“About this case?”
“No. I’d like to know if what Zeke said at the bonfire is making the rounds at the station. I got some odd looks when I came in.”
Rappaport rubbed his hand down his face. “Jonas, you know how this goes. You know how gossip flies. I’ll step on it when I get the chance. I’ll try to remind these men they wouldn’t want their personal history put up on a screen or an assignment board. But gossip is gossip. It will die down . . . eventually.”
Daisy wondered if eventually was one month, two months, six months? If Jonas and Zeke were around each other in the same town, would it die down at all?
Detective Rappaport laid his hands on the table and pushed himself to his feet. “I have paperwork on top of paperwork to fill out. And I have to check with the chief first and see if he needs backup at urgent care with Cooper. I’m sure you two can find your way out.”
He opened the door and left it open.
* * *
Jonas drove Daisy home in his SUV. She assured him that she could find someone to take her to pick up her car the next day.
They were silent as he drove. When they reached her house and pulled up the driveway, they both sighed. There were cars there and lights on in the house.
“I see your aunt’s car . . . and Tessa’s,” Jonas said.
“My parents’ car. And maybe Gavin’s.” Daisy sighed. “The garage apartment is dark too,” Daisy noted. “That means Vi and Foster and the baby are over at my house.”
“Are you up for this?” Jonas asked.
“I have to be.”
After they went inside, all of Daisy’s family came around, hugging her with tears in their eyes, saying how happy they were that she was all right, that nothing had happened to her. Even Gavin was there with Ben and Emily. He’d wanted to make sure she was unhurt and safe.
Daisy simply wanted to go to bed, but she felt the love and care these people were giving her, and she couldn’t just desert the group. Her mom, her aunt, and Tessa had set out refreshments. They’d made iced tea, sandwiches, coleslaw, and fixed a tray of snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies. Daisy tried to get around to talk with everyone. Jonas, however, didn’t stay by her side. He must have felt she had enough support and didn’t need him too. He seemed to be on the fringes. She was worried about what he was dealing with and how it was going to affect them. When she could, Daisy took Sammy in her arms. Smelling that baby shampoo, having his warm infant body against hers, she felt as if her soul was filling up again.
At one point when Daisy was standing in the kitchen rocking Sammy, her mom came to her and gave them both a huge hug. “I’m not going to say anything about what happened today,” her mom said. “I know you were only trying to help. But plans we make get scrambled, and other things happen. Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be so we learn lessons.”
Her mother’s attitude seemed different since they’d talked about her postpartum depression. She hoped they could continue to talk. She might as well tell her mother about the gossip Jonas was battling. She’d hear it sooner or later. “Mom, when Jonas and I went to the bonfire . . .”
Her mom waved her hand up and down. “You don’t have to say it. I heard about it. They’ll never know who the father is, will they?”
Daisy shook her head. “No, and that’s tearing up Jonas inside.”
“You know, Christmas is coming,” her mom said. “There’s always hope for Christmas miracles.”
Daisy could only believe her mother was right.
Shortly after her talk with her mother, Gavin and his family left along with her mom and dad. They saw that Daisy was tired. Next, Aunt Iris and Tessa took their leave with big hugs and the support that Daisy depended upon. Daisy and Vi had a short talk about what had happened, then Daisy shooed Vi and Foster back to their apartment. Finally, Jonas and Jazzi were the only ones left.
Jazzi took a look at the two of them. “I’m going upstairs with the cats.” She gave her mother a wink.
Jonas lifted Daisy’s chin. “Take a bubble bath, get some rest, try to block out everything that happened today.”
“I don’t want to block out running into your arms. I finally felt safe. I didn’t even feel that safe with Detective Rappaport.”
Looking conflicted, Jonas’s brows drew together as he said, “Daisy, this thing with Zeke . . . I need to sort it out. Can you bear with me?”
She didn’t move her gaze from his. “Maybe we have to practice going through thick and thin.”
After a moment, he nodded. “Maybe we do. But I think in the next week or so, like Zeke, I’m going to take a trip.”
Her heart sank. “Where?”
“I think to Flagstaff, Arizona. I can drive north to the Grand Canyon or south to Sedona. I need to think and I need some of those good vibes out there while I’m doing it.”
The trip sounded reflective and positive. “You’ll be back for Christmas?”
Jonas smiled tenderly at her. “I’ll definitely be back for Christmas. I wouldn’t miss Sammy’s first Christmas.”
Daisy didn’t want Jonas to miss any part of her family life, but she did have to give him time. If she did, maybe they’d have the rest of their lives to celebrate many more Christmases.
ORIGINAL RECIPES
Apple Gingerbread
1 cup sour cream (I use Daisy Pure and
Natural)
¾ cup dark brown sugar
⅓ cup dark Karo syrup
¼ cup water
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2½ cups flour
2 cups diced apples
Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans (unless they are
