Parallel Lines Chapter 12
Daryl walked through the woods between his dad and Merle, barely paying attention. His mind was on Beth. She had convinced him to just lean back against her and soak in her tub Wednesday night and after he got over feeling awkward just soaking in the tub, he had relaxed, even letting her scrub him down with a sea sponge and some body wash that smelled vaguely like muscle rub. All he knew was that it had tingled in all the right places. She had met him for lunch on Thursday, and he honestly had been thinking about asking her to quit her job, solely so he wouldn't have to miss out on randomly having lunch with her all the time. Beth had told him he was a lucky man, the few days that they would be spending apart, Thursday and Friday, she'd be visited by her Aunt Flo anyway. Daryl didn't care they had sex or not and had gone and hung out with her Thursday night anyway after work for a few hours. Beth had snuggled up against him and they'd watched a late game, it was getting close to the playoffs, it didn't look good for The Braves.
"You plan on actually tracking? Or just being a waste of space?" Will Dixon grumbled turning to look back at Daryl. "We ain't got all weekend, again cause of you." Will spat as he worked his way further into the woods.
"You know I got better things to do right? Even before Beth. I could be making extra money, saving for my own place, not filling your freezer for the winter. " Daryl said losing his cool. He brushed Merle's hand off his shoulder roughly when he placed it there in an effort to calm Daryl down.
"You and your fancy life being inconvenienced?" Will asked turning around. "You don't want to be here leave." Daryl strung his crossbow across his back and turned down the trail. "Pussy whipped little bitch!" Will called down the trail. Merle turned and followed Daryl.
"Might as well stick to fishing for the day since you just scared away any game we'd be catching." Merle shouted jogging to catch up with Daryl.
"I ain't going fishing." Daryl said as he ducked under a branch.
"Come on, you can have your own canoe." Merle said checking over his shoulder. "I don't know what's got him so pissy. We caught a fucking deer last week."
"He's a miserable piece of shit Merle. You seriously need to get out of there. It ain't healthy."
"And what? Actually claim an income?" Merle said. "Admit there's nothing wrong with me? No PTSD? Go back to the base and join for another tour?"
"How's living with him better than living with me?" Daryl asked.
"Live completely off my baby brother? Do you want my balls in one Mason jar or separate ones?" Merle asked. "I help Dad with the property income and pay a bit of rent and occasionally except some help from you. You really think he'd live on his own?" Merle asked lowering his voice.
"I ain't sure it's not worth risking it to find out." Daryl said throwing his crossbow into his tent and grabbing a fishing pole and stalking off towards the dock.
"Stop being so pissy. You said it yourself, Beth's sister was able to make it up a day early and they were going to go shopping." Will grumbled when he finally caught up to his boys. "Can't believe a son of mine would rather be following some tail around a store instead of tracking in the woods."
"I'd rather be sitting at home doing nothing than tracking in the woods with you." Daryl said settling into his canoe and pushing away from the dock. "I'd gladly fucking go shopping for tampons and high heels if it meant I could hunt in peace on the weekends and not be near you."
"That's what got you in a mood?" Merle asked. "Beth being in a mood?"
"No that ain't it!" Daryl screamed from his canoe. "Him treating us the way he does that's what's got me in a mood!"
"You don't like they way I treat you? Be a man and make me respect you." Will said as he and Merle paddled towards the middle of the lake with Daryl. "You just sit there and take it like a bitch, this tantrum aside."
"You want me make you? You think I respect you? That you made me respect you." Daryl said calmly from his canoe.
"Like it or not I made you the man you are." Will said casting his line into the water. "You don't want to be anything like me? My blood is what's pumping through your veins. Sooner or later you'll realize that to make the people around you be their best you have to push them and punish them when they fail." Will added.
