Chapter 18 Pathetic

Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Pathetic

Alessio’s expression remained neutral. "I do not know him."

James nodded. "You will. He is coming to pick her up today." He pointed at Daisy’s small bag on the floor, still lying where she had dropped it. "She packed two hours ago. Could not wait to leave this old man."

Daisy shook her head vigorously, her hair flying. She pointed at James, then at her heart, then made a grabbing motion again, clutching her fists to her chest.

No no no. I love you. That is not why.

James laughed. "I know, I know. I am just teasing. An old man needs his entertainment."

Margaret stood up from her chair, smoothing her apron. "Would you like some tea, Mr. Ricci?"

Alessio shook his head, his eyes still fixed on Daisy. "No. Thank you."

Margaret observed him for a moment. "You are very polite, unlike some young men I know."

Alessio said nothing. He did not seem to notice the comment. His attention was elsewhere.

Daisy finally lowered her hands from her cheeks. She glanced at Alessio, then away. Then at him again to confirm because she felt he was looking at her. He was. His dark green eyes hadn’t moved from her face.

She quickly bent down and picked up her small bag from the floor. She clutched it to her chest like a shield, her fingers gripping the fabric tightly.

"Sit down, sit down. Let’s talk until Cedric comes," James said to Alessio, waving his hand toward the empty chair.

Alessio nodded. He sat down across from the old man, his large frame making the chair look smaller than it was. His dark green eyes swept the room once before settling on James’s face.

James leaned forward, his old eyes bright with curiosity. "So, Alessio. Tell me about yourself. What do you do? Where are you from? Do you have family?"

Alessio’s expression remained neutral. "Business. Born in Diamond City. I have two younger brothers."

"Two brothers! No sisters?"

Alessio’s jaw tightened slightly. The change was subtle, almost invisible. "No."

James didn’t notice the change. "Ah, young men running a business together. That’s nice. Family should stay together. My family is scattered. My son never visits. My grandson is busy. Only Daisy comes to see me."

Daisy sat in her usual chair, her small bag still clutched in her lap. She glanced at her phone. Then at the door. Then at her phone again.

No messages.

No calls.

She unlocked the screen and stared at Cedric’s contact. Her thumb hovered over the call button. She wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to know when he was coming. But she didn’t press it. She didn’t want to bother him. She didn’t want to seem desperate.

She locked the phone and set it face down on the arm of the chair.

Alessio watched her from across the room.

He noticed the way she kept looking at the door. The way her fingers tapped against her phone case. The way her shoulders were tense, waiting like a bird perched on a wire.

She was waiting for her husband.

Alessio looked away.

James was still talking. "Daisy is my granddaughter-in-law. Married to my grandson Cedric. Two years now. Beautiful couple, aren’t they?"

Alessio said nothing.

"Still waiting for a great-grandchild," James continued, chuckling. "I tell them all the time. Hurry up! This old man isn’t getting any younger."

Daisy’s cheeks turned pink. She picked up her knitting needles and started clicking them together, even though the yellow scarf was already finished. She needed something to do with her hands. Something to hide her face. Something to occupy the nervous energy buzzing through her veins.

James pointed at Alessio. "What about you? Any wife? Any children?"

"No."

"Girlfriend?"

"No."

James raised his eyebrows. "No one? A handsome young man like you?"

Alessio’s eyes flickered toward Daisy for half a second. Just a glance, quick and unreadable. Then back to James. "No one."

Daisy’s knitting needles paused. Just for a moment. Her fingers stilled. Then she continued clicking, faster this time.

Knock knock.

Daisy’s head snapped up. Her dark eyes lit up like stars being turned on one by one.

She dropped her knitting needles on the chair. She didn’t even care where they landed. They clattered against the cushion and fell to the floor. She grabbed her small bag and ran to the door, her feet barely touching the floor.

She pulled the door open.

Cedric stood there.

He looked pale. His usually sharp blue eyes were dull, shadowed like he hadn’t slept well. His handsome face was drawn and tired, his jaw slack. The cruise ship had not been kind to him. The sea sickness had drained him, though he would never admit it. He would rather die than let anyone know he had spent three days vomiting over the railing.

He looked at Daisy standing in the doorway, her big dark eyes shining up at him, her cheeks flushed with joy, her small bag clutched to her chest like she was holding a treasure she had been waiting her whole life to receive.

He felt annoyed.

Why was she always looking at him like that? Like he was the sun and she had been living in the dark? Like he was the answer to every question she had ever asked? It was pathetic. Desperate. Embarrassing.

But he remembered Grandpa James was inside. And Grandpa James controlled the company shares. Grandpa James could destroy everything with a single phone call.

So Cedric smiled.

He stepped forward and pulled Daisy into a tight hug.

Daisy’s eyes lit up even brighter, if that was possible. She dropped her small bag on the floor and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face into his chest. She could smell his cologne, familiar and warm. Feel the warmth of his body through his shirt. Hear the steady thump of his heartbeat.

She had missed him. She had missed him so much.

Cedric’s arms tightened around her. One hand came up to caress her hair, stroking the caramel strands gently, the way a person might pet a dog they didn’t really care about.

He looked inside the room over Daisy’s head.

And he frowned.