Author's Note: Thanks for the fantastic feedback on the last couple of chapters! I really appreciate it! Keep it coming! Hope you guys like this one.
Chapter 8
Carol peered out of the window as the rain hammered down onto the earth. She had followed Daryl back to his house, a nice little one-story brick place with a fenced in yard. She hadn't been expecting him to live in a place like that. Given what she knew about him—he liked to hunt, work on motorcycles and worked in a factory—she expected him to live in a little room off the side of somebody else's house or something. But it was a pretty nice place, and she figured he must be doing pretty well for himself.
Daryl hopped out of the car and hurried up through the gate and to the front door. When he got the door unlocked, he motioned for her to follow. She grabbed her keys and her purse and rushed out of the car, shivering at the shocking cold rain on her skin.
Just as she ducked into the front door, she was surprised to meet a pretty young blonde woman who was shifting a backpack over her shoulder and looking at Daryl with puppy dog eyes. Carol didn't know what to think, and when the young woman looked at Carol, she blushed.
"Oh, hi," she said with a smile. "I'm Beth!"
"Hi Beth," Carol said uncertainly. "I'm Carol."
"Mr. Dixon, I best be getting home. My dad expected me home an hour ago."
"Sorry 'bout that, Beth," Daryl muttered. "Didn't mean to keep ya out longer than you were supposed to be."
"It's alright. See you later."
"Careful out there. That rain's comin' down pretty good. You need me to follow you home?"
"No, I'm fine. Thanks, Mr. Dixon." Beth gave Carol a smile before hurrying out the front door. Daryl closed it behind her and turned to meet Carol's amused but questioning gaze.
"So, Beth seems nice," Carol said slowly.
"She's just a high school kid. Her daddy's my vet. Well, my dog's vet." He whistled, and a big German Shepherd came bounding into the room, immediately jumping up to put his paws on Carol's chest. Like owner, like dog. Carol cried out in surprise, and Daryl quickly pulled the dog off of Carol.
"Down, Cherokee," he ordered. The dog licked Carol's hand and turned to rush out of the room.
"Beautiful dog. I love German Shepherd's."
"Cherokee's a good boy. Keeps the place safe," Daryl said with a nod.
"So, Beth dog sits, huh?" Carol said with a smile, noting how Daryl seemed to have spoiled his pet. There was an oversized pet bed in the corner, various toys and dog bones lying in it. "This is a nice place, Daryl."
"Thanks," he said with a shrug. "Bought it a few years back. Got a good deal on it, fixed it up." He took her jacket and put it on the coat rack. "You're soaked. Lemme get ya a towel." He disappeared down the hall and returned with a large, fluffy towel. He wrapped it around her shoulders, never taking his eyes off of hers. She blushed and gasped softly when he brushed his lips against hers. "Have a seat," he said quietly, motioning for her to sit down on the couch. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"You'll see. Just sit." She did as he asked and watched as he disappeared down the hallway. She looked around the dim room, smiling at the simple décor. It definitely had a man's touch to it. She bit her lip, her eyes darting about, looking for any sign that a woman—someone beside the dog sitter—had been occupying the same space. She came up lacking. She felt a little better, and she relaxed against the couch.
Cherokee came walking lazily in from the kitchen, and ne nuzzled Carol's hand with his nose. She smiled and patted the dog's head.
"Good boy," she said with a smile. "You're a beautiful boy." She scratched him behind the ears, which he really seemed to love.
She heard Daryl's footsteps coming back down the hall, and, and she turned on the couch just in time to see him walk into the room carrying a small bundle in his arms. Confused at first, she suddenly realized that wasn't just a bundle. It was a baby. She stood, her knees a little wobbly, and she looked at the little baby in Daryl's arms.
"Told you I wanted to show you my world," he said quietly. "This is my world. Her name's Grace." Carol's hand moved to her mouth, and she gasped, peering down at the sweet little child in his arms.
"Oh my God, Daryl," she murmured, stepping around the couch and moving to get a closer look at the tiny baby bundled up in a lavender blanket. Her dark brown hair was fuzzy and stuck up all over her head. She was a tiny, perfect little thing. She noted the way he held the baby so close and a little awkwardly. He was very new to this. "You're a dad."
"Yeah," he murmured. "She's six weeks old, and I don't really have a clue what I'm doin'. But I'm learnin." He looked down at the baby who grunted in her sleep.
"Where…I mean, her mother's not here?" Daryl shook his head.
