The Devil Is A Liar
Nothing but open road. Everything green and bright even the fog above the trees realized nothing was going to stop the sun from shining on this day. For most people in Kings County this would mean a good day was rising but for Michonne it was the first day of her separation from her husband Mike.
"What you driving today sweetheart?"
"The only car I was able to drive away with and that is my black Bugatti."
"From what your Granny tells me you need to sell it and get yourself one of those Fiats and take the rest of the money and hire someone to hang that no good Mike by his toe nails."
"That does sound like something Granny Mabel would say." Michonne scowled at the flashing lights she could see in her rear-view mirror.
"Is that sirens I hear?"
"Yes. Who you got working Route 1?" Michonne asked.
"That would be Grimes and Walsh." Sheriff Herschel Green sighed, "Please keep me on this phone line so I can hear what these two are doing pulling you over. Please, Please, Please, don't tell Ms. Mabel about it. I won't hear the end of it. I really would like peace in my home with her."
Michonne pulled over to the side of the road. She reached into her glove box and pulled out her registration and title along with her license. She made another mental note to make sure she gave the title to her Granny Mabel. The Bugatti was truly the only thing she owned not counting her extensive wardrobe and the wedding ring she stopped wearing since yesterday.
The window rolled half way when Deputy Grimes walked up with Walsh on the passenger side tapping for her to roll that side down too.
"Hi, I'm Deputy Sheriff Grimes, could you remove your shades please?" He watched her put the sunglasses in the holder. "Thank you. Do you know why we pulled you over?"
Michonne complied . She turned to look at him and thought for a moment she was looking at the bluest sky. Three seconds she forgot to breathe.
Snap. Puzzle piece. She noticed the tan mark of where a wedding band would have been.
Deputy Grimes was startled as he thought he was drowning in the most beautiful brown eyes. Three seconds he forgot to breathe.
Snap, Puzzle piece. He noticed the tan line of where a wedding ring should have been.
"I'm deputy Walsh, my partner asked you a question. " Shane peered in trying to get a good view of the inside of the rare vehicle for their part of town.
"It wasn't because I was doing the speed limit." Michonne gave her attention to the deputy on her passenger side. She handed over her license and registration that included her title.
"How did someone like you end up with a car like this?" Shane asked as he looked at the items she handed over.
"Run my background and maybe you will be able to connect the dots."
"How about you stand out side the car...How about that?" Shane had his hand on his gun that was on his hip as he spoke.
"Deputy Walsh give Michonne back her information. Then I need you and Grimes to back a way from the car and let Michonne get to her Granny Mabel." Herschel's voice came through the speakers of Michonne car that was Bluetooth enabled among other things.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bills. Bills. Bills. Fuck.
Rick couldn't understand how this was happening yet again. He was tired of taking double shifts doing overnighters to just stay above water that was slowly but surely rising again. He removed a box from their hall closet when opened credit card and signature loan document came raining down on him. Credit line increases. Signature loan balances.
Gotdamn Lori. Fuck!
The jock and the cheerleader. That is how the small town of King's County saw Rick and Lori even 20 years later. The men were envious of Rick because Lori really kept herself up. She drove a pristine Chrysler Crossfire. She still had her thin physique that she had in High School.
Lori never had any children and it wasn't for the lack of Rick thinking that they were trying. Technically, Lori did not want any kids. She kept up with her Birth Control Shots. She paid for them out of pocket to leave no record with their insurance provider.
Rick wanted children and lots of them if he had his way. At one point Rick thought it was him but he was given a clean bill of health. After many years of trying Rick just settled on the belief that if it is meant to be it would be.
This was the first day of their separation. Rick had enough. He left all the bills he discovered and left them on the table with his wedding band on top just for Lori to see when she got back home from whatever shopping spree she may have been on. He packed his bags and moved in with Shane his patrol partner. He had warned her a year ago if she did it again, he was done. She did it again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Michonne needed her Granny Mabel in a bad way. She needed that hug that makes one know that this is where cries are allowed and the after effect feeling that things can and will get better. Her Granny was sweeping the porch when she pulled up and put the car in park. She got out and ran into the embrace that she needed.
"What are all those tears for- him or the money?"
Michonne responded, "Him."
"You a damn fool."
"Granny Mabel..."
"Don't Granny Mabel me. You come to the wrong place if you think you going to get sympathy for that no count. He got disbarred. Spending all your damn money. Your family's money as if you can't count. Gambled most of it away. Then you had to take what little money you had left to pay off all his debts...No baby...make that the last tear you shed for that no count."
"I need to stay with you for a while Granny."
"As long as you need. You the only family welcome here. You know that. Me and Mr. Green looking forward to your company. Come on child. Come on inside."
Mounted on the front door was a sign that read "Beware of Me." Not 'Beware of Dog' but 'Beware of Me'. In the entryway, some people call a foyer Granny Mabel had two more things that couldn't go unnoticed a three foot crucifix mounted to the wall and a sawed off shot gun resting on the floor of that very wall.
"Granny, since when you believe?"
"I don't."
