Chapter 38
Beth loved this man, she thought, as she looked over at Daryl beside her after he finished his reading. They were at the memorial service for Katie. Beth smiled at the memory of her father holding her daughter's hand. No one would ever convince her that dream wasn't real. Sometimes Beth doubted if there was a God up there, but this event alone had made her want to believe again. Knowing her baby was in a better place and her father was there with her, that was all the peace that Beth needed.
Everyone had added something to the tiny grave site. Carol had placed a Cherokee rose down in the grave and Lily had put in one of her trading cards. Tyreese had taken a rabbit's foot out of his pocket and sheepishly placed it into the grave. "I don't know why I kept the thing for such a long time but it seems fitting."
Jenna had carved a tiny cross out of a branch she had found and placed that down in there. Beth had looked up in surprise as Carl had taken the hat that had graced his head since she met him and put it in the grave. "Carl." She protested. "You love that hat." But Carl just shook his head. "I don't need it anymore." He smiled at Beth. He didn't understand everything that was going on but he just wanted to make Beth smile again like he used to. She was still his friend.
Beth smiled at Carl and he beamed at her. Rick had taken his wedding band and placed it down in the grave. "You know, I bet Lori is watching out for her up there somewhere". It had been very touching. Daryl and Beth exchanged a glance. They had not told anyone else about her dream. It was a special moment for the two of them and it had meant so much. It felt like telling someone would spoil the miracle that it had been. Michonne had reached up with her kitana and sliced off one of her braids and put it in the grave. Mika stepped forward and put her shoulders back as she placed one of her barrettes into the grave. "I bet she has long pretty hair where she is. Maybe she can talk Lizzie into brushing her hair, huh Momma". She looked up at Carol then and Carol smiled down through her tears. "Yes baby, I hope she can."
Beth's heart skipped a beat when she saw how sweet Mika was to put her barrette into the grave. This group, their family, they meant everything to her. And to Daryl too, although he would never let on how much he loved everyone. Love his heart, he still had that bad boy image to uphold.
Maggie and Glenn stepped forward together and put their contribution in. It was one of Judith's old blankets but it was fuzzy and pink. "Something to keep her warm and remind her of home." Maggie smiled at her sister that she loved so much.
All too soon, it was hers and Daryl's turn to place their items in. Beth hadn't known at first what she would put in her daughter's grave until she remembered the old red bandana, the one she had won from him in that hand of poker they played ages ago. Daryl squeezed her free hand. He was remembering the moment it became hers. She had tried to give it back to him later but he had insisted she keep it, saying "You won it fair n' square".
That poker game seemed like ages ago on the one hand and on the other, it seemed it was only yesterday. She choked back tears. She had promised herself that she would not cry. She had promised her father too in a way. He had gone through all that trouble to show up in her dream. It was the least that she could do to keep the faith, just like he had always taught her.
Then it had been Daryl's turn. He had taken one of his arrows out of his quiver and sliced his hand open just enough to draw blood, smearing it on the tip of the arrow and placing the arrow down in the grave. He then stood back up and everyone had looked around to see what was next. Darylcleared his throat as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He smoothed his hand down over his pants as if to straighten out the wrinkles in the paper and to dry his palms simultaneously. He then cleared his throat and began gruffly,
Beth couldn't imagine when he had time to write anything and she wished she had thought of it.
"I didn't write this: This song was written by Eric Clapton, a great man of music back in the day. He wrote it about the son he lost. I hope he don't mind me usin' the words now, cause I think they're fittin'.
"Would you know my name, if I saw you in Heaven.
Would it be the same, if I saw you in Heaven.
I must be strong and carry on.
Cause I know I don't belong. Here in Heaven.
Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in Heaven.
Would you help me stand, if I saw you in Heaven.
I find my way through night and day.
Cause I know I just can't stay here in Heaven.
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart, have you beg and plead.
Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more, tears in Heaven. "
Daryl refolded the piece of paper and put it back in his pocket. Though it was hard to see through the happy tears that were blurring her vision, Beth thought the paper looked suspiciously like the paper from the notebook they still wrote in from time to time. She was so in love with this man, it scared her sometimes. For him to have thought of that beautiful classic song was just brilliant. She remembered her Daddy singing it to her while playing his guitar when she was just a little girl. She squeezed his hand and they walked away from the grave hand in hand. She knew their friends would cover the grave over and she didn't think she could watch that. She had said her goodbye. She would miss holding her daughter in her arms but she could take comfort in the fact that she was in good hands.
"Tears in Heaven", property of writer Eric Clapton, Universal Music Group 1990.
I hope you all liked this chapter. I know it's short. I hope I did a good job of providing closure for everyone. Oh and try not to be too hard on Jenna for being the one to finally say something. They couldn't have let Beth continue to grieve like that. They really don't have the luxury anymore. Jenna is not a touchy feely kind of person. She has spent the past few years carefully building walls around herself so she doesn't have to express but the most base emotions. She was acting purely on survival instinct. She knew they needed to try to move on from the situation. She did something about it. That simple. I know how hard it is to like OC's though. But I truly love her. I might give her and Rick their own story sometime. lol Well let me know how you like this chapter in a review. Yes that is a shameless plea for reviews. They are like crack to me. Haha Until next time, xoxoxoxo