Friday - Summer Holiday

Daisy checked her cell phone for the second time in the past fifteen minutes. Shawn was late. She glanced over her shoulder at the library, which was getting busier by the minute. She regretted her decision to be there. The boardwalk was bustling with visitors, and the urge to leave was overwhelming.

She tugged on the straps of her backpack, causing them to dig into her shoulders. Today was hotter than the past few days and the thought of walking back home was not one she relished. At least she had had the sense to wear shorts and not jeans.

She rechecked her cell phone. Five more minutes then she was going to leave.

*

Shawn sprinted over the boardwalk towards the library and, hopefully, Daisy who would still be there. The relief that flooded his chest when he saw her was instant.

"Daisy!" He called out and the smile that rewarded him clenched his heart with guilt. It was undeserved for his tardiness.

"I'm so sorry, my mother needed help with something, "he paused, inhaling a much-needed breath. "I should have texted- "

"It's okay. You are here now," Daisy reassured, gripping the straps of her bag tightly. Unfortunately, the relief of Shawn's arrival had not been enough to ease the knot in her stomach.

"Shall we go in?" Shawn headed for the library door, pushing his glasses, which had slipped slightly, back up his nose.

He held the door open for Daisy and they stepped inside.

"Hi, Stacy," Shawn greeted the honey-toned girl behind the counter. The girl smiled broadly, and her deep brown eyes glinted with excitement.

"Hiya, Shawn."

He ushered Daisy forward to the counter with a hand urging gently on the small of her back.
"Stacy, this is Daisy," he introduced.

Stacy leaned over the counter. "Your hair is fuck-"she broke off grimacing, "I mean, your hair is freaking amazing!"

"Oh, thanks," Daisy self-consciously touched her ponytail.

Stacy weaved her fingers through her thick chestnut curls.
"I love my curls, but I would give anything to have such a color!"

"So?" Shawn raised his eyebrows at Stacy, who turned her attention to him to only stare at him blankly for a moment.

"Oh! The books!" She ducked underneath the counter and after a few seconds produced two books, which she held up rather proudly.

"Is that the new Lee Evans?" Daisy exclaimed and reached for one.

"Yep, I had called on Wednesday for Stacy to save us each a copy."

"You did?"

"Yeah," Shawn nodded, beaming happily.

Daisy flipped through the book. "This is a purchased copy, not a library one."

"Uh, yeah," Shawn nodded again, "I bought a copy for each of us."
"Consider it a welcome gift to Shelly Cove," he quickly added before Daisy could protest.

Daisy frowned, but she nodded and hugged the book to her chest. "Thanks."

"Did you still want to do some research on the lighthouse?" Shawn queried as he tucked his book into the bag slung over his shoulder.

"Oh," Daisy pulled her cell phone from her shorts pocket. "My aunt sent me a photo of Zachariah's painting." She held the cell phone out to Shawn.

"Are you guys talking about Zachariah Muller?" Stacy asked.

"Uh, yes," Daisy answered since Shawn appeared too engrossed with the photo on her cell phone.

Stacy excitedly ducked behind the counter again and after a minute of rummaging, she popped back up.
"Here," she held out a large, zipped-up plastic folder. "This contains most of the library's information about Zachariah and the lighthouse.

"How- "Daisy shook her head, "I mean, why?"

"Curiosity and-"Stacy leaned over the counter and whispered, "You are not the first. Some guy came in a few months ago and asked for all the information, but never came to fetch it."

"Can I take this home and take a look at it?"

"Sure, you can keep it too, if you like. It is all copies of the originals, "Stacy informed.

"Awesome! Thanks." Daisy slipped off her backpack and carefully tucked the folder and her new book inside. She turned to Shawn who was still looking at the photo on her cell phone.
"Shawn?"

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just it feels as if something is missing from the painting," Shawn stated handing back Daisy's cell phone. "Maybe we should swing by the Art Studio."

"Missing?" Daisy's stomach flipped, and the knot expanded into nausea. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I can't explain it, it feels incomplete."

Her heart sank about the prospect of going to the studio, yet she could not deny the tiny spike of curiosity needling at the back of her mind.

"But not today, we have somewhere else we need to go," Shawn declared.

