The Storm

Chapter 12

Daisy

"Push Push!" Archer yells as he sways back and forth on the swing. I'm standing behind him, taking in the last of the September sunshine. I give him a little push and sigh. Four months I've been Archer's nanny and one thing is abundantly clear. 

I'm pretty sure I'm in love with his father. Archer has had my heart since the day he crawled into my lap. His dad has been winning it for the last few weeks. Although I have to say it is strange to be courted by a man you are basically playing house with. Davis still takes me out every weekend on dates, brings me flowers, and spoils me in ways that quite frankly, I'm unaccustomed to. 

I've been in love before and it's been good. But after a couple of heartbreaks, my heart is a little gun-shy to jump completely in headfirst. So, for every good, swoonable moment is the little voice in my head reminding me that it won't last. 

Especially with Davis. 

Davis is a widower and I'm the first one to date him since his wife died. That fact alone makes me extra nervous. I'm sure there will be some wildly sophisticated career-minded woman who will come along and dazzle him. She will seduce him with her sharp wit and educated insights on a variety of subjects. She will understand all about business trips and what to wear when he introduces her to a client. They will go on meaningful dates and have deep-rooted discussions about serious issues. 

It's not that I think I'm stupid or uninteresting, I just don't think I'm his 'type' compared to his late wife. She's the shadow I always feel I'm standing in when I'm with him. And the most ironic part about all of this is that he does absolutely nothing to even make me think that he compares me to her. It's my own fucked up way of thinking. I compare myself to Sabrina and find myself lacking. Just from the stories Davis tells me from time to time, it seems like Sabrina always had her act together. She knew she wanted to be a lawyer since the ninth grade. She had a solid plan for after high school and went on to achieve everything she set her mind to. 

I dropped out of college, twice; failed my driving test three times before I passed; and accidentally dyed my hair bubble gum pink. I'm not exactly driven. 

I guess I just want to be someone's main priority. To be loved for all the things I am, not for what I'm missing. Lukas' parting shot when we broke up sticks with me. 

"I want someone with goals, Daisy. You seem to be waiting to life to happen." 

Lukas wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and if I had been in love with him that statement might have hurt more than it did. But he was right. I was waiting for life to happen because I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen. 

"Slide, Day-dee," Archer cries, pointing. I lift him out and watch with a smile as he runs over to climb up onto the slide. 

"Daisy!" I hear someone call me. I turn and spot Poppy Frederickson walking toward me. Poppy is another nanny who frequents the park around the same time I do. Her charge, a little boy named Ronin is the same age as Archer. They like playing together. Poppy is about two years younger than me and has the most beautiful green eyes and black hair I have ever seen. 

"Hey Poppy, what's up?" I greet her, watching Ronin follow Archer up the stairs to the slide. Poppy and I take our positions at the end of the slide to catch them. Archer has a bad habit of going head first down the slide. 

"I was telling Ronin's mom how much he likes playing with Archer. She wanted me to ask you if she could bring him over for a play date?" Poppy asks. 

"That would be great. We have a giant backyard with a playset. I think the boys would love it! Tell her yes, anytime," I reply. I'm eternally grateful to Poppy. When I first started bringing Archer to the playground, she was the first person to reach out and introduce herself. She has been a nanny for ten years and gave me some good advice. Although I almost cringed when she told me 'Whatever you do, don't flirt with the dad. It never ends well.'