"Not because of you, in spite you." Daryl said. "I'm never going to whip anyone with my belt for spilling a glass of water, or being late or because I got drunk and bored when the cable went out. I'm never going to drag a woman by hair out into the yard naked cause she said she wasn't in the mood." Merle sat there awkwardly, not sure if all this getting aired on the table was a good thing or not. He could practically see the steam coming off his father. "I haven't needed you since I was 13 years old. You've needed me and the check that I brought in since I was born." Daryl said. "Never spent anything more than you had to on us. Beat the shit out of mom for buying seeds to start a garden, money that was hers to spend anyway, she's the one that took car of us." Daryl said violently jerking his rod when a fish finally bit. He tossed the fish to Merle and recast his line. "I think we all need to just shut the fuck up and fish. I don't want to talk no more." Daryl said letting his canoe drift so he was facing away from the other. "Don't come and track with me in the morning either. I'll go alone and bring back anything to the house." Daryl said setting back and almost shaking with rage. He'd have to tell Merle that he'd only hunt with him anymore. He'd only been coming to spend time with him anyway, but from now on if his dad decided to tag along, Daryl would just head home, he could just as easily see Merle around town. He knew could find better things to do on the weekends, even if they didn't include Beth.
Beth squealed with delight when Maggie and Glenn pulled into her driveway and sprinted into her sister's arms. Maggie lifted her in a crushing hug and held her tight.
"I missed you so much. I can't I haven't seen you since April." Maggie said thinking back to Beth's graduation. "You shouldn't have moved away right away." Maggie said finally putting Beth back down on the ground.
"I don't think I moved soon enough. I barely know where anything is in town." Beth said hugging Glenn as Ollie bounded down from the porch and ran up to Maggie.
"Hello Sir Oliver, yes I brought lots of coupons for dog food and treats for you." Maggie said reaching in for a pretty big plastic tote while Glenn grabbed their suitcase. "This is full of inserts. I've already sorted them and organized them, we just got to cut them and make a list. I figured we could do that this morning and drive to my usual store to stalk you up. You got nothing planned for today right?"
"Nothing till supper tomorrow when you meet Daryl." Beth said. "Come see what he helped me make!" She said walking around the house to the backyard and showing them Ollie's beautiful doghouse. "I helped." Beth said.
"At least I know he's handy. How's your ankle though? He did almost cripple you."
"Maggie that wasn't his fault. I told you we agreed that I am much better at fishing." Beth said walking back up her steps and letting them into her kitchen.
"Looks real good now that you're all unpacked." Maggie said setting her tote down on the table.
"Let me show you the guest room." Beth said leading Glenn up the stairs to a room she used as her office and guest room. "I made up the sofa bed already."
"You're lucky I know what's been going on in your new bed. Otherwise I'd be insulted that your company was sleeping on a pullout couch."
"Maggie! You know the couch is comfortable, I just haven't saved enough for another new bedroom set, and Daddy and you won't let me take my old one from the farm." Beth exclaimed. "Promise me you won't be teasing Daryl till you get to know him better."
"Don't you lecture me, I know how to talk to my elders." Maggie teased moving so Glenn could set their bags in the room.
"Maggie Glenn is the same age as Daryl he isn't that old." Beth scolded.
"And I am 7 years older than you." Maggie said. "Come on Beth, I'll be good. Daddy barely batted an eye when you told him you met someone. He trusts your judgment. Probably cause he doesn't know you slept with him on the second date. "
"Considering he caught you and me the day we met, I'd think he'd be fine with it." Glenn said. "Sometimes you just know."
"Glenn I don't remember telling you to speak." Maggie teased. "I specifically remember saying you'd never get another weekend to the city if you didn't agree with everything I said though. I think as punishment, you're going to help us cut coupons."
"I thought I had to do Beth's yard work." Glenn said looking out the window at her immaculate yard.
"Nope, yard work is included with the rent." Beth said smirking. "And I am only making a teacher's salary Glenn, with no garden or farm to supplement my food supply. You know if I get any smaller I'll be mistaken for a small child again like when I had mono." Glenn groaned and followed them to the kitchen table. Beth handed him over a pair of scissors while Maggie told him if he cut any crooked she'd kick his ass.
