Preacher's Daughter
Chapter 51: Moving On
I look down at the headstone as the rain begins to fall, every inch of me becoming drenched. Daryl laces his fingers into mine, the rain dripping off his hair.
Resting my hand on the cool marble, I smile. "I wish you were here, I miss you so much."
Daryl kisses my cheek, looking over at my father. Dad smiles back at us, Beryl wiggling in his arms. "Da … da … dada."
The biggest grin breaks out across my husband's face, his hands lifting his daughter up.
"Daryl, she's gonna get wet. Give her back to dad; she needs to stay under the umbrella." He tosses her in the air, the rain now a drizzle.
"You worry too much, she's just fine." I look into his sparkling blue eyes and I can't help but smile back at him.
Dad walks over to me, placing his arm around my shoulder. "I need a moment alone and then I'll come right over to the church. I can't keep my new bride waiting."
I give him a hug, his eyes twinkling back at me. I knew this day would happen sooner or later, but it wouldn't happen without dad having a little chat with mom first.
Beryl squeals out a roll of giggles as Daryl kisses her cheek, her tiny hands rubbing at her father's scruffy beard.
"Can you say mama … come on sweetie, please try?" Daryl gives me this smug look as I try yet again to get a mama out of my daughter.
He winks at me as she says dada again, letting me know she's daddy's little girl. I kiss her little hand when she manages to get out a syllable of it. "Ma…Ma."
I take her from Daryl's arms, kissing her tiny cheeks over and over. "She said it Daryl."
"Yeah, but remember she said daddy first." I pat his chest, nodding my head.
"Okay, we have to get dressed for the wedding." I grip his hand, leaning my head on his shoulder.
Walking out of the cemetery with my husband and baby girl, I feel how lucky I am. It was only three short months ago when I thought I had lost it all, lost my world in that hotel parking lot.
Thanks to Sam and Merle, we managed to get cold water to help bring Beryl's temperature down. Merle drove his bike at least 100 to the convenience store down the road to get us ice, as we soaked her in the nasty bathtub in the hotel. Cold water was cold water, no matter how we got it.
I don't think Daryl or I have let her out of our site more than a few minutes since she got out of the hospital, everyone in the family keeping a closer eye on all the kids.
All of us gather up at the farmhouse, Diane helping Ann get ready. I hand Daryl his clothes, hoping he doesn't rip the sleeves off the button up shirt. He grins at me, looking at the shirt and black dress pants. "Do I have to?
I turn him around, pushing on his back. "Yes, just for a few hours."
Grabbing my dress from the back of the door, I hear someone call my name. "Bobbi Jo?"
I look down the hallway to see Melinda and Eddie at the top of the stairs, her baby bump starting to show. "Hey y'all … Ann's in Diane's room."
Melinda stops by the bathroom I'm changing in, her tattoos looking odd against her pale blue chiffon dress. "Where's Beryl … she's still doing okay?"
I nod back at her, my hair falling from the bun I had placed it in. "Yeah, she's a little trooper."
Melinda takes the bobbie pins from my fingers, helping me place my hair back up. "She's a Dixon, they're tough. So … Eddie proposed to me last night."
She holds out her hand, a small diamond ring adoring her ring finger. "Congrats girl, I'm glad things are better between you and Eddie."
She gives me a hug, a tender hug that usually comes from close friends or family. "I'm so sorry about everything that happened last summer. I hope we can be friends now that we're gonna be family. That crush I had on Daryl was because I wanted what you had with him. I can have that now with Eddie and our baby."
I genuinely hug her back; she wasn't that Melinda any more. I pull her into the bathroom as we chat and she helps me get ready.
Walking into the church, I smile at the people gathered there, most of them strangers to me. Daryl stands at the front with Jack and Dad. I wave at him, giving him a playful wink. He shakes his head, a small blush covering his cheeks.
As I stand there with my family, I watch my father take Ann's hand and vow to love her till death do them part. In that moment, I can feel a healing take place. All the bad luck, the hurt, the lost, all of it was washing away with the union of my father and Ann.
