Page 29 of Miss Fortune

“I’ll be sure to call Dr. Lucas. Don’t worry.”

Right. She’d call the doctor. Made sense.

* * *

I was restless once I arrived home. Not even while sitting on my back patio, where I could typically decompress, was I able to stop worrying about Daisy. Maybe I’d drop by tomorrow. Which might be nice if my ulterior motive wasn’t an excuse to see her again. Perhaps a text would be better, in order to check in and ensure she was okay. It was definitely the more professional route to take.

Having decided this prudent course of action, I went online and ordered a pizza for delivery. Although I meal prepped and was strict about my diet during the week, on the weekends I ate whatever I wanted.

As I sat down to take my first bite, my cell phone rang, flashing Doris’s number. I instantly wondered if she’d heard about Daisy’s injury and was concerned.

“Hello.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you on a Saturday night.”

“Don’t be. I’m just sitting at home.” I always had time for her, especially since she was recovering from surgery. “How are you feeling? Recovery going well?”

“Yes, yes. Physical therapy is a pain, literally, but I’m managing. Anyhow, the reason I’m calling is I heard the most distressing news about Daisy going to the event today with Eric from the office, and there being a scene involving Wendy. I wanted to find out if it was true.”

Word sure traveled fast. “She arrived with him, yes. As for the scene in question, you should call her.”

“I tried, but it went to voicemail.”

Probably because she was resting. Since I didn’t want to alarm Doris, I chose not to mention the fall, her cut, or stitches. It was Daisy’s business if she decided to share what happened or not.

“Eric is not the man for my Daisy. Especially given all of the Wendy drama.”

“I couldn’t say.” Of course I could, but I didn’t dare start opining on the matter for fear some of my earlier jealousy might become apparent.

“I also heard she didn’t leave with him?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. At this point, I had to go for some honesty. “No, I gave her a ride.”

“Oh, good. I was hoping you two would hit it off.”

“Doris, we haven’t— I mean I would do the same for anyone there who needed a ride.” Liar.

“Of course, of course, I wouldn’t dream of suggesting otherwise. I just worry about her.”

“Why? Is something wrong?” My mind flashed back to her thick medical file.

“No, no, but she’s a young girl from the Midwest who is far too trusting sometimes. I watch those Law and Order shows on television, so my brain gets to going. She has this list of things she wants to do in and around LA, and I start worrying about her going alone or with the wrong person.”

Dammit, now she had me worrying too. I thought about how Daisy had revealed she was naturally clumsy. What if she went and fell on a hike, and there was no one around?

“Yeah, she should be careful,” I murmured, already contemplating the items I’d seen on her list. Several hikes had been written.

“Definitely. What she needs is a friend she can hang out with on the weekends. You know, someone who can show her around LA. Anyhow, I’ll let you go. I’ll be sure to catch up with Daisy tomorrow and definitely tell her to stay away from Eric going forward. Appreciate you taking good care of her and ensuring she got home safely.”

“Yeah. Of course. Take care, Doris.”

Would it be weird if I invited myself along for one of Daisy’s hikes next Saturday? I enjoyed hiking, and I knew all the spots around LA. Doris would worry less, and so would I.

Chapter Fourteen

Daisy

The next morning my arm was sore, but not hot to the touch. A good sign there was no infection. I showered and, after washing the wound gently, decided today would be a lounge-around-the-apartment kind of day. I didn’t have many days where I did nothing. After spending my adolescence bound by physical limitations and feeling left out of everything, I spent each day now ensuring I lived every minute to its fullest.