Page 82 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“You scared the hell out of me. I thought maybe Jackson had you tricked, and you’d turned on me.”

She shook her head. “No chance of that. But I didn’t want to tip you off. I had to make sure he had no idea and stayed here. I wasn’t sure how long it would be before they arrived to arrest him. I know a snake when I see one. Like, something just didn’t sit right with me when he got in touch and told me Amber’s plan. Of course, I knew she couldn’t be trusted, but I found it hard to believe he was this innocent man he claimed to be. And then when your friend Meredith called me and told me all about your history, well, I knew I had to help.”

“Jackson told you that Amber framed him and got him put in prison, right?”

“Yeah. I looked everything up. Years of tax evasion going back before she knew him. Things have a way of working out for the godly. Or at least that’s what Mama used to say. Clean living and all that.” Daisy Ann laughs.

“So now there’s a conundrum,” she continues.

“What’s going on?”

“Jackson transferred four and a half million dollars into my account for that fake stock. He said it was money Amber stole from him. So I was supposed to give it back to him, but that doesn’t really seem right now, does it?” Daisy Ann said.

“What are you suggesting?”

She shrugs. “After what I read about his initial arrest, he wasn’t supposed to have many assets left. The government took everything but the house and some other assets. So I’m guessing that money was come by illegally. We could turn it over to the authorities, or…”

“Or?”

“Donate it to a women’s shelter.”

I think a moment. “You said that Amber’s going to be arrested for your father’s murder, and now Jackson will likely go to jail for his new crimes. That leaves Jax with no parents. What about putting half in a trust for him and donating the other half?”

Daisy Ann nods. “Yes, I didn’t even know they had a son.”

“Yes, he’s innocent in all this. Only two years old. Such a shame.” I take a spoonful of chili. It tastes especially good in this moment. “This is heavenly.”

We spend the next hour chatting and getting to know each other while the girls take showers and change into the clothes Daisy Ann brought for them. Her thoughtfulness knows no bounds. Despite not being arrested, I’m still nervous about returning to Bishops Harbor. Who knows if DCF is going to understand why I ran with them. They could decide that I’m unfit. After everything I’ve been through, I can’t lose my children.

– 51 –

DAISY ANN

After Daphne and the girls left with the marshals, Daisy Ann drove straight to Rosewood, eager to be a witness to the FBI parading Amber out of the hotel in handcuffs. Mason had several friends in the FBI field office and was told they would be there at five o’clock. There was no guarantee that Amber wasn’t out shopping or doing whatever frivolous things Amber did, but eventually she’d have to come back, and Daisy Ann was prepared to wait there all night if necessary.

Daphne and the girls were headed back to Connecticut to get things straightened out with DCF before finally going back to California. They’d both promised to keep in touch. Daisy Ann felt an immediate kinship with Daphne from the first time she’d spoken to her. She thought back to that initial phone call from Jackson Parrish. Daisy Ann had been surprised to hear from him—her research into Amber had made her familiar with who he was. She had to admit, he was a smooth operator and if Daisy Ann didn’t have better instincts, she may have fallen for his story. It was a little over a month ago when the call came.

“Daisy Ann Briscoe?” the smooth deep voice came over the line.

“Yes, who’s this?”

“You don’t know me, ma’am. I’m Jackson Parrish and I believe we have a common enemy.”

She’d sat up straighter. “I know who you are. What do you want?”

“I want to help you, and I need you to help me.”

“You’re married to that con artist, and I don’t want anything to do with you.” She had been about to hang up, but his next words stopped her.

“I can help you prove she killed your father.”

“Go on.”

“She admitted it to me. I’ll testify but first you have to help me.”

“What did she tell you about my father?”

“That she shot him on purpose.”

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