Page 104 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Where are you, Daisy?
In the swirl of faces, she began to feel overwhelmed. So many people, so many potential threats thanks to her uncle’s wide web of contacts… As she spotted Demi’s cousin Rex chatting with some friends near the locker rooms, she nearly burst into tears. Then, catching eyes with Demi herself, she broke.
“Candace?!”
In a blur, Candace fell into Demi’s arms. Her adrenaline hit its peak, and she came crashing down into a puddle of tears and blubbered explanations. Demi wrapped her up in a dryhoodie, holding tight while doing her best to make sense of everything.
“That disgusting toad! He’s evil, but I never thought he would try to pull a Britney Spears on you. You’re okay now, we won’t let them touch you.”
Rex promised, “How about we touch them some with our fists and make things even, yeah?”
A couple of the other cousins chorused in agreement.TheiaThea warned, “No violence. Unless you can make it look like an accident.”
Candace laughed, but she was not entirely sure the woman was joking. The friendly, familiar faces gathered around her, forming a sort of protective barrier. The Panopoulos family, from Demi to hertheia, reliable clutz Tina and the rest of the extended relatives… Rio was there with Katina, too, in their classic overalls and graphic tee… Dotty ambled over, along with a fresh-out-of-hospital Norman and some of his senior friends… Even Ted Cando, with his fiancée Maddie at his side, joined the commotion.
For the first time in a long while, maybe ever, Candace remembered what it was like to have people in her corner. However, one person, the one who mattered most, was missing.
“Where’s Daisy?”
Demi and Rio shared a long look. The pair explained that Daisy had been looking for Candace, and had lied about having a ride.
“But that was hours ago,” Demi worried. “And she’s not picking up her phone. It just keeps on ringing.”
Ted interjected, “I let the Coast Guard know we may have people still trapped on the island. If we figure out where she is, they can send a rescue boat out for her. The best thing we can do is stay put, and…”
Candace nodded as Ted went on. Yet, the textbook platitudes went in one ear, out the other. The chant of denial that filled the space was not much better.
Nonono…
This was a nightmare. But she was awake, and, as always, she needed a plan. Candace sucked in a breath while she surveyed the faces around her. So many people gathered to help, offering encouragement. Except for one.
Spying on them from behind a bleacher, Janice tried to hide and only made herself even more obvious. Candace charged. Thanks to backup from Rio, Katina, and the linebacker-sized Panopoulos cousins, the woman could not slip away. She trembled in her ugly floral sweater as Candace greeted her with a feral grin.
“Hey there, office buddy. Texting my uncle?”
Without waiting for a response, Candace plucked the woman’s phone from her hands. She confirmed her suspicion and sent out a quick“fuck you”before handing the device back. Janice scowled.
“You need help, Candy. Mr. Perry is a good man. He only wants what’s best for you.”
“What’s best for me?” Candace laughed at the complete conviction before her. It was all she could do in the face of such upsetting ignorance when she knew nothing would change the sycophant’s mind. Instead, she clapped back, “What’s best for me is a tall, tanned, gorgeous grump of a woman who bakes like a goddess and fucks me better than any man ever could. So unless you know where Daisy is—”
The way she showed emotion, Janice would have made a fabulous stage actor. With her eyes bulging outside her thin rectangular specs, face white as a sheet, and mouth pursed tight, she was the personification of guilt.
“Spit it out. You’ve seen her, haven’t you?”
“T-that woman,” Janice sputtered, “she’s trouble, always has been. It’s about time Mr. Perry ended her lease. Bagels... Too much carbs will make you fat, you kn—”
Candace slammed her palm against the bleacher.“Where. Is. She?”
“It’s her fault! She came barging in right as we wereevacuating and demanded that I tell her where you were. Of course I wouldn’t! Then pier security came, and—”
Realization crashed into Candace.
“You left her there.” Growling, shaking the woman, Candace repeated,“You fucking left her at the pier!?”
“There was a lot going on, and…”
While Janice continued spouting excuses, Candace turned to Demi and the others. She was as hopeful as she was devastated. Daisy was locked in the fun pier offices, trapped where drunks and mischievous teenagers were held until the police could deal with them. If the place was not flooded, orworse, it would be soon.
