Chapter 8 Daisy Ann

Daisy Ann checked her watch and saw that they were ten minutes early as their car passed through the open gates and around the circular driveway to her in-laws' home. A valet stood waiting to take their keys and park the Suburban while another one opened her door.

"Thank you," she said to him and stepped out of the vehicle.

She looked up at the enormous house as she, Mason, and the boys walked up the steps to the columned portico and front doors. The Briscoes' home was twice as large and twice as formal as Mason's and hers. It boasted three stories of cream-colored walls, furniture, and terrazzo tile, and Daisy Ann had often wondered how Birdie had raised three rambunctious boys in the elegant and pristine surroundings. She had to admit, though, that her own sons always loved coming here. With its game room, screening room, outdoor playhouse and treehouse, and plenty of toys and games to keep them busy, Tucker and Greyson were in heaven, and Birdie was guaranteed that children would spend little time on silk-covered furnishings. The boys each had their own bedroom for when they visited, which was not a problem in a house with nine of them to go around. The property was situated on three acres that accommodated tennis courts and the oversize in-ground pool and cabanas.

"Ah, my sweethearts," Birdie said, giving each of them a hug and kiss.

When Birdie leaned close to her, Daisy Ann breathed in the heady scent of her mother-in-law's signature perfume, Grand Soir. Birdie's blond hair was teased and set to a perfect bob—she had it done at the "beauty shop" twice a week. Her makeup was understated and perfectly applied and on her lips her signature Dior Rouge. Her slim figure, kept that way by a strict diet protocol from which she rarely wavered, was clad in a multicolored pastel Chanel halter dress of flowing silk. In fact, Birdie wore almost nothing but Chanel and had for as long as Daisy Ann had known her.

"You're the first ones here." Birdie took Daisy Ann's hand. "You look just beautiful," she said, and turned to Tucker and Greyson. "And you boys look mighty handsome." Her brow furrowed, and she took one of Tucker's hands in her own.

"Tucker, honey, your nails! They need a good scrubbing. Go into the kitchen and find Freida. She'll help you."

He groaned. "Aw, come on, Mimi, I wanna go see the carnival rides you got."

She gave him a stern look. "Now mind your manners, there's plenty of time for that. "You know what they say, cleanliness is next to godliness. Now scoot."

He gave Daisy Ann a beseeching look, but even though she found Birdie over the top at times, she shook her head and said, "Mind your mimi and do what she told you."

Greyson held his hands up for inspection. "How are my hands, Mimi?"

Birdie smiled. "Like a real gentleman's."

He beamed and gave his brother a slight snicker.

Mason took his mother in his arms, kissing her. "Happy birthday, Mother."

"Thank you, dear." Birdie smiled and patted his cheek, then fluffed her hair on the side he'd pressed against. "Now come, all of you, and see what my fabulous caterer has done."

It was the perfect house for entertaining, with lots of intimate seating areas and large rooms that flowed easily into one another. Tonight, the entire first floor was decorated with white and gold balloons, hundreds of gold candles flickering luminously, and opulent bunches of gold and white flowers. A large, curved projection screen played a loop of photographs of Birdie with family and friends through the years.

Birdie Briscoe was something of an icon in Dallas society. Her family went way back. Her great-great-grandfather had arrived in Texas in the early 1800s and begun buying up land—she still had the original Spanish land grant from 1825. By the time Birdie came along, the family had already made millions from the extensive stands of timber that grew on the vast amount of acreage. Her husband, Chandler, Mason's father, had family roots that were not quite as deep as Birdie's. Chandler's great-grandfather founded the land development firm of Briscoe, Dixon, and Hart, and all the ensuing progeny had worked for the firm. Until Mason that is. He became a lawyer and left the company.

Generational Texas wealth and blood ran through Birdie's veins, and she had the added bonus of regal bearing and beauty. She loved telling the story of how Carrie Neiman, the cofounder of Neiman Marcus, had traveled to New York with Birdie's mother in 1921 to help her choose a wedding gown, and Birdie herself was a loyal Neiman customer. Daisy Ann had never seen her mother-in-law—nor had anyone, actually—dressed in any way but impeccably, whether it was a Saturday barbecue or a formal evening event. She looked nowhere near her seventy-five years, an accomplishment due not to surgeries or fillers, but to her enviable genes. She was strong-willed, with exacting standards of what good behavior demanded of her and others, and she was used to getting her way.

"Is that my wayward son I hear?" Chandler Briscoe's voice boomed through the hallway as he came bounding down the stairs. Daisy Ann didn't miss the pained look on Mason's face at his father's choice of words. A straw Stetson in one hand, he put his other around Daisy Ann's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. "Howdy, honey." He then extended a hand for Mason to shake. Anyone seeing the two men together would know immediately that they were father and son. In fact, Mason was the son who most resembled his father, with the same green eyes and tall full-bodied frame. And although Chandler's hair was now a dazzling white, it was every bit as thick and wavy as his son's.

