Two more chapters left. Beth's POV and then Daryl's.
…
Part Twenty-Eight.
Maggie stood in the backyard, looking at everything they now had back there. A tree house for Luke – and Hunter when he was older – Daryl's shed, which the door was open to and she could see all of his tools and hunting equipment inside – a chicken coop with several chickens all clucking away inside and laying their eggs – and a small garden Beth had started, all sorts of vegetables growing in neat rows.
Beyond the yard on all sides of the house, there were the thick trees of the woods stretching out for miles, not another neighbor in sight. And with the deep freeze of meat against the back of the house, the vegetables and the chickens, her sister and her family had become rather self-sufficient.
The back screen door screamed on its hinges and Daryl stepped out onto the back porch, eight-month-old Hunter in his arms. "Beth said the wait at the clinic's longer than she thought it would be. She's not sure when she'll be back," he told her.
Maggie nodded and looked around the yard one more time before back to him. "Mind if I hang around and wait for her?" She asked.
Daryl shrugged and didn't say anything else before turning and going back inside.
Maggie hesitated a moment before heading up the steps and following him into the house. She had never been inside before. It was a small house – especially for four people – but it was definitely a home, cozy and warm. The kitchen was spotless, a vase of wildflowers in the center of the round table, a pan of bread cooling on the counter, and colorful pictures by Luke hanging on the refrigerator.
The kitchen spilled into the living room where the floor was hard wood but there was a tan short shag rug that spread over much of the room. Beth's piano was against one wall, pictures of the family lining on top, and the furniture was all second-hand and worn but looked comfortable enough. She recognized a yellow blanket on the floor – Beth's baby blanket that now belonged to Hunter – as well as a few toys scattered about. Daddy's church had recently had a rummage sale and someone had given all of their children's childhood toys to sell. Hershel had bought a whole bin, bringing it for Luke and Hunter.
Daryl was nowhere to be seen and she took a few steps forward, poking her head around the corner of the kitchen. There were three doors open on the other side of the living room. A bedroom that was clearly Beth and Daryl's, a small bathroom, and she saw Daryl standing in the third bedroom, Hunter on the changing table and Daryl giving him a clean diaper.
"You gotta stop that," Daryl was telling the baby. "You're makin' this harder for me than it's gotta be."
Hunter just giggled and continued flapping his arms and legs.
"If you don't stop, I'll give 'ya a raspberry," Daryl said and Maggie could tell he was trying not to smile down at the baby as Hunter continued laughing and kicking his legs. "You asked for it," he said and then bent down, blowing on Hunter's stomach and the baby squealed with delighted laughter, reaching his hands up and grabbing Daryl's hair, and Maggie felt herself smiling.
She hadn't hid the fact for the past two years that she hated her sister's husband. She didn't even try to give him a chance. His last name was Dixon and that was all she needed to know. Her sister was good and sweet and the idea of her being with a man of that last name made her sick to her stomach. And when Beth announced she was pregnant with the next Dixon in line, she had actually cried. She was just so convinced that this man would beat her sister until she was a shell of her old self.
Her daddy and Annette and Shawn all liked him – which just infuriated her further and she hadn't budged on her feelings for him. Why should she? He was a Dixon and he always would be.
But she missed her sister. She and Bethy had always been close but Maggie wasn't stupid or naïve. If she hated her husband, of course Beth wouldn't want to see her. Maggie had asked for that but she was too head-strong and stubborn and Beth was to a certain extent, too. But Maggie knew she had to be the one to budge. She missed Beth and she didn't even know her nephew; her flesh and blood. Beth and Daryl had adopted Luke Ridgeway, now Luke Dixon, and Maggie didn't know him either. She supposed, after going so long, she didn't really know her sister anymore either.
Daryl came out of the bedroom, Hunter's diaper changed and fresh and the baby dressed again. He was crawling, attempting to walk, able to stand if he held onto something, and Hunter now crawled quickly back to his toys on the floor, plopping himself down and grabbing one of his thick plastic dinosaur figures.