"So anything you really need?" Maggie asked grabbing Beth's iPad and checking the sales.
"Everything staple wise for the kitchen. I only have small amounts of canned and dry goods. I'll need cleaning stuff. Especially dishwater tabs and laundry detergent."
"Personal care?" Maggie asked clicking on different deals and writing them down.
"I have about a 2 month supply of everything hygiene wise, except tooth paste. I got lots of that. Need more tampons." Glenn grimaced. He hated pushing a cart with 20 boxes of tampons around the store. He knew that Maggie had around 20 different copies of 4 different inserts of coupons, he was sure they'd be stocking up on more stuff then just Beth's list. Maggie constantly donated to the church's out reach program. Beth started clipping and sorting while Maggie finalized they're lists.
"Glenn start clipping." Maggie said picking up two envelopes and sorting the clipped coupons into her and Beth's orders. "Tell me more about Daryl."
"He's good at everything." Beth said ignoring Maggie's smirk. "There's just something about him, I'm like a moth to a flame."
"That's sweet." Maggie said as they worked. "You gonna bring him home for Thanksgiving or Christmas?"
"Haven't really talked about it. He has family here, I'm not sure what or if they have any traditions." Beth said honestly. "Maybe I'll start my own here and your guys can come up."
"Not for Christmas. You know Daddy wants you home for your birthday." Maggie said. "I don't be trying to say you're starting a tradition were you go to Mexico over the holiday."
"No, I don't think I'll be taking a trip again this year. Maybe over spring break." Beth said.
"Maybe you just come home to visit now on your time off." Maggie said. "We all miss you."
"Stop being sappy." Beth said finishing up her clipping. "We live 45 minutes away from each other. You can come see me anytime you want."
"Not even close to the same." Maggie said as she got up and shoved the lists and coupons into her purse. Beth grabbed all her reusable bags and Glenn followed them. "We should take your Jeep. I got too much stuff in the bed of the truck." Maggie said. Beth nodded and handed the keys to Maggie.
"You drive. I hate driving." Beth said.
"Since when?" Maggie asked.
"Since always. I only drive when I have too." Beth said waving to Carl and Judith who were on their front lawn, and Judith was crying hard. "Give me a minute." Beth said walking across the street.
"You guys ok?" Beth asked taking the fussy baby from her brother. "Where are you parents?" Beth asked bouncing Judy till she started to calm down.
"Dad should be home any minute. Mom left to go visit my grandparents again." Carl said glumly. Rick pulled into the driveway and quickly got out of the truck.
"Mom left early." Carl told him as he rushed over. "Beth came to help calm the baby. I think she's sick." Rick came over and ran his hand over Judy's face and let Beth slide her into his arms. He thanked her and lead Carl into the house. Beth made her way over to the Jeep and climbed into the back. Maggie pulled away from the curb and cleared her throat.
"You didn't tell me that Daryl had kids." Maggie said. "How old is the boy?"
"That wasn't Daryl. That's my neighbor Rick." Beth said. "I think Carl's starting high school in September."
"Too bad, that baby was cute enough to pinch." Maggie said pulling on the highway. Beth chuckled and looked at Glenn. "Yeah he's still not ready for a baby. We're going to talk about it again after the New Year. And the same rule that was in affect for you and Jimmy is in place for you and Daryl. If you have a baby before me I will kick your ass as soon as you deliver."
"Maggie, I just met him. We haven't even talked about what we are, if anything." Beth said. `
"He built a doghouse for you. He's not just messing around." Glenn said as Maggie pulled into her favorite couponing store. "What? Building a dog house in the Georgia heat is a sign that he wants more than a piece of your ass." Maggie swatted at him. "Oh come on! Maggie if I had wanted nothing more to do with you after we hooked up do you really think I'd have shown up to help you bale the hay?"