"Does Herschel know you have a shot gun?"
" He does."
"Granny..." Michonne had her hands on her hips.
"Now you know. Most people don't know and if anyone is brave enough to cross my lawn and ring my doorbell with some mess after reading the warning, the cross and my shotgun are two things they are going to see and not in any particular order. They will either fear the lord or that I will blow a hole in them and send them to him."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You found her attractive?" Shane was referring to the woman they had just pulled over and had to let go.
Rick gazed out the passenger window as they cruised through the small town to go back to the office to get chewed out by Sheriff Green.
"I am just saying you didn't have to be so aggressive."
"What did you think though?" Shane was curious about his friends taste in women since Lori seemed to be out of the picture.
"I didn't think anything. Shane this is my first day of being separated. I am not looking at other women in that way."
"Well, how about Jessie Tilson. Look at her." They watched as Jessie climbed in to her small F150 pickup in a pair of daisy dukes . "I put money on it she is low maintenance compared to Lori."
Rick and Shane both tried to get a glimpse of what was barely hidden from view.
Later that evening, first night without his wife Rick had to admit to himself that it was weird not having her next to him. They had been together most of their teen years. Married in their twenties when they both completed community college now they were well into their thirties with not much to show for it but a home that had been refinanced to pay the debt that was accumulated to only be back in debt again and he hadn't bought one damn thing. 80k dollars worth of debt and that wasn't counting their home loan. Rick doesn't even make anywhere near that a year. An early grave was waiting for him if he tried. He could only do so much over time and overnighters.
Rick was laying on his back in a spare room in Shane's home unable to sleep. Lori hadn't called. He checked his phone. No missed calls. Chirp. Sixty seconds. Chirp. Another sixty seconds...chirp. Rick knew he would not be able to sleep for sure. He gets up and he can hear Shane's voice talking to someone as he stands outside the bedroom door. Rick knocks twice.
"Open the door man. I thought you were probably sleep."
Rick opens the door to see Shane sitting on the edge of his bed with a phone covering the receiver.
"Do you have a battery? A 9 volt?" Rick asked.
"No. Why?"
"You don't hear your smoke detector?"
"After a while you don't hear it."
"Why would you let it get to that point...what is the point of the smoke detector if you aren't making sure it is working optimally?"
"Are we really going to have a conversation about a smoke detector?"
"I'm going to Walmart to buy a battery and get a case of beer."
"I have your wife on the phone."
Ricks eyes narrowed, "What she's doing calling you? You paying the bills now?"
"I told you in the beginning she was too much of headache but your ass wouldn't listen to me."
"When she can figure out where 80k is coming from then I may want to talk until then I am all out of words." Rick closed the door and left.
Rick drove to the local Walmart. It was after 11pm. He grabbed a blue hand basket because he realized he will need to pick up some snacks. Something for breakfast in the morning and more deodorant and mouthwash.
He noticed the beautiful woman from earlier in the day that they had pulled over in the black Bugatti. She was walking around looking and touching things and remarking aloud about the prices. Her cart was empty. Rick found it weird that his heart was racing just a bit and that was because he was trying to figure out a way to engage her. She had on a loose tank top and sweats with flip flops. She still looked amazing to him.
Michonne marveled at the price of items in the store. She touched the clothes to feel for quality and she knew that it wouldn't be her place for a wardrobe but everything else had possibilities especially with starting all over.
She pushed her cart over to the ice cream aisle. Her original intentions of coming to the store that was open 24 hours. Michonne checked the varieties that were available.
"You know you should be behind bars?"
The voice came from behind Michonne. She knew who it was because she saw his reflection in the glass. She didn't turn around. "What would have been the charge?"
"Total disregard for the law."
"That is not a charge."
"Reckless driving."
"Are you putting me on notice? Does this mean I am the one that got a way so you plan to harass me now?"
"I know that your an attorney from Atlanta. You are Ms. Mabel's grand daughter."
Michonne went into the freezer and grabbed a pint of Rocky Road Ice Cream. "What else do you know?"
"You've recently taken off your ring."
Michonne put the Rocky Road back into the freezer. "You've recently taken off your ring too." She remarked. "I've never been in a Walmart before. This is truly my first time. I usually have my groceries done for me or delivered. I think I like Walmart." She turned to look at him and again it was like her heart skipped a beat. He was so fucking sexy standing there. She could see he was checking her out and she playfully gave him a show as she bent and reached for various ice cream just to see if she was reading him wrong. She wasn't.
The way she was reaching and bending for ice cream she had to be flirting with him, Rick hoped he wasn't reading everything wrong. What does an ass like that feel like he began to wonder. When she turned to face him he was wondering if he was reading her wrong. He wasn't.
"How long have you been wandering around Walmart?"
"10 minutes or so."
"Would you like me to give you a tour?"
"You want to give me a tour?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to...since this is your first time."
"I would like that." Michonne smiled. Snap. Puzzle piece.
"I would like that too. Rick smiled back absolutely having that smile of her's etched into his memory. Snap. Puzzle piece.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ms. Mabel opened the door to allow her grand daughter in, "It's 2am in the morning . What I tell you about this time..."
"Ain't nothing good go on at 2am. Sorry Granny."
"I thought you were going to Walmart to get some ice cream." Ms. Mabel moved out the way to allow Michonne in and locked the door back.
"I ran into Deputy Rick who pulled me over when I first came into town."
"He did what?"
Michonne instantly realized her mistake. "Please don't be mad at Herschel. He told them to not write me a ticket."
"He better done that or there would be no peace in this house."
"Rick. He told me his name is Rick. Well he gave me a tour of Walmart."
"He work there now?"
"No. He was there for snacks and stuff."
"Well from what I heard about him he going to need several jobs to afford that wife of his. But ain't no never mind on that. Put that Ice cream in the freezer and don't make it a habit of coming here all time of the night. I know you grown but you will never be more grown than me. You hear?"
"Yes. Granny."
Before Ms. Mabel left the kitchen she had confirmed what Michonne felt down deep in her heart, "That Rick Grimes is one of the good ones."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
At eight that morning the doorbell rang. Rick swallowed hard reading the sign that said 'Beware of Me.'
Herschel opened the door surprised to see his deputy on his doorstep in civilian running clothes, "Deputy Grimes what can I help you with?"
Rick was already nervous and with Herschel in the door he began to slightly panic but he made Michonne a promise to come by and take her to the park for a morning run.
"Michonne asked me to come by today..."
"How did that come about?"
"At Walmart sir. Last night."
Michonne came from behind Herschel, "I asked him over to show me good places to jog. I had a routine in Atlanta and I want to keep it up as much as possible."
"You know people going to talk. You ready for that son?"
Ms. Mabel was standing behind them. Rick couldn't see her but he could hear her. "Let them talk. If these two fools can't wait for the dust to settle in their lives how can we make them."
"Granny Mabel we just going jogging what are you insinuating?"
"Go on jog baby. Herschel move out her way. Let those two fools think they are going jogging."
"Son, I want it to be known right now that I and Ms. Mabel didn't condone any of it."
Rick was sincerely confused, "We are just...I am going to show her the best places to jog is all."
Michonne stepped out on the porch with Rick. Her hair was pulled up and out of her face. She had her running gear on and sneakers on. Rick couldn't help but think Michonne looked incredible. Incredibly fit... he had to adjust his thoughts because Herschel and now Ms. Mabel was watching them through the screen. Him and Michonne were smiling all silly at each other.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When Rick arrived back from Walmart. He spent a few minutes sitting in his car thinking back on his time in Walmart with Michonne. Michonne. She was so funny. He hadn't laugh like that in a long time. He forgot all of his stresses those three hours in Walmart. They told stories about certain kitchen items. He learned of her irrational fear regarding plastic cups that came with straws. He watched her shudder over the thought. He hadn't laughed in a long time and there he was with this beautiful stranger. Rick was surprised when she agreed to have him pick her up to go running in less than six hours.
"Did you go to the Walmart two counties over?" Shane watched Rick put the battery in the smoke detector. "Ever since you brought that to my attention It began driving me insane. Seriously what took you so long to get back?"
"I was talking with the woman we pulled over in the black Bugatti. She was in Walmart."
"Knew you were attracted to her. Knew it."
"I am not." Rick denied. "She's never been to Walmart before. I gave her a tour."
"So, is that your side hustle now giving Walmart tours? How much you charge for that?"
"Your an asshole you know that."
"If you are attracted you are attracted. One thing you don't have to do is lie about it. I am your friend. I've been your friend since grade school and one thing I don't appreciate is when you lie to me."
"Why must I be lying?"
"Would you be in Walmart with Jessie for hours?"
"No."
"Why?"
Rick refused to answer because Shane had made his point.
"Man, you are separated. If you want to look at other lawns, I am not the one that is going to tell you not too. If you want to go mow a couple, I am not the one that is going to tell you not too. But if you checking out the lawn that is related to Ms. Mabel I would say tread carefully."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After their 4 mile run they both sat on the ground side by side. Sweaty and exhausted based on the speed they tried to maintain.
"How long you've been separated?" Michonne asked.
"The day you came to town would be the first day."
"Stop it. First day for me too."
"Really?"
Michonne nodded. "Was it cheating?"
"Money. Debt. Constant spending. Was it cheating for you?"
"Gambling. Debt. Constant spending. Disbarred.
"I am broke Michonne."
"Me too." For whatever reason they both began to chuckle at their predicament.
"I aint got shit to show for all the money and credit she has blown through."
"I guess mine was on a losing streak cause I never seen any deposits. Just withdrawals."
"When did you know it was getting out of hand?"
"When I was at Tiffany's and my card was declined."
"I have fifty dollars to my name. Do you want to get washed up and get some lunch?"
And that is how it began, the route Rick took with Michonne in the passenger seat gave him a full view of Lori's car in the driveway of Shane's home and when they got to Ms. Mabel Mike was standing in the lawn with his hands up because Ms. Mabel was on the porch with a sawed off shot gun aimed right at him.