Small Town Lights

Chapter 3

Callie

I woke up the next day on Daisy's couch. I made an unflattering grunting noise as I sat up. I grabbed my head when pain shot through it. Hangovers suck. "Good morning," Daisy singsong as she walked into the room. I glared at her.

"I hate you," I growled.

Daisy laughed. "I told you to slow down last night but you weren't having it. The crying definitely did not help I'm sure," she sat on the couch beside him.

I put my head in my hands, "stop yelling, please. How bad was the crying?" I asked trying not to look at her directly.

"Not too bad. You just told us how much you felt like you screwed everything up," she shrugged "Oh! and how you still love Colt," she said matter-of-factly.

I groaned, "great," I flopped back on the couch.

"I have to get to the bakery. Your mom called already and I told her to bring Maddy there and you can pick her up whenever you are feeling better," she stood up.

"Thanks, Daisy... For everything," I smiled genuinely at her. She really was the best friend a girl could have.

"I'll see you later." She walked out the front door and I laid back down on the couch. Maybe closing my eyes for a few hours would get rid of this headache.

I woke up three hours later feeling better but still not completely normal. I knew that I couldn't spend the whole day on Daisy's couch all day. Responsibilities were the norm in my life. I sighed and got up and realized that my car was at home. I had ridden to graduation with my parents yesterday and then to the bar with Daisy and Tucker. I was happy that I only lived a block away. I guess I would be walking off the rest of this wonderful hangover.

Another hour later, I had gotten home, showered and dressed, and was headed to The Pastry Sheet, the bakery Daisy owned, to get Maddy. Daisy had been running the bakery and for almost a year now and Maddy loved going there nearly every morning to get a strawberry tart. They were her favorite and Daisy made the best.

I walked into the shop and instantly saw my mom sitting at the furthest back table. I walked up to her, "Where's Maddy?"

"In the back helping Daisy mix the dough for cookies," she answered me. I sat down with her.

"Mom, Thank you for watching her last night. I hope you know that I appreciate everything you and Daddy do for Maddy and me," I smiled at her. She put a hand on my hand that was on the table.

"We do it because we love you. It is an honor to be there for you, Callie. Maddy is our only grandchild and we are so very proud of you. It may not have been ideal to get pregnant when you did but you made the most of it and took responsibility. And Maddy is turning out amazingly," she stroked my cheek with her free hand like she always did when I was little. I felt the tears welling in my eyes as I smiled at her.

"Momma!" Maddy yelled as she came racing toward me from the kitchen. "Daisy let me eat some of the cookie dough," she told me excitedly as I picked her up and put her on my hip.

"Callie," Daisy called from behind the counter. She waved me over.

"What's up?" I asked her as I approached the counter.

"Can you help me with the site? I'm not seeing orders again," she sighed as she handed a box of what I assume was donuts to a customer with a smile. I nodded my head. Daisy took orders online and delivered them as far as Augusta. When she decided she wanted to do that she asked me to create her website and of course I did free of charge. I was now fixing it free of charge whenever she needed me to. Not that I minded. I love what I do. There was a reason that I went to school to do it. When I got done fixing the problem, I walked out of the backroom to find Maddy eating a cupcake. I rolled my eyes. I was almost positive Daisy had given it to her judging by the look on her face. Daisy's goal every day was to get Maddy to love her a little more than she loved anyone else. Most days I felt like it worked.