Gathering in the barn for the reception, I dance with my husband. Daryl is two left feet and awkward as hell, but he manages to swing me around the dance floor.
Ann is now my stepmother, but in my heart she had been that for years. The way she looks at my father lets me know she loves him truly. My mother had no doubt sent this angel to him, to heal our family and give him a second chance at love.
I look at all the smiling faces. Diane and Jack are dancing, Eddie is rubbing Melinda's baby bump, Daryl is feeding Beryl some mashed potatoes and Dad is giving Ann a big kiss. This moment would be etched in my mind forever.
Walking up to Melinda, I whisper in her ear. She turns back to me, smiling wide. "Are you sure?"
I nod my head, grinning back at her. "Don't tell Daryl."
The wedding celebration goes on into the wee hours of the night, Dad and Ann on the verge of collapsing.
Diane, Jack and the kids spend the night with us, to give Ann and Dad some privacy. I knew what a honeymoon night was for, but I don't want to think about my Dad and Ann that way.
After we get the kids in bed, we gather on the porch, Jack leaning back in the rocker. "You got a nice place B.J. All that hard work paid off. I like it out here, it's quiet and close to the farm. So, you guys wanna go riding tomorrow?"
Daryl pulls me into his lap, his lips moving slowly across mine. I let my fingertips hover above his face, my lips moving in time with his. Jack clears his throat, asking us again.
We break from the kiss, Daryl's eyes glancing over to him. "Ridin … I guess, but who's gonna watch the kids? I ain't leavin Beryl."
Jack scratches his head, looking over at his wife. "I guess we could take the kids. Joy is a good little rider and Daniel loves horses. We'll make it a family outing."
"I have somethin I have to do in the mornin, but we can go later." Daryl turns my face to him, his blue eyes burning a hole in mine.
"What's up?" He holds my gaze, his eyebrows creasing.
"Just somethin I got to do … okay?" I can tell from the look on his face, he's not too pleased with my answer.
He doesn't ask me again until we're lying down for the night. I climb in the bed and snuggling into him, he lifts his arm so I can lie on his shoulder. "Where ya goin?"
"Can't I just surprise you Dixon?" My fingers stroke his chest, his fingers stroking my arm.
He gives me an audible grunt, letting it go. I kiss him softly, my fingers rubbing his scruffy cheek. He runs his hand down my back, deepening the kiss. We kiss until my lips are burning, my ache for him consuming me.
As his lips travel from my mouth to my shoulder, I let out a sigh. He grins, continuing over to my neck. "Daryl … we have company."
"Uh un." His lips never cease, pulling my tank top up. I moan out loudly as they rest on my nipples, his hand traveling inside my shorts.
"Daryl … they'll hear us." I can feel a hot blush cover my face as his fingers search inside my wetness.
I give myself over to him, hoping Jack and Diane are sound sleepers. Daryl's slips two fingers inside me, working them slowly. I squirm under his ministrations, his tongue flicking against my sensitive hard nipples.
"Stop teasing me Dixon … I'm ready." A breathy hiss eases out as I say the words.
I can hear him chuckle, his fingers sliding up to my throbbing clit.
"Where are you goin tomorrow? Answer that and I'll give ya want you want." I look at him, his blue eyes looking so fierce.
Pulling away from him, I roll over on my side. He kisses my shoulder again, his hands sliding over my stomach and pulling me to him. "Stop it. You're not using sex to blackmail me."
He laughs as he sits up in the bed. "You're pissed. Come on B.J., don't be like that."
I pull the blanket over me, doing my best not to turn and look at him. "Damn straight I'm pissed. You best leave me be tonight Dixon."
He rolls over, cursing under his breath. I feel the void between us, Daryl moving closer to the edge of the bed.
I wake before he does, his semi-naked body looking too damn good. Fighting the urge to finish what he started last night, I cover him up and get dressed.
Kissing Beryl on the cheek, I take the truck keys and my bag. "See ya later baby girl."
