Disclaimer: I own nothing.
––
"This is why you don't fall for the broken redneck." Andrea pushed her sunglasses up into her hair as the meet began. "Go for someone normal. Someone safe."
"Safe? What is this safe you speak of?" Carol only half-joked.
"Someone who won't break your heart from loving it too much."
She rolled her eyes but laughed. "I didn't know I had a choice."
"Why did you guys break up? I don't understand. So he gets envious. It's not like he's gotten violent. He'd have gotten over it."
"It wasn't just that. What he said to me... I don't know if he doesn't trust me, or if he just boiled what I said down to one thing and latched on to that so that he could...protect himself, or if he just doesn't want what I want." She didn't tell Andrea she had considered the break for Iris. She didn't tell Andrea about the break thing at all, just the break up. And the whole bit about Axel.
"He wants you."
"And I want him, but...we both need some space. He needs to learn that I'm not going to swoon over every man that's nice to me. He knows I'm loyal, but it's like he's scared to test it. He's loyal to his brother, and Merle has tested the shit out of that. I don't understand why he can't trust me. I'm not interested in Axel like that. Why can't he accept that?"
"Maybe it's not Axel," Shane suggest, joining them with cold water. "Maybe it's the idea of Axel."
"How much have you heard, and what do you mean?" Carol took the bottle of water from him.
"All of it. Plus Andrea told me." Carol sent a slight glare to Andrea, and Andrea sent it back to Shane. "And what I mean by that is...Axel was and possibly still is attracted to you."
"He's not!" Carol swore.
"Still, he's a man and just like Daryl, he found you attractive and asked you out. He's gotten closer to you and to Sophia. He's in your lives now."
"As a friend," Carol added, aggravation heavy in her voice, but not toward Shane.
"But what if the next guy isn't?"
"What next guy?"
"Any next guy. To Daryl, Axel proves that other men see you as desirable, and he has competition. What if the next one is too tempting? What if you give in? I mean, you and Daryl only happened because he got close to Sophia and then you. It could happen again."
"Shane, with all due respect, shut up."
He laughed. "Why is it whenever somebody says "with all due respect" they really mean "kiss my ass"?" Carol shrugged, and he shook his head. "All right, I'll let you ladies try to figure it out your way while I cheer on the kids."
Andrea nudged Carol's arm. "He has a point, Carol."
"I think you're wrong. Both of you. He doesn't like Axel, and he doesn't trust him with me. Not as my friend, not as anything in my life." Maybe if Daryl got to know Axel like she knew Axel. Daryl would never take the time.
"Go, Carl!" Shane called out.
"Just think about it," Andrea requested.
Carol shook her head, but not to Andrea's request, just her own thoughts. She decided to stop thinking and to just cheer on the kids. Daryl arrived and sat by Andrea, Shane had kindly moved to the other side of the Carol, and it wasn't too bad. Andrea couldn't talk to Shane unless she leaned over Carol, but they made it work. There wasn't much to talk about anyway. They were cheering on the kids, and Carol wondered just how much of what Shane said was true. Her eyes would briefly find Daryl's face, but they didn't dare linger.
"Go, Iris!" Andrea and Carol, trying their best to be embarrassing. They had made Sophia blush and cover her face as she rejoined her team, and they were going to do the same for Iris. But then...
Iris had fallen behind the others, Tara wondered what was wrong, because that wasn't like her. Then Iris just collapsed. Sophia, Tara, Patrick and Carl reached her first, Tara checked her pulse, and Andrea and Daryl both dropped beside her. Shane and Carol made the others stay back to give her space, and Carl and Sophia stepped away to give them room, but Patrick wasn't going to leave.
Tara splashed some water on her face, and Carol was about to call for an ambulance, but she began to rouse.
"Iris. Baby?" Andrea brushed hair and sweat from her forehead, and her eyes opened a little. "This has never happened before. Did she eat today?"
"Yeah." Patrick nodded.
"Maybe it was the heat," Sophia suggested.
"Maybe." Andrea didn't like it. "Honey, are you okay?"
"Mm-hmm," was all Iris could manage.
"Do you know where you are?"
"The meet."
"Can you stand?" Daryl asked.
She nodded, and Andrea helped her sit up. "I'm sorry. I—I don't know what came over me."
Tara squinted at them. "It's pretty hot today. It could have been that."
"It never bothered me before," Iris pointed out. "Shit. Does this mean we lost?"
