The piles of bills had continued growing. Beth frowned as she began tabulating this month's expenses. Between the costs of the nursing home, the typical bills, and her father's drinking habit the budget had become exceptionally tight. Beth wasn't sure how she would manage to get everything paid in full. The money for her college tuition, money she used to pay the bills with instead, was close to being gone. She would call Jacqui down at the diner and see if she could pick up additional shifts.
She knew Lori had mentioned in passing that Carl was interested in learning guitar and Judith was interested in piano. She could call her and see about lessons and talk possible pricing. The other choice left Beth with a broken heart, but realistically it was the best option she had on the table. Milton had been interested in purchasing Nellie and Captain for his little girls Lizzie and Mika.
The money he had offered would help for a few months of the bills and Beth in the meantime could pick up additional shifts and possibly get ahead on the bills for their family. Additionally, the bills would decrease as well getting rid of the horses. The upkeep was expensive and it was a struggle to keep the family afloat.
Beth put the bills back onto the table when she heard the door slam open. She heard Otis's grumbling which meant he managed to track down her father from whatever bar he drank himself silly in. Beth grabbed her jacket and purse. This was the best time to go visit her Mama while Otis got her daddy settled into bed. She knew he would stick around until she could return.
"Otis, do you care to stick around so I can go check up on Mama real quick?" Beth asked. She knew he would do this small favor for her, but she always felt better about being polite and asking. She wouldn't make him deal with this mess if he didn't want to.
"I don't mind at all Bethiebee, but I do wish you'd call your siblings and tell them what's going on" Otis told her and pleaded with her.
Beth could only shrug her shoulders before heading out the door. Calling her siblings was not an option. She wasn't even sure her father knew the extent of what she was doing to protect him. Senior year she had dropped out to pick up additional shifts at the diner. That was the year her father had relapsed and began drinking due to her mother being admitted to a nursing home. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and it had progressed pretty rapidly. Her memories depended on the day you visited her. Sometimes her long term seemed untouched, other days it was her short term that she had memory of.
Seeing her mama's condition worsen had taken an emotional toll on Beth, but the reality was she was the only one who could step up and take care of her parents. Despite taking on the huge task, she did manage to get her GED. It was easy to convince her siblings that she wasn't walking in graduation because she didn't like the attention. It made sense. Both had accepted what she told them.
Shawn was getting ready to finish up veterinary college and Maggie was teaching at a university in Michigan. She had recently relocated after getting her PhD to live with her husband Glen Rhee. Beth couldn't ask them to give up their futures. They had defined futures. Beth wasn't even sure what she wanted as a degree. She had made peace with her decision to use her college fund to pay her family's bills. You couldn't miss what you never had, right? Beth figured it was alright.
The drive to the nursing home that held her mother was a familiar drive. She had been doing it for two years. She sat in the parking lot. She had listened to Maggie and Shawn's voice mails wishing her a happy birthday. It broke her heart that neither of her parents would remember what today was. Beth couldn't hold them accountable though. Her mama didn't ask to be sick and her father would remember if alcohol didn't exist.
Beth shook her head. There was no need to get herself upset. She got out of her car and smoothed her shirt. The pale blue blouse had seen better days, but Beth couldn't afford to go shopping. She made sure she had a brush in her purse and a hair tie on her wrist. She knew her mama would appreciate getting to braid her hair. It was one of her favorite activities and Beth tried to do whatever she could to help her mama stay happy.
She signed in at the front desk and got a visitors badge. The nurse in charge of signing her in had informed her that her mother's roommate also had a visitor currently. She appreciated the heads up and walked to room 401. She walked into the room and saw her mama sitting in a chair near the window.
She saw Irma, her mama's roommate, and who she could only assume was Irma's son. He looked to be about Shawn's age with messy brunette hair and a leather vest with worn angel wings adorning it. She knew the wings belonged to a local biker gang.
She didn't care if he was affiliated with the gang or not. She mused that didn't mean anything against his character. Just like she knew her daddy was a good man, but he was a good man with a horrible habit. None of that mattered she mused, she probably would never become friends with the brunette man.