"I didn't even know her mama was pregnant. We split up a long time ago, 'cause she was into some bad shit, and next thing I know, social services is knockin' on my door tellin' me I'm a dad, that her mama got into an accident. Baby made it, but she didn't. Next thing I know, I'm takin' blood tests and findin' out I'm gonna be somebody's parent for the rest of my life." He shook his head. "It all happened so fast, I didn't know what the hell to do. I ain't never had nieces or nephews or nothin' like that. Never changed a damned diaper 'til that first night with Gracie." He moved to sit down on the couch, and Carol sat down next to him, unable to take her eyes off of that beautiful baby girl.
"Daryl," she murmured, "I had no idea you were a dad."
"Still gettin' used to the idea, myself. The other night, when we met at the bar? That's the first night I had away from her since I got her. Beth's savin' up to go to college, and I offered to pay her to babysit Gracie for me. Pretty sure she's gettin' paid way too much for a few hours a day, but she's good with Gracie." He eyed her, seeing the flood of emotions in her eyes. "You wanna hold her?" He suddenly regretted asking that, considering Carol had just told him earlier about her daughter who died. "Sorry, I wasn't thinkin'. It's too much?"
"No, it's ok," she said softly. "I'd love to hold her." She smiled as she held her hands out, and Daryl gently placed the baby in her arms. "Oh…" She cooed down at the baby and kissed her little forehead, smelling that intoxicating baby smell of powder and milk. "Oh, she's so precious. Hi, Gracie. I'm Carol." She settled back down on the couch and held the baby close, remembering Sophia being that small like it was yesterday. The tears filled her eyes, and she smiled up at Daryl as she cradled the baby. He couldn't take his eyes off of her or the way she held his daughter so protectively and so lovingly.
"You're good with her," he said softly. "Most days I don't think I'm doin' anything right."
"That's normal," Carol chuckled. "Sophia's whole first year, I took her to the doctor practically every other week. I was terrified that she wasn't eating enough or sleeping enough or that I was just not doing something right. But it passes." She stroked the baby's cheek with her finger. "Tell me about her. About Grace's mom. If you want to, I mean." Daryl sighed and sat down next to Carol on the couch.
"Ain't a whole lot to tell. We were together for a while, and then she got into some trouble. Got into drugs and shit I didn't want no part of. When she left, I never saw her again. Then the cops showed up at my door. Said she got into an accident. She was high, and she was pregnant, and they got the baby out in time, but she didn't make it." He shook his head. "Another few minutes, and the baby woulda died right along with her, they told me."
"That's awful," Carol said quietly. "I'm sorry, Daryl."
"Never thought I'd be a dad. Gracie was lucky she wasn't hurt or sick 'cause of what her mama did, but she's here, and I thank God for that, ya know?" He shrugged. "I never prayed once in my life 'til the second I held her in my arms." He glanced at Carol to see the tears slip down her cheeks. He leaned forward and kissed her softly. She sighed against his lips and pulled back.
"You gotta get home, or can ya stay?" he wondered. She chewed her lip nervously.
"You want me to stay here tonight?"
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I mean, is that ok? Will she be ok?"
"Carol, she's a baby. Don't think she cares much who stays here so long as she's got a dry diaper and a warm bottle." He saw her bite her lip and smile again, and his heart warmed. "C'mon. I'll put her back down in her room, and then we can go to my room…"
"Daryl," she choked, her cheeks turning red, which he found amusing considering the fact that he probably knew every inch of her body better than his own at this point. Carol's cell phone chose that very moment to vibrate in her purse, and Daryl eyed her. She sighed and handed the baby over to him, grabbed her phone. He noticed her flinch when she read the message.
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "I can't stay, Daryl. I'm sorry." She leaned in to kiss him softly. "Can I take a rain check?"
"Sure," he said slowly, wondering what was going on that was pulling her away from him. She gave him a gentle smile and caressed his arm.
"I have a few things I need to take care of," she assured him. "I need to move on from my marriage before I can start having sleepovers at somebody else's house."
"Who said we'd be sleepin'?" he asked, wiggling his brows. She rolled her eyes and kissed him again.
"I'll call you tomorrow, ok?"
"Yeah," he murmured, his lips lingering over hers. "But ya know, Cherokee's gonna miss ya like crazy."
"Oh, Cherokee will be alright," she laughed, patting the dog's head. The dog looked at Daryl and whined.
"See. Told ya."
"I'm sorry, Cherokee. I promise I'll stay another night." She leaned in and kissed baby Grace's forehead. "Good night, little miss. You take care of your daddy. Go easy on him, ok?" Daryl reached out for her hand, tugging her back toward him gently. She smiled against his lips and wished she could stay with him forever. "I'll call you. I promise." She felt his lips brush over her neck, and she trembled. "Oh God, please don't start something we can't finish." The way his mouth ghosted over her skin sent sparks flying through her blood. "Daryl!"
