Like most farm and country kids, Beth had been a part of 4-H for years and still remembered much of what she learned. One year, when she was eight, she raised a baby goat – Victor – and she and Victor won a coveted blue ribbon at the county fair. It was honestly – still – one of the highlights of her entire life and she had never loved anything as much as Victor; until George was born. She wondered if her parents still had the blue ribbon framed and hanging proudly in their living room like they had before Beth left.
(And if they didn't, how could Beth ask for it? Technically, it was her blue ribbon. Hers and Victor's.)
She would love if George was able to do something like that. 4-H or Boy Scouts and suddenly, she wished she could take him to the farm where she grew up. She would tell him all about Victor and show him where he was buried – the family knew that when Victor died, they wouldn't use his body for meat – and maybe, there would be a sheep or a cow or even a horse that her parents would let George have for his own (that would have to live on the farm, of course, since she doubted Daryl would want livestock living in the trailer park).
Beth knew though that she wouldn't take George to the family farm. Her mom was slowly coming back into her life, but even that was done with such hesitancy, and other than that, Beth honestly didn't know if she wanted anyone else. That had been another life and the farm was in another world. She and George were a family – with Daryl and everyone else they had met since coming to Orson – and there was a part of herself who thought that if Hershel, Maggie, Shawn or anyone else was a part of it now, they would only taint it and ruin it somehow.
Today wasn't the day to think of that though. Today, her baby boy was four and she was throwing a party for him. With her 4-H knowledge, she went through the cookbooks Theresa had and went shopping at Aldi for all of the supplies she would need. She had bought a hand mixer at PAWS for five dollars the month before in preparation for today. And a hand mixer was never a bad thing to have because before Patrick and leaving home, Beth truly had loved cooking and baking and being in the kitchen. She had actually considered going to culinary school after high school but obviously, other things had happened.
She didn't ask for help from anyone. This was her son's birthday and she was going to make his birthday cake. Two tiers – to feed everyone coming today – of chocolate cake with chocolate whipped buttercream frosting. And sprinkles. She made sure she bought the largest container of sprinkles Aldi had because George absolutely loved sprinkles and his cake would be incomplete with them.
Beth was in the kitchen, following the recipe from Theresa's cake book and measuring and mixing carefully. The front door was open and through the screen door, she could hear all of kids running around, laughing and shouting, excited for the party later that afternoon. Beth had gotten everything needed from Dollar General including a bouquet of helium balloons, tied to George's chair outside. They hadn't had a dragon balloon option so she thought the T-Rex balloon along with the plain green and black balloons was a fine substitute and as close to his favorite animal as possible.
The pool was still set up and Kristy had filled it with fresh water – the kids changed into their bathing suits and running around, screaming bloody murder, as they swam and splashed.
George had been so excited, getting him to go to sleep had been a chore – but he finally slept only to wake up exceptionally early that morning. Beth fixed him a birthday breakfast of fried eggs and bacon and did her best to not cry because George was four today and this year, they had their own safe home and he had presents and there was going to be cake.
Beth had moved the portable AC cube into the kitchen with her so the space would stay cool and her cake or frosting wouldn't melt from the heat and humidity of outside. She hummed to herself as she carefully placed the smaller tier on top of the larger base and she sighed with relief when the whole thing just didn't collapse or topple over. It was cool before she placed one cake on top of the other, but Beth directed the AC cube more towards it so it would cool even more and she went about whipping up the frosting.
Hearing familiar boots on the wooden steps, Beth lifted her head and instantly smiled when she saw Daryl through the screen door. He was about to knock but then he saw her smiling at him and he smiled a little, too, as he pulled open the door and stepped inside.
She loved this man; was in love with him. And she honestly didn't even know when it happened. It wasn't the first moment she saw him or the next moment or the next week. It had happened steadily; slowly and surely until one morning, she woke up and thought of him almost immediately and just thinking of him made her smile.
She certainly didn't mean to. When she and George slipped away and began walking with no direction or plan, falling in love certainly had never even been on her mind. She had far more important things to think about. And then arriving here, she had been so busy getting a job and taking care of George and building a life for both of them, again, love hadn't been even a lingering thought she would have in passing. Her feelings towards Daryl truly snuck up on her.