She told Irma and her guest hello in polite acknowledgement before heading over to the chair adjacent to her mama.
"Mama, how are you feeling today?" Beth asked kindly.
She listened to her mama prattle about a game of bingo that had been played earlier. Her mama had repeated herself quite a few times, but that was alright with Beth. She laughed as hard at the punch line of the joke no matter if it was the first time hearing it or the fiftieth time. She knew it pleased her mama and she would do anything to keep that smile on her face.
She handed her mama the brush and hair tie when there was a lull in conversation. She settled herself in front of her mama as the brushing began. She could hear gruff laughter from the other side of the room and Irma's giggles following. She was happy for them, she liked knowing other people could be happy despite the situation life had handed them.
"Bethy, have you started applying for colleges. You gotta take this year seriously. Senior year isn't the year to slack off" Annette told Beth as she worked through an unruly knot in Beth's hair.
Beth felt tears prick at her eyes at her mother's mentioning of senior year. She knew her mama had meant well. Her mother had only wanted to see her baby girl succeed.
"I will take it seriously Mama. But let's change the subject, anything you want me to do for you or bring you?" Beth knew the subject change was abrupt. She doubted her mother would even notice the subject change.
"I haven't heard you sing in ages Bethy, could you sing me a song?" Annette asked.
"Of course I'll sing for you Mama, what do you wanna hear?" Beth could do this little thing for her Mama. It would also stop the questioning about her schooling as well.
"What about a song from my favorite movie, you know it" Annette stopped brushing to kiss the top of Beth's head.
Beth noted a male nurse had come in, but it looked as though he was assisting Irma first.
"Of course, mama. I wouldn't forget your favorite movie. It's Blue Hawaii, the one with Elvis Presley in it." Beth racked her brain and then remembered the song from the movie.
She hummed the tune of it before singing it to her mama.
Wise men say only fools rush in
but I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
for I can't help falling in love with you
Beth smiled as her mama did the finishing touches on the braid.
"You are so darn talented Bethy. Wish you coulda done a duet with Mr. Presley" Annette crooned.
Beth smiled, but the nurse was suddenly yelling.
"She has got to get rest and you need to get out of here. It ain't like your kind is exactly welcome" The nurse yelled at the brunette man.
Beth felt herself bristle. She could see the yelling was upsetting Irma. The woman had always been kind to her and was such a wonderful friend to her mother.
"You ain't even her blood. She should consider herself lucky to not be related to trash like you and that brother of yours" The nurse screamed as the man sat unmoving next to Irma.
For some reason that line was too much in Beth's opinion. This man had been making Irma laugh and had done nothing wrong.
"Excuse me, but he isn't the one upsetting Irma. You are" Beth told the nurse.
She ignored her mama's attempt to quiet her. She didn't appreciate when people were attacked for no reason and she wasn't going to sit there and listen.
"Listen little girl, you know nothing. Mind your own business" The nurse.
"Shumpert, that your name? I might know nothing, but I know this man over here has done no harm. Not like you. I know the head nurse here and I'll be sure to lodge my complaint with your bedside manner" Beth threatened.
She knew it was low, but this man's behavior had sickened her. The threat must have worked because the male nurse stormed out of the room in an angry huff. She flashed a small smile towards Irma and her guest.
She listened to her mama lecture her for a few minutes about manners and minding her own business before she received a text message from Otis saying he needed to get home soon.
"Mama, I gotta go. I love you and I'll come by in a few days" Beth got up and kissed her mama.
Beth looked at the other guest name for room 401 while signing out. Irma's guest was none other than Daryl Dixon. She had heard of the name spoken in the town's gossip, but she never bought the tall tales.
"Hey, girl wait up for a sec" Beth heard Daryl asking for her to stop.
"You need anything?" Beth wasn't sure why he was stopping her. She hoped he wasn't pissed at her for butting into his problem.
"Just wanted to say thanks, I don't care what that prick said but what you did made Irma feel better" Daryl said gruffly.
