She'd decided it was time to leave, throw in the towel. She didn't even care anymore. She'd completely lost the fire in her belly. Oh, if she's being honest here, she lost it a year ago.
She'd left Georgia with Zach the day they graduated high school. They were both so certain they would have big careers in NYC, Beth as a singer, Zach as an actor, no problem, Broadway here we come.
Zach had managed to hang onto the dream for a couple of years while they did audition after audition. They had almost no success and both worked multiple waitstaff jobs, did street performance, and Beth did a few gigs singing in bars and coffee shops. They barely made ends meet, well sometimes they didn't.
Zach smartened up long before she did. He'd thrown in the towel five years ago. Last she heard from him he'd moved down to the Carolinas, gone back to school and was going to marry a woman he'd met there. Oh she'd felt a little sad, but she knew they were never meant to be a forever thing.
Now here she was, rent paid for two more days and then she'd flip a coin to see which way to head out of town. She had no destination in mind, but she had grown weary of big city life, she was ready to get back to small town America, she just wasn't sure which small town.
In the meantime, she was going to enjoy a few favorite things about New York City for the final time, and one of those things was real New York Cheesecake at the Carnegie Deli, strawberry please.
His life had gone completely to shit five years ago. His wife had left him for his best friend, and she and her new husband promptly had a baby together. He couldn't deny it; he'd definitely had a spell where he knew he wasn't in his right mind. In fact, he was a mess. But he'd eventually worked through it and had his life back on track.
He and Lori had gotten pregnant just before graduating high school, so when he'd found himself at 36 years old with an 18 year old son going off to college at Savannah State University he'd decided to move closer to where Carl would be, he had no reason to hang around King County. He wanted to be close to Carl, but not so close as to smother him so chose a close-by town. Rick had a great reputation among law enforcement and when the Police Chief in Garden City, GA retired, Rick had applied for and gotten the position.
He had everything he needed, a great job working with wonderful people, a nice house on the edge of town, Carl had just started his sophomore year and came to visit Rick regularly, but damn, he was lonely. Oh he'd dated, as the "eligible bachelor" Police Chief; someone was always trying to set him up with a nice woman. As a matter of fact, he'd met a lot of nice women, but just never felt a spark with anyone.
He was a young Sherriff's Deputy when 9-11 occurred and he'd promptly volunteered to go with a local team of law enforcement personal to search for survivors, and what eventually became recovery and clean-up assistance.
Now some 14 years later there was to be a gathering of police, fireman, paramedics and rescue workers who had participated in the effort. They would tour the new memorial and museum and attend a private ceremony, along with law enforcement personal from jurisdictions all over the U.S.
Although Rick knew it would be a heartbreaking reminder of what had happened, he also knew it sent a positive message of respect, hope and recovery.
He'd decided to take a week's vacation. He'd never really "seen" New York when he'd been there before, and he figured he'd probably never go again, so why not? He had nothing better to do.
He checked into his room and unpacked his few things. He was in the heart of Times Square and he was amazed by all the sights, sounds, and smells.
He was starving and asked the front desk staff where he could get a big deli style corned beef sandwich. Without hesitation they directed him to Carnegie Deli, just up 7th Avenue a few blocks.
He glanced around when he walked in, and promptly did a double take. Could it be Beth Greene? Without thinking he went right up to her table, "Fancy meeting you here, Beth," he smiled. Beth looked up and her face broke into a huge grin as she jumped to her feet and put her arms around him, "Rick Grimes, I can't believe it's you."
Well he hadn't been expecting quite so warm a greeting, but he had zero complaints.
"May I join you?" he asked. "Absolutely, I'd be upset if you didn't," she smiled brightly.
About that time the waitress brought Beth's huge slice of cheesecake covered in strawberries. He smiled broadly and remarked, "You know how to live Miss Greene." The aging waitress never even looked at him as she asked in her best cranky voice, "What can I get you Honey?" The waitstaff at Carnegie was legendary and he went right along with her, "I'd like a corned beef on rye with coleslaw and a Bud Light please."
