Page 132 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
“Listen to me, Laura Nealon. You are about to have a baby. And it will be the most special baby in the whole world, because you will be its mother! So if Stephanie, or anyone else wants to throw you a baby shower, you’re going to embrace it. Do all the good stuff and treasure all the memories!”
Laura blinked hard. “How long have you been saving up that speech?”
“I never thought I’d be saying it to you.”
“Fine, I’ll have the shower. But only if you come.”
“Nothing would keep me away.”
“And you have to be godmother. And promise that you’ll never buy a single sensible present.”
Daisy started to laugh. “It’ll make a change from buying for Rosie’s kids.”
“So, how are you? And how did your mum and dad’s anniversary party go? I would have loved to be there. “ Laura had been too sick to travel. “Did Kayley come through?”
“She performed two songs,” Daisy said proudly. “We recorded the whole thing, so Dad can look back at it anytime he wants! I swear, Mum and Dad’s reaction when she appeared on that stage was even better than the performance. Apart from the song James accompanied her on, which was pretty amazing!”
Laura’s eyes widened. “Wow, I’m sorry I missed that.
“I’ll show you the video,” Daisy said. “She even hung around for a while afterwards. Stuck to Cokes all night, by the way.”
Laura grinned. “That should help squash a few rumours! So, was she the highlight of the evening?”
“Not quite.” Daisy stuck out her hand to show off the emerald ring. “It’s official: we’re joining each other’s family WhatsApp groups.”
“Oh my God!” Laura inspected the ring. “Vintage?”
Daisy nodded. “He proposed before the party!”
“And this is what you want? You’re sure? I mean, that night the four of us went out, the tension between you two was insane!”
Daisy flushed, remembering how angry she’d been with James that night, how secretly thrilled she’d been when she’d bumped into Matt. She’d seen it as another sign. It had been: asign to sort things out with James, rather than expect Matt to be the solution to her problems!
“I didn’t realise how much I loved him until I said yes, Laura. And how much he loves me too! But the best thing is, he’s not onebitlike Matt!”
Laura flashed her a stern look. “So that demon is completely exorcised?”
“Banished forever!” Daisy sighed. “I think things were supposed to work out like this. I mean, I’m sickened for James that he lost his job. And I hate what Matt did. But at least now I know what happened five years ago. I always felt ...” she swallowed hard. “I always doubted myself, wondering what I’d done to make Matt leave like that.”
“Well, now you know: it was all James’ fault.”
“Laura!”
“Joking!”
“But that’s why Brian has always been a bit weird around James, isn’t it?” Daisy met Laura’s eyes. “Hey, it doesn’t matter, they don’t have to be best of friends just because we are.”
“No.” Laura spoke slowly. “Daisy, there’s something I never told you, and I think I should have …” She stopped, her eyes sliding away.
Daisy frowned. “What?”
“Daisy, promise me you’ll keep in mind that I never, ever meant to hurt you?”
“Okay.” Daisy’s stomach cramped nervously.
Laura wrapped her arms around her slender frame. “That party, the summer Matt was away? I stayed that night. And the following morning, I bumped into Brian as I was coming out of the house.” She looked up. “It was just bad timing. He was passing the house on his way to that little pharmacy on the corner, remember it?”
“I remember it.” Daisy could hear her heart thumping.