Tara laughed. "Oh, she's fine."
Daryl helped Iris up, and Andrea guided her to a nearby bench while Tara talked to the other school's coach. Sophia and Carl joined them, Shane asked if Andrea wanted to take her to the doctor's, and Carol offered to drive. They had come in the same car, so there really wasn't much of an option. Unless Shane took them.
"I'm okay." Iris rubbed the back of her head. "I—it was the heat. I haven't had much water either. I'm okay, guys, really."
"We just wanna make sure," Shane replied, rubbing her back. "Let's get you hydrated and to some shade."
Andrea and Shane took her to Shane's car and turned on the air conditioning, Sophia got her some water, and Carol and Daryl hung back to give them some space. That, and someone needed to collect their things.
"You should be with her," Carol told Daryl. "She's your kid. I'll get this stuff."
"I'm already here with you." He shouldered the girls' bags. "Besides she needs some air, and Shane and Andrea are already crowdin' her."
Carol turned away to collect her and Andrea's things, seeing Patrick worrying from the field. She wondered why he was all the way other there and not with Iris now. He may not want to crowd her. Him and Daryl both, it appeared.
Andrea was on the phone, setting up an appointment with their family doctor for Iris tomorrow, because she was really worried. It wasn't the heat. It wasn't dehydration. She had a feeling in her gut it might be something else. Something bad. She could be wrong, and she wanted to be. She really didn't want anything to be wrong with her. She wasn't going to risk it.
Shane placed a spare police hat on her head and smiled at her. "Looks good."
"Thanks." She adjusted it. "Do I get a badge now? Or at least a chocolate one?"
"You get fresh, ice cold water," Sophia answered, brows wriggling.
"Gee, this is so much better than chocolate. How did you know?" She grinned and accepted the bottle. "Do you think we lost though? I mean, maybe it was a draw? I would have beat their asses. I know it."
"You're really worryin' about that?" Shane's brows shot up.
"A little. Could you go ask?"
"All right, but drink and stay there."
"Yes, sir." She twisted the cap off and drank deeply.
Sophia pushed up on the tips of her toes to make sure Andrea wasn't in earshot. She was now talking to Carol, and Daryl was loading their trunk. "Good." She met Iris's eyes. "Do you think...?"
"Think...?" She lowered the bottle. "Oh, c'mon, no. No. That isn't some...test to prove that I am. We both know I'm not."
"Third time's the charm?"
"Oh, my God," she pinched the bridge of her nose, "my life is giving me whiplash."
"Just be sure. If you are...and something happened..."
She tipped her water back and chugged it.
"You can't ignore this." She grabbed the water, and Iris groaned as water splashed on herself. "Listen to me."
"I am. I'm just thirsty. It's hot out here." She rested her hands in her lap. "We'll talk about this later, okay? I'm not...feeling all that great."
"Which is why we should talk about this now."
"No, I have a headache. That happens when you fall on the hot, hard ground." She huffed. "Sophia, I just want to be alone, okay? Go join the others. I have four mother hens clucking my way, and I don't need a fifth one."
"Fine."
She closed her eyes and knocked her temple on the seat, closing her eyes and feeling bad for that, but she just couldn't talk about that right now. She didn't want to. She just wanted to get something eat and go home. She would deal with this all later. Tara was probably right, and Sophia was overreacting. She would apologize at her birthday party with her kickass gift and verbally. It would be all right. They were always eventually all right.
"Tired?" Andrea set a hand on her forehead.
"A little." She opened her eyes. "I didn't sleep well last night."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't a big deal then."
She frowned. "I set up an appointment with Dr. S."
"Why?"
"Are you really asking me that?"
"Mom, I am okay. It was just—just the heat."
"Let's make sure of it." She smirked. "Nice hat."
She smiled a little, though still not happy with the appointment Mom had set up without talking to her about it. "Do I get out of school for this appointment?"
"Yes."
"Okay." At least something good came out of this.
"She sounds better." Daryl leaned against the car. "You feelin' all right?"
"Yeah."
"All right enough to meet my brother?"
She lifted her head. "Is he here?"
"He's at my house."
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm okay enough." She turned to her mom. "Please, I am."
Andrea searched her daughter's face and could see how much she wanted to meet him and that was okay for now. "You can go meet him."
"Thank you!" She hugged her mom.
"Take my phone." Andrea handed it to her. "Stay hydrated."
"I'll take care of her," Daryl promised.
