Gigi asked.

“Paradis, Hennessy cognac. And not that it’s any of your business, but I take about five or six swigs a day. It relaxes me.” Ming Li handed the gold flask to Daisy.

Daisy gulped it, twisted her face, and banged her fist on her chest. “Damn, that’s some strong stuff. What is it, again?”

“About three hundred dollars,” Gigi said, laughing.

Three calls to Jasper’s attorney but not one call back. Daisy tried to understand. After all, he was a busy and important man. But after the last unreturned call, Daisy became impatient. Gigi offered to try, and Ming Li said that she’d have her lawyer contact Jasper’s, but Daisy declined both offers. This was something she had to do for herself.

Daisy held the phone tightly and waited for the receptionist to put her through, tapping her foot. She felt confident that Jasper’s attorney, Kenneth Burgess, would tell her that everything was fine.

“Ms. Parker, this is Ronald Hayes. I’m a junior partner at the firm. How can I help you?”

Daisy sighed. “I’m calling about Jasper Stevens’s will.”
As if you don’t know.
“Was anything left to either his son or myself?”

Mr. Hayes cleared his throat. “I’m afraid all the beneficiaries have been contacted.”

Daisy’s heart pounded. “Are you sure? There has to be some sort of mistake. Maybe you sent something to a wrong address or called a wrong number. There’s no way he’d have forgotten his son. Will you please check?”

“Again, I’m sorry. There’s been no mistake.
All
beneficiaries have been contacted, and they’ve met in person for the reading and execution.”

Daisy dropped the phone.

She began pacing frantically. How could Jasper enjoy her loyalty for seven years and leave her without so much as a dime? Something had to be wrong. He loved Jay too much to leave him to fend for himself. She slapped her head. She’d been his fool. His whore. The woman he’d treated like his child.
Don’t work, Daisy. What kind of man would I look like if my woman had to work? My mother didn’t have to work. None of my coworkers’ wives have to work. You’re going to shame me. I’ll always take care of you. Forever, Daisy. Me and you, forever.

Jasper’s lies raced through Daisy’s mind. She’d done everything for him, and he’d done nothing for her. Moved her to a city where she had no relatives. Given her a home, which he would’ve had whether she’d lived there with him or not. Taken away her independence so that she’d be dependent on him. He had accepted her love and returned it with lies. And then he died and caused a part of her to die with him.

“Well, what did he leave you guys?” Gigi asked.

“Homeless. Penniless. Scared.”

As much as Daisy wanted to blame her troubles on Jasper, honesty wouldn’t permit it. Everything had happened with her permission. Jasper had never held a gun to her head and forced her to do anything. She’d willingly given him control of her life because she’d wanted him to have it—needed him to.

I’m in charge of my own life now. I can do this, handle this. I can.
She battled the doubt that eased in. “Why?” Daisy whispered hoarsely.

Resting her head against the wall, she peered across the room at the heap of Jasper’s belongings that she had piled in the corner. Her first thought had been to burn his things, but her conscience wouldn’t allow it. She needed to cremate her memories, not his clothes. She stared at the pile. Jasper’s essence was in the room. Daisy couldn’t resist the temptation; she walked to the pile and picked up one of Jasper’s silk shirts. Rubbing the slick fabric against her cheek, she felt goose bumps travel down the nape of her neck to the bottom of her spine. Closing her eyes, she gave in to the softness of the silk. Her mind drifted to memories of Jasper’s hands caressing her. She held the shirt to her nose and inhaled.

The material didn’t smell like Jasper. It smelled like Camille.

Daisy’s stomach turned. She knew the thought was ridiculous; the shirt had been piled among Jasper’s other things for so long that it couldn’t smell like anyone. It was all in her mind. The mere thought of him was making her ill one day and aroused the next. As much as she was starting to despise Jasper’s memory, she still loved him. She was suffocating, trapped between love and hate.

She stood, wringing her hands, and took slow, deliberate steps toward the pile of clothes. Pain, anger, and grief took hold of her. Even in death, Jasper was controlling her. Daisy shook her head. She wouldn’t allow him to overpower her anymore.

“Okay.” She nodded, giving herself permission to rid herself of Jasper’s things. She retrieved a box of garbage bags from the pantry, made a beeline to the living room, and tossed them across the room toward Jasper’s stuff. Then she grabbed her keys, hurried outside, and backed her Jeep onto the lawn. She opened the top and bottom hatch, then went inside to finish her business with Jasper’s ghost.

In the living room, she hesitated.
Boxes would be easier, neater. But I’m being put out like trash, so why shouldn’t you? May your spirit always be Glad.
Daisy smirked as she stuffed Jasper’s belongings into the trash bags and piled them into the back of her SUV. She ran back inside to the guest room and grabbed the jewelry box from the dresser. She removed the promise ring that Jasper had given her. She held it, studied its intricate pattern of diamonds and rubies, then stuffed it into her pocket.

Daisy trudged through the grass toward Jasper’s massive marble headstone. The wind blew her hair and the leaves rustled, but Daisy didn’t notice. The inscription on Jasper’s gravestone held her attention:
Loving and devoted husband, father, and son.
His baby wasn’t even born yet. On the way to the cemetery, she wanted to shout, curse Jasper, and spit on his grave. But now, she couldn’t take her eyes off the chiseled words. She’d known she wouldn’t be included in the inscription. But seeing it like this was cruel, an announcement of just how unimportant she was.

“ ‘Lying, conniving, deadbeat dad, and two-timing boyfriend of devoted girlfriend’ is how the stone should read,” she sobbed. “I won’t ask why, Jasper. I know now. It’s written in stone.”

She knelt down, digging her nails in the earth until she had made a small hole. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved the promise ring. “You gave me this once, remember? Promised me that one day…you said you loved me, that you’d always be true. ‘You’re the only woman in my life, Daisy. The only one for me.’ Do you remember that, Jasper? Hunh? You lied to me, gave me false hope, promised a lie. Now I’m giving it back to you. Take your promise and shove it up your rotting ass.”

Daisy looked around and saw that she was alone. She unbuckled her pants, pulled them down with her panties in one swift motion, and pissed on Jasper’s grave.

Daisy walked into the cluttered living room, stepping over boxes and avoiding bubble wrap. She’d done everything she could to avoid packing up the guest room and dealing with her demons, but she knew she had to. With every step toward the stairs, her neck stiffened and her temples throbbed. Tension spread through her back as her muscles tightened.
I can’t.
She grabbed the banister and sat on the lower step. She thought about home—her real home. She needed her mother.