“That’d be great. Check with Nori to see if she wants anything specific, and don’t look in the nightstand drawer unless you want to see all our toys.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. Knowing them, they probably have one of those tentacle dicks in there.
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll see you later. Get some rest.” I leaned down and peppered her temple with kisses. “I love you, Daisy.”
“I love you, too.”
I was leaving when I bumped into Nori and Grant in the hallway. He was holding her while she sobbed. I looked away while he comforted her and ignored how difficult it had become to swallow. Grant had always been the nurturing type, which was one out of one hundred reasons I thought he’d be a good father.
“Can we take you home?” he signed.
We?
“I need to stay here with Daisy.”
I tapped her on the shoulder and relayed the conversation I had with Daisy.
“That’s fine. Don’t look in the nightstand drawer unless you want to see a fat dick.”
“Jesus Christ!” Grant complained. “Can you say that a little louder?”
“Is he talking shit?” Nori asked.
“No, but you’re being a little loud,” I said, signing to her. “I’m sure you were heard from the parking lot.”
“My bad,” she whispered. “Also, I’m sorry for going off on you. I’m not okay.”
“Don’t apologize, Nori. What you two went through was fucking awful, and I hope that son of a bitch Daisy shot died and the other one is found and locked up for life.”
“Fuck that. I want them both found, and then we can take a field trip to Burgess’s pig farm.”
That’s one way to get rid of a body.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but the detective is here to ask some follow-up questions and get a statement from Daisy,” Uncle Ant informed.
“You ready?” Grant asked.
Truthfully, I wasn’t ready because I knew he’d want to talk about what happened that night, and I didn’t, but I knew I couldn’t push it off any longer.
Grant
I leaned against the doorjamb of Daisy and Nori’s bedroom and watched Kiyah pack their belongings. I should’ve helped, but I didn’t want to suffocate her. She’d been quiet and closed off ever since we left the hospital, and I didn’t miss how she purposely distanced herself from me in the elevator as if I had a contagious disease. It sucked, but I had to remind myself that had I not been so reactionary and had I not turned to alcohol to drown my sorrows that we wouldn’t be in this predicament. I wouldn’t be silently begging for her to acknowledge my presence and praying for a miracle that we’d embark on a healing journey and find our way back to each other again.
Fat chance, Grant. It’s over.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you need help?”
She didn’t look up from the mountain of leisure wear she piled onto the bed, but paused packing to consider my offer.
She can’t even look at me, but can I blame her?
“Daisy’s favorite blanket. It’s not in here. It might be in her office.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Nori’s Sudoku puzzle book, a few books for Daisy to read, and any personal electronics and chargers you can get your hands on.”
I nodded and left the bedroom for Nori’s office. Despite her cold demeanor, Nori’s office was surprisingly warm and inviting. Upon entering, you were greeted by a fluffy cream rug that nearly covered the entire room. A plush velvet emerald couch butted against one wall, and a massive photo collage of thefamily and her and Daisy spanned the opposite wall. I took a moment to travel down memory lane and chuckled when I came across a photo of Nori and Daisy on Easter. They were six and five, dressed in their frilliest pastel Easter attire—Nori in pink and Daisy in lilac. Our parents had hidden two coveted golden eggs filled with chocolate treats on our grandparents’ estate. They’d always gotten a kick from watching us scour the property like bloodhounds on the hunt for wild game. I’d found the first egg in the bushes behind the gazebo, and Daisy had located the second egg in the pool house.