Journey – Chapter 9
Hey guys…I apologize in advance for this short chapter but it is just a lead up to one of the sweetest and most beautiful moments in Rick and Michonne's young lives. Trust me…it will be worth it.
At the dinner table, Brandon stared at his brother.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Rick looked up.
"What?"
Brandon pointed to the bandage on his face.
"Your face…"
Phillip and Mary stayed silent and continued eating.
"Nothing. I got into a fight, that's all."
"A fight? Over what?"
"It doesn't matter. It wouldn't happen again."
"Then who?"
Rick sigh.
"Why does everyone assume it's about someone?"
He stuffed his face with a spoonful of mashed potato and gravy and everyone else continued eating. Fifteen minutes later and Brandon was at it again.
"Is this about the girl at the fair a couple of weeks ago?"
Rick's head snapped around, eyes popped open but Brandon had no chill.
"What? I saw the way you were looking at her. It was as if you saw your soulmate or something. You just kept staring at her like no one else was around! It was embarrassing!"
Rick turned beet red and his jaw dropped open, mortified.
"Stop talking!"
Rick turned his head back in time to see his father cockily put down his knife and fork on his plate and stretched out his hand to his mother. Defeated, Mary shyly fished out a $20 from her bra. Rick gasped.
"Really?! Are you serious?! You guys bet on me?!"
"It's not a bet per say. Your mother and I just had a little discussion and it was decided that the winner gets bragging rights and the loser has to put $20 towards starting a college fund for our future grandkids."
"Oh my God! I can't believe this!"
He looked at his brother who put his hands up in defence.
"I swear I didn't know about any bet!"
Rick looked frankly at his parents. Mary got over her defeat to her husband very quickly.
"Now that it's confirmed, when do we get to meet her?"
"Mom….we are just finding our way ourselves." He swallowed. "It's complicated."
"What do you mean complicated?"
Rick said nothing. He has never seen his parents show prejudice toward black people but he have never seen them interact with much of them because he grew up in an all white neighbourhood with an all white school.
Of course there were black people in the area where they use to live but they ran in different circles. He wondered how they would react to Michonne given that they themselves were now navigating their own relationship and are facing their own tribulations.
"I mean as soon as we are settle I will introduction her to you."
His mother seemed somewhat disheartened.
"Can we atleast get a name?"
Mary's eyes gleamed with anticipation and he caved in.
"Michonne. Her name is Michonne."
She smile.
"Ohhhh. Such a beautiful name! Michonne Grimes! Mrs Michonne Grimes! I can't wait to meet her!"
He looked over at Brandon who grinned at him mischievously.~*~*~*
Michonne thought about Rick as she twirled the 'ring' on her. She has never felt more connected to him. She loves him and made a solemn promise to herself that she was going to spend the rest of her life with him as his wife, mother of his children and eternal soulmate. She felt like she could conquer the world and face any trials in their future.
She wondered if this was how her mother felt about her father…if she walked on cloud nine. She and Marcella walked into their yard and entered the house through the kitchen. Her mother was there preparing for dinner. She greeted her and rushed inside to change, bathe and dress.
She returned 10 minutes later after setting up Marcella to start her homework and joined in preparing for dinner. As they cleaned and washed the vegetables, she played over in her mind the angle she was going to approach the subject of love with her mother. Abruptly, before she could think, she blurted out the most obvious question.
"When did you know you were in love with daddy?"
As expected, the question took Miriam by surprise. Michonne didn't look at her mother for fear of giving away her secret. To Michonne, the paused seemed to last for hours.
"Why do you asked?"
Michonne shrugged her shoulder.
"Just wondering."
Michonne kept her eyes on the carrot in the sink. Miriam continued cleaning.
"It's the way he made me feel. I thought I could walk on water!"
She glanced at her mother and she was smiling hard.
"My mother didn't like him. She thought he was too aggressive and straightforward but I call it persistent. He had been through a lot and the more I spoke to him the more I fell in love."
"How did the two of you meet?"
Miriam's face turned dark and sombre.
"The police was going through my neighbourhood. They were kicking in people's doors. I was coming home from school. I was around 15 or 16 at the time and they were snatching up any and everyone on the street and forcing them to lay down on the hot ground. They had large police dogs trained and snapping at people. One of the police officers saw me and called me over but I froze. He released his dog and it began chasing me. I turned and began running. I was never so scared for my life. I heard the dog gaining on me and when I ran around a corner down an alley I crashed straight into Malcolm and two of his friends. I fell down crying and screaming for help. They ran up just as the dog turned the corner and when it was about to pounce on me, he hit it with a piece of wood. He killed it."
Miriam wiped an escape tear from her eyes.