"I'll see you at dinner. Both of you, remember."
"Yes, Mom." She turned to Daryl. "Let me change. I'll be right back." She collected her bag and headed into the school.
"Strange timing." Andrea crossed her arms. "Did he get in last night?"
"Yeah. He...caught a late flight."
She nodded. "Not to be rude, but please don't bring him to dinner with you. I think it'd be better if it were just the three of us. Iris really wants to show you her childhood, and I...I'm not entirely comfortable with Merle being around. I don't know him, but I do acknowledge that he's family to her. He's her uncle, and they should get to know each other, but for the time being, I'd rather that happen with just the two of you."
"I understand. Merle would rather it be that way too."
"Thanks for understanding. I just want to...make this as easy as possible. I don't want her to worry about me and Merle butting heads and feeling that she'll have to watch herself with us, you know?" He nodded. "So, if you could arrange it, I'd like to meet with Merle alone just to...get to know him."
"Yeah, I can arrange that."
"Thank you. Maybe he can join us next time for dinner."
"Maybe."
"Speaking of, I'd like you two to be home by seven. Make sure she has a snack. She gets unbearably grumpy otherwise." She spotted Iris exiting the building.
"Will do."
"Okay then I'll see you at seven." She smiled.
"At seven." He gave a small smile and headed toward his car.
Iris tossed her bag in the trunk, gave Andrea one more hug and waved goodbye to Carol and Shane before getting in to the truck with Daryl. She had seen Sophia and Patrick and decided it was best to not say goodbye to her. She would call Sophia later. She couldn't handle Patrick right now, or any questions he might have. She adjusted her seat belt and caught a glimpse of Sophia and Patrick and Carl talking then for some reason Sophia embraced him. What happened? Was he all right? Was it about her? Her eyes hung on Patrick until Daryl drove away. She could understand what Daryl was going through with Carol. Sort of. She wasn't jealous or anything, but it all hurt the same.
––
The ride to Daryl's wasn't too long, and they found something to discuss that wasn't her fainting at the meet or him and Carol's brief and depressing encounter. She didn't want to hear anything about her uncle. She wanted to be surprised and make her own opinions on him, like how she would when she met Ruth. Daryl respected that and told her to brace herself. She just laughed at the expression on his face, and he told her to serious prepare herself. Merle was a lot to take on, and not even Daryl knew how he'd react to her after all this time. He wasn't her biggest fan in the beginning, but he grew to love her like she was his own. That hadn't changed with her "death". Only Merle had. Iris too.
"How are you feelin'?" Daryl inquired as they pulled up to his place.
"I'm fine, Daryl. I'm a little hungry, but that's only because I threw my lunch out."
"You lied to us."
"If Mom found out I didn't eat, she'd have dragged me home and made me eat like I was five years old. I'm not. I ate a few boiled potatoes at lunch, but... Patrick and I broke up, and I couldn't eat when he sat with us. My stomach just...shrank, all right?" She was barely able to choke down the cookies she'd bought.
"Y'all broke up?"
"Yes. I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." He paused. "I get what you mean."
"Hmm?"
"I see Carol and will always see her at work. And Axel is there too—"
"Dude, Axel is just a friend." She crossed her arms. "He doesn't want to date Carol. His relationship to her is like mine to Carl. Only they're way closer. He won't try and steal her. He just wants to be her friend."
"You can say it, but you don't see him."
"I do too, and don't say I don't understand. You're just being an asshole. Or a chicken. I'm not sure which one it is, but it's definitely one of those two."
"And you and Patrick? You just walked away 'cause you wanted to?"
She averted her eyes.
"Asshole or chicken?"
"Bit of both," she muttered. "What happened with us is completely different than what happened between you and Carol. All you have to do is talk to her."
"We ain't talkin' about this."
"Good. I don't want to." She shifted in her seat and ran a hand through her hair. "Did Merle and I get along when I was younger?"
"Yeah. Y'all were real close."
She nodded. "I've never had an uncle before. I mean, Phillip's brother, but he was just nice and treated me and Penny the same. I liked that."
"Phillip didn't treat you two the same?"
"No, he treated me like nothing. Penny could do no wrong though." She rolled her eyes. "Penny knew better thankfully. She was a decent sister."
"Was?"
"She hasn't spoken to me in years. Elizabeth writes letters to Mom, but that's about it. I guess being held at gunpoint strikes a bond. It broke mine and Penny's. I have Sophia. And Lizzie. And cute little Mika."
