Page 5 of Electric Kiss

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. Stupid things have been triggering me since Luke had the row with Jennifer in the middle of the lawn. If I see something, hear something or experience something, I freeze and can’t shake off the fear. Like an hour ago, I saw this toy, and I went cold all over and spaced out.”

“What toy, honey?” Imelda said softly.

Daisy jostled an alert Isobel to reach into her carry cot for the soft toy that had seen better days. She held it up to the camera. Imelda held her hand over her mouth, but Daisy heard the gasp.

“I bought that for you. It used to be in the playroom you all shared,” Imelda said.

“I don’t remember it and I don’t know why. We found it with boxes of toys in the warehouse the boys were clearing out for Erica’s venture.”

“The bunny’s ears have faded a bit, but Freddie said you and that rabbit were inseparable for years.”

Daisy gave it a closer look, jostling it from side to side tomake Isobel’s eyes light up. She turned to look back at her mum.

“That must be it, but why would I be so fearful at seeing it?”

“I don’t know, honey. I’d gone by that stage.”

They fell into a silence. Daisy hated talking about anything that made her mother remember she lost out on so many years with her children.

“You could come back… come and stay in the spare cottage and we could be a family again.”

“You know I can’t do that, honey, while Cynthia is still alive. I’m not sure Archer, Jason and Luke would welcome me with open arms either. They think I abandoned them.”

“Well, I know the truth and if I have to, I will make the old cow admit what she did in front of them so you can come back.”

“That’s kind of you, but it would make me feel better if you weren’t within a hundred feet of that woman.”

“I try not to be. I go to the kitchens because Maggie and Bailey are good people, but as for her. I don’t wish to see her again.”

“Tell me how Warren is. Do you get to see him since you’re back on the island?”

Daisy let her change the subject, but not without warning in her voice.

“Mum…”

“What? He’s a nice guy.”

Imelda tried to look innocent, but it wasn’t working.

“He’s just a friend.”

“He looks like you’re the best meal he’ll ever have.”

“Mum!”

It always shocked her when her mum showed anyinterest in who liked her, forgetting that she must be lonely too after a decade of being a widow.

“I’m not that old, honey. I know what lust and admiration look like. I’m still in my sixties.”

“You don’t look it. You look far younger.”

“Thank you, darling. Now, I’m going to let you go because your old mother needs a disco nap before she heads out to dinner with some friends.”

“All right, mum. I’ll speak to you next week. I love you.”

“I love you too, honey.”

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