She had to wonder how he felt about her. Of course she had to wonder that. He cared for both her and George – deeply. That was obvious to anyone and everyone, but was Daryl Dixon caring for her the same as Daryl Dixon being in love with her? She could only hope.
"Grill's heatin' up," Daryl let her know. "And I think after today, 'm never eatin' another hot dog again."
Beth laughed at that. "Thank you for doing that."
Daryl just shrugged. "That looks really good," he nodded his head towards the two-tiered cake.
Beth beamed at the compliment. "Thank you. It's been a long time since I've baked a cake from scratch, but I think the odds of me killing someone today from it are fairly low." Daryl smiled at that and she smiled, too. "Would you mind being my taste tester? I don't want to send everyone into a sugar shock." She held up the bowl of frosting she was whipping and Daryl crossed the room, into the kitchen.
She felt bold with him standing right next to her and she didn't double guess or stop herself.
Beth dipped the tip of her index finger along the inside edge of the bowl, swiping up some frosting, and then, bravely, she turned to Daryl, holding it up for him. She had no idea what he would do and her stomach clenched in anticipation. She knew that Daryl wasn't the sort to be overly affectionate – and knowing the barest details of his childhood, that was to be expected – and yet, she could hope that he didn't think she was a complete idiot right now.
Daryl looked at her finger and then into her eyes before back to her finger. It was obvious that he was trying to think what the Hell he was going to do. He had obviously never done something like this and Beth hadn't either. (She was NOT going to think about her relationship with Patrick but so much of it had been just sex – when they had still been having sex, before the meth took over completely – and she couldn't remember ever really being flirty and playful with him.)
Daryl seemed to have made his mind up and shuffling a step in closer to her, Beth's breath caught in her throat as Daryl lowered his head and he wrapped his lips around her finger. She bit her lower lip, keeping herself from moaning loudly, as she felt his tongue swipe the frosting and she had to lift her other hand to his chest, needing him for stability to combat the shakiness in her knees.
And then, just when she thought she wouldn't be able to handle anymore – heat flooding between her thighs and her heart hammering against her ribcage – Daryl released her finger. But before she could even gulp in a greedy mouthful of air, Daryl's arms were around her and his mouth covered hers.
Beth's arms lifted and circled around his shoulders and moaned – finally – into his mouth. Daryl's arms were tight around her waist and she felt the counter digging into the small of her back as Daryl turned her and pressed her against it but that wasn't bothering her in the least.
"Daryl," she breathed his name when their lips parted for just a fraction of an instant so they could both inhale and then, their mouths fused together once again.
She could feel the coldness from the AC cube against her flushed skin and she felt hotter than she ever had when she didn't have the cube or a fan. She wanted to take all of her clothes off to try and get a reprieve from this heat and she wanted Daryl to take his clothes off, too, but the front door was wide open and it was George's birthday and now was not the time to do anything resembling nakedness with Daryl.
Daryl seemed to be reading her mind because he was the one to pull his mouth completely back from her and he seemed to force his arms to drop away from her.
"Jesus, Beth," he panted in a low voice. "There's no time for me to take a cold shower."
Beth was panting and flushed, too, but hearing that, she began to smile; almost laugh.
She lifted her hands to touch his chest, but Daryl gave her a look and gently pushed them away. He leaned in for the quickest kiss on her forehead before taking a few steps back, completely away from her.
"Don't you dare touch me for at leas' an hour," he said and this time, Beth couldn't stop her laughter.
"I promise," she nodded. "I'm sorry," she then added.
"Don't have to be sorry. I don't wan' you to be sorry. We jus' need to time ourselves better than this."
Beth nodded in agreement. Her heart was beating so fast, it might have actually skipped a few beats, and though normally, that would have been cause for great concern, right now, Beth didn't care that much.
When she felt like she was calm enough to, she finished whipping the frosting and then began applying it to the cake. She heard Daryl take a cup down from the cabinet and fill it with tap water at the sink.
"You could have taken a bottle of water," Beth told him.
"Nah. I get an ice cold water bottle and I'll wanna pour it over my head and that'll jus' turn you on."
