Chapter Text
Daisy groaned as the sun beamed into the room. She had only arrived two days ago, and she and her mom had just moved into the new house yesterday. They had to wait until the first of November. So they had moved everything in but had no time to put up curtains. She pulled the blanket over her head and curled further into her mom, seeking both heat and comfort.
Melinda feeling Daisy move even while half asleep, automatically put her arm around her and pulled her closer. They remained that way, cuddled together, with most of the light of day blocked with blankets as they slept longer.
About an hour later, Melinda’s alarm sounded on her phone, and Daisy who had ended up next to the bed side table, shut it off. Daisy wanted to crawl back under the covers and go back to sleep, but when she tried to do just that, Melinda threw all the bedcovers off them and jumped out of bed.
“Come on Dais. We have a lot to do today. I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
Daisy mumbled something about houses being old and curtains and stupid realtors an stupid furniture stores as she walked to the bathroom in her mother’s room. Her new bed had not arrived with the new furniture yesterday, so she had stayed with her mom. Which was okay, since she actually did that from time to time anyway, but her missing bed was just one of several things that had gone wrong so both she and Melinda were in crappy moods. She left the bathroom, and her mom passed her to use it next.
“Why don’t we do Tai Chi, then get dressed and head out for breakfast before tackling the work we need to do?”
Daisy nodded and gave her mom a slight smile.
Daisy had to admit that after Tai Chi and a hot shower, she felt much better. She only needed a strong cup of coffee and a good breakfast now to face the day head-on. . Her mom pulled their SUV into the parking lot of SunGrille Diner. It was early, but the place was jumping. Fortunately, it was not overly full, and they wear seated in a booth right away, Daisy nodding an emphatic yes when the waitress asked if she wanted coffee. Of course, her mom made a face and opted for tea. Daisy still could not grasp the concept of someone not drinking or liking coffee.
Melinda waited until Daisy got some of her coffee in her after they both ordered hearty breakfasts to talk to her about the work they needed to do.
“We should put up the curtains first and then put away the kitchen things after that. We can’t eat out all the time.”
“Sure we can.” Daisy said with a grin. Beats your cooking. And mine.”
Melinda gave her a fake glare but nodded. “I know you got used to my mom’s cooking, since you had to stay there the first two weeks I was here. But now it’s back to...”
“Starving?” Daisy interrupted cheekily.
“Haha. I may not be a gourmet chef, but I can cook.”
“Mom. You can make eggs in many ways, usually palatable. You can make a passable grilled cheese. You can heat soup. You can make salads and sandwiches. You can pop frozen stuff in the microwave and air fryer.”
“Exactly. I can cook. Point proven.”
Daisy shook her head. “I will miss Meema’s cooking and William’s desserts. You know how I love a good dessert. And muffins.”
“I guess you’ll need to learn to bake and cook, huh?”
Daisy gave her a dirty look. “Just make sure you get all the numbers on speed dial for the best take out joints in the area.”
“Oh I already did that. Maria and few of my deputies gave suggestions.”
“At least we always have that option.” Daisy grinned at her.
Hours later they were nearly finished emptying boxes. The blinds and curtains were all hung, the internet connected, and the room furniture set where they wanted it. All the bookshelves in the living room were filled, all the knickknacks placed, and much of the kitchen items put away. Clothes and personal items boxes for Daisy were simply placed in her room until her bedroom set arrived. They were taking a break, sitting at the counter with mugs of chi tea and muffins that William had sent along with Daisy. She bit into a blueberry muffin and sighed contentedly.
“See this is what I will miss. I need to find a place that makes good muffins Mama.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of options. We just need to figure it all out.” She paused then spoke again. “Tomorrow we will go to the high school and get you signed up there for classes. Then I have to go into work for a few hours, see what’s been going on and do some paperwork.”
“Okay. We still have leftovers in the fridge that Meema gave us for dinner tonight. After that, can we just chill and maybe watch a movie?”
“Great idea. So let’s get moving and finish up here so we can tackle the stuff in the garage.”
The next morning, they headed out to the high school. They stopped for breakfast first at the diner and then Daisy got registered, took a tour, was assigned a class schedule and got her books. They were walking into the Sheriff’s office.
“So you’re like in charge of everything huh?” Daisy said as she spied the Sherriff’s office door with her mom’s name on it.
“I guess I am.” Melinda laughed. “I’m the boss.”
Daisy nodded. “You certainly are. And deservedly so.” She turned and hugged Melinda. “I am really proud of you. Proud to be your kid.”
Melinda hugged her back tightly, even as a few of her new deputies looked on. Melinda had never been a very demonstrative person of her feelings. Until Daisy had come along and squeezed into her life. Now hugs and touching were becoming more common for her. She even initiated them from time to time. Her kid, on the other hand, was a people person. A touchy and hugging type who wore her heart on her sleeve.
Izzy walked over to them. Melinda pulled away and spoke to her. “Izzy this is Daisy, my kid. Daisy, this is Lieutenant Isabelle Hartley.
Daisy stuck out her hand and Izzy shook it. “Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Hartley.”
“Call me Izzy. Nice to meet the boss’s kid. She talks about you a lot.”
“That’s cause I’m her favorite thing to talk about. Cause I’m awesome.”
Izzy let out a huge laugh. “She’s exactly as you described Boss.”
“Wait, you talk about me at work?”
“Only the good stuff kiddo. Only the good stuff.” Melinda ruffled her hair. “Come on, I’ll show you my office.”
