A second gift left at Daisy's front door.
Chapter 33
Daisy
There,in the same place as yesterday, is another gift. A bookmark.
To keep your place.
Happy birthday.
I'm smilingto myself when I go into my house. Another birthday gift? I'm not yet sure where he's going with this, but I'm sensing a pattern.
And a thawing in my heart.
Chapter 34
Daisy
Six more daysof birthday gifts.
I'm up early today, hoping to catch Penn. I want to see him as himself, not as Peter. I want to see the boy I loved, who grew into a man.
The sun is only slightly above the mountains in the east when I open my front door.
Too late.
A present, wrapped in that same paper, waits for me on my mat.
I unwrap it on my way into my bedroom to get changed for the day. Duke's contractor friend, Scott, will be here soon to double-check his measurements before he orders cabinets. I have a day full of clients and wedding favors to assemble.
I laugh softly to myself as I tear away the paper, revealing the prickly pear flavored rock candy sugar sticks. A vestige of my childhood, a treat I haven't had in years.
To satisfy your sweet tooth.
Happy birthday.
Once I'm dressed, I make a cup of chamomile tea, using the rock candy to stir and sweeten. The second sugar stick I'll save for Vivi, who loved them also.
The sweetness hits my tongue, the flavor nostalgic. As a kid I nibbled on the pure sugar, but I like it this way now, stirred into tea.
One thing is for certain, Penn is good at gifting. And remembering. And apologizing.
Warmth trickles through me, and it's not only the hot tea. It's Penn's gesture, working its way into my heart.
I leave a key under a rock in the front yard for Scott, and on my way to work I stop at Dama Oliva. Vivi has her staff gathered near the walk-in freezer for a morning meeting.
"Just wanted to drop this with you," I say, pressing the cellophane-wrapped candy into her hand. "Sorry for interrupting."
Vivi glances at the candy. "I haven't had this in forever."
"Me, too. That's why I wanted to share it with you." I back out of the kitchen, waving at the group wearing curious gazes. "Have a good day."
I spend the day seeing patients and surreptitiously glancing out the front window, hoping for a glimpse of Penn, or Slim Jim, or even Penn's truck. Isla told me he rescheduled his appointments, probably to give me the space I asked for. That warmth in my heart is pushing at me to consider hearing what Penn has to say.
Duke takes me to dinner at Dama Oliva, and comes home with me to help put together the favors.
"Scott was here today," I say as we tie ribbons around the honey stirrers. "I gave him the go-ahead to order the cabinets."
