It'll Come Naturally

"What happened to you?" Cynthia asked when they returned home. "I thought you were going to the beach?" Taking in Daisy's appearance, she grew inquisitive at once. "You look quite messed up," she continued to probe. Turning to her son, she looked at him expectantly for an explanation. The woman was freezing in wet clothes.

"We had a bit of an accident, that's all," said Edward, and then stealing a glance at Daisy who appeared uncomfortable under Cynthia's scrutiny, he added, "We'll just take a shower and get ourselves cleaned up. I'll explain later." Worried about Daisy, he just wanted her to get out of those wet clothes straightaway as she was on her period. She was particularly more susceptible to getting sick during such time each month, and thus, he wanted to ensure she was okay before sitting down with Cynthia.

"Don't worry, Mom," Daisy said, putting on a faint smile. "I just really need to get changed right now." Surprised to have Edward wrap a towel around her, Daisy didn't notice until then that since she was drenched all over, her clothes had become transparent. Thanking him quietly, she turned her attention to Cynthia again.

"Okay," Cynthia conceded. "Go on then. Even though it's still technically summer, you could still catch a cold." Whenever Daisy encountered problems, she always handled them with a calm and mature demeanor, and Cynthia just admired that about her. She was a woman who knew how to remain levelheaded, and generally did not like to trouble others with things she could deal with on her own.

After they excused themselves politely, Cynthia gazed after their retreating back. Once they disappeared out of sight, she turned towards Justin, and began to ponder about things.

"Why are you looking at me with such eyes, Grandma? Have I done something wrong?" the boy asked nervously. "You're freaking me out a bit." The boy couldn't help but feel guilty as she stared at him. Although he behaved well and didn't get into any trouble, he somehow felt the opposite under her overcritical gaze.

"Why don't you tell me what you did?" It wasn't Cynthia's first thought, but after Justin's strange response, she became suspicious. As the adults were too busy, she decided to dig for more information through her little grandson in the meantime.

"Okay!" conceded Justin helplessly. "I should not have pushed them to go to the beach today." A profound sensation overwhelmed the young boy. Although he was aware of their situation, he still urged his parents to come out in public like earlier. Now he realized, however, that he shouldn't have.

"Anything bad happened out there?" Recalling the awkward situation a moment ago, she started to feel nervous. Could something terrible have occurred while they were away?

"Oh. No, Grandma. Nothing serious," said Justin, and then sighed, "Mommy saved a drowning girl, and everyone recognized her. What she did will probably be reported in tomorrow's newspaper." As his mother never enjoyed the media's attention, he could tell that she must be upset by the possibility. Indeed, it was a commendable deed to save a girl's life, but at the end of the day, having it broadcasted for everyone to know compromised the privacy which Daisy favored so much more.

"That's good news!" exclaimed Cynthia, and then noticed the boy's disheartened look. Confused, she asked him, "She saved a girl! What's there to be upset about?" Being clever and noble enough, Cynthia was once a social icon who had been seen on the newspapers a lot. So this kind of situation never daunted her.

"Maybe if it were someone else, they'd be eager to get featured," said Justin, and then shook his head. "But not Mommy. She doesn't like that." Although he knew it was never his mother's intention, people were drawn to her because of her mysterious aura, brought by her consistent refusal to do any and all kinds of interview. It seemed like the more she deflected them, the more they pined to have her in the limelight.

And he wasn't wrong. Daisy did not like to have her private life being examined under a microscope. As she got out of the shower, she quickly began a conversation with Edward.

"Can you please do me a favor and stop them from reporting about me?" she asked him. "I don't want to make the headlines tomorrow." Sitting in front of the dressing table, Daisy toweled her hair dry while looking at the gentleman affectionately through the mirror. Unable to resist a smile just by looking at her, he said, "Well, I'll try! But I'm afraid I can't guarantee it." Most of the people who witnessed it were ordinary civilians, and not from the media. No matter how powerful he was, Edward couldn't, with absolute certainty, prevent everyone from sharing what they saw.

"Okay," said Daisy, her shoulders somewhat drooping. "Thanks," she said distractedly, and then saw his expression changed. "Even if it doesn't work, it's okay. Really." Wearing a genuine smile, she assured, "It's the thought that counts." When Edward nodded in response, she let out a heavy sigh.

"Don't worry, darling," Edward said, "Everything will be fine. It's only a matter of time before people forget it ever happened. Two or three days at most." Taking the towel from her, Edward began drying her hair ever so tenderly. After being together for a while, the woman could still bring out his soft side, and he didn't mind it one bit. "Okay!" She said, shrugging while looking at him with soft, loving eyes. "As the saying goes, 'Whatever will be, will be.' Let's just see what happens." Leaning against him comfortably, she decided not to worry about it anymore, and left nature to take its course. "Are you really not going tomorrow?" She couldn't keep escaping from it, Edward thought, and thus he felt obliged to open the same topic they discussed yesterday. Her father was just there, and she couldn't keep ignoring his existence forever.

"It sounds like you really want me to go, huh?" Daisy asked, pouting. If there was anyone she didn't like to be reminded about, it was Leo. Her heart ached immediately every time she thought of him.

"No. I respect you," he said. "But I think I have to go since he sent the invitation to me. Hey, darling." He gently rested a finger under her chin and continued, "He's always going to be your father. You have his blood. That's never going to change." As much as Edward didn't want to keep persuading her, he just didn't want her to wake up one day with regrets.

"Okay," Daisy agreed slowly. "Just give me some time. I'll think about it." She reached out and hugged him by the waist. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against his arm to seek warmth. Every moment she had with Edward was a joy to behold. No matter what happened, she could talk to him.

Smiling inwardly, Edward lowered his head to plant a soft kiss on her wet hair. He knew why she was struggling so much, and so he decided not to badger her further. He might as well give her the time she needed.

Eventually, after giving it much thought, Daisy decided to go with Edward back to the house again. Everything had changed since the last time she was there.

Daisy's appearance came as a huge surprise to Leo. He was so touched by it, and so overjoyed that he couldn't utter a single word.0000