"You miss her."
"All the time. I did grow up with her." She turned to look at him. "She taught me how to write in cursive and helped me with my homework. She even taught me how to whistle and blow bubbles in gum. She was beside me through the fights Mom and Phillip had. She...was my big sis, but not anymore I suppose. She has boyfriends and colleges on her mind now."
"Maybe y'all will get together someday."
"I doubt it." She smiled a little. "But thanks for saying it."
He parked in the driveway. "You're welcome."
They exited out of the car, and they headed inside together. Merle was by the sliding glass doors, gazing out at the birds, and his gaze moved to them when the door shut. He stared at the girl that was once Ella Grace Dixon, long and silent, to the point of awkward. She was as tall as Celia, with the same color of hair, though it was the same texture as Daryl's. She was beautiful, had the same eyes as them, just a bit lighter at the moment, like Andrea's eyes. She was so damn skinny, and from how she was biting her lip and glancing at Daryl, uncomfortable too.
"Iris."
"That's me." She smiled. "Merle."
"That's me." He smirked.
Daryl excused himself to his room silently to change for his dinner with Andrea and Iris.
Iris ran her eyes over him and knotted her fingers. "How are you?"
"Peachy."
"Me too."
"You look pale, darlin', not at all good."
"Thanks. Best uncle ever." She placed her hands on her hip. "Really. What are you gonna tell me next?"
"You look like your mama. Both of 'em."
"I don't hear that ever, but thank you. I guess. I don't know what my birth mom looked like."
"She was beautiful. Real broken though. She never had a chance to bloom."
"Uhhhh...?"
"Unlike you."
"Great. I get it. Bloom. Iris. Ha ha." She cleared her throat, not sure if he meant it like that by the look he gave her. "Umm, I'm just gonna get some water."
"Don't forget to eat somethin'," Daryl called to her.
"Yes, sir." She strolled in to the kitchen and decided to make a sandwich. She didn't feel at home at Daryl's just yet so she asked, "Would you like one?" She would feel better if she got some kind of permission, and if he wanted one, that was permission to make him one. Her brain made no sense, but it made her feel better about it.
"Sure." He pushed off the wall and sat on a stool across from her. "So, you're a junior in high school now, ain't you?"
"Yes." She ripped off two paper towels and dropped two slices of bread on them. "I'm going to be a senior in...four months? Three possibly. I stopped keeping track." She prepared the sandwiches.
"Good. Be the first Dixon to graduate."
"Seriously? The first?" She licked mayo off her finger, brows rising. "Wow. I'm, like, the fiftieth Harrison to graduate or something. I'm pretty sure my grandpa has a wall of copied diplomas."
Merle chuckled. "Sounds like a fun guy."
"I know you were being sarcastic, but he is. He's pretty awesome." She held up the mustard, and he nodded. "He taught me how to fish."
"You can fish?"
"I'm okay. Mom's better." She shrugged. "I want to learn how to use a bow. I have my own bow and everything, but no clue how to use it properly. Mom doesn't know, and Daryl was supposed to teach me, but because she found out he was my dad, she didn't want us near each other. So I now own a lovely dust collector. I mean, I know it can't be that hard, but I don't want risk breaking it or accidentally hurting myself. Both possible with my luck."
"I can teach you."
"Really?" She met his eyes. "You know how use a bow?"
"Yeah."
"Like, well?"
"I taught your dad how to use a crossbow. I can teach you how to use a bow. I'm a good teacher."
"No, he ain't," Daryl stated from his room.
"I am too! Shut the hell up!"
She laughed. "That would be so great. Um, maybe in the summer if you're still around. Oh, and I'll need my mom's permission."
He nodded. "Sounds good. I'll be around."
She put everything back in the fridge when the sandwiches were made, and they moved to the living room to eat while Daryl lingered in his room. She wasn't sure if he was trying to give them time alone or if he was thinking about what she'd said about Carol. Or maybe he couldn't find a decent outfit. It was just going to be them, and Iris was wearing these jeans and knit tunic. He didn't need to stress about clothes. He's likely brooding.
"So, what do you do?" She tucked hair behind her ear. "I know Daryl works at the shelter, repairing things and cleaning stuff up, along with some other job or jobs, but what about you?"
"Nothin' right now. I recently quit my job. Boss was an asshole."
"Oh."
"What do you want to do? With your life?"
