A/N: I didn't forget this one. Thank you for reading and hanging in with me. I love you all. Let me know what you think.
They drove the jag to New Jersey and even though Daryl had totally serviced the car the dash lights wouldn't go off. He called it the ghost in the machine, apparently that was a thing with cars. There had to be a ghost in this car, no matter what he did the lights wouldn't go out and the seatbelt on the passenger side didn't work correctly.
He had to fix it manually, every time she got in the car because it was protecting precious cargo.
That was did job now and he took it seriously.
This Jag was something else, some of them had quirks he knew that from working on them. But Carol's car, well it was like her, marching to the beat of its own drum.
As they drove north they listened to music and talked a little. She told him about New Jersey, where she had lived the last five years with Ed and about Philadelphia before that. Daryl had never been out of Georgia. This was his first time out of the state at the age of almost twenty six.
She told him about the shore and the places she wanted to take him while they were up there. If they had time they would go to Philadelphia too. She just wanted to show him all of it. There was a place called Penn's landing in Philadelphia and she wanted to take him there.
"And, people in New Jersey aren't like those assholes on that TV show a few years ago." She said sipping her water as they drove.
"What show?" He asked, because he didn't watch much TV so he had no clue what she was talking about.
"It was called Jersey Shore, it was on MTV I think, anyway, so inaccurate. It took place in Seaside Heights which isn't far from where I used to live. There's a board walk there, rides, restaurants."
"Are we staying there?" He asked.
"Ah, no we can't. I got us a hotel on the beach in Point Pleasant, just as nice, nicer even." She said. "He owns half of seaside and to get there we have to go past my old house on Pelican Island. I don't want to."
He reached his hand over to hers and squeezed. "You don't have to."
He knew that house was where her sweet baby Layla died, and there was no way he was letting her go through that pain again.
"It's a shame, my favorite restaurant was there all the way at the end of the strip Bum Roger's, the best seafood around. But I know a good one in Point too right on the canal."
"Sounds great." He replied.
"Anyway, it isn't like that dumb show." She said.
They drove up in two days taking a break in Virginia for a night and they stood on the balcony of the hotel and talked about what was going to happen in court and about the baby.
It was a girl, they had found out the day before they left to take this trip. Carol didn't react the way she had thought she would.
She had a feeling it was a girl. She had prepared herself in advance. It didn't scare her, not with him beside her.
They talked about naming the baby Sophia after Daryl's grandmother. He was going to get her name put on his chest when she was born.
Carol would tattoo her name on her other shoulder, and they decided that there wouldn't be any more children after this one.
She was going to get her tubes tied right after the baby was born and then they didn't have to worry anymore.
He wrapped his arms around her as they stood there on the balcony loving the feel of her softer body now. She was always on the skinny side and pregnancy really gave her some great curves. They stood out there for a long time that night talking about their future and about the baby.
They went inside and made love which lately she couldn't get enough of. That hadn't been true in her last pregnancy and she figured she knew why.
She had never been happier in her life. Being in a relationship with someone you truly loved changed everything.
Part of her wished so hard that she had come back to him sooner, but that wasn't how it was and maybe she wouldn't have been ready.
She was ready now.
They arrived in New Jersey the next day and she was smiling. He could tell she missed this place and as they drove along the shore he realized, there was nothing like it in the world.
The smell of the saltwater as they sat at the inlet watching the fishing boats go out was so relaxing. Their hotel was on the boardwalk and they walked down to the inlet first thing. They sat and watched the boats all go out fishing for bluefish, with crowds of people on them. Carol waved to every boat and they all waved back.
He had a feeling she did this before and it made him smile thinking of her sitting here waving to fishermen as they went out to sea.
The giant poles were hanging off the boats and waving in the breeze as they motored out to the sea and were silhouetted against the sun. It had been a long time since she sat here and she was happy to sit and watch.
They had court the next day for her divorce and then it would be over. He took her hand and kissed it as they sat on the bench.
There were seagulls following the boat out to sea and a few flying around nearby making the sweetest sound. They sat there listening and they didn't need words between them.
It had always been that way with them. Being together had always been enough and they didn't need idle talk, it made what they did talk about all the more special.
"After tomorrow, you'll be a free woman." He said looking over at her after a few minutes.
She nodded. "It's been a long time coming."
"I'm sure." He said rubbing his hand over her knuckles softly.
"Thank you for bringing me." She said softly. "I couldn't do this alone."
"Hey, you aint ever got to do anything alone again." He said. "It's me and you, no matter what."
She kissed him sweetly and there was a slight taste of salt on his lips from the spray of the sea. It just didn't get any better than this.
"We don't need to be married for that Carol, it's like we are already anyhow. I feel that way."
"Me too, I'm sorry, I don't want to, it isn't you, and I hope you know that." She said.
"I know, just so you know all you got to do is say the word and I'll marry you, right away."
"Thanks Daryl." She stood up. "Come on, I know where we can get the best French toast in the state."
/
They pulled into the parking garage across from the courthouse on Washington St. in Toms River. That was the county seat for Ocean County and where all the legal business was conducted. There was a little red building next to the courthouse where family court was.
That was the building people called "The Freedom Building" it was where the divorces happened. They walked down the side walk past the main courthouse towards the red building talking to each other and Carol stopped short.
Her ex and his trashy secretary, Kim were standing outside the building smoking.
"Buckle up Daryl, it's about to get ugly." He grabbed her hand and held tight.
"No its not, I'll just kill him." He replied.
"He's all talk, he'll run his mouth and be a douche but it doesn't mean a thing."
"Who's the trashy broad with him?" Daryl asked.
"His secretary he wasn't banging." Carol said laughing.
Daryl laughed as the woman started walking towards them.
"Jesus Christ, she's pregnant Ed." The woman said as she threw down her cigarette. "You better not be trying to say its Ed's."
"Excuse me Kim." Carol said as she walked by her and over to Ed. "Ed are you ready to get this over with or what."
He nodded but as Carol walked by he couldn't resist. "Whore."
Daryl turned back and his face was right in Ed's. "What did you say to her?"
His voice was all Ed had to hear. He backed up nearly knocking Kim off her stiletto heels.
"Who the fuck are you?" He said in a distasteful tone as if he was better than everyone there.
"I'm the guy who's gonna kick your ass if you don't act right today." Daryl growled at him' making sure he was close to his face
He turned and walked with Carol into the courthouse. In two hours she was divorced, she and Ed had been married just under ten years, even though they lived separately. There would be no alimony and he had changed all his assets into Kim's name when Carol left him.
She walked away with her freedom and that was all she wanted.