Beth nodded her head, "It was no big deal. Irma is good people and anyone who can make her laugh has got to be good too. Have a good rest of your night Mr. Dixon" Beth smiled at him before getting into her car and heading back to the farmhouse.
It had been a few days since she had last visited her mama. Beth had worked several doubles and had set up the arrangements to sell the horses. The money hadn't been as much as she hoped especially once she realized her father's bar tab had been much more extensive than she could imagine. It was alright because Carol had agreed to buy her car.
Carol was bringing the check in the morning. It was going to be Sophia's sweet sixteen gift. Beth figured riding her bike would be good exercise. The diner was only a few miles from home and same with the nursing home. If she needed to grocery shop or the weather was bad she would take her daddy's truck.
She would recalculate the bills with the added money from the sale of her car. When she got into the kitchen she realized all of the current bills were missing. Her daddy was in the living room watching the Auburn game.
"Daddy, did you move the bills on the table?" Beth needed to know so she could pay them. She could only pray her daddy was sober.
"Oh, I took a loan out from my friend Merle Dixon and paid them doodlebug" her Daddy slurred his words.
Beth wanted to cry in frustration. Once she cashed Carol's check in the morning she would figure out how much was loaned to her father and pay Merle Dixon back.
Beth frowned and fixed dinner. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. Beth wasn't looking forward to the visit. It was her only day off and she had just wanted to relax.
Beth had just cashed the check Carol had given her and she put the money in her little cross body purse. She felt like a child riding her bike up the apartment currently being rented by the Dixon brothers. She hoped Merle was similar to his brother that she met at the nursing home.
The dress she wore was one of her shorter ones, but heat wave going through Georgia was killer. She pulled her hair into a high pony tail as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
She went to the front door and knocked. The door opened to reveal a tall man in a filthy wife beater with greasy black hair.
"What are you doing here girlie?" The man questioned.
Beth swallowed "I'm Beth Greene, I wanna settle my daddy's debt with you" Beth hoped she sound confident instead of unsure. She was confused because the man who answered the door didn't quite match up with the town's local gossip, but then again Beth had never paid close attention to the murmurs.
The man motioned for her to come into the home. She noticed on the table bags of pills. She guessed the rumors about Merle being a big time drug dealer wasn't a complete lie.
"How much does my daddy owe?" Beth asked, the sooner she paid the sooner she could leave.
"Around 6,000 fat ones baby girl" He leered at her.
Beth's breath hitched. She only had 4,000 roughly with her. Their bills weren't usually that high unless her father took extra money for alcohol.
"I've got around three grand I can pay today, we could work out a payment system for the rest of the money" Beth decided not to tell him the full amount. She wanted to keep a little bit of the money to pay towards the nursing home. Originally she had hoped to take a class or two at the community college in town. That dream was shot to hell.
"Yer daddy shouldn't have sent such a pretty little piece to do his business. How's about this, you take care of some of Ole Merle's more basic needs and we consider yer daddy's debt square" The man made the sleazy offer while eyeing her head to toe.
Beth had felt uncomfortable. The proposition was disgusting, but part of her brain said that it wouldn't hurt her if she took his offer. It wasn't like she had much of a future anyways.
"Basic needs like sex?" Beth knew her voice was small when she clarified the question, but she needed to make sure what he was asking for.
"Course baby girl, know a way you could use that pretty little mouth of yours that would make me happy" The sleazy man had pulled her close and grabbed the bottom of her dress and pushed it up.
"Stop, stop I don't want this." Beth cried out. This was all too much. She couldn't do this.
"I don't think it matters much to me what you want little girl" Beth felt him latch his mouth to the column of her throat.
Beth brought her knee up and nailed him in his stomach trying to get away. She broke free, but the man had recovered quickly and had tackled her into the ground. He broke the strap of her dress as he yanked the front of the dress down.
He slapped her when she tried pushing him off. Beth felt the tears burning her eyes as the man turned his focus on her exposed chest. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine she was in a far off place. Suddenly the weight was no longer on her body, but Beth didn't want open her eyes in case her imagination was granting her this reprieve.