"Hi, Daddy," Mason said. "Looks like it's gonna be a great party."

"Yes, they've done a fantastic job. Everything looks gorgeous," Daisy Ann agreed.

Chandler laughed. "I can't take credit. Your mother did it all."

Daisy Ann knew what that actually meant was that Birdie had directed the party planner. This shindig had been in the works for months now.

"I hear voices. Sounds like the party's getting started." Birdie's dark blue eyes flashed with excitement. "Why don't y'all get a drink while I go greet my guests."

"Mama, can we go see the rides now?" Tucker asked. Birdie had told them about the children's funfair rides she'd ordered for all the kids weeks ago.

"Sure. You guys go ahead and have fun."

They were off and running before Daisy Ann finished the sentence. She laughed and took Mason's hand. "Let's get a drink." Together they walked outside where several bars were set up under a clear top tent that covered a huge expanse of lawn. A string quartet played relaxing classical music during the cocktail hour. Chandler's birthday surprise, however, was that Willie Nelson would be headlining later tonight—not the country band the planner had told Birdie would be performing. Daisy Ann was as excited as a schoolgirl when she'd found out.

She and Mason walked over to one of the bars where he ordered his usual—a whiskey neat. Daisy Ann accepted a drink from one of the roving waiters and took a sip. "Mmm. Sure you don't want to change your mind? This margarita is perfect."

"I'm good," he said as they started to walk toward the center of the tent to mingle, passing tiered tables laden with trays of food, a sampling of which included smoked salmon, shrimp, rare roast beef, and delectable-looking nibbles. The choices went on and on. Champagne flowed, and plump ruby red strawberries and other fruits were mounded around a large assortment of cheeses. The most spectacular table was the one upon which sat the birthday cakes. Not one, but ten cakes, all spectacularly decorated and mouthwateringly exquisite. Daisy Ann could just imagine what the kids' food tent contained. "Mother's in her element tonight. Center of attention and charming hostess with the mostest."

Daisy Ann thought the description was apt for a woman who could seem vain and arrogant but could also charm the birds out of the trees. As a mother-in-law, she could be tough at times and supportive at others, and in the beginning, Daisy Ann often felt like she was on a bucking bronco. When she and Mason got engaged, Birdie had gone into high gear, forcefully voicing her opinions on how everything, from the announcement and engagement party to the wedding itself and all things in between, should play out. Daisy Ann was ready to explode and had gone to her mother. She remembered the conversation as if it were yesterday.

"Mama, I can't take it anymore. She's driving me batty. I want to tell her to keep her big mouth shut and screw off." She was almost shouting.

"Daisy Ann. Language!" Marylou Ann, Daisy Ann's mother, had tried to defuse her daughter's anger. "She's excited, that's all. She just wants to feel a part of things. You should be glad that she's happy about the engagement."

"Of course she's happy. Why wouldn't she be?" But Daisy Ann knew that her mother was referring to Birdie's old family name and money, and although the Crawfords were every bit as rich as the Briscoes, they were profoundly nouveau.

"Yes, yes. I agree. I'm only telling you to be thankful that everyone is pleased because that's not always the case. And maybe you should try and be a little patient with Birdie. After all, she only has sons. She's not used to having a daughter."

"I have been patient. I'm sick of it. I want her to butt out and let us plan things our way."

Her mother gave her a look that she'd come to know would be followed by words of wisdom. "This is your wedding, my darling girl, and I understand that you're picturing exactly how you want it to be. It's also just one day in your life. A day that will be so busy and hectic and thrilling that much of it will be a big blur to you afterward. Your mother-in-law, however, will be part of your life for years to come. The last thing you want is to get this relationship off on the wrong foot. You will regret it for the rest of your life." Her mother had taken her daughter's hand and said, "I know you. You're not unkind. You know how to compromise. And I trust you to handle this with grace and thoughtfulness so that everyone is happy in the end."

It had been good advice, advice Daisy Ann had taken to heart. And when six months later Daisy Ann's mother died, Birdie was there for her. It was then that she saw the other side to this imperious woman—the side that could be tender and compassionate, and she became Daisy Ann's rock in those heartbroken months that followed.

She took another sip of her drink and saw that the house and grounds were filling with people and the party was now fully under way. Birdie's social circles were wide and diverse, and the guests ranged in age from their twenties all the way up to their eighties and nineties. If it was true that a party could be judged not by who's there, but who's not there, then Birdie's parties were always a resounding success. Anyone who was anyone was there. It was a sparkling array of designer fashion, both subtle and glittering, lavish jewels worth a fortune, elegant high heels, and even one woman in a pair of luxurious Philipp Plein boots despite the summer heat. Chandler had shown Daisy Ann the birthday gift he'd bought for Birdie—a three-strand oval diamond necklace for which he paid $176,000.

