All the Things We've Never Said - Chapter 6 (and More Blogging About Books)

Since I'm on a roll with blogging this week, why not add a new book question? Sounds like fun, yes? (I thought so, too.)

This week's Booking through Thursday question: Do you have siblings? Do they like to read?

My answer(s): Yes and yes. I have an older sister who is a teacher and she reads as much as I do! We often swap books, though, of course, we do have different tastes. I also have a younger sister who is a reader, as well. Though, understandably, she doesn't have as much time to read for fun, as she's in college and has to focus on the books and materials she must read for school. But, in the summers, she does do catching up!

How about you all?

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There. Oh, what? I promised more of "All the Things We've Never Said?" Right you are, readers, right you are. And I hate to disappoint! :)

CHAPTER SIX   

Monday morning couldn’t come soon enough for Daisy. She’d called the library the week before to find out what to wear to work and dressed very carefully in olive green cargo pants with a casual black sweater over a plain navy blue T-shirt, in case she got warm. The casual attire clause suited her just fine. Daisy swept on light eye shadow and a little lipstick -- Twig, her favorite shade. As for her hair, she just brushed and blew dry it off her face. Her auburn hair wasn’t quite long enough for a ponytail and her mother had always told her that tucking stray strands behind her ears would make them stick out. Most of the time, a light shake of her head worked well enough to make sure her hair wasn’t in her face. Just to make sure, Daisy practiced and shrugged. When she was ready to go, she grabbed her keys and a jacket and walked to the library.

For the next few hours, Daisy learned about the Dewey Decimal system, shelved books and learned her way around the library. The job suited her and she was glad to have the distraction - especially given how tense things had been with her father.

She took it as a good sign that there was a message from Daniel on the answering machine when she got home.

“Hi Days, it’s Dad. Just wanted to know how your first day went, but I guess I’m a little early, so you can tell me all about it after dinner. Love ya.” The robotic computer voice reported that he’d called at 12:15 p.m.

With Daniel out for the night, he was playing poker with some guys from work, Daisy was once again at a loss for what to do. She’d been lying around the apartment, reading a book she’d borrowed from work, feeling some sort of emotion that was created out of loneliness and relief at finally being alone. So, when the phone rang, Daisy almost didn't answer.

"Don't tell me you're bored again," Jamie teased. Daisy could hear the smile in his voice and immediately felt a swarm of butterflies stir to life in her stomach.

"As a matter of fact . . . " she replied.

"I was counting on that," he said. "Feel like taking a walk?"

Daisy blinked her surprise. "Uh, sure. Where to?"

Within minutes, Daisy had the address of, and directions to, Jamie's place.

Jamie lived near an apartment complex only a few blocks from Daisy; she was suprised to see how close it was. Heading east on Coldspring Road, Daisy walked to 51st Street and then turned north, looking for the number that corresponded to the one on the slip of paper in her hand. As it turned out, Jamie lived in the first house next to a string of apartment buildings. It was small, but it was his. Daisy knocked on the door, her face shifting into a bright grin when Jamie opened the door.

“Hey,” Daisy said, grinning.

“Hey, yourself.” He pushed the door open with his hand and waited for Daisy to enter. She looked around a little, seeing a small kitchen, only a little larger than hers, a bathroom, a living room and one other room, which she assumed was his bedroom, but wasn’t sure because the door was closed.

“It’s cute,” she said.

“It’s not me,” Jamie countered. “But, it pays the rent, so to speak. It’s good enough. Can I get you anything?"

“Sure, I’d love something to drink. Whatever you have.”

“Great.” Jamie swung his arm out toward the kitchen. “The fridge is yours. Help yourself.”

Daisy opened the door and was surprised to find juice, milk and water. No beer and hardly any soda.

“Mind if I have juice?”

“Nope, go ahead. Glasses are in the cupboard over the sink.”

Daisy walked over and opened the door, but the shelf was taller than she was and she had to stretch in order to swipe at a glass with her fingertip. She managed to get one close enough to the edge in order for her to pluck it out of the cabinet by it’s rim, but it slid too far and came down in a nose dive, shattering on the floor.

“Shoot!” Daisy gasped, and immediately squatted down to clean up the mess.

Jamie was in the room in one second. “What happened? Are you okay?” He crouched down in front of Daisy and grabbed her hands, looking to make sure she wasn’t cut anywhere.

“Yeah, I’m fine. The glass slipped. I’m really sorry.” She started to pick up the pieces of glass again.

“Don’t worry about it, it was an accident.”

“I know, but I broke it.”

“So what? There are at least a dozen others up there.” Jamie stood up and reached down a plastic cup. “But, for now, why don’t we stick with these?”

Daisy looked up and saw him standing there, holding a plastic cup advertising the 1996 Wisconsin State Fair and started laughing.

****************************************************************

Two hours later, Daisy was using the palm of her hand to wipe tears off her face.

“I can’t believe you cried during The Abyss.” Jamie said.

“What? It was sad!”

He handed her a tissue and looked at her, shook his head and sighed. “Women.”

“Hey, I warned you before we even started the film that I always cry during movies!”

“Yeah, but, The Abyss? C’mon! What’s sad about it?”

“The whole death/resurrection thing was pretty awful!”

Jamie got up to turn off the television and grabbed her cup to take to the kitchen, too.

“It was a really good movie, though,” she said, following him with her tissue in hand.

“Yep.”

She tossed the tissue in the garbage and stretched.

“Well, I suppose I’d better be on my way,” she said. “I’ve bothered you enough for one night.”   

Jamie nodded. “Yeah, I guess so. We’ve both got to work tomorrow.”

Daisy patted her pocket to make sure her keys were there and nodded at Jamie. “I had a nice time, thanks.”

Jamie started walking to the door. “Me too, thanks for coming over. Do you want a ride home?”

“Nah, I’ll be okay walking. I will see you soon?”

“I hope so, Daisy,” Jamie said. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

When Daisy got home Daniel was there, rinsing a cup in the sink.

“Hey, Dad,” she said. “Did you win big?”

“Broke even tonight. Where were you?”

She hesitated, wary of his reaction. "I was at Jamie's."

“Oh yeah?” Daniel wasn't exactly pleased at the thought, but he wasn't keen on the idea of another argument with his daughter, either. He turned to face her and saw how happy she looked. Right then, Daniel made up his mind that, for her sake, he'd try to ease up on Jamie.