“Daisy…” he said, taking a step closer and reaching out toward her.
Daisy shook her head and moved out of reach. “I’m fine. I’ve spoken to Analise. I’ve spoken to Emmalyn. And they’ve both spoken to me. I’m handling it, and they are helping when I need it.”
“What makes them any different than me?” Brandt asked, truly offended.
“Brandt, they’re females. They get it. You’re a male. All you will want to do is run out and beat everybody.”
“Everybody?! There’s more than one?!” Brandt demanded.
“Yes! No! Not exactly! Just let me handle my stuff my way, okay? I’m healing. Allow me that.” Daisy didn’t wait for him to reply, she headed back into the small building through the temporary back door they’d put in.
Instead of following her, Brandt walked around the building, but hesitated when he got to the front. His mother stood speaking quietly with Lucien. Lucien’s hand rested on her shoulder. Brandt slowed his heartbeat to better hear what they were saying, and stood perfectly still as he began to pick up quietly whispered words.
“She’s never confided in me, but I know whatever it was, it almost took her down for good. She just started getting outa little more when Analise came back home. She’s made really good progress lately, but still won’t discuss it with me.”
“Was it a male?” Lucien asked.
“I can only assume. Daisy has always been my gentle, trusting child. For her to refuse to speak of what happened, and keep it buried deep inside, I would almost think it has to have been a male, or a man. But what I can tell you is that this is no usual break up. Whatever it was shattered her, and there are times she’s still hesitant to leave home for anything. Thank the gods her cousins all started coming home. They’re the only reason she’s begun to venture out again.”
“Do you know where she was living while she was away?” Lucien asked.
“Yes, she was living in the dorms at the university in New Orleans. She only had a couple of hours of classes to finish and get her degree, but she abandoned all of it.”
Lucien smiled. “Well, she’s home now. And it sounds like her cousins have rallied around her, and are helping her find herself again. I’m sure it will be fine.”
Janie nodded.
“Thanks for talking with me,” Lucien said. “I’m not anything near a healer, but I know pain when I see it. I just felt like I needed to help, though I know it’s not my place.” Lucien walked away, only making it five or six steps before Janie called him.
“Lucien?”
He stopped and looked back at her. “Yeah?” he asked.
“When you find him, them or whatever it is that you find… kill them as slowly and painfully as you can. I want them terrified, horrified, as they slowly die. And make sure they know it’s because of what they did to my baby.”
Lucien smiled coldly. “I never planned on anything other than that.”
“Where’s Shaun?” Brandt called out, finally making himself known as he walked out into the open.
“He’s inside measuring for shelves,” Lucien answered.
“Ma, you want some stuff from Bailey’s? We’re headed there next.”
“No, thank you, baby. I’d just eat it all because I have no self-control,” Janie said with a laugh.
“Same, but I don’t care. I’m going to get some anyway,” Brandt said. He put two fingers in his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. Few seconds later Shaun appeared in the doorway, tucking a pencil behind his ear.
“You about done?” Brandt asked.
“Two minutes,” he said.
“Alright.”
Brandt and Lucien got in Brandt’s truck and waved back to Janie as she paused to wave at them as she was going back inside Daisy’s little art studio. While still waving and smiling, Brandt said, “You get any information?”
“Found out she lived in a dorm in New Orleans. Seems like a good place to start.”
“I should have thought of that. I knew she was in a dorm down there somewhere. My mom tell you which one?”
