Daisys decision, p.11
Daisy's Decision, page 11
Steam wafted up out of the cup as she poured the boiling water over the bag. Daisy wished her stress and anxiety would waft off her and just dissipate into the air above her life.
Daisy took a deep breath and resolved to try to work even though she still felt this gap. She set the tea on the table. Just as she started to sit down, the doorbell rang.
She glanced up at the ceiling. “I assume this is somehow an answer to my prayer.”
Finding Ken on her front porch did not surprise her. She grinned. “Hi.” She opened the door wider and stepped back. “Come in.”
He slipped his keys into his pocket and stepped through the threshold. “Just left my brothers. We had dinner down the road.”
“Hey, do people stare at you when you guys are in public together?”
He shook his head. “People stare. They always have, so we’re used to it. Once in a while, I realize it, and it bugs me. But most the time, it just is what it is.”
She rolled her eyes at herself. “I’m sorry. That was probably rude, but I’m just very curious. I bet it’s when you’re just with one of them, too, isn’t it? Tall, handsome twins?”
He shrugged. “Usually.” He gestured at the table. “I disturbed you.”
“Actually, I was just getting set up. I hadn’t actually started anything, so no disturbing.” She led him into the kitchen so she could grab her cup of tea. “Would you like one?”
He gestured over his shoulder. “I can go. I don’t want to interrupt your Bible time.”
She waved her hand in the direction of her Bible and made a pfft sound. “I had Bible study this morning, and we finished our unit. I was going to outline a new study, but I hadn’t fully fleshed out my idea yet. So, I’m letting it marinate a little bit longer.”
She carried her tea into the living room and sat on the couch, nestling the corner against her back. “Did you get moved out?”
He nodded. “I was going to the new place, but I’ve never been there before. Since it’s already dark, I figured I’d wait until daylight.”
She raised both eyebrows. “Where are you staying?”
“At my parents’. Could have stayed in an empty apartment, but my parents’ is easier, and they already have coffee made in the morning.”
With a grin, she said, “So, here is Ken Dixon with no work to do tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that Ken Dixon before.”
He gave her a one-sided toothless grin. It looked like the left side of his mouth twitched. “Want to watch a movie or something?”
With a shrug, she grabbed the television remote and turned it on. She accessed a streaming network and clicked her way through to available movies. Once she had access to that menu, she handed him the remote. “You pick the movie. I’ll go make popcorn.”
In the kitchen, she tossed a bag of popcorn into the microwave, leaned against the counter, and then watched the bag rotate around and around through the filtered door. “I’m guessing You want me to talk to Ken,” she muttered to God. “I hear You.”
She huffed out a breath and dug through her cupboards to find a bowl big enough to accommodate the snack. As the buttery smell of popped kernels filled her kitchen, she put two glasses of ice on a tray, sliced some lemons, and pulled two bottles of sparkling water out of the cupboard. Once she poured the popcorn into the bowl, she balanced that on top of the two glasses and carried it all back into the living room.
Ken had chosen a dramatic biography of Neil Armstrong. “Oh, I’ve wanted to see that,” she said, setting the tray on the coffee table and moving the bowl off of it. “Good reviews.”
“I remember,” Ken said.
“You remember?”
Ken studied her, and his half-grin slowly transformed into a full grin. “You mentioned it once.”
He took the offered glass from her, and she tried to remember mentioning the movie. That’s right, over dinner on their first date, she tried to describe the type of movie she liked but couldn’t narrow it down. She’d mentioned it then.
As he poured the water into his glass, she watched his profile. Honestly, he was the perfect man, especially for her. Attentive, attractive, giving. Without thinking about it, she reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. He turned and glanced at her, a pleasant expression on his face.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” she said.
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss that spread through her chest and all the way down to her toes. “Me, too,” he admitted with a smile.
An hour later, Daisy sat next to Ken on the couch, curled up against his side. She had her legs crossed and the popcorn bowl nestled in between them. She tried very hard to pay attention to the movie playing but could only think about the baby in her womb and how Ken had gradually become the most important person in the world to her.
You have to tell him, Daisy. You can’t wait another minute.
Without realizing it, she shook her head and replied to the voice inside her head that only she could hear.
We’re just having a nice, quiet evening; just the two of us! Why wreck it right now?
She couldn’t keep this secret much longer. Soon, nothing would hide it. Maybe she could take a job somewhere for the next six months and…
No. You have to tell him. Daisy Ruiz, you have to tell this man the truth.
She paused the movie and then shifted her body to face him. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Everything all right?”
Suddenly she lost confidence. Actually, she really lost her nerve. She held up the empty popcorn bowl. “Do you want a refill?”
You’re pathetic. Put down that bowl and tell him. Tell him right now.
He shook his head. “No, thanks. Still full from dinner.”
Her shoulders slumped. She could not keep going on this way. “Ken, I find myself in a situation. And it’s because I made a bad decision. No, that’s not right. I made the wrong decision. And, yes, I had someone who helped that decision along, but ultimately, it was me. My choice.”
