The Lonely Widow (Completed) (Editing)

Chapter 5

          Luke stormed into the house after following Daisy home and slammed the door closed behind him. He was angry. He’d taken her to see Brandon’s family and she’d just run off like that. He’d followed her around the corner after speaking with Lee and then he’d caught up with her, but had slowed down to trail behind her. She’d obviously had a lot of thinking to do, and he didn’t want to cause a scene in the street.

        “Daisy Carter, get your backside down here, now!” he shouted up the stairs, giving her the chance to surrender herself willingly. He was already sick of fighting with her.

        “My name is not Daisy Carter, Luke, so stop calling me it! I’m a Cole and I have been for nearly 9 months now. Get used to it.” Daisy appeared at the top of the stairs, but refused to come down.

        “Yeah, okay, you’re a Cole. So, why won’t you go see Brandon’s parents? You should be there with them, grieving together. You’ve all lost someone close to you.”

        Daisy knew he was right. “So, what? I’d rather get through this on my own. I planned his funeral on my own, didn’t I?”

        This took Luke by surprise. “You’ve planned his funeral already?”

        She nodded and slumped down to sit on the top step. “Yeah, it’s organised for next Tuesday.”

        Sarah, Joe and Lindsay had been listening on and Sarah gasped. “Have you even told Nick and Maggie? They deserve to know when their son’s funeral is going to be.”

        Daisy shook her head. “No. I was going to tell them today when Luke took me to see them, but-”

        “But what, Daisy?” Lee interrupted. “But you chickened out and legged it. Why?”

        Daisy remained silent, thinking about Brandon and the last time she’d seen him.

        “Daisy, if you don’t tell me, I’ll drag you round there now. And don’t think I won’t, ‘cause I will.” Luke told her sternly.

        She knew she was being stupid, but the last time someone had told her that everything was going to be okay, well, it wasn’t okay. Brandon broke that promise and she wasn’t going to let it happen again.

        “Daisy” Lindsay warned. “Why don’t you tell us why you ran off earlier?”

        “Because I know it was stupid.”

        “Well tell us, then, and maybe we’ll understand and it won’t seem so silly.”

        She sighed and slumped back against the wall. “Luke told me everything was going to be okay.”

        “Yeah, and it will.” Lindsay replied.

        “But that’s what Brandon said.” She whispered, barely audible.

        Lindsay opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. No-one had thought of that.

        “That’s exactly what he told me the day he left. And, now look where he is. How can I believe anyone that says that everything will be okay when the last person to tell me that is in a box in the funeral home?”

        Luke sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Right, I’m sorry for saying that, but you can’t run off like that when things get tough. You’re going to need to be strong, Daisy.”

        “Don’t you think I know that? But I’ve got to do this on my own.” She stood up and made her way to her bedroom, Luke following her.