"What the fuck are you doing to that girl Randall?" She heard the voice of Daryl Dixon. She had recognized the gruff tone from the other day.
Beth opened her eyes and saw Daryl and another man holding the man who assaulted her.
"I jus' wanted a fix but Merle wasn't here and she came lookin' for him and I thought we could have some fun. Come on, I'll let you guys go first." Randall tried to appeal to the Dixon brothers.
Beth tried to cover her chest this situation seemed to be spiraling out of control.
"You ain't gonna touch that girl" Daryl had gotten in the kids face.
"She was practically beggin' for it come on, you know me" Randall tried again.
Daryl didn't bother responding. He just slammed his fist into Randall's face until he was a bloody mess.
"Stop, Daryl. I'll take care of this shit. You take care of the girl" Merle said.
Daryl had nodded over to his brother. His brother had given his brother a curious look as if he were examining his brother's actions.
Daryl ignored the look from his brother. He went over and help Beth up when he noticed the broken strap of her dress. He pushed down the growl that threatened to escape. He didn't want to panic her anymore.
But living with her daddy Beth could tell. She was sensitive enough to pick up on the small changes. He shrugged off his leather vest and handed it to her.
"Thank you" Beth wasn't sure he heard her. She hadn't spoken very loud. She was still pretty shaken by the whole ordeal.
"I'll walk you to your car and you can explain why the hell you came here" Daryl told her in a gruff tone.
"I don't have a car anymore. But my daddy, he took a loan from your brother. I was gonna see if I could settle it for him" Beth felt shame burn through her as Daryl stared at her incredulously.
"Why are you settling his debt and not him?" Daryl asked.
In fairness, it wasn't that odd of a question Beth surmised.
"It's complicated. He got sick around the time my mama got sick" Beth wanted to be vague. People had their suspicions about her father's drinking habits. She didn't think Daryl Dixon would encourage town gossip, but one could never be too careful.
Daryl tightened his fists when she described her daddy as being sick. She wondered briefly if he had the same beliefs about alcoholism.
They had come upon her bike.
"Well, this is my ride. Just come by the diner with an estimate of how much my daddy owes and I'll see about getting it paid off" Beth gave Daryl a small smile before shrugging off his vest and handing it back to him. She frowned when she looked up. It looked like one of Georgia's famous summer storms had rolled up in no time. She was going to end up soaked.
Daryl handed the vest back to her roughly. "I'll take you home. Ain't nobody gotta see your dress all tore up."
"Thank you, you didn't have to do this. But I appreciate it" Beth was shocked and humbled by his gruff offer.
"You didn't have to defend me to that nurse but you did. Jus' paying you back is all." He brushed off her gratefulness.
In a way Beth was thankful. She felt less guilty about accepting his offer when he phrased it that way.
He walked over to his motorcycle and Beth bit her lip. She guessed she could take her daddy's truck tomorrow to work and pick up her bike.
"I'll get my bike tomorrow after my shift" Beth didn't want him to think she was being weird and hanging around his apartment complex.
He nodded and she got onto the back of the motorcycle.
The ride home was silent aside from the wind whipping past them as they flew down the road. He stopped at the end of her driveway.
"Thank you so much" Beth got off and handed him his vest.
"You keep it. I'll bring your bike by tomorrow and you can give me back the vest then" Daryl told her before reviving the engine.
A/N: So, this hasn't been beta'ed so forgive any mistakes. Originally this was supposed to be for bethyl big bang, but I ran out of time and never submitted it. A huge thank you to Ashely (Akiraflame), she has been such an encouraging spirit and I couldn't ask for a better friend. I hope this story lives up to your expectations.
As always, let me know what you thought! I love you guys and have a great rest of your day :)
He hadn't given her a chance to protest that no one would see if her dress was indecent on this stretch of road. It hadn't really mattered. She guessed she would be seeing Daryl Dixon tomorrow.