When the waitress left, Beth and Rick just looked straight in each other's eyes with big smiles on their faces. She remembered the way he slightly cocked his head to the right, she loved that little tic and it made her smile even bigger. He remembered she had the most beautiful and warmest smile he'd ever seen.
"My God," he thought to himself, "she was always pretty, but she's gotten even more beautiful. Those eyes and that smile wow, and the long blond hair, what a knock out; damn." But it was her sweetness and goodhearted nature he remembered most about her.
At the same time she was thinking, "He was always handsome, but darn, he's aging to perfection. This more rugged look and the beard with just the right amount of gray, the piercing blue eyes, slightly long curls; so handsome, so distinguished." But what she remembered most about him was what a kind and good man he'd always been.
They slipped into an easy conversation, as though they'd just seen each other last week. Reality was, last time they'd seen each other Beth was a high school girl who sang in their church choir. Rick was the Sherriff, seemingly happily married. He was a good friend to her father and had visited the farm often.
As they wrapped up the meal she said, "I'd invite you to my place for wine, but A) I don't have any wine, and B) I'd be embarrassed to have you see where I've been living."
He just smiled and said, "Well I'm right down the street at the Doubletree, my room has a little parlor area, and I passed a liquor store on my way here, so what do you say, wine at my place?"
"That sounds perfect," she smiled back.
He insisted on paying for her cheesecake, and kept his arm to the small of her back as they walked. There was something so comforting in that, for both of them.
They'd passed on the small sofa and instead sat side by side on the floor, both with their legs outstretched and crossed at the ankle, backs against the sofa.
They drank the delicious Cabernet he'd bought, it turned out Rick knew a little something about wine, and she was impressed.
They talked for more than an hour about how the past seven years had treated each of them. Suddenly Rick rose and said, "Beth Greene, I think we need to dance." She let out a little laugh and asked, "Where?" "Well I've got everything I want and need right here," he cocked his head to the side and smiled. Beth felt the blush come to her cheeks, and her heart beat a little faster.
He plugged his IPod into the player, looked over his shoulder at her and said, "I hope you're okay with a lot of George Strait, I'm mostly a country fan, although I do have a few other tunes on here." She smiled and said, "Sounds perfect Rick, I love King George."
As if on cue the music started and George Strait was singing, The Chair, a classic. Rick held out his hand to her and then held her close as they danced to the romantic song.
Beth couldn't remember any arms feeling as good as Rick's arms around her. She couldn't believe it could happen so fast, but she felt herself falling for him.
He'd never wanted to hold anyone more than he did Beth Greene at that moment and he never wanted to let her go. He was not an impulsive guy when it came to romance, but he was completely taken with this woman.
They continued to hold each other, dance and drink wine.
Rick knew they were both exhausted, and he had a big day the next day. If he hadn't been full of a couple of bottles of wine he probably would not have been so bold, but he was and he asked, "Beth, I don't want you to leave, why don't you just stay here with me tonight? It's a big bed, and I promise I mean sleep. And maybe, if you're not busy tomorrow you'll come with me to the memorial."
"I think I'd like that very much Rick."
He called the front desk and asked them to send up a ladies comfort kit which arrived promptly. Designed for traveler's whose bags don't arrive, it contained a few necessities, toothbrush, toothpaste, even a razor, deodorant and a comb. She pulled out the little black comb and laughed, "I'm sure glad I have my brush in my purse, I don't think I could get this little thing through my hair."
He smiled as he handed her one of his t-shirts to use for a nightie. When he saw her in it his breath caught in his throat and he couldn't deny he felt aroused, damn, how could this woman manage to look so hot wearing a t-shirt four times too big?