She stared at her hands and waited. Nothing came from him. Finally, she looked up. He stared at her, his face mild, his half-grin charmingly in place, his eyes calm. Why hadn’t he reacted?
“You need some kind of help?” He must have misunderstood her.
“No. Clearly, I’m not explaining myself well.” She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh while the voices in her head argued.
Say the words. Say “I’m pregnant.” Just say it.
Her eyebrows knotted. I need better words. I should rehearse exactly what I’m going to say.
Finally, she opened her eyes and said, “You know what, it’s okay. I’ll tell you about it another time.” She pressed play on the remote then settled back against him.
You are gutless. Spineless! Since when did you ever give in to fear? This is not just unfair to him. You’re being unfair to yourself!
Feelings of cowardice and failure rippled through her. She knew the second the words came out of her mouth, Ken would pack up and leave. She would never see him again, and he felt so good beside her, so much better than the couch. He felt warm. He felt strong. He smelled like Christmas morning.
You aren’t giving him a chance. If you tell him now, you might have a chance of keeping him. Keep putting it off, and it will seem like intentional deceit. Are you trying to lose him forever?
So what if she wanted just another nice evening with him? What could it hurt? The next time she saw him, she would tell him no matter what.
As Ken backed the trailer into the spot next to what would eventually become a detached garage, he pondered the conversation with Daisy last night. What kind of trouble was she in? What kind of mistake had she made? Money? Legalities with her nonprofit? Something else?
He wished she would let him help her. For the last week, he could feel something off about her attitude. She was jumpy, almost a little manic sometimes. He would do anything in his power to help; she just needed to tell him how he could. He couldn’t imagine an issue she had that he couldn’t help solve. But, until he knew the issue, he had no power.
He reviewed every second they had spent together since they first shook hands that day. Had he done or said anything that might lead her to believe she couldn’t trust him? Had he acted as if he didn’t care about her? Ken knew that he had a tendency toward stoicism. Had his reticence misled her as somehow uninterested? It didn’t feel like that when they touched or kissed. It didn’t feel like that when they just spent time together doing anything at all, from shopping for groceries to fishing or munching popcorn.
He paused his thoughts about Daisy and looked at his surroundings. Most of the lot contained pine woods, but the contractor had cleared the area around the house, and the exposed red Georgia soil could handle sod. In his mind, he removed more of the pine and made a more expansive back yard, one with a pool or perhaps a fish pond. He had three acres here, with plenty of room to expand on the house.
The house had a pseudo-Tudor style, with cream and gray bricks, arched windows, and dark brown trim. It looked like it had a solid foundation. The packet he got from the bank said the contractor had reached the stage to consider it dried-in, which meant they had completed the roof and the exterior brickwork.
He’d read the completed scope of work. He knew the plumbers and electricians had completed at least the foundation of their work. Brad’s new house was less than a mile away, so he could make do for a week or more if the need arose.
He walked up the wide front steps and surveyed the porch. Just a concrete slab right now, he could picture a decorative railing, furniture, hanging ferns, and a stained-glass wind chime. He walked around the porch, discovering that it wrapped the house completely and ended at the back where it looked like contractors had already poured the foundations for a deck. Ken liked wraparound porches. He liked porch swings, hanging ferns, and little tables with plants on them.
Back in the front of the house, he opened the front door and stepped inside. Plywood sheets lay where a floor should go. No drywall hung from the bare studs. He didn’t see bare walls, though. In his mind’s eye, he saw an entryway that led to a formal living room with a fireplace that dominated the exterior wall. Through another set of wall studs, he envisioned a large formal dining room with plenty of room for built-in cabinetry. In the area where plumbing pipes came up for kitchen appliances, he saw a room for the table over by that big picture window and the island that would divide the breakfast nook from the kitchen. He’d move this stud frame and that and create a kitchen large enough to handle a table filled with children. Around another corner, he stepped down into a den that led to that future back deck.
Imagining mahogany railing, he carefully walked up the frame of stairs to the second floor, watching where he placed his feet. He found the master suite that took up almost half the layout of the house. Down a hall, he found two bedrooms that shared a large bathroom and one more bedroom with an in-suite bath. Cautiously maneuvering back down the stairs, he looked up and saw the opening for a balcony railing.
Standing in the middle of the front room, he relaxed his mind and saw the studs, empty walls, exposed wiring, pipes, and open floor.
He went outside and stared at the detached garage, making plans for a workshop addition and an apartment over the garage. He would have to get an electrician back out here right away to run at least forty amps into that building. Yes, this would do nicely.
In his truck, he pulled out a brand-new leather-bound notebook and opened it up to the first page. Taking the pencil out of its holder, he started scribbling notes. Two hours later, he had filled the notebook with sketches and plans, reminders, and ideas. He would open bids for subcontractors tomorrow.
