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“Enough excuses, Daphne.” His lips curl with disgust. “The choice is yours. A family again or not. But one thing you will never be is with another man. You are with me or no one.” He looks out over the water again. “Understand?” His hand is on my back, a slight pressure forward, and my breath catches.
It’s as if a fist has clamped its fingers so tightly around my heart that every breath brings crippling pain. His dead eyes tell me everything I need to know. What I say next will determine whether I live or die.
– 42 –
DAISY ANN
Daisy Ann dove into the pool, the initial shock of cold salt water quickly dissipating as she rose to the surface and swam a few laps before the kids finished their snow cones and barreled back in, splashing and hooting. She swam to the deep end and leaned against the side, spreading her arms along the coping and kicking her feet out in front of her. They spent every Sunday at Birdie and Chandler’s, all thirteen of them, soon to be fourteen since Rose and Royce were expecting their fifth child in December. Daisy Ann made a face as she imagined what “R” names Rose might be dreaming up to go with the other four kids—Ryder, Rayne, Royall, and Rebel. She thought about suggesting Ridley, short for Ridiculous. Submerging once more to cool off, she swam to the steps and climbed out of the water. Birdie walked over to her, handing her a towel.
“How are you doing?” Birdie asked as they sat side by side on two lounges shielded by a large umbrella. Her mother-in-law, in white linen shorts and top, made sure that only her legs were in the sun. “You look tired. Like you’ve been chewed up and stepped on, as my Chandler would say.” Birdie chuckled, but Daisy Ann knew she was in no joking mood and prepared herself for what was to come.
“You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m fine. Really.”
“You’re not fine when you stop going to church on Sundays and go to work instead. You’ve been understandably shaken by whathappened at the showcase. But still, honey, you can’t let this consume you.”
Daisy Ann started to speak, but Birdie cut her off. “You have a duty to your family. I’ve always respected your decision to work outside the home, but there are limits. Adding to that your running around to Colorado and Idaho…”
“Missouri,” Daisy Ann corrected her. “You saw how she acted at the showcase. I’m not going to let her get away with it.”
“What are you intending to do?”
“For the moment there’s not much I can do but wait. But I’ll tell you one thing, there’s no way in hell she’s getting her hands on Mama’s designs. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen if it’s the last thing I do. I’d rather see the company burned to the ground than be controlled by Amber. She’s a liar and a cheat. If I had one wish, it would be for her to be punished for all she’s done.”
“I still don’t understand why you don’t just turn her in for what you found she did in Missouri. Let them deal with her.”
Daisy Ann blew out a breath. “She killed Daddy! I’m going to prove it. I don’t care if I have to travel to the ends of the earth to prove it.”
Birdie waved her hand. “Let the authorities deal with it. Your place is here. The boys need their mother.”
Daisy Ann felt like she could scream. “I’m so tired of that old refrain making women feel guilty for having a life outside of their family. I love my boys, and I’m there for them. And your son here works twelve-hour days. But I don’t see you lecturing him about his familial duties!”
Birdie raised her brows. “Maybe you think I’m old-fashioned, but you can always work. Tucker and Greyson won’t be little forever. It goes by fast, Daisy Ann. You’re missing it all.”
Daisy Ann was too furious to speak.
Birdie gave her a long look and nodded once. “Okay. I told Mason I’d try to talk some sense into you, but I see your mind is made up. I won’t bring it up again.”
“Thank you,” Daisy Ann said, and she meant it. Birdie could be forceful and authoritarian, but she knew when to gracefully back down and not hold a grudge. Things were always clean with her.
Birdie stood. “Well, honey, at least do your best to put it out of your mind for today. Try to enjoy the family.”
“That’s just what I intend to do.” Daisy Ann pulled her wet hair up into a ponytail.
“I think it will be good for you to get away for a while. No work, no hassles. Just time to be with the family and enjoy some well-deserved downtime,” Birdie said.
“Right.” Daisy Ann leaned back and closed her eyes. On Friday they were due to leave for the annual monthlong summer stay at the Briscoes’ Jackson Hole compound. It was something Daisy Ann looked forward to with mixed feelings. Wyoming was beautiful and an amazing place to explore, and the retreat itself was a cornucopia of things to do, but a month with extended family was a long time. It was also a long time to be away from the office, especially with all that was going on, but perhaps it was a good thing. Dallas was only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Jackson Hole if she needed to get back fast.
She got up from the lounge and walked to the backyard where Chandler and Royce were already at the grill, each holding a beer and Chandler poking at the spareribs with grill tongs. Mason grabbed a cold bottle of Lone Star and went over to join them. The smell of barbecued ribs and mesquite wafted over from the grill, and helpers from the kitchen were carrying serving trays and dishes of baked beans, corn on the cob, and potato salad. The last serving bowls to be set out contained grilled asparagus, a green salad, and a luscious-looking peach salsa. Daisy Ann knew that her mother-in-law’s plate would contain almost wholly the greens and salsa.
Birdie had bowed to the “no glass” rule around the pool, but that didn’t mean her table wouldn’t be set in her own refined and tasteful style, even if it was just for a picnic or outdoor barbecue. She owned several sets of Mario Luca Giusti acrylic dinnerware indifferent colors and designs. Today’s dishes were a stunning turquoise and were accompanied by light blue synthetic crystal glasses, which, if dropped, would merely crack and not shatter. A gorgeous cluster of white dahlias sat in the center of the table.
“Okay, everyone. Come and get it,” Chandler called. The kids ran to the grill, and their grandfather began piling ribs and brisket onto their plates. Just as they all sat down to dinner, Daisy Ann’s phone rang again. She looked down to see a Colorado number. “Excuse me,” she said, pushing her chair back and standing.
“Hello?” she said, taking a few steps away from the table.
“Mrs. Briscoe?” a deep male voice said.
“Yes. Who’s calling?”