"Is that the governor over there?" Daisy Ann whispered to Mason. She couldn't tell with the cowboy hat and sunglasses he was wearing.

"Looks like it. Let's walk over."

Daisy Ann saw that the governor was talking to Wade Ashford. Damn. She hadn't realized that Wade would be here tonight. He was supposed to have been out of town. It was going to take a bit of fancy footwork to avoid him tonight, but there was no way she was going to let him corner her with her family around.

"I'll let you go and say hello, I'm going to check on the boys."

As she made her way out of the tent and down the path to the rides, she stopped several times to say hello to arriving guests.

"Running out on the party so soon?"

Daisy Ann spun around and forced herself to smile at her sister-in-law. Rose Sheridan Briscoe stared at Daisy Ann, a smirk on her pretty face. She was a southern belle through and through and butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she never missed the opportunity to get her digsin.

"I was just going to check on Greyson and Tucker," Daisy Ann said.

Rose tilted her head. "They're with their cousins and the younger folk down at the kids' corral. Birdie hired a band for the young set. They're havin' a good old time. So, no need for you to go running off, although why should it surprise me that you'd shirk your duties to this family."

Daisy Ann put her hands on her hips and felt the heat rise to her face. "Are you still going on about that? It was over a month ago. I had an important meeting I couldn't miss. How many times do you expect me to apologize?"

"Yes, we all know how much more important you are than the rest of us."

Daisy Ann wanted to slug her.

Rose shook her head and sighed dramatically. "I'm just sayin'…everyone else managed to be there for Birdie while Chandler was rushed into emergency surgery. Poor Mason kept looking at his phone, waiting for you to text him, I guess. But then again, Mason chose your family over his own anyhow. You are two peas in a pod."

Mason was the only one of the three sons who hadn't gone to work for Briscoe, Dixon, and Hart. The law had always called to him and after two years trying to fit in with his brothers, he'd quit and gone to law school, then taken a position at her father's oil company when he graduated. Her father, Jake, had come to love Mason like a son, and the two men became extremely close over the years. Mason was a lot like her father in many ways. Both of them strong and determined, hard workers with bold ideas, but never proud or arrogant. Her father had always said Think big, but act with humility. There was something exceptional about men who could be trailblazing leaders and still possess the common touch. No one was surprised when Mason, along with Daisy Ann, rose to the top hierarchy of the company, and he became its head after Jake's death.

The Briscoe family never failed to bring up what they considered Mason's misplaced loyalty, Chandler especially ribbing him about his "defection." Mason let it roll off his shoulders, but Daisy Ann knew that it bothered him. Being a Briscoe came with high expectations. This family insisted that everyone do everything together. Sunday dinners at Birdie and Chandler's no matter what, every holiday and birth, every birthday party and baptism, and on and on celebrated together. All the children and grandchildren spent a month in the summer at Birdie and Chandler's Jackson Hole compound. Daisy Ann's father had been a sport and gone along with it, became part of the clan, and the Briscoes had adored him, more than happy to include him in everything. She didn't know what would have happened if she'd had other siblings, or if her mother hadn't died. Once you married a Briscoe, they swallowed youup.

"Oh, for heaven's sake. I don't have time for this. Chandler had his appendix out, not heart surgery! It's not normal for a family to spend as much time together as this one. I'm sure the waiting room was filled to overflowing and annoying the hospital staff anyhow."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself. But maybe if you tried a little harder, you might actually enjoy being a part of this family."

"I do enjoy the family. Most of the members anyway." She gave Rose a pointed look.

"Well, I never…"

"That's the problem. You never know when to shut up." Daisy Ann stormed off, leaving Rose standing there. The woman was a pain in the ass and had been since the day she'd married Mason. Daisy Ann had tried to befriend her, had even asked her to be a bridesmaid in the wedding. Rose accepted but made a fuss about everything. The bridesmaid dress wasn't her color, she didn't like the flowers she had to hold, she wanted to walk with her husband, but he was the best man and there was no way Daisy Ann was making Rose her maid of honor. From the start, Rose had been threatened by Daisy Ann and was always kissing up to Birdie, yes Birdie this and yes Birdie that. Over the years Rose had grown even more jealous of Daisy Ann when she'd seen how close she was to Birdie despite speaking up when she didn't agree with something Birdie said or did. Daisy Ann had earned Birdie's grudging respect because she wasn't a mealymouthed scaredy-cat like Rose. And it burned Rose too that Mason was the apple of Birdie's eye. Her sister-in-law never tired of reminding her that it was her own husband, Royce, who was taking a load off Chandler by being his second-in-command. Daisy Ann hoped that Mason's middle brother, Franklin, would one day marry someone normal and then she'd have an ally against Rose, but thus far Franklin appeared to be a confirmed bachelor.

Still fuming, Daisy Ann rejoined the party and went looking for her husband. Grabbing another margarita from a passing waiter, she took a big sip. She was going to need a lot of tequila to get through the rest of the evening.