He mentally pictured the work he needed to do and where he needed to start so he wouldn’t box himself in. It was a big house, but not a giant house. He looked over his notes and sketches one last time. As he surveyed the details, Ken felt a sudden surge of joy.
This was not just a house. He had finally found a home. He had found a home where he could bring Daisy—and raise a family.
As he unlocked the trailer door, he heard the crunching of gravel beneath tires and turned his head to see Brad pull into the yard. He swung the trailer door open, and Brad said, “This was a find! Well done.”
Ken nodded. “I wasn’t sure what I’d find. It has good bones.”
Brad walked up to the trailer and asked, “What goes first?”
Ken gestured at the fiberglass stall. “Need to install a shower and one of the bathroom sinks. Can you help me unload, then run to the store and get me a toilet while I’m installing?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They started unloading the trailer and carrying Ken’s supplies inside his future home.
Irene shifted the large basket of baseball paraphernalia over and stepped back, examining the table filled with items for the silent auction. Tonight, she wore a maroon dress that flared at the knee and sparkly black earrings that dangled from her ears. Her outfit perfectly accented her wavy strawberry blonde hair and pale skin. She moved in her three-inch heels like she didn’t even have them on her feet.
Irene had served as the fundraising coordinator for Gálatas Seis since Daisy’s grandfather had gotten to the point of needing one. Daisy inherited her when she started running the charity.
Daisy knew invitations had gone out to hundreds of potential donors in the community to come and participate in the dinner and silent auction. Irene examined the table, tilting her head to the left and right, then said, “I think we’re ready.”
The restaurant owner, Calla Jones, had personally created a menu especially for the party. Calla had grown in popularity as one of Atlanta’s most sought after chefs in the last few years, and her contribution to the fundraiser helped attract a lot of the ticket holders. Calla had donated the time of the kitchen staff and wait staff. She billed Gálatas Seis for direct cost reimbursement of the food, and nothing else. Knowing how much money Calla could have charged them to put on an event of this caliber humbled Daisy. She and Calla had talked a little bit one day last week about missions and priorities, and relationships with Christ. She knew in her heart that she had discovered a sister.
Finding out that Ken knew her brought another level of serendipity to her relationship with him. Apparently, Calla’s husband worked for Ken, and she had once worked for Dixon Contracting as well.
To set up tonight, Calla had asked Valerie Dixon to come help. Daisy hadn’t had a chance to see her since the Fourth of July party. She had spent the afternoon helping arrange tables and decorations.
“She’s an interior decorator,” Calla said as Valerie stood on a step ladder and tacked a nail into the wall to hold a string of lights. “I’ve never had a knack for visual things. I always have to rely on my friends. Valerie and my friend Sami helped design the interior of this restaurant for me.”
“Sami?” Daisy asked. “I think I met her at the Fourth of July party.”
Calla grinned and pushed her glasses up on her face. “If you’re remembering red, white, and blue hair, then, yes, you did.”
Valerie finished with the lights and climbed down the ladder. She brushed her hands on her yellow yoga pants then walked down the silent auction table. “What an incredible amount of donated items for your auction. I can’t get over some of the things people are giving away.”
“Irene does good work with the community. She always comes up with the best stuff.” Daisy walked from basket to basket. She had signed baseballs with VIP tickets and weekend getaways. One painting company had donated an exterior house painting. “This woman can convince anyone to donate something. I always get nervous asking, but she just doesn’t. Obviously, she’s doing what God designed her to do.”
Valerie crossed her arms over her chest and looked around. “I agree. I’ve been to a lot of fundraisers, and this is beautiful.”
Irene shrugged. “I truly enjoy it. It gives me great energy.”
Daisy stood in the middle of the nearly empty restaurant and looked around, appreciating the lighting and the ambiance that set the backdrop for all the auction items. She had really enjoyed working with Valerie and Calla today. Obviously close friends, they worked really well together. It made all the setup and moving things around inside the restaurant go smoothly. She looked over at her. “Thank you for your help.”
“It was my pleasure.” Then Valerie chuckled. “Plus, my husband and his brothers are busy painting my house for me. So, I have taken the easy route to do this today.”
Daisy grinned. “Oh, yes. I heard about that.”
Valerie slipped her arm into Daisy’s and said, “It’s so good to see Ken so happy.”
“You think so?” Daisy asked.
“I’ve known him nearly all my life. He seldom says anything. So quiet. But lately, all he talks about is someone named Daisy.” Valerie gave her a questioning look.
Ken’s face swam through her mind. Her heartbeat accelerated slightly. A soft smile came unbidden to her lips. “Ken is a wonderful man. He makes me happy.”
They hugged, and Valerie stepped back. “I am going to go clean up and see how the painting went today. I will see you ladies in a couple of hours.”
As Valerie walked away, Daisy noticed a slight limp, and it puzzled her. She suspected that would be an entirely different conversation one day. Daisy turned to Irene. “I think we’re ready. You did an amazing job with this one, Irene.”
