Pushing Up Daisies by Jamise L. Dames Read Free Book Online

been married to Jasper and she wasn’t.
    But Daisy composed herself. She eyed Camille from head to toe: her shoes, her legs…her stomach. Oh, no. Daisy was consumed with sympathy, anger, and jealousy.
    “You’re pregnant?” Daisy whispered, more to herself than to Camille.
    Camille placed her hands over her protruding belly. “Oh, what? Jasper forgot to mention that part?”
    “Camille, I understand you’re upset. Hell, I’m upset too. Now if you want to discuss this like civilized adults…” Daisy motioned for Camille to sit down, glad that Jay hadn’t awakened.
    Camille sat. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, are you going to answer the question or not?”
    Daisy sat on the opposite side of the room. “Okay, let’s get something straight, Camille. I wasn’t sleeping with your husband. I was sleeping with my man. I didn’t even know you existed until right after…” Daisy swallowed hard. “Until Jasper died. So you can do us both a favor and turn your attitude down a notch.”
    “Your man? You’re going to sit right there and lie to my face? You didn’t know Jasper was married?”
    “Isn’t that what I told you? For all I know, you were the one who interfered in our relationship. Hell, Jasper and I were together for seven, almost eight years.”
    “We were together more than ten.” Camille rubbed her stomach.
    Daisy dropped her head, dabbing her eyes. “You were with him first. I didn’t know.”
    “How could you not know?”
    Daisy stood and began pacing the room. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You think I’m some sort of home wrecker or something?”
    “Think about it. Where was Jasper on Valentine’s and Christmas? How many times did he stay away at work just a day or two longer? How many—”
    “I could ask you the same thing. He couldn’t have been with you every holiday because he was with me.” And Jay, she wanted to say. She had no idea if Camille knew about him, if anyone in the Stevens family knew.
    Camille laughed. “Oh, I know. I know he spent more time at his office here in New York than at corporate headquarters. I know everything.”
    “So why in the hell are you here? You know I’ve been deceived as much as you have.”
    “No, Daisy. That’s one thing I can’t verify. I’ll tell you this, though. Whether you want to admit it or not, you knew. You knew, and you weren’t too smart about it.”
    “Excuse me? You have a lot of nerve—”
    Camille leaned forward, her round belly resting between her legs. “So you think I’m wrong,” she interrupted. “Okay, let me clear this up for you. Why don’t you work? Why don’t you own anything but a car? Why wasn’t your name on Jasper’s bank account? I’ll tell you why. He had you right where he wanted you. You were a kept woman.”
    Daisy plopped down in the chair, glaring at her. “Who are you to judge me…to analyze me? Jasper didn’t want me to work. He wanted to take care of me. You need to ask yourself why Jasper chose me after he married you—”
    Camille clapped her hands. “Very nice show, Daisy. Who am I? Well, let me see.” She pressed her finger to her lips. “I’m the wife, you’re the mistress. I deal with pitiful women like you all day, every day. So I can analyze you,” she added with a nod. “I can. That’s what I do, Daisy. While you sat at home waiting for my husband’s checks to roll in, I was counseling patients. I’m a psychiatrist. And what are you?”
    Okay, that’s it. How can I roll her round ass out of here without harming the baby?
    The doorbell rang, and both women fell silent. Daisy could hear Gigi and Ming Li arguing over who had the key. A new energy drifted through Daisy’s body, a feeling of certainty, as her two best friends walked in.
    “Oh, Daisy, I didn’t know you had company,” Ming Li said.
    Gigi smiled, extending her hand toward Camille. “Hi, I’m Gigi.”
    “I’m Jasper’s wife, Camille,” Camille said, refusing Gigi’s