Beth burst out with laughter at that and Daryl was suddenly behind her. He kissed the back of her head and Beth's laughter faded until she was just smiling – feeling completely happy and content in that moment. Goodness, she loved this man. Was this God's plan all along? A five year long detour with Patrick and Birmingham and a meth house before coming back to Georgia and meeting this man? He must have had His reasons and Beth didn't feel anger that her life had taken her into one direction because now, it led her here and here was the only place she ever wanted to be.
She began to hum again as she frosted the cake – the bottom tier and then the top tier, making sure every single inch of the cake was covered.
Just as she was ready to add the sprinkles, she heard little footsteps and the screen door then swung open. George burst into the trailer like he had been fired from a rocket and he was wearing his lime green swim trunks, his summer-tanned skin dotted with droplets of water and his dark hair even darker with water.
"Mama!" He exclaimed. But then he saw the cake on the counter and whatever he was going to say was immediately forgotten. He gasped. "Mama," he breathed at the sight of the cake.
"Do you like it?" Beth asked with a smile though he clearly did.
She took the mixer and released the two beaters, still covered in the last remnants of the chocolate frosting. She handed one to Daryl and then held out the other for George, who nearly flew for it. The two licked the frosting off the beaters as Beth finished covering the cake with all of the sprinkles. And when she was done, she took a step back, wiping her hands on the nearby towel and looking at the cake.
She then looked down to George, who had come to stand next to her, still licking the beater. Feeling tears in her eyes again, she crouched down next to him and wrapped him up in her arms. The cake did look pretty good but George was still the best thing she had ever done.
"Happy birthday, Georgie."
…
For George's birthday, everyone in the trailer park was there – of course – as well as Albert and Amy, Big Tiny and a couple other barbers from the barbershop and her mother. George had been very quiet when he met Annette, reverting back to the very shy, very quiet boy that he had been, and after Annette left, Beth had asked George if he would want his grandma at his birthday party.
George hadn't answered right away but then he had nodded. "Grandmas come to birthday parties."
Daryl grilled hot dogs and there were bowls of potato chips and fruit salad. There was also a cooler of drinks – juices, sodas, water and beer. Cassie brought out her I-Pod and was playing music as Beth had the kids play games – George had to have games at his birthday party – and the adults watched, laughing and cheering for them all. There was an egg relay race with the kids holding eggs in spoons and racing to one another and then there was pin the tail on the donkey.
Rosita moved around the party, taking pictures of everything, and when Beth carried the cake from her trailer, out to the table, everyone cheered for her. George was beaming as they sang Happy Birthday to him and again, Beth was moments away from crying. She had a single candle shaped like a 4 on the top tier and at the end of the song, Daryl hefted the boy up so he could blow it out. And when he did, everyone cheered again.
"Presents?" George asked once slices of cake were cut for everyone.
"Presents," Beth confirmed.
"George, this is from me and your mama," Annette spoke up, setting a box in front of him, wrapped to perfection. That was something Beth remembered about her mom. No one wrapped presents better than Annette did and today, as always, it looked like something Martha Stewart had handled.
The wrapping paper was a Viking wrapping paper – complete with cartoon Vikings and dragons.
"Mama, can I keep this?" George asked as he looked down at the paper.
Beth laughed. "Of course you can."
She looked to her mom and Annette looked so nervous, but she was smiling, too, relieved that she had chosen the right wrapping paper. She had her phone out and was now recording a video as George began ripping at the paper. The other kids crowded in to see what he had gotten and George ripped away the last of the paper, revealing the Toothless dragon.
"Mama!" He shouted and held the box up over his head. "A dragon!" He looked it over for a moment and then setting it down, he flew to Beth, hugging her, and then went to Annette, hugging her, too. "Thank you, Grandma!"
Annette looked like she was ready to burst into tears. "You are so, so welcome, George."
Every time George opened something, he gasped as if he had never seen anything more amazing: the Aladdin and Babe DVDs, the Play-Doh, the coloring books and crayons. Big Tiny and the other barbers had given George a set of Paddington Bear books, Ms. Mackey gave him a plastic container of plastic vehicles, Albert and Amy got him a plastic bowling ball and a set of plastic pins for kids, and Siddiq and Rosita gave him a projector light that shot stars onto the ceiling for him at night.
