Chapter 4

When he got back to the apartment he saw that Merle had once again been there and gone. There was an envelope left on the table with cash. On the front of the envelope it said, "pay the rent" in Merle's scribbled handwriting. Daryl put the money in his wallet with a plan to put it in the bank the following day. He had already paid the rent, and the utilities. Merle didn't keep track of dates and times well. He often left random money for Daryl to buy groceries or other things. He would always label the envelope with what he wanted the money to go to. Usually there was more than enough. Daryl had opened a savings account after a buddy he worked with told him how. He remembered feeling foolish opening the account. He felt like everyone there was judging him and thinking he too poor to be able to keep an account. Then he remembered no one here knew him, no one here knew the Dixon name. The man behind the counter was helpful and friendly. Daryl's whole demeanor had changed by the time he left the institution, a new check book in his hands.

He sat down on the couch and clicked on the television. He mindlessly flipped through the channels until he found a documentary about bee's and how honey is a high commodity item. His mind kept turning toward the unfinished job at Carol's house. She still wasn't able to use that sink. He frowned at the thought of her continuing to wash dishes in the small bathroom sink. He could tell the house needed multiple small repairs. She had mentioned the divorce and wondered at her previous relationship. Unable to focus on the documentary or stop the nagging voice in his head he knew he would be picking up a garbage disposal first thing in the morning.

Carol heard a knock on the door. Not expecting company she froze in place fearing it was Ed. Sophia came out of her bedroom and ran for the door swinging it open quickly. Carol ran forward, trying to catch up to the door before whoever it was could attempt to speak to her daughter. She heard Sophia shout "Daryl!" Carol walked up behind her daughter and placed her hands protectively on her shoulders.

"What did I tell you about opening the door? That is Mommy's job." Carol scolded.

"But it's Daryl." Sophia shrugged pointing at the door.

"You didn't know that. It could have been anyone. Now go to your room, we will discuss this again later." Carol chided.

The little girl stuck her lip out and blinked big eyes up at Daryl. "I gotta go Daryl. Will you come see me before you leave?" She said, her small lip quivering.

"Alright." Daryl responded. His heart melted a bit as he watched that little chin quiver. He felt the urge to reach out to her and rough up her hair. He resisted and instead met the deep blue eyes of the questioning woman.

"Did you leave something behind? Carol asked wondering why he would be back here so soon.

"Nah." He said standing awkwardly at the door.

She noticed the plastic bag in his hands full of different items. She squinted her eyes and looked up at him.

"Can I come in?" He said, looking past her toward the kitchen.

She stepped aside and watched him walk through the small house and into the kitchen. He went to work immediately installing the new garbage disposal he had purchased. She stood silently watching him. She couldn't help wondering why he was being so nice to her? He fixed her car, now was working on the sink again. He knew she could offer nothing in return really. She nervously rubbed her hands on her jeans, then set about starting a meal. She had planned to make chicken and noodles with mashed potato's and green beans. She decided to add crescent rolls to the mix as those were Sophia's favorite.

She thought of making small talk while she worked, but the man wasn't much for words she'd noticed. Questions seemed to make him nervous. Besides, what would they talk about, she wasn't good with small talk either. Instead they both worked silently on their own tasks. Both filled with nervous energy due to the other being so close in proximity.

"Alright. That should do. Go ahead and give it a try." Daryl said turning the water on full pressure.

Carol flipped the switch and the new disposal roared to life. She smiled and clapped realizing she could once again use her kitchen sink as the water was no longer backing up. She reached toward him and ran her hand down his muscular arm. "Thank you so much." she said as her hand settled in his for a moment. "Stay for lunch. I made enough for all of us."

Daryl's stomach growled in response. He had smelled the food cooking for the last hour and found his mouth watering at the thought. He hadn't had chicken and noodles since he was young, living with a host family a few towns away from here when his father and brother had gone to prison.

"I'm just gonna get Sophia to set the table." Carol said, not allowing him to answer but instead hurrying away.

Sophia skipped into the kitchen, a small stuffed dog in her hands. "This is Bo. He's my German Sheppard. He loves chicken and noodles so Mom said he could eat with us as long as he didn't bark too much."

He watched the child use a stool to reach up and get the dishes she would need to set the table. She continued talking as she gathered up the needed items and set the table.

"What would you like to drink?" Carol asked from behind him. "I have milk, water or tea."

"Water." Daryl answered as Sophia grabbed his finger and led him to the chair at the head of the table.

"I like milk. You sure you don't want milk? It's good for you, it makes your teeth strong." Sophia said watching him sit.

"Don't like milk." Daryl said, grabbing the glass of water and taking a drink.

"How do you not like milk?" Sophia huffed in shock. She loved milk. Especially chocolate milk.

"Never had it growin up. Never really got used to it I guess." Daryl answered shrugging.

"You had to have milk, that's what babies eat silly." Sophia scooted her chair closer to the man.

"Not me. Didn't have no fridge to keep it in. Would a been a waste a money." He said, then regretting the words. Now they would know he was different, that he came from the poorest of backgrounds. He felt his ears warm and knew they were turning red. This only caused more embarrassment and he started to fidget in his seat.

Sophia became distracted with the crescent rolls her mother placed in front of her. The child squealed and clapped as she grabbed two off the plate.

"My favorite." She squealed.

Lunch was quiet on the adult end. Of course Sophia talked of her favorite tv shows and her friends at preschool. Daryl listened and nodded appropriately. Carol smiled as he seemed to take her chattering in stride. There was no look of anger or annoyance like there had been when Ed was at the dinner table. She had often lost her appetite because Ed would be so mean or downright rude to their daughter.

"What do you do for fun Daryl?" Sophia had just asked. Carol's ears perked up. She so badly wanted to know him better.

"I like to hunt. I like the woods. Riding motorcycles is fun." He answered.

"You mean hunt like shoot animals?" Sophia frowned.

"Yep. Grew up having to hunt if I wanted to eat. Now it's more of a hobby. Can sell what you don't use usually. That way it ain't going to waste. I don't believe in hunting for sport. Should be a good cause behind it." He ate another fork full of potato's. This woman could cook, he thought to himself.

"You ever shoot a deer? Or a bear? You ever