They crawled into bed and as she lay on her back he propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at her with a smile, "I know I said we'd sleep, but you're making this tough on me Beth." "It's not so easy for me either Rick," she smiled back. He continued to look in her eyes and said, "I want you, but I want it to be right, I want us to both be sober and clearheaded, but damn woman." She smiled back, "Thank you Rick, I appreciate that you're a gentleman and a man of your word. But I would really like a goodnight kiss." He didn't hesitate bending down and giving her a slow warm kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and she rolled to her side and enjoyed the warmth and the feel of his strong embrace.
As they had coffee and breakfast at a neighborhood restaurant, he gave her a serious look and said, "Beth, I'm not the kind of guy who just 'hooks up' with women, I have feelings for you; maybe I've always had an attraction. I want to spend my time here in New York with you. I know you said you only have a day or two left on your rent and then you're leaving town for good, but maybe you could stay a little longer. How about we get your things and move them to my room?"
She looked down at her coffee cup. She couldn't believe he'd asked, but she was thrilled that he did. When she looked up she was staring into the most intense blue eyes she'd ever seen.
They took a cab across town to pick up her things. When he saw her place he was a little shocked, but he didn't let on. It was small, maybe 200 square feet, with a bed, a dresser, a rod for hanging clothes, a small bar size refrigerator and microwave, and in the corner, not even in a separate room, were an ancient bathtub, toilet and sink.
"Welcome to New York City real estate for the poor," she looked self-conscious, "at least it's rent controlled, it's been sub leased so many times I'd hate to have to try and find out who the original leaseholder is."
They grabbed her two suitcases and dropped them off at his hotel, where she quickly changed to a light pink sundress and white sandals.
He was so proud to have her with him as he toured the memorial and the museum and with the group, and she was proud to be with him.
He held her hand as they made their way through all of the exhibits, there were several times they were both overcome with emotion, and they would squeeze one another's hand more tightly.
After their tour there was a private ceremony and Rick was presented with a commendation for his involvement in the rescue and recovery efforts.
It had been an emotional day and they were both feeling a bit overwhelmed, they decided on a quiet meal at a nice little Brazilian restaurant just a few blocks from the hotel. Afterward they walked around the Times Square area and Rick just shook his head, "Beth, you are one tough lady to have lived here all this time by yourself, I don't think I could have done it."
She looked in his eyes and said, "Rick, something you should probably know about me, I can be stubborn and I stubbornly held on to my dream. What's funny is it's not something I even want anymore. I still love to sing and entertain, but show business is a nasty business and I just don't want to even try to be a part of it anymore. I'm hoping I can find a job somewhere and teach music, or give piano, guitar and singing lessons, maybe go back to singing in a church choir again. I know I won't make much money, but as you saw, I don't need much to get by."
He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, pulled her into a tight embrace and softly said, "Let's go back to our room Beth." She didn't miss the fact he'd said "our."
Beth acted as his tour guide the next few days. They went to the Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, strolled through Central Park, and Rick's favorite, they took a cruise around Manhattan on a tour boat. Every evening they talked and danced in the room and they were finding it more and more difficult to "just sleep" when they went to bed at night.
On night four Rick put his hands on either side of her face; he touched his forehead to hers and softly said, "Beth, this is getting too tough. I want you. I've never had this kind of longing for a woman. I'm not a guy who can just 'have a fling'. I don't want you in my life just for right now; I want you in my life. Does that make sense?"
"It does Rick, but how could we possibly make this work? You live in Georgia and I, well I don't live anywhere," she looked down as she spoke.
"I know Beth; that's where I'm headed with this; I want you to come home with me Beth. We know we have something together, I believe we can build on that. Let's take a chance, together," he gently kissed her lips, and she kissed him back.
They made their way toward the bed and he looked at her with a small smile as he began unzipping her dress, "Is this okay Beth? I'll stop if you want," his eyes were so intense. She looked at him, began unbuttoning his shirt, gave him a shy smile and said, "I don't think I'm ever going to want you to stop Rick."