"He picked me up, took off his shirt and bandaged my bloody knee. We heard the police coming so we hid in the alley behind some buildings until they left. He took me home and checked on me for days afterwards. We became friends and then after some months asked me out. Of course I refused him the first couple times. I was stubborn and he refused to give up."
Miriam laughed.
"It took me two years before I said yes to him asking me out. He finally got under my skin. For our first date, you know where he took me? To the theatre."
"But they don't allow us in there."
"That wasn't going to stop Malcolm. He made a hole in the side of the theatre building which was next to the bakery he was working. I met him around 7:30. He bought puff pastries and soda for us to eat and drink and we sat down in the dark alley on a makeshift bench. We took turned peeping through the hole. We couldn't laugh or anything like that but we did have a good time."
"Weren't you afraid of getting caught?"
"No I wasn't."
"Why?"
"Because I was with him. He made me feel safe, invincible." Miriam paused. "I know what your father said the other day seemed abit harsh but he's only trying to protect you and Marcie. However, if you get someone Michonne, someone who loves you enough to walk through fire into the bowels of hell and battle the devil himself for you promise you will hold onto him with both hands. Men like your father is a dying breed and I pray everyday that by the time you and Marcella decide to settle down and marry the both of you get as luck as me."
"I promise mummy."
Michonne mulled over what her mother said. It was like an exact mirror image of her and Rick.
"That's when you knew you loved him…"
"Yes and him being an incredible kisser didn't hurt."
Miriam winked at her and she shrunk back blushing. She knew exactly what her mother was talking about.
"Okay mummy!"~*~*~*
Saturday at work was really busy. When he finally got a lunch break Rick retreated to the stockroom with the day's newspaper. Munching down on his tuna sandwich, he casually browsed through the papers when something caught his eye. It was a couple of pictures of Canary Park sent in by Willis Dent.
Rick had heard of him before. He was a well known travelling photographer who pictures have won him prestigious awards. There were several pictures but one in particular stood out. It was a picture of a small secluded clearing with a cluster of sorted trees cradling it. In front of the clearing was a small pool that appeared to be teaming with life. It looked straight out of a fantasy world.
Rick thought he heard the picture literally call out his and Michonne's name. He smiled broadly. He found it. He found the perfect place for their second date. He read the article and scrambled to take down the directions. He was determined to check it out…today.~*~*~*
Rick's jaws dropped when Mr Green asked him to stay an additional two hours.
"Does it have to be today? I have somewhere to be. It really really important!"
Mr Green folded his arms across his chest.
"It's part of your job description…remember? Besides, you're getting overtime and you're off tomorrow."
Rick contemplated but soon he realized that it may not be a bad thing. Overtime means more money and he will reach his goal of getting Michonne a proper engagement ring faster.
"Ok. I'll stay."
Mr Green scoffed as if it was a request or he had a choice.~*~*~*
The last two hours of the day dragged on and Rick literally counted the second and minute hand of the clock on the wall. When it was almost 7 pm he gingerly waited by the door, keys in hand. As the hand struck 7, he dashed outside and locked the front door and gate. He broke out in a small sprint to drop the keys at Mr Green's house.
Accomplishing his mission, he looked at the piece of paper in his hand. He needed to take a bus going the opposite direction to his home. He waited impatiently at the bus stop and when it did arrive, he rushed in.
It took 45 minutes to reach his destination and thought that he should have mentally willed the bus to move faster. It was dark and it was half moon. Rick walked through Canary Park and was surprise to hear voices of other people echoing throughout.
As he walked along the track he passed pockets of couples whispering, giggling and even making love to each other. It made him smile. He stop for a second, closing his eyes. The picture from the newspaper was so vivid in his head. He opened them and continued walking for another five minutes.
He instantly recognized the back of the trees and pushed his way through the shrubbery. The dim moonlight on the small pond hit him first. The ground was covered in glittering lawn grass. Rick walked to the middle of the camp area and inhaled the fresh air.
It was every bit as beautiful as it looked and was described in the article. It was perfect. Rick decided then and it would not only be the place for their perfect second date but it was the ideal spot for when he proposed to Michonne. He cried.~*~*~*
Rick was extra jolly Sunday morning and everyone, including Mr Green took notice. He was also taken aback when Rick asked to work overtime for the next couple of weeks.
"Yesterday you didn't want to stay back late and now you're asking for it?"
"I'm planning for my future Mr Green. I need money to do that."
Mr Green eyes narrowed. Rick is up to something. He could smell it but he will not deny Rick's request. A lot of the customers, especially old ladies like Rick and he makes extra money on deliveries when they request Rick bring groceries to their homes.
"You will need to talk to your co-workers. I have already divided the extra time among them."
"Will do. Thanks."
Rick walked away smiling.
