The Storm

Chapter 14

Daisy

If Davis was 'a tad busy' in October, I would say he is positively swamped in November. He calculates that all the final touches on the Beana Home System will be finished for the December 1st rollout. I'm trying to be patient and supportive but it's hard sometimes. I miss him. He stumbles into bed around two in the morning and he's right back out at six. I'm sure Sabrina suffered the same during her time and probably waited with infinite grace for him to turn his attention back to her. 

I'm no Sabrina. 

I'm not sure what I am to him exactly. I refer to him as my boyfriend when talking to my sisters but he doesn't call me anything other than Daisy. I think perhaps I'm reading way too much into this though. Davis has been extremely busy with work. Gail and I have commiserated about our missing bedmates since Thomas is right in the thick of it too. Part of me wants to quiz her like a middle-schooler with a 'Has Davis said anything to Thomas about me?' kind of question but I'm too embarrassed to ask. 

So I concentrate on my other favorite Pedersen man, Archer. Billie exclaimed to me how far Archer has come in the past few months. He's more friendly, not as fearful and his vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. Although he still likes to crawl into bed with me early in the morning and cuddle. I've caught him twice slipping up and calling me Momma but thankfully Davis wasn't around. I corrected him and made a point to show him a picture of Sabrina, reminding him that she is his Momma. He has started calling her Momma Beans whenever I show him her picture. Davis has started to bring down pictures from the attic and display them. He has one of him and Sabrina in Archer's bedroom. I sometimes still get a twinge of jealousy when I look at the picture of them together. Sabrina was the love of his life, everyone says so. They even look like they belong together. But my stupid heart hates the thought. We all want to be the most important to someone I guess. I'm confident enough in Davis' feelings for me but there is that little part of me that always has a kernel of doubt. We haven't been able to spend time together in weeks. 

Stop.

I order the intrusive thoughts away. I'm trying very hard not to let the pain of other heartbreaks bleed over into our relationship. Davis is not ignoring me for another woman, he's working. Besides Davis wouldn't deliberately overlook me. He is always attentive to me when he's with me. 

When. 

I pace around the living room biting at the skin of my thumb as Archer is watching Paw Patrol. I re-read Davis' text messages to me. 

I miss you all the time. 

I'm going to try and weasel my way out early tonight. 

T-9 days till 12/1 then I'm putting you in traction :P

The doorbell rings and interrupts my obsessing. Ugh, being in love, undeclared love, is agonizing. I open the door to be greeted by Billie. I haven't seen her in about two weeks and Archer has been asking for her. 

"Hey Daisy!" she says, giving me a hug. Both Billie and Angelica have always treated me like I am their friend and not just Archer's nanny. I think they have guessed that my relationship with Davis has gone beyond employer and employee but I've never outright said anything. 

"Listen, I'm heading up to a harvest festival and early Christmas light show at Sugarfoot Farm. I wanted to take Archer with me. I'll keep him overnight. Do you mind?" she asks. 

"Archer," I call out. If I had to guess who Archer's favorite person in the world was besides his dad, it would be his Aunt Billie. Archer comes racing out of the living room. 

"Aunt Billeee," he screeches running into her arms. 

"Let me pack him a bag," I say with a laugh. I run upstairs and throw together some clothes in his Paw Patrol backpack. When I return downstairs, Archer has already got his coat on and is struggling with his shoes.