"I've been talking about it with the school counselor for in between classes to see what I'm best suited for, and we still have work to do, because I'm not entirely sure what I'm best suited for and passionate about. I'll let you know when I decide."
"You don't remember any of it?" Merle abruptly asked.
She shook her head, unable to verbally reply, and he visibly slumped. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I just thought maybe it'd come back to you by now. Maybe the doctors got it wrong." He shrugged. "You're alive, and that means more to me than you rememberin' me."
She smiled a little. "We can make new memories, and you can tell me about the ones I forgot."
"Eh."
"Eh? You can't 'eh' that!"
He laughed.
"Really, you can't 'eh' my offer. We will get to know each other, especially when you teach me how to use a bow." She smirked, teasing him. "We're going to bond, and you can't fight it."
He smiled. "Now that's the kid I remember."
She smiled. "I'm not that little girl anymore, but I'm glad I can remind you of her."
"I know. I'm glad. You were a hyper little brat. I was this close to puttin' whiskey in your drinks so you'd pass out and stop buggin' the shit out of me all the time. Daryl wouldn't let me, said it was irresponsible."
"It would have been!"
"Eh."
"Eh to you too." She stuck her tongue out and laughed when he did the same. "Now who's the brat?"
"Still you."
"Wow." She set the remaining half of her sandwich on the table. "I'm going to hug you."
"No! I hate hugs. Kid." He was on his feet.
"Just let it happen. I'm hugging you."
He avoided her, but eventually she managed to hug him. He wasn't a fan of hugs, not since the last one he gave to anybody was days before they were hit and almost killed by a car. He knew it wasn't his hug, but he couldn't let himself get that close to anybody ever again. Even Daryl. He kept his distance, because he didn't want to go through what he went through when he thought she was dead again. He couldn't. But she had survived, and he was still concerned, but he wasn't going to keep away. Shit would happen, and he would be there for the times when it was good.
Iris let him go and returned to her seat. Her uncle smelled like mud and aftershave and deodorant. It was very Merle. She would know that scent anywhere now. She also knew when he taught her how to use a bow, her ass would be hiking. He didn't get that mud scent from the backyard. She hated hiking. Nature was no friend to her. She always ended up with poison ivy or repeatedly tripped on roots or scrapped her knees on rocks. It was always something. Maybe it'd throw something new at her. Nothing would surprise her anymore. She was surprise-proof.
Knock wood.
– – –
Andrea made Iris change for dinner since her jeans were muddy from taking a walk with her uncle, and she moaned and groaned the entire way to her room, but she had already planned on changing. She left Daryl and Mom to set the table and chat about whatever two parents that had never dated or really spoken to each other chatted about. She tidied up her room so she could show it to Daryl after dinner, and so he could get a rest from Mom. They weren't the best of friends, particularly now considering he broke up with her best friend, so they would need breaks from each other. She realized halfway through that her room was too much of a pit right now. Well, not pit so much as...not suitable for anybody but Mom to see. Ugh, maybe next time. Mom would probably bombard him with photos for the entire night anyway.
Traipsing down the stairs, Iris heard laughter and blinked. What they busted into the wine early? She edged to the end of the wall and inspected the kitchen. They weren't drinking, and it wasn't forced. What the hell did she miss? The last time they spoke, it was all yelling and cursing. In all likelihood. She wasn't there, of course, but that's what Mom would do. Daryl as well.
"What's so funny?" She clasped her hands in front of her.
"Andrea was just tellin' me about her former secretary."
"The one who used to hit on her excessively, or the one that hit on me?"
Daryl frowned. "What?"
"He was a temp," Andrea replied. "And I dismissed him by pouring my hot coffee on him."
"When did that happen?"
"I was fourteen." Iris leaned against the counter. "I'd just turned fourteen too. It was like the day after my birthday, and Amy wanted to take me shopping as a belated birthday present. Mom thought it'd save Amy gas if I went to work with her, because Amy lived close by. Well, I was waiting for her outside Mom's office 'cause she was with a client, and he came over to me after either running an errand or maybe just arriving late. He watched me for a few minutes then called me over and asked me out for coffee. Mom—with her bloodhound ears—came flying out off her office, face as calm as ever, and she said something. I don't remember what."
"I'd rather not repeat it." It was inappropriate and offensive then and now and until the end of time. She gave Daryl a look that said she'd tell him later, privately. She was glad Iris forgot.
"Then she just tossed it on him. He screamed and left cursing." HIs lap actually smoking too.