Daisy was bored. Melinda had ended up needing to stay longer than she first thought she would. Daisy had already taken a tour of the whole place with Izzy as her guide and had signed onto all her school stuff and email and looked at all her class websites. Now she was bored.
“Mom?”
“Yeah?” Melinda didn’t even look up from the computer.
“I’m bored.”
Melinda sighed. “I know kiddo. I have to do this though. I’m working as fast as I can.”
“I’m hungry too.”
“There’s snacks over there.” She pointed.
“Not for those.” She pouted.
“Hey. Why don’t you go for a walk. Check out the town a little bit.”
“Seriously? You’d let me do that?”
“Sure. I trust you. Just don’t go too far, say four or five blocks tops. Take your phone.”
Daisy rolled her eyes at that. “When and where don’t I take my phone?”
“Right. That was a dumb thing to say.” She laughed.
Daisy got up. “And I’m a trained super ninja. You made sure of that.”
“Damn right.” Melinda grinned, then got a bit more serious. “Just be aware. Know your...”
“...surroundings, stay alert, walk away from anything that doesn’t feel right, and call you right away. I got it Mom.”
“Just checking. I worry.”
“I know. And that’s equal parts endearing and annoying. I’ll be fine. About an hour or so?”
Melinda nodded. “That should do it.” She watched as Daisy walked out the door and looked through the glass window to watch her walk out of the building.
Daisy smiled as she turned the corner and saw the first building on the left . She’d been walking around slowly for about a half hour and figured she was about four blocks east of the Sheriff station. She stared at the little shop and grinned as she opened the door to enter. The smell of coffee hit her, and she smiled. Then she saw the display cases of all the baked goods and her grin grew larger. She moved to the cases and looked at the pies and cakes and cookies and brownies, and fudge. There was even homemade fudge. And some candies. And muffins. She was now in front near the counter and the display case held various muffins and rolls.
“What can I get for you?” The man spoke.
Daisy looked at him and shrugged. “What’s a sunburst muffin?” He grinned at her, and she noticed he had kind looking eyes.
“Sunburst is our muffin of the day. Orange marmalade with touch of lemon and a tangerine cream cheese center. It’s a favorite around here.”
“Yeah? How’s the blueberry muffin?”
“Fantastic.”
Daisy looked back and forth at the two kinds of muffins, trying to make up her mind.
“You should try the new flavor if you’re adventurous. Or the standby blueberry if you enjoy comfort and tradition.”
She laughed. “You compare your muffins to human traits huh?”
“Of course. Doesn’t everyone?”
She laughed and nodded. “My mom thinks sometimes I’m too adventurous.”
“Mothers tend to be protective. So the sunburst then?”
“Yeah. I’ll try it.”
“Anything to drink?”
“A large coffee with vanilla creamer please. Three splashes.”
“Coming right up, um – what’s your name?”
“Daisy.”
She laughed as he wrote her name on the cup. She was the only customer he had at the moment.
As he prepared her simple order she went back to stare at the cookies. “What’s your name?” She asked him as he worked.
“Phil Coulson.”
“So you bake everything here. Mr. Coulson?”
“We do.” He smiled at her. And call me Phil. Everyone does. Here’s your order.”
“How much?”
“Seven – seventy-five.”
She handed him the ten dollar bill her mom had given her.
“So you’re new around here huh?”
“Yeah. My mom and I just moved here. He handed her the change and a tray with the muffin and coffee. “Thanks.”
“Thank you.”
She sat down at a booth and settled in and then took a bite of the muffin. “Oooooo.... so gooey and good.”
“Told ya. Made those this morning. Had one myself for breakfast.”
“So you’re the baker.”
“I am. Mostly. I also own the place. How’s the coffee?”
“Good. Not busy this time of day huh?”
“It’s in between. We do a great breakfast crowd and soon the early lunch crowd will come in. Then the late lunch crowd. We close at three.”
As he spoke the café’s door opened and bunch of college age kids walked in.
He smiled, “there’s the start of the early lunch crowd now.” As he said that, two other employees came from the back to take orders as he disappeared into the back. She guessed he was also the cook. She glanced over at the lunch menu board and read it. It had such things as Tropical Salad, Fish Tacos, Crab cake patty sandwich, as well as two kinds of soup, chili, rice and chicken bowls, beef and rice bowls, Reubens, and other deli sandwiches, and seafood stew. They also had a sign for breakfast sandwiches of various kinds they served all day.
Daisy watched, finishing her coffee, as the food came out and everything she saw looked really good. She made a note to tell her mom that they should stop in for lunch sometime. She finished her coffee and got up, placing the trash in the receptacle and the tray in the tray shelf. She started to leave but stopped as she heard someone calling her name.
“Daisy!”
She stopped, surprised, and turned around. Phil Coulson skidded to a stop in front of her, offering her a bag.
“Here. Take these. One sunburst muffin for your mom, and a blueberry for you.”
Daisy looked at him surprised and started shaking her head. “Um, I can’t...”
“Sure you can. Consider it a welcome to Shiloh thing. Besides once your mom eats that muffin, I will have a new customer. I know I already won you over.”
Daisy laughed. “That’s pretty arrogant.”
“Confident.” He corrected. “And you need to try the blueberry – best you’ll ever have.”
“Best huh. Even better than my grandfather’s?”
He shrugged. “You tell me. When you return.”
“Okay. I’ll do that Mr. Coulson.”
“Phil. Everyone just calls me Phil. Have a great rest of your day Daisy.”
“You too.” She flashed him a big smile which he returned.
He headed back to work, and she opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight.