"If he's not calling you, it's because you are not on his mind. If he creates expectations for you, and then doesn't follow through on little things, he will do same for big things. Be aware of this and realize that he's okay with disappointing you. Don't be with someone who doesn't do what they say they're going to do. If he's choosing not to make a simple effort that would put you at ease and bring harmony to a recurring fight, then he doesn't respect your feelings and needs. "Busy" is another word for "asshole." "Asshole" is another word for the guy you're dating. You deserve a fcking phone call."
― Greg Behrendt
He called. Michonne answered. Rick was stunned that in less than 24 hours he was back to square one. Did she not see the effort? Three connecting flights even one in economy class because first class was overbooked, just to get to her.
"You seduced me into agreeing. I wasn't thinking straight." Michonne tried to get her thoughts together. She kept replaying their first kiss in her mind over and over.
"So you don't want to date?" Rick ask for clarification. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stood on his houseboat looking out on the darkened water.
Michonne looked at her clock. She liked to be in bed by 10:30 pm, and it was 10:25 pm. She fell back on her bed and stared up at the ceiling in her darkened bedroom.
"I don't want to date. I can't date you."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't think you are ready for someone like me. The way I am."
Rick was surprised by it's me not you approach that Michonne was using. He never had it used on him. "What do you mean?"
"Dating means we both made up our minds that we are in hopes that it will lead to marriage."
Rick chuckled, "Why marriage and not just a committed relationship?"
"Why not marriage?"
Rick countered, "Why not a committed relationship?"
"That is not what I want. So I can't date you because we aren't on the same page. Dating has to lead to marriage. At least in my mind."
"Michonne..." Rick began, but he could hear the determination in her voice, so he listened.
"I love hard okay? I am too old to hand my heart over to someone who doesn't want what I want. When I love, I give myself 100 percent and expect the same because we hope one day to be married..."
Michonne wiped away her tears. She was becoming emotional. Her voice caught as she began again, "I don't want to fall in love with you. I don't want to be alone in that. I fight for love. I fight for everything that is mine. I want my Lil man to know that the person I choose is in it for the long haul and we have a ring and paper to prove it. I want to be an example to him, and I want the person I am dating- want to be an example to Andre, that this is what dating leads too...anything else is pointless especially at a certain age."
"I've never been married. I'm not sure that I am cut out for it."
"I've never been married, and it's all I ever wanted. I want a husband. I want to be a wife. I want to love him and stand beside him. I want him to come home to me every night. I want to wake up to him. I want him to treat Andre like he was his own. I want sex and plenty of it and babies."
"I already have a 16-year-old. You already have a 4-year-old."
"I want more."
Rick was rendered speechless. He could hear sniffles, "Are you crying?"
"I'm just tired. Tired of being so damn lonely that I would even entertain the idea of you." Michonne tried to laugh.
"You gave me a lot to think about," Rick responded honestly.
"Goodbye."
"Never. Good Night, Michonne."
Rick held his phone in his hands staring at it and then back at the river. He remembered every detail of their conversation. He had a lot to think about.
A few weeks later, Rick was sitting in his home that he owned in Georgia looking at his desktop Rolodex and his contacts in his phone. He made a list. He scanned it over twice. Three times were making sure he had all loose ends ready to be discarded. He deleted all numbers that weren't conducive to his end game. He threw the Rolodex in the trash.
Some women were aware of his tactics of ending relationships or arrangements with his use of his cousin. These women were still pissed off with him about it. Called him a coward for not facing them to break it off.
He is now cleaning house of all the women he came to know whether intimately or not.
He rubbed his forehead as he scanned the list that he had handed over to Eugene that was standing before him.
"Under who's Authority?" Eugene asked.
Eugene could not do anything unless it was under Rick's say so or Tyrese's'. He did not yield and could not function unless he had either of their permission or knew he was working under someone's authority, and if it wasn't something he was authorized, chaos and commotion was a guarantee.
Rick was trying not to sound exasperated, "My authority Eugene. Always under my authority when it comes to this list and the airplane tickets."
"Window seat? First Class?" Eugene wanted reassurance.
"Always and under my authority. What's not on the list or on the airline ticket is under Tyrese's authority."
Tyrese was Eugene's paid live in 24-hour companion. Not in a sexual way, just to keep Eugene out of trouble type of friend or companion that had the ability and the wits to extricate Eugene from some of the random things that would befall him if he were left unattended.
Eugene has autism with a mix of Asperger's with a dash of Tourette's. He was Rick's cousin. Rick kept Eugene out of an institution living environment by taking responsibility for him and allowing him to live independently with the help of Tyrese.
Tyrese loved the job, and it paid well. He developed a friendship with Eugene. A bond. Plus the perks were unbeatable. Travel. First Class. Suits and the remaining women that were dumped by Rick Grimes. Looking at that list, he may just score one or possibly two. He loved when they would weep on his shoulder.
Rick didn't find it difficult to clean house it was just tedious.
Karen who lived in LA was going to be the first one they would pay a visit to because her lease was coming up for renewal and she would need heads up that she would need to be looking for other arrangements along with the leased Range Rover. Eugene liked being the bearer of bad news. He was good at it. Straight forward. No sympathy. Eugene and Tyrese will be traveling from California to Japan, Spain and back to rain on parades.
"I don't see Lori on this list." Eugene did not like Lori, and he was agitated that her name wasn't on the list and he kept tapping at the paper as if it would magically put Lori's name on there. "I don't see Lori. I don't see Lori. I don't see Lori. Put Lori on the list. Put Lori on the List. Stupid motherfucker. Stupid Motherfucker. I don't see Lori. I don't see Lori."
"Calm down Eugene." Tyrese rubbed Eugene's back. The only physical contact he knew that Eugene would allow.
Rick sighed, "That I will handle. I will handle Lori. You do not have my authority for Lori."
"So what happened?" Carol stood on her tippy toes to peer over the cubicle wall at Michonne who had just returned to her seat.
"Nothing. He just asked questions about Morale."
Andrea put her customer on mute. "Sure. I think the only Morale he is worried about is yours." She winked.
"Stop it." Michonne admonished as she put her headset on.
Jessie noticed that Michonne was back and made her way to her cubicle, "Is everything okay?"
"Of course." Michonne signed in on the phone and began taking calls.
Jessie stood there not sure if she should have Michonne sign out again or remain in the dark about what Mr. Grimes wanted this particular employee for, but she resolved to go back to her desk.
Carol threw an eraser at Michonne and went back to her seat to take the inbound calls that were coming in.
"I miss you, Rick. I want us to start over."
"Rick took the phone from his ear and stared at it then he put it back to his ear, "About that..."
"I know I ended it between us, but I am tired of you not wanting to commit to me. 17 years with you Rick. Don't you think I deserve to be your wife? We aren't getting any younger you know?"
"About that...Where are you? I would like for us to talk about it. Marriage."
Lori's heart began to race. "I am in New York. I can be there by tomorrow. Okay?"
"I think it's important that we talk. Call me when your flight arrives. I can pick you up."
"I would like that." Lori's eyes were full of tears.
Shane, Daryl, Abe, and Glenn sat around the boathouse looking sullen.
"I'm going to do it," Rick stated firmly.
"Why?" Shane asked.
"Why else would I do something like this?"
"I for the life of me can't think of any reason." Shane tossed back his glass of whiskey.
"You going off the market?" Abe shook his head as if he could not fathom how any woman was able to entice Rick Grimes to take the plunge.