“Um…is there even a question? It has to be here. I can feel it.” This from Melanie.
I started to reply only to pause when I sensed the whip of energy in the air and a rustle in the branches above.
My attention darted up to the tree, and I peered through the leaves, praying I was imagining things. That the direction my worry went was unwarranted.
Getting riled up for nothing.
But no.
My instinct was spot on because dark eyes stared down at me, her smile bigger than her surroundings where she was high up in the towering tree.
My heart bottomed out, and a blaze of fear went streaking across my skin. “Daisy. What do you think you’re doing up there?”
“Hi, Mommy! I’m just checking out the weddings plans for your friend. Hi, are you my mommy’s friend? You gonna get married?” she shouted from where she had climbed about halfway up and then out onto a thick branch, the child leaning over it and peering down.
My little daredevil.
Emily giggled though it was in discomfort. “Why, hello there. Are you supposed to be all the way up in that tree?”
Emily shot me a worried look.
“Oh, my,” Mabel wheezed.
“No, she is most definitely not supposed to be all the way up in that tree,” I scolded, my words meant for Daisy.
She knew better.
On top of that, I’d told her to stay in the house with her papa while I worked. The last thing I needed was her getting in the middle of this.
Getting close.
Involved.
Mixed in with the people who I had lost.
I couldn’t handle it.
“Get down, right now. And be careful when you’re doing it,” I all but hissed, trying not to point to the ground and stamp my foot, or worse yet, break down and cry.
I could feel the surge of concern.
The way the air shifted and shook.
A shimmer of protectiveness.
I gulped, squeezed my eyes, tried to pretend that the man wasn’t there.
Encroaching.
Coming closer.
“Ahh, Mommy. You’re no fun. None ats all. Dontcha know life is supposed to be fun and full of the adventures? ’Sides, Papa said you used to climb this tree all the time. Never listenin’ to a word you were told.” She said it like I was the troublemaker.
“Do you like adventures?” She was back to talking to Emily who was still staring up at her.
“Yes, I love adventures. But you must be careful when doing them,” Emily encouraged her.
Daisy started to climb down, talking while she did, “Like a weddin’ adventure?”
“Yup.”
“You need a pretty flower girl? I got new pretty shoes. You wanna see? I put them on so I could shows you. And I’m the best dancer. You think you want me to be in your weddin’ like my mommy?”
I pressed my hand to my forehead. Oh, god, what in the world was she doing? Wearing her dress shoes up there and inviting herself to be in a wedding?
You are so gonna be in time-out, I silently shouted.
“Oh, oh, well,” Emily stammered, trying to hold back a laugh. “I’m sure you would make such a pretty flower girl, but guess what? Royce has a little girl who is just about your age, and we were hoping she might get to be the flower girl as long as everything works out just right. But maybe you could help with everyone getting signed in on the guest book? I bet you would be great at that and so pretty doin’ it.”
Daisy squealed, her excitement a torpedo through the air. “Yes! I would be so good at that, I’m bettin’. I got a dollar. I’m so excited. You wanna see my shoes? I can get different ones if you want me to, but I like these ones the best!”
She started to rush, coming down fast.
My pulse spiked.
“Daisy, be careful!”
And I wondered if I’d seen it coming all along because that was the same second the slick sole of her shoe slipped off the branch she stepped down onto.
The child losing footing.
Losing hold.
She screamed as she started to fall through the dense branches.
My spirit groaned in a plea of agony.
A moaning from deep within as I stood there helpless.
My breath hitched when she caught onto one and held it by a single hand, but she was dangling way up high, and my heart was on the ground as terror took hold of every cell.
“Daisy. Don’t let go.” The words barely broke free from the fear locking up my throat.
Mabel whimpered.
“Oh, god,” Emily whispered as everyone rushed forward.
“Shit,” Royce grunted. He darted for the tree and started to scale it. “Hang on, Daisy.”
“Don’t let go. Hold on,” I shouted, finally freeing the sound locked in my throat.
I rushed for the trunk of the tree, following behind Royce and shouting, “Hold on, baby. Hold on. We’re comin’ for you.”
But she was screaming. Screaming my name. “Mommy! I slippin’.”
No.
No. No. No. Her hold broke.
A whorl of black hair streaked through my vision.
My turmoil filled the air. “Daisy!” I screamed, trying to get to her but knowing there was no chance.
Out of reach.
Too late. Too late.
The Earth spun, and the ground quaked.
Dread took hold.
Because I knew it.
Knew she was too high. She was too high and I knew this was going to end bad and there was absolutely nothin’ I could do.
The air whipped and dust flew where she made impact.
The magnitude of it brought me to my knees. I went for her, feeling like I was crawlin’ through the rubble, moving in slow motion toward where she had fallen.
This child who was the world.
My reason.
My joy.
My light.
I’d almost made it to her by the time the dust settled.
I realized it wasn’t just Daisy.
He was there.
The child was in a ball against Richard’s chest.
“Oh god,” I whimpered, shocked and unsure and trying to process what it was that I was seeing.
Wondering if I was hallucinating to save myself from the grief.
Sobs ripping from my throat, I climbed to
