Page 76 of Electric Kiss

Daisy let Nate and Maggie settle her nerves, and then she stuffed her face with Maggie’s food. They were soon wrapped up again and trudging across the snow-covered grass to Edward Hall. Maggie entered first, followed by Daisy, and then Nate came in last and pulled the door closed.

Daisy stopped when she saw the girls on one stainless steel table and her brothers on the other one opposite. They played catch with one of Isobel’s toys. Isobel was busy bouncing in her wheelie chair and watching the action with her alert eyes.

“Hey,” Daisy said.

She could happily throw up at the situation.

“Oh, Daisy, come over here. We need reinforcements. Nate, you’re on the boys’ team,” Erica said, pointing to the seat next to Luke.

“Actually, how old are you?” Heidi asked. “We sit in age order around here.”

“I’m younger than Luke,” Nate answered.

“And Daisy,” Freya replied and cackled.

“Really?” Erica said and gave Daisy an exaggerated wink. “Nice work.”

Daisy was relieved that the tension was broken but talking about her marrying a younger man, albeit two years, was not what she wanted her brothers to hear.

“All right, kids. I need to get back to the kitchen. Jason, here are the dishes I borrowed last week. They’re cleaner than when you gave them to me,” she said, giving him astern look.

“Thanks, Maggie. I’ll have a word with pot wash,” Jason replied and grinned.

“You do that,” she said, giving him an adoring smile like he could do no wrong. “I’ve fed Daisy and Nate, so you’re off the hook for today, but it might be a good idea to resume your breakfast skills for tomorrow.”

“I’ve already made plans, Maggie. Don’t worry.”

Jason looked straight at Daisy, and her heart pounded. Did Jason’s look signify forgiveness?

“Don’t I get a hug?” Archer asked after hopping down and opening his arms wide.

Daisy flew across the kitchen and jumped into his arms, letting out a loud sob.

“Hey, Daiz, it’s all right.”

“Will you ever forgive me?”

“I think it’s us that need forgiving,” he said.

He let her down so she could stand, and she swiped at her eyes to get rid of the steady stream of tears.

“I’ve missed you all so much this past year, and when I got to live here permanently and then lose you all broke me apart,” she said.

“But had you had Nate, right?” Jason said while he gave her a cuddle.

“Yeah,” she said and looked over to Nate, who was cuddling Isobel, making faces at her.

Daisy’s heart melted at the scene, and she wanted more than ever to have kids with him.

“Right, we all made up?” Luke asked as he wedged in to hug Daisy. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight.

“Yeah, I think so,” Daisy said.

“Okay, well, now that you’re back, you need to help withfinding my replacement because no one we’ve interviewed can organise shit,” Luke said.

“And you think I’ll find someone?”

“We’re hoping so,” Archer said. “There has to be someone on the island that wants to work for us.”

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