Page 21 of The Kiss

Mum’s narrowed eyes flicker to him. “If you pulled your head out of your arse ... I mean, office, once in a while, you’d know the answers to both those questions.”

“He’s not mine,” Poppy tells him. “This cutie patootie belongs to Daisy.”

“Who the hell is Daisy?” he counters.

“Me,” a small, squeaky voice says from beside me as Daisy raises her marshmallow hand in the air.

My father frowns, his gaze shifting to her before settling on me. “Is that baby yours?”

“No,” Daisy, Bennett, Poppy and I all answer at the same time. It’s kind of freaky.

My Dad lifts a shoulder, apparently satisfied with that answer, before striding over to Mum and resting a hand on her shoulder. “Is that why you’re crying? Because the boys still haven’t made you a grandmother? It’ll happen one day, love. Give it time.”

“That isn’t the reason for my tears, you fool. I’m crying because I just found out Nolan mows lawns.”

Dad blinks at her in confusion, and I bark out a laugh.

Once my father is caught up to speed, we all move to the formal dining room for dinner.

Poor Daisy just stares down at the plate in front of her, so I place my knife and fork down, pull her plate towards me, and cut up her food.

The table goes dead quiet, which is unusual for us. When I glance up, I find every pair of eyes on me. My mother is clutching her chest again. “What?” I ask. “Do you expect me to sit here and let her starve?”

“Rosalita,” my father calls.

“Yes, Mr Sinclair,” she says a moment later as she enters the dining room.

“Could you cut Daisy’s food for her, please, so Nolan can eat his dinner?”

“Leave him,” Mum chimes in, glancing over her shoulder at Rosalita. “He’s doing a wonderful job. Cut my food up instead, and hand me the baby, will you?”

“You can’t wait until you’re finished eating?” Dad grumbles.

“No, Maxwell, I can’t,” she snaps. “If this is the closest I’m going to get to a grandbaby, I’m taking it.”

“Thank you,” Daisy whispers as I move the plate back in front of her.

“You think you can manage with a fork, darlin’, or do you need me to feed you as well?”

Her cheeks flush pink. “I can manage.”

As I go to resume eating, my phone chimes. I slide it out of my pocket and glance down at the screen to see a message from an unknown number.

Unknown number: Nolan, it’s Mabel. Two detectives just knocked on my door looking for Daisy. They said she’s been listed as a missing person. They asked if I know where she is.

Me: What did you tell them?

Unknown number: I lied, of course. I’ve been dealing with the law for years, thanks to my eldest, Ricky. I don’t trust those bastards as far as I can kick them. Plus, I owe Daisy for not telling Stan about the ciggies. The cops left a card, which I threw away, but I thought I’d let you know in case she doesn’t want to be found.

I push back my chair and stand.

“Where are you going?” Dad asks.

Instead of answering him, I look down at Daisy. “The detectives just left Puff’s place. They’re looking for you.” Her face turns ghostly white. “Do you know you’ve been listed as a missing person?”

Chapter 9

Daisy