Behind the Scenes

Chapter Nine- Surprises.

~Daniel's point of view~

~Six months later~

That weekend with Poppy was incredible. The shitty part is we didn't get to talk. We spent both Saturday and Sunday in bed, but we sure as fuck were not talking. We only made it out of bed when my alarm went off, letting me know it was time to start getting ready to head back out. She got up and went straight to her room, and I packed. I did get to tell her a proper goodbye. I replay that weekend over and over in my head. I haven't been home since.

I talk to her and Avery every day. Something has changed, and I don't know what. Avery is still Avery, but he is holding something back. Poppy has definitely changed. Our conversations are very different now; I know that King moved three streets over. He retired for good and wanted to maintain a relationship with them. He handles all the stuff with Keith. That has been often. His injury was worse than they thought, and he has been out longer than expected.

King hasn't said anything. He and I talk a lot. We talk a lot because of Avery and Keith. He did tell me Keith still calls and texts Poppy. That I can't stop, he is Avery's dad. I was never more thrilled when the writers came to me and said I was going to be put in angle with Alan and that I was going to come up "missing" for a bit. That's means I am going to be written off TV for a while. This is normally done at the worker's request. I didn't request it, but I sure as hell won't turn it down. I need to see my family. Facetime isn't enough.

King knows I am coming home. He is picking me up from the airport. I took an Uber to the airport. I try not to leave vehicles at the airport. It doesn't matter how much money I have; that shit is expensive, and I hate paying for it. I was on the other end of the country. That means three connecting flights. Each one gets me closer to Poppy and Avery. I am sitting at my last one, which comes with a two-hour layover. I refrain from calling either of them because they will pick up that I am at an airport.

George: "Daniel?"

I look up and see George. He irks my fucking nerves. I will never regret having Poppy come into my life. Her family is a very different story. Her dad went back to drinking and drank himself to death. George got a contract with a different company but one just as big and forgot that he even had a sister or nephew. He hasn't seen them in over a decade.

Daniel: "George."

George: "Where are you headed?"

Daniel: "Home."

George: "I wish I were. I am getting too old for this shit."

Daniel: "I hear ya. I got two years left on my contract, and I am done. I got more important things I need to do."

George: "My sister and my nephew?"

Daniel: "Are none of your fucking business."

George: "I've heard rumors, Daniel. I know you're with Poppy."

Daniel: "When was the last time you talked to your sister?"

George: "That's not the point. Do you know how hard it was to know the little I raised was a whore that got pregnant at sixteen?"

It's taking everything I have had to not knock the shit out of him.

Daniel: "You believe rumors that she and I are together and that she is a whore, but you don't know the truth. Keith is Avery's father. It's known now, and he doesn't deny it if asked. He raped and beat your sister for years. You sure as fuck didn't hear those fucking rumors, though, did you?"