Page 62 of Electric Kiss

“Listen, I know it’s tough with the guys right now, but don’t let them get to you. You’re a strong woman, and you’ll get through this,” Erica said.

Daisy felt a lump form in her throat, and tears pricked at her eyes. “Thank you, Erica. That means a lot to me.”

“Anytime,” Erica said before taking a cupcake.

Daisy chuckled and reached for a cupcake. “Well, that’s Luke’s problem, not mine. I’m happy with Nate, and that’s all that matters.”

“Will you tell us about your mum?” Erica urged.

Daisy couldn’t help but feel grateful for their support. She sat back in her desk chair and nibbled on the cupcake.

“I don’t know when it became normal or how it was orchestrated, but I knew my mum all along when my brothers thought she’d disappeared. I thought they would guess when she was the next-door neighbour. I’ve never seen a picture of my mum, and there were none in Turner Hall. She told me she looked completely different after a makeover. The older I got, the more information my mum told me. I rarely saw my mum and dad together, but when I did, they were marriage goals right there. Imelda, my mum, was dealt a shitting deal in life, and it was crunch time when she moved off the island. Her parents and Freddie were in on it, and no one else knew. They purchased two houses in Imelda’s dad’s name next door to each other in Northern Scotland.”

“Pete Boyle, right?” Heidi said.

“Yeah, the butcher. His wife knew too. They were terrified at what was happening to Imelda when Freddie was away. Eventually, Freddie had no choice but to send her away. My mum said she tried to fight it but confessed that she would be dead if she hadn’t moved off the island.”

“Why?” Erica asked.

“Because Cynthia was poisoning her. It wasn’t in the food. Maggie’s mum, Melly, was cook then, and she didn’t allow anyone near her food. Plus, the Turners never ventured downstairs, apart from Imelda and Freddie. Then the four of us when mum left.”

“Oh bloody hell. How was she poisoned?” Freya asked.

“We’re not entirely sure, but after what Luke said, I think I know for sure it was the plant pesticide. Mum said Freddie had insisted she only drank and ate from plates and cups he personally washed, and they kept them in their rooms at Turner Hall. When that happened, she rallied, but if she ate from Turner crockery, then she became ill. When Dad was away, she spent a lot of time at her parent’s place during the day. She wasn’t permitted to stay over, there was no plausible reason on a small island, and us kids had to be in bed early. I was six months old.”

“Why was she being poisoned?”

Daisy could smell the yummy goodness of the cupcakes and leaned over to take a second one. The women followed suit. Eric broke off a tiny piece and handed it to Isobel.

“That I don’t know. I think my mum suspects, but she never said anything.”

“There are so many secrets coming to light. Where is your mum now?” Freya asked.

“In Scotland, still at the house. I keep asking her to move back to the island and live in the fifth cottage. But now, with the boys acting like they are, I’m not so sure now.”

“It will turn out fine. They’ll get over this with our help, and you’ll be back to playing cards on the giant table in no time.”

“A bit cold for that,” Heidi muttered.

“You know what I mean. I miss you at dinner,” Ericasaid. “Isobel misses you, and Teddy goes bonkers every morning when you pass, and he isn’t allowed out.”

“That’s cruel,” Freya said.

“Archer’s being an ass. If Teddy comes with Daisy to work, then he would have to come into this office to get him. He’s too steaming mad at the moment to see right.”

Chapter Twenty

Daisy

Daisy shuffled into her dining room, flipped open the lid of her laptop, and shuffled back to her kitchen. She flipped the switch on the kettle and waited for it to come to a boil. The conversation called for tea. Coffee wasn’t anywhere near as comforting.

While the kettle was coming to a boil, she opened the cabinet in front of her and stared at the mugs. Different sizes for different hot beverages. She needed a bucket, so she chose the biggest. Dropping two tea bags into the mug, she poured the water while it was still bubbling and let it brew for a couple of minutes. Once she’d got rid of the tea bags, she added some milk. Daisy grabbed the biscuit barrel, stuffed it under her arm, and then picked up her mug.

She shuffled back to her laptop in the dining room to see her mum waiting for her.

“Hey, Mum,” Daisy said when she’d settled down in the seat and hugged her mug.

“Hey, sweetheart. Are you still in your dressing gown?” she asked, moving her head around the screen to get a better look.

---