"Damn, thought that might work."
"Good try," she grinned, knees weakening. "I promise. Rain check." She kissed him again, and he got up to show her out. She ducked her head and held her purse over it to shield herself from the cold rain, and Daryl stood at the door and watched as she got in the car and drove off. He sighed and looked down at his daughter in his arms.
"That was Carol," he murmured softly to her as she slept. "She's the girl daddy's gonna marry someday."
Carol choked back a cough as she walked into the bar. Smoke lingered in the air, and she waved her hand in front of her face. She hated dives like this. This bar literally had a bunch of rednecks running around with their beer bellies hanging out, smoking cigarettes, drinking the cheapest beer they could get and playing pool while stumbling over one another.
"Peletier's woman's here," one man laughed as he leaned against the pool table. "Aw, hell, Ed, you're in trouble now."
Carol saw the bartender, Axel, heading her way.
"Hey Carol," he said a bit sheepishly. "I didn't call an ambulance, 'cause he refused, so I called the next best thing."
"Thanks, Axel," Carol said tightly, eyeing her husband sitting on a bar stood with a wet rag pressed to his forehead.
"He's probably gonna need stitches."
"It's alright. I've had practice." She eyed him, Ed. Her hard stare was slightly more painful than the cut on his forehead. This wouldn't be the first time she'd had to patch up her husband's wounds after a night of hard drinking. Hopefully it would be the last.
"Hey, darlin'," Ed slurred from the bar stool, standing when she walked over toward him, swaying in her presence. Even in his drunken stupor, Ed could tell his wife was not pleased, and he reached out for her, only to stumble and fall into her. She moved backward, nearly falling, when Axel ducked under Ed's arm and held him up.
"C'mon, big guy. Let's get you to the car, huh?" Carol gave Axel a thankful look, and together they helped get Ed to the car. Ed dropped into the passenger's seat of Carol's car, and she got in.
"Thanks, Axel."
"Sorry to bother ya again, Carol. Figured you'd rather me call you than the police. He was gettin' a little too into that pool game, and I thought he was gonna shove a stick up poor 'ole Merle's ass." Carol cringed and turned the key in the ignition.
"Thanks for calling, Axel." Axel shut Ed's door and tapped on the roof of the car. Carol drove off while Ed slurred his story about how he was beating Merle's ass at pool, but Merle'd caught him cheating, so they'd had a big fight about it. "Bastard smashed a bottle over my head. Who does that?"
"That's what you get for drinking in that trashy bar."
"Now, honey, I just…"
"Don't now honey me, Ed Peletier. You brought this on yourself. You're the one that went out and got drunk and then got into a bar fight with one of your pool buddies. You know better."
"But Carol," he murmured, reaching over to touch her shoulder. She shrugged him off.
"Don't 'but Carol' me." She stopped at a red light and moved her hand over his.
"Let me see." She sighed when she saw the cut was still bleeding. "That's just great, Ed. I have half a mind to take you to the emergency room."
"I don't need no damned doctor pokin' and proddin' me and tellin' me there's somethin' wrong with me. I'm fine just the way things are."
"Well, don't be going back to Axel's for a while, and maybe you won't have this problem, Ed." Ed chuckled and brushed his hand over her shoulder.
"Love you, honey. You're always here when I need you."
"You mean I'm always cleaning up after your messes." Ed said nothing. Carol was tense in the driver's seat, and when they arrived at home, Carol helped Ed inside. She marched him to the bathroom where the light was better, and she proceeded to start cleaning up the blood from his face.
"Well, you won't need stitches…this time," Carol pointed out, dabbing at the blood. "It's a superficial cut, and sometimes those bleed the worst." Ed winced when she dabbed some peroxide on his forehead.
"It's not that bad, Ed. Stop being a baby." She finished cleaning away all the blood, some fresh, some dry, and then she placed some ointment over the small cut before placing a bandage over it. She patted the top of his head, as if to reward him for not whining too much through the process. "All better." He didn't seem to notice that she was talking to him almost like a child, but when she helped him up, he grunted when he nearly fell forward.
"Shit, I ain't never drinkin' again."
"That's what you said the last three times you came home with blood all over you, Ed," Carol reminded him. "C'mon. Let's get you to bed." She helped him into their room, and he practically collapsed on the bed. She turned to the door, and he looked up at her.
"You ain't stayin'?"
"No, Ed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"But, honey…"
"Ed, you're drunk. I'll talk to you when you're sober. I'm down the hall if you need anything." She turned and left him alone and retreated to the living room to spend what she knew would be a sleepless night trying to get comfortable.
