XX

M o n d a y, 8/4/19

Dear Diary,

For a moment, I did nothing more but stare, surprised, at Daisy's small figure. Then, snapping back into reality, I told Spencer I would call her back later and ushered the small girl inside.

"Whoa!" she breathed as she looked around the hallway with big, bug eyes. "This place is huge!"

"Come, come," I tried to distract her from the obvious luxuries overlaying the house. "Let's go to my room. We can talk there."

Happily, Daisy trotted up the steps after me. As I secured the door, she settled herself on the edge of my bed and tucked her legs up underneath her.

"So?" I queried as I plonked myself down next to her. "What's up?"

Daisy twisted her lips into a sad smile as she launched into her story, "A long, long time ago, your father and my father were friends. Apparently, they'd gone to school together but, even though they were close, they slowly drifted apart when Dad got married and had his own kids. Your father was still flitting around from woman to woman, swindling away his inheritance and being a disappointment and an embarrassment to everyone in his family.

"One day, our fathers met up for a coffee and a chat. While there, Dad learned that your father was trying to change his ways and had enrolled in a life-guard course to help further his resume. He wanted to apply for a position in the family business. So, of course, Dad wanted to support him in this endeavour and brought Mum, wee lil Cam and me down to the beach at the specified time when your father was on duty. Only, he wasn't there..."

I frowned; getting concerned and apprehensive as Daisy started to tear up.

"H-he had bailed on the job to go mess with some girl he was seeing," Daisy sniffled. "Mum...she went surfing against Dad's wishes and, because no one was on duty, she didn't get out of the water in time..."

"Daisy, what happened?" I whispered, rubbing gentle circles on the girl's lower back.

"A shark," she hiccuped. "It injured Mum. She was taken to hospital but she died a few hours later."

My mouth fell open. "Camden's mother died because of the reckless actions of my father?" I gaped, a righteous anger rising within me. "No. No. This can't be."

"The incident was covered up by the press, our family was recompensed and your father got off scott-free," Daisy mumbled sadly. "Cam's still mad that he never had to pay the price for his actions."

I narrowed my eyes at her, recalling the one time I had met Mr Faley. "Your father...he-he never got over losing your mum, did he?"

"No-o," Daisy faltered. "He turned into a mean, gnarly drunk. He won't even let me or Cam go surfing because of what happened. It's ironic that we own a surf shop but, deep down, I think that he's scared he'll lose us too."

I pressed my lips into a long, firm line. "That still doesn't mean you should carry the heavy burden of his anger and resentment."

Daisy shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about that."

I smirked as an idea suddenly popped into my brain. "What if there is?"

~~~~

Later that evening, I walked back with Daisy across the damp, dank sand, just to make sure she got home alright. Then, as I returned to the house, I ran into Dad who was waving his arms around and yelling and shouting.

He had received a rather important phone call from his company off-shore. A rather drastic turn had occurred concerning one of his product lines and he had to pack and get on the next flight inland.

I didn't even get the opportunity to ask him about what had happened between him and the Foleys.

Luna and I drove him to the airport and bid him goodbye before returning home. As I collapsed, exhausted, into bed, I got a FaceTime request from Rick.

"Hello?" I spoke as I accepted the call.

"Oh. Jo. Hey," he nervously ran his long fingers through his tangled mess of blonde hair. "So, I got your message about Daisy..."

"And?"

"I don't feel comfortable breaking Camden's trust like that," he admitted. "But I know their story and I think you're right. Daisy deserves to have a little fun and learn how to surf."

I grinned. "I knew you couldn't resist."

Rick rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But Camden is not to know about this, alright? If he had any idea what we were doing, he'd lose it."

I nodded. "Understood. So Daisy and I will meet you and Spence up at the cleft...tomorrow, let's say?"

"Make it after our visit with the antique furniture seller and yeah, I can make do with that," Rick agreed.

"Cool, see you then."

Turning off my phone, I laid my head back against my pillow and closed my eyes as a pang of guilt stabbed me from within.

Was it right that I was lying to Camden...again?

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