"He's never been back," Andrea told them.
She looked at Daryl. "Hey, don't get all scrunch-y faced. Nothing happened, and if it makes you feel any better, his...lower half took most of the heat."
"I'd have kicked his ass," Daryl admitted. "How did you not?"
"Pencil skirt, my boss was nearby, and I didn't want Iris to see that. With the coffee, all I had to do was pretend to trip." She turned to Iris. "Take the salad to the table."
She picked up the wooden bowl and headed to the dining room.
"I also didn't want assault charges, because let's face it, I would have beaten the shit out of him," Andrea pointed out. He was in his twenties and she was barely a teenager. And he wanted to date her? Aside from being illegal and deathly, there had to be something wrong with him for him to chose a fourteen-year-old rather than someone his own age. God only knows what he would have done to her. "He got a burnt groin, and if he pressed any other young girls like he had Iris, karma definitely got his ass. Now, it's in the past, and nothing happened to her, so let it go."
"Were there any other incidents like that?"
"One other time."
"When?"
"She was fifteen, and she was swimming at the pool with her friends, and Patrick dropped an ice cream cone when he saw her in a bikini." She laughed at his expression. "Lighten up. There were no other times, and if there were, she carries pepper spray for a reason. Shane wants to give her a taser as a going away present for college."
"I'm with Shane."
"I figured." She set a hand on his forearm to get his attention. "Daryl, she's not a little girl anymore. She's still growing up, but she doesn't need us to make all of her decisions for her. I know you still see your baby Ella, and I understand that entirely, but you don't have to protect her so much."
"Can't help it."
"Me neither." She smiled and slid her hand down to clasped his hand. "We'll learn together, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good. Now, let's take the rest of this to the dining room. I'm starved."
Iris smiled, leaning against the wall with a bowl of salad in her arms, and she almost—almost—threw it in the air to cheer. They were getting along. Actually getting along. Daryl and her mom. Her parents. Holy frigging shit, yes!
––
"I hate paperwork," Carol declared. "It's evil."
Sophia giggled. "It's only been three minutes."
"Doesn't make this any less painful." She closed the folder and tossed it on the floor, taking a slice of pizza. "All right, let's do something fun. Like camping. Or...yoga."
"We suck at camping. Seriously, we can't even pitch a tent. And the only yo we like is yogurt."
"You could've just suggested something else."
"Spa day?"
"We have bills."
"Road trip?" She smiled widely.
She pursed her lips then smiled a little. "We could visit Karen and Tyreese."
"Yes, we could."
"She did want us over to see the new house."
"And you could use a break from the shelter and the Daryl mess. It'd be fun, just the two of us, and it's not a long, long drive."
"You have school though."
"I'm making good grades at the moment, and we're not getting into too serious. It's the perfect time, Mom. I can copy the notes from Patrick. He takes notes on everything. Thorough notes. It'll be like I'm there in class. Please, let's do it. You need to do this."
"Well, I'll have to talk to Maggie about it."
"So we're going?" Sophia grinned.
"Maybe." She saw the grin grow on her daughter's face. "It'll have to be after the party."
"I'm gonna pack my bag. You know, "just in case"."
Carol pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. "Eat your dinner."
She bit into her pizza and saw Honey begging. "What about Honey? You know, "if" we go."
Carol looked down at her. "Axel can check in on her. He's good with dogs. He'll have to feed her and take her for walks and make sure she's not too lonely."
"Why not Andrea?"
"She won't have the time, and I know Axel will enjoy the distraction. Besides, dogs are good company, and she'll cheer him right up." She scratched behind Honey's ears. "You'll drool on him and make him crazy, won't you?"
"Let's hope he likes getting jerked around by this big baby." She was an angel, but a pain to take on walks. Sophia offered her a piece of crust. "You be good, okay?"
By the look on her face, she was making no promises. Sophia hoped Axel didn't mind watching Honey. If he said no, they might not go. Mom wasn't going to ask Daryl. Not because she didn't trust him or anything; she just didn't want him to be around the house and dog when he was trying to get over her—or whatever Mom wanted him to do.
Sophia caught the look of sadness in her mom's eyes, and she knew she was thinking about Daryl. She didn't understand why they broke up. Mom didn't talk about it to her, but Sophia knew they had broken up. It was obvious at the meet, and while it was hard to swallow, she knew Mom did it for a good reason. Maybe when he figured that out, they could get back together. Maybe.