Diane is sitting on the porch sipping coffee when I walk out, her green eyes smiling. "You were having a good night … what happen?"
The hot blush from last night covers my face again, my cheeks on fire. "You might say Daryl cooled me off real fast. I'll be back in an hour or so, tell Daryl to get Beryl ready and pack her bag for today."
She pulls her feet up in the rocker, holding the cup with both hands. "Don't be mad at him … he does love you … like crazy."
"I know he does. I ain't mad, but I'm gonna make him sweat it out." I smirk at her, trying not to giggle.
Pulling up to the Ink Spot, Dan comes out to greet me. Melinda isn't too far behind him, her baby bump peeking out from underneath her tank top. "Hey B.J., you ready?"
"You've been dying to get me in that chair. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain, so this might take a while." She pats my arm, giving me a reassuring smile.
"You're one tough chick, you can handle it. Besides, it ain't like you're gettin a big tat." I grip the arm of the chair, the needle buzzing.
An hour and a half later and I'm sporting some ink, the tattoo small but stinging. Melinda gives me some ointment and instructs me on how to take care of it. I look in the mirror at it one last time before she applies the bandage and I button up my shirt.
I park the truck, going in the house to change for the horse ride. Daryl and Beryl are already gone, a note on the fridge telling me they are out in the barn. Taking my jacket out of the closet, I gently slide it on. The tattoo is still smarting, the fresh ink still healing on my skin.
Strawberry is saddled and ready for me, Daryl already up on Hoss with Beryl kicking her little feet. "Looks like someone is ready to go."
"Are ya gonna tell me where you went or is it still a mystery?" I ignore his question, checking the straps of my saddle.
Diane mounts her horse, Daniel and Joy nearly as gleeful as my sweet little girl. Jack nudges his horse out, riding up to me. "If you two are gonna be like this the entire ride, it sure ain't gonna be any fun. Why don't you kiss and make up."
I roll my eyes, wincing as I pull to the saddle horn. Jack narrows his eyes, watching me closely. "I'm okay … I'll explain when we get to the overlook."
Daryl rides beside me, his eyes glancing my way a few times. I don't say a word, not wanting to bring up the topic of discord between us. I begin to giggle as Joy asks Jack at least a dozen question, most of them ending in why.
It takes us an hour to get to the overlook, Daryl dismounting and walking towards me. Beryl is on the nearly asleep on his shoulder, her eyelids dropping.
"So … are ya still givin me the cold shoulder?" From the look on his face I was sure he wasn't going to tolerate much more of my silence.
Diane goes about setting up a picnic for us as Jack gathers wood for a fire. They both look at us, Diane smirking back at her husband. I turn to Daryl, pulling off my jacket. His blue eyes widen as he watches my every move, his lips pursing tight.
I lay the jacket over the saddle, pulling my sweatshirt off, leaving me only my button up shirt. Jack clears his throat as he places an arm full of wood on the ground. "Do you need us to leave?"
"No … don't be stupid Johnson." I walk closer to Daryl, his eyes now narrowing in on the patch under my shirt.
"What happen, are you hurt?" The worry in his voice makes me smile. Unbuttoning the first few buttons, Daryl reaches over taking my hand.
"Bobbi Jo, what are you doing?" His voice is a low, husky growl, his words rich with his southern drawl.
Moving my hands from his, I undo two more buttons and pull the left side of the shirt back. His fingers rub over the bandage, his other hand holding tight to our sleeping babe.
"I got a little something to show you how much I love you, to show the world what our family means to both of us. This is my way of putting the past behind me and looking to the future." Slowly, I remove the bandage. The tattoo is still a little swollen and red, the outline raised on my skin.
He smiles back at me, leaning his head down for a closer look. Above my left breast is a set of angel wings and in between the wings are the letters D & B. Daryl looks back up to me, a smile in his eyes. "It couldn't be more, us."
I place the bandage back over it, nodding my head. "It really is, just so us." I lean towards him, giving him a long awaited kiss.
