45. Daisy

FORTY-FIVE

DAISY

The house was already dark when I walked in after grabbing groceries and picking Bailey up. She had asked to see my dad, so I broke down and let him watch her for a few hours.

I held her hand harder, trying to keep her next to me as I fumbled my way into the house.

A crash came from the kitchen, the shattering glass echoing throughout the quiet house.

I dropped the groceries and grabbed Bailey, running back outside and racing to the car. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone, trying hard to focus as Bailey cried.

"It's okay, honey, we're okay," I said, as the call connected.

"What do you mean, we're okay? What's wrong?" Kye asked.

"You're not at my house, right?"

"No, I'm at mine. Why?"

"Because I think someone is inside mine."

"Are you two inside?"

"No, I ran back to the car."

"Okay, lock the doors. Did you already call the police?"

"No, I figured you could get here faster than them." I already heard keys jingling and doors slamming.

"That's not a lie. I'm already in the car. Did they hear you come in?"

"I'm not sure. Bailey was talking, and I did drop our stuff. I think I still see a light moving around."

"Okay, just don't leave the car. Lock the doors." I hit the button and waited. Bailey was still crying hard in the back seat.

"Hand her the phone," he said, and I did. In seconds, she was sucking in hard breaths, the crying calming down.

"Can I talk to him?" I asked, hitting the speakerphone when she held the phone out. "Are you almost here?"

"You should hear me any second now. Just don't get out."

He pulled up, jumping out and looking at the car with a calm smile and wave before stalking inside.

"Kye!" Bailey yelled.

"Yeah, he's checking on the house for us, and then you can see him."

Another five minutes later, he was back out, waving that I could get out of the car.

Bailey was already out, nearly giggling as she ran to him.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I went to walk in and heard glass shatter, so I turned and ran right back out. Was someone inside?"

"Yeah, I think so, but I'm not sure what they were doing. There's a vase of flowers on the ground in the kitchen, but I don't see anything else wrong. Did you call your dad?"

I chewed at my lip and looked at Bailey, who was sitting happily in his arms.

"Yeah, he should be here any second now," I said, chewing on my lip. "Would you mind staying?"

"I wasn't going anywhere, Daze, and you're staying at the apartments tonight. I'll text the crew and see where you two can sleep."

Relief flooded me as I watched Bailey in Kye's arms, talking to him like nothing was going on, and he didn't give any indication there was. I leaned back against my car, taking a deep breath and trying not to cry because, for the first time in a long time, I didn't have to handle it all on my own.

Twenty minutes later, my dad, Mark, and two other officers were flooding the yard and house. They checked everything over before my dad came over, grabbing Bailey immediately.

He asked me a few questions, general things, before turning an angry glare on Kye.

"Where were you?"

"My apartment."

"And how did you get here before us?"

"I may not be a lot of things, but I promise I'm a better driver than all of you."

"And I called him first," I said, taking an obvious step closer.

"Why didn't you call Mark or me first?"

"I knew Kye could get here faster, and I was alone with Bailey. I'm going to make the decision to not be alone here with someone breaking into my house, regardless of who it is."

"Maybe he got here so fast because it was him," my dad said.

"It was him?" Mark asked, only hearing the last of the sentence. He came over, the anger twisting on his face like I had never seen. I didn't even know Mark could get angry.

"You come back into town and suddenly Daisy is having all these issues, but yet, you're always there to help, aren't you? These things weren't happening before you came."

"And I think that if you are going to demand hanging around him, then you can give me custody of Bailey until these things stop."

"Hold on, you want to take her kid because someone is after her? Like its her fault?"

"Oh, I don't think it's her fault. I think it's yours, but she seems to think she should be hanging around you, calling you over, letting you watch Bailey."

"You think you can tell me who I should hang out with still? And you think I would listen?" I asked. I didn't know how I could have a kid, a job, a house, and the thousand other things that went along with just being an adult, and he still thought he could tell me what to do or who to be around.

"I think you're being stupid if you throw away anything with Mark just to be with this guy. A guy that can't offer you more than a shit apartment that he has to share with his friends, and maybe comes home once a month. You think that's good for Bailey? For you?"

The adrenaline was already wearing off, my shoulders sagging, but anger still burned. I remembered what Amber said, and this was what she meant. I needed to protect Kye against my dad.

Bailey ran to Kye who, even with them all ready to haul him away, still picked her up with a smile.

Because he was going to do whatever he needed to protect her from thinking there was a problem.

Mark took off, heading towards Kye like he was either going to punch him or grab Bailey, both of which I wasn't going to let happen. I stepped between them, Mark running into me, but quickly steadying both of us.

I shook his hands off and stepped back into Kye. His hand rested on my waist, steadying me and making me more sure of myself.

"You can think you are going to use this to take Bailey, but you are going to have to do that the legal way. Fight me in court, Dad, that's fine. If that's what you think is best for Bailey, you can do it, but I promise you will not win. Kye, please put Bailey in your car."

"Daisy, you don't have to?—"

"Now, please." I kept my voice calm, but I didn't move from between them. "I need to go inside and get Bailey a few things. Are you going to let me or make me go buy new things so you don't call me an unfit mother?"

"Are you going to his place?"

"Yes," I said, already knowing nothing was stopping me from staying with Kye tonight.

"Then go ahead and show me how great of a mother you are. You can't go back in the house. It's a crime scene."

I smiled, already walking towards Kye's car. "Great. Thanks so much, Dad."

He caught up to me, grabbing my arm as Kye shut the car door, watching us.

"I heard you broke up with Mark, and now this? Daisy, I am worried about you and Bailey. This is your safety, her safety. Please, I'm trying to help."

"Well, stop it. I know I've gone along and done whatever you wanted, but I'm not anymore. I want my own life and I get to choose who is in it. If you want to keep us safe, figure out who is slashing my tires and breaking into my house."

"And if it is Kye?"

"You better have undeniable proof before you think I will ever believe you."

He nodded, and I went to get in the car.

"Thanks," I said. "And now I'm exhausted, so let's go."

Kye didn't say anything, but he pulled out, taking me home. I could already feel the calm relief flooding me, and I leaned back into the seat, enjoying every quiet second.