Maggie stood there, not sure what to do or say. And she knew Daryl sure as hell wasn't going to say anything.
"Is Luke alright?" She asked after clearing her throat.
Daryl nodded. "Just has a cough," he said. He walked past her and sat down on the floor with Hunter, the baby immediately handing him the dinosaur while picking up another one for himself.
Maggie stood there for another awkward moment before she slowly eased herself down onto the couch, perched on the very edge, her arms resting on her knees. The television was on and as usual, a special news broadcast had cut into whatever program they had been watching. That was happening more and more nowadays, some sort of illness spreading around everywhere it seemed and every hour, there seemed to be a new report of it from somewhere else in the world.
Maggie sat there and watched as Daryl played with Hunter, the baby making noises and sounds that were in his own language but it was obvious he was wanting to talk.
"I'm sorry," Maggie suddenly blurted out.
Daryl lifted his eyes and looked at her.
Maggie looked at him. "I know you love my sister and God knows she loves you." She exhaled a deep breath and Daryl didn't say anything, just looking at her. "I know you haven't hurt her. Every time I see her at the farm, I've never seen her happier. I know you make her happy and I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you this whole time. You didn't deserve that. You're a Dixon but you're… you're not a Dixon. I get that now."
Daryl still didn't say anything and she didn't expect him to.
"I'm sorry," she said again, staring right at him, hoping he could see that she was being absolutely sincere with him right now.
Daryl stared at her, not saying a word. His eyes moved when Hunter did, the toddler crawling to the bin of toys they had against the wall, babbling to himself as he gripped the edge and pulled himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily but remaining on his feet. He looked back to Daryl and pointed a finger at him, making a sound that sounded like it might be "Da". Daryl crawled to him and Maggie smiled faintly as she watched Hunter slap Daryl on the cheek with one of his hands, babbling in his baby language and Daryl listened intently as if he knew exactly what his son was saying to him, occasionally nodding most seriously, which made Hunter grin.
"He looks like you," Maggie said.
"Got Beth's smile," Daryl grunted and she nodded in agreement. He looked away from Hunter to look at her. "'Bout time for his dinner," he said. With that, he stood up and Maggie watched him go into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a plastic container. He prepared whatever he was feeding Hunter in a bowl and popped it into the microwave for a few seconds. When it was warm enough, he took a baby spoon and Maggie's eyes widened as he brought it to her. "Pureed chicken," he said and then looked to Hunter. "Come on, Hunter. Your Aunt Maggie's gonna feed you some dinner." He scooped the baby up and promptly deposited him on her lap.
Maggie had never held him before and she held her breath, expecting Hunter to start wailing at being dropped off with a stranger but the baby just settled himself against her chest and opened his mouth, ready for his food. Maggie smiled a little and began spooning the chicken and feeding it to him.
Her eyes went up to Daryl, who stood there, watching. "Thank you," she said softly.
Daryl nodded and didn't say anything.
Outside, they heard a car pull up and Daryl looked out the window before going to the front door, opening it. Luke came bursting in a few moments later.
"How 'ya feelin'?" Daryl asked.
"They gave me cherry medicine and it tastes so good but mama says I can't drink it all," Luke told him excitedly and then saw Maggie on the couch. "Hi, Aunt Maggie!" With that, he ran to the bathroom and closed the door to relieve himself.
A moment later, Beth entered, her eyes immediately falling on Maggie. She was holding two pizza boxes from Domino's in her hands and Daryl took them from her, carrying them into the kitchen. The two sisters looked at one another and Maggie had no idea what to say, hoping Beth would say something first. Hunter saw his mommy and stretched his arms out for her. Beth smiled faintly and came to him, kissing him on the head.
"Keep letting Aunt Maggie feed you," she told the baby. She then stood up straight and looked down at Maggie. "We don't usually get carry-out but Domino's had a really good coupon. Would you like to stay for dinner?" She asked.
And Maggie couldn't stop the tears that began forming in her eyes. She smiled and nodded her head quickly. "I would love to stay for dinner."
…
Thank you for reading and please review!