After he opened each present, George went to who gave it to him and hugged them tight, thanking them. He was quickly becoming overwhelmed, having never received such things; so many things at one time. Beth was feeling a little overwhelmed, too, that so many people loved George and were here to celebrate his birthday with them.
"Alrigh'," Daryl said and sat a large gift bag in front of George. "Here you go, George."
George had to stand on the chair to reach into the bag and Beth helped him pull out whatever it was that Daryl got him. "I love it!" George exclaimed the instant he saw the backrest pillow with the dragon face on it. He jumped, leaping from his chair, and Daryl grinned, catching the boy in his arms and hugging him. "Thank you, Daryl! I love it!"
From the corner of her eye, Beth saw that Annette was recording another video, smiling. Beth was surprised that she felt a little bit of happiness that her mom was there today.
HONK! HONK!
Beth spun around and frowned a little when she saw Merle pulling a U-Haul truck into the trailer park.
"Finally!" Gary exclaimed. "We didn't want you to think we didn't get him anything."
"None of you had to get him anything," Beth reminded them.
"Sure, Beth," Theresa rolled her eyes at that. "Skipping George's birthday? Insulting!"
"It's actually a present for you, too," Greg said. "We all chipped in."
"I'm going to go get the things," Bridget stood up with Kristy standing up as well.
"I'll help," she offered and they headed off towards their trailers.
Beth had no idea what was going on. Daryl was at her side, still holding George in one arm, and his other hand went to the small of Beth's back.
"No matter what, you're goin' to accept this," he told her.
"What is going on?" Beth demanded as Daryl ushered her towards the U-Haul truck. Everyone followed. The Leesman children were chattering excitedly – clearly in on the surprise as well.
"Merle!" George exclaimed as Merle climbed down from the truck.
"Happy Birthday, George! Strip club later?" He suggested and George just laughed as if he got the joke. "Alrigh'," he looked to Beth and pointed a finger at her. "Don't be stubborn," he then said. "I know guys who owe me all kinds of favors. I take the rap for certain things and I serve a certain amount of time instead of the guys who really did it."
"What do you put on your taxes?" Gary asked. "Professional jailbird?"
"Psssh. Taxes," Merle replied to that. "Anyway, I did about a year for a guy who sells furniture."
"Merle," Beth began, immediately knowing what was in that U-Haul truck.
"You're not takin' no for an answer," Daryl spoke up.
Merle went to the back of the truck and unlocked it, throwing it up. "Didn' cost me a thing. I got George a twin. I was gonna get 'im one of those toddler beds, but Hell. He'll grow out of it in a couple of years so the twin was the way to go. And I got you a full. Daryl said you would like a white headboard so that's what I gotcha. If you don't like the white headboard, take it up with your man. And I have been guaranteed that no one died on either of 'em."
Beth didn't say anything; couldn't say anything. She stood at the back of the truck and looked at the mattresses wrapped in plastic and the bed frames. What could she possibly say to any of this? Everyone in the park knew that she and George didn't have a bed; that they slept on their pullout couch. But… so what? What did that matter? Why did any of them care where she and her son slept? And no one here (except for maybe Siddiq since he was a doctor) was overflowing with extra money. Why would they do this?
"Happy Birthday!" Kristy exclaimed and she and Bridget returned, each carrying a large bag from the Goodwill Store. "From all of us," she then said and she and Bridget set the bags down at Beth's feet.
"And freshly washed," Bridget was sure to add.
Comforters. And beneath those, bed sheets.
Beth stared down at the bags and then back to the mattresses in the truck. Slowly, she began to look at everyone gathered there with her and George; who had come to celebrate her son's birthday and give him such wonderful gifts and then all chip in to give her and her son even more things.
Finally, she looked to Daryl and George. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do. The only thing she could think to do was cry. So that was exactly what she did.
…
*humming the Golden Girls theme song - "Thank you for being a friend..."
THANK YOU!
Honestly, it didn't feel right to have someone else from Beth's family at George's party. I actually have a scene planned with Beth and Shawn in a couple more chapters. As always, thank you so, so much for reading and please take a moment to comment!