"What? We do?" Daisy's brows snapped together in confusion and relief.

"Yeah, come on. Thanks a bunch, Stacy. See you on Monday!" Shawn grabbed Daisy's hand and dragged her with him.

"Bye, Stacy. Nice meeting you and thanks!" Daisy threw over her shoulder as Shawn pulled her through the door. If Stacy had responded, it could never have been heard at the speed she was being dragged.

* * *

About twenty minutes later, after being hurriedly maneuvered through a crowded boardwalk, and shoved into his truck, Shawn turned down a narrow dirt road that snaked around tall, broad oak trees. The blue truck rattled on the uneven road and Daisy's hands tightened around her seatbelt.

"Almost there," Shawn announced, and true to his word a minute later the truck came to an abrupt halt.

Shawn turned off the ignition and looked at Daisy. Her expression made his heart swell, and it will forever be imprinted in his mind.

Daisy's lips parted and her eyes widened in wonder.

"Oh my gosh, Shawn, this is incredible!"

Just beyond the trees in front of them, lay a field covered in a blanket of white daisies.

"My mother mentioned yesterday that the daisies were in bloom. However, it's a bit early for this time of year. But I thought it would be a cool thing to show you. A field of daisies for a Daisy." Shawn chuckled and she looked at him. He cleared his throat and turned his attention to the front window.

"There is also a huge pond just off the left and a massive tree bordering it." He motioned awkwardly with a hand to a spot outside.

"Want to go for a walk?" Daisy asked.

"What?"

Daisy released her seatbelt and shifted forward in her seat.
"Let's go for a walk! We didn't come here to just sit in the truck, did we?"

"Okay, yeah!" Shawn jumped out and quickly walked around the truck to open her door.

He reached for her as usual, swinging her out of the truck and setting her down on the ground.
"Come on, this way," Shawn took her hand and led her towards a cluster of trees.

"Is that the pond?" Daisy asked excitedly when she saw a glimmer of sparkling water.

"Yeah." He confirmed as they emerged into the sunlight and stepped onto a grassy bank.

"Is it safe for swimming?"

"What?" Shawn frowned. Daisy tugged her hand loose and kicked off her sandals.

"Is it safe for swimming?" She repeated, walking to the edge of the pond.

"Well, we did swim in it as kids, but- "he shrugged, "I guess, it should be."

Daisy paused her foot just above the water.
"It should be?" She retracted her foot, suddenly doubtful about the serenity of the water.

She swirled around to find Shawn directly behind her and inadvertently stepped backward. The ground on the pond's edge and beneath her feet gave way as it sank into the water.

"Shawn!"

Shawn's hands futilely tried to grab Daisy, but gravity propelled him forward and they both tumbled into the pond. After several seconds both broke water, gasping for air.

"Daisy? Daisy? Are-are you okay?" Shawn spluttered, spitting water from his mouth. His eyes squinted as he tried to focus, his vision was blurry and clogged with water. He shifted his glasses back into position, thankful they had not found their way to the bottom of the pond.

"Daisy!" Panic started to clutch at his chest before he heard the strangled giggling. A breath of relief escaped his lips as his blinking eyes found her.

"I-am-am-so-so sorry," Daisy swam towards him and his mouth tugged into a mischievous smile.

"This might be the appropriate time to tell you if the pond is safe."

Daisy squealed, flinging herself forward, and wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting her legs.
"Please tell me there aren't any dangerous fish in here, right?" Her head bobbed from left to right as she searched the water.

Shawn flailed his arms out over the water, as he tried to control his breathing. His heart was hammering so hard in his chest that he was certain she could hear it.

"Apart-apart from a-a rather large goldfish with a bad disposition, no." He managed to respond as his eyes drifted over the water beads dripping down her nose and cheeks. His fingers itched to brush away the loose wet strands that had escaped her ponytail, clinging to her jaw.

"A goldfish?" Daisy narrowed her eyes at Shawn, and her heart jumped at the intensity in his brown eyes. She shivered and her fingers jerked.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Shawn blinked, looking away, and habitually pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"We-we should get out of the water. "He cleared his throat and started to wade towards the pond's edge.

*