Maggie grunted and handed each of them a cart to push and pulled out the list. "Shut up Glenn." Maggie went on to explain that any overage they made would go towards some fresh food and things on the list they didn't coupons for. Beth started picking out the body wash and soap. "So you're getting some Dove for men huh?" Maggie commented as she filled her cart with different varieties of Dove soap.
"Yes, for gifts and what not." Beth said moving on to the shampoo and conditioners. "I wear perfume, I don't need strong smelling soaps and what not. It should smell like soap." She added picking out the mint shampoo she loved. "What am I going to do with 20 Swiffers though?"
"I don't know but we're getting them for free." Maggie said putting 40 kits into Glenn's cart. "We're making $1.03 for every bottle of Tide we buy too." Maggie said rearranging Beth's cart so she could fill it with the laundry detergent. "So $40.00 extra or so for meat and veggies just from the tide. We're making money off the canned tomatoes too."
"I should cook us supper at home tomorrow. Then we can go out and play pool." Beth said quickly pulling out her phone and texting Daryl. "I'll make chili."
"I love your chili." Glenn said pulling his cart as he followed Maggie. "I mean if we're hungry after pool we can get some Pizza or Chinese or something."
"Glenn, go grab another cart." Maggie asked sweetly and waited till he left them and pulled both his cart and hers to the next aisle. "Alright I got coupon for lube, Glenn always embarrasses me in this aisle. Do you need any?" Beth shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't think so."
"Alright some of them are pretty fun, warming or cooling. Using them doesn't mean you have to use them or anything, or that you have to do something you're no comfortable with. They can just be for fun. I'll leave a few for you anyway. " Beth blushed at the 20 bottles Maggie shoved into her cart with the shampoo and conditioner. Glenn came back and met them as they left the aisle.
"How much more stuff are we getting?" He asked.
"Food now." Maggie said loading all the canned tomatoes into the cart. Beth added all the rice packets they needed and followed Maggie Aisle to isle to isle before moving on to the get the diary, meat and fresh produce.
"I could make gumbo instead of chili." Beth said picking out some chicken, seafood and sausage. "How's that sound?"
"Will you make chili the next time we come?" Glenn asked hopefully. Beth nodded. "Alright, are you making the gumbo to impress your new boyfriend since it's slightly more complicated than chili?" Beth swatted at him as Maggie laughed and led them to her favorite cashier. "I might invite Rick and Carl over too."
"You making a lot of make friends." Maggie teased as he organized everything onto the belt. Beth blushed.
"Shut up Maggie." Beth said as she handed over her canvas bags.
"Ma'am you must have heard about our new policy, earning you 5 cents for every earth friendly bag you bring!" The cashier said cheerfully. Maggie smiled and dropped a few candy bars on the belt too.
"What? We deserve treats for a job well done." Maggie said as the total kept rising. Beth waited patiently, knowing this was Maggie's version of recreational drugs. Maggie handed over they're large stack of coupons and practically purred watching the total drop. Beth and Glenn grinned and loaded their things into the carts and waited to be able to go load them in the car. Maggie did a fist bump when the total was actually below zero. "Thank God for the bags Beth." Beth smiled and pushed a cart back to the car. Her phone buzzed and Daryl answered that dinner at her place sounded great and asked if he could bring anything. Just your sexy ass. Beth quickly texted back quickly shoving her phone into her pocket so she could help loading the trunk.
Daryl dropped his wallet and cell back into the back of his truck and locked it. He had come with Merle and his dad for a quick supper of fried fish and had happened to hear his phone ringing when Beth's text had come through. Honestly randomly hearing from Beth had made him feel a lot better and less likely to murder his father before the day was over.
"Was that sugar cube?" Merle asked cracking a beer and leaning against the truck. "You going to set up camp close by?"
Thought I might just pitch the tent in the back of my truck." Daryl said taking a sip. "I'm going to be leaving while it's still dark anyway. "
"So how serious are you getting with her?" Merle asked.
"Don't know. We haven't talked about it."
"You should. Girl that puts up with Dad and me? Don't lose her you won't find another one."
