Pushing Up Daisies by Jamise L. Dames Page B

shouldn’t have come.” Daisy gestured toward the candles. “It seems you’re having company.”
    “You’re right. It’s been too long. And I am having company—you. I knew you were coming. Ming Li and Gigi arranged everything. I took the liberty of ordering some food. I hope you don’t mind. After dinner, I was hoping we could go out or something.”
    Something? Sure, something sounds good to me. I’ve wanted to do something with you forever.
    “I’d love to, but maybe another time. I have to get up in the morning and look for a job. And my being here isn’t exactly a good example for Jay.”
    Adonis stood up and gently pulled Daisy to her feet. “I promise not to keep you out too long. I know you’re busy…I know what happened. And your being here is the best thing for Jay, and for you. Better to be with someone who’s always cared for you than being alone. And it’d be good for Jay to have two people in his life who’ve always loved him. You haven’t forgotten that he’s always liked me. You also have my word as a man that I’ll have you home before bags form under your eyes.” He laughed as Daisy yanked her hand away and pushed him playfully.
    “What else do you promise?”
    Adonis smiled and winked. “Our dinner’s getting cold. Aren’t you coming?”
    I’d follow this man anywhere. She smiled as she walked beside the man she’d always dreamed of having at her side.

7
    T he day was ruined. Daisy had been planning to celebrate her first job, but the letter she was holding had crushed her mood. Social Security had denied Jay survivor benefits. She raked her fingers through her hair. “This can’t be right. No way.”
    She dialed Gigi at work. “I need you to come over right away.”
    “Daisy, you know I don’t get off until—”
    “Gigi, I’ve never asked you for anything. Swore that I wouldn’t. But now, for Jay’s sake, I’m asking you to come.”
    “Okay, I’ll make up some excuse. I’ll be right over.”
    “I’ll be waiting outside.”

    Confused, angry, and skeptical, Daisy paced the sidewalk waiting for her medication to slow her pulse. The house made her feel claustrophobic, as if the walls were swallowing her whole. Breathing didn’t come easily and she needed every ounce of air she inhaled, but more important, she needed answers, and someone was going to give them to her, even if that someone was Jasper’s mother. She stopped pacing when she saw Ming Li pull up with Gigi right behind her.
    “You two know, don’t you?”
    Gigi stopped in her tracks. “Know what?”
    “You know what I’m talking about. You two know. That’s why Ming Li’s here.”
    “I’m here because Gigi called me and told me something happened to Jay. What’s going on?”
    Damn. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know what the hell is real anymore. I’m talking about this.” Daisy held the envelope in the air.
    Gigi grabbed it and read. “Oh, God.”
    Ming Li took it from Gigi, glanced at it, and covered her mouth. “Oh, shit.”

    The three women sat thinking in Ming Li’s living room.
    Gigi finally broke the silence. “Okay, we gotta figure this out.”
    “It’s impossible,” Daisy said.
    “It’s a mistake, that’s what it is. A simple mistake.”
    “But what if it’s not?” Ming Li asked.
    “How could it not be?” Gigi replied.
    Daisy grabbed the letter from Ming Li. “I’m looking at it. It’s here.” She tapped the letter. “It’s right here, written in black and white.”
    “Computers make mistakes.”
    Daisy sighed. “Yeah, and people lie.”
    She read a portion aloud:
    Ms. Parker,
    We must regretfully decline your application for Surviving Child Benefits. Although you’ve submitted required notarized documents as evidence of paternity, our records on file at U.S. Social Security Administration indicate that the deceased, Jasper Stevens, is not the father of your son. Because our records, as well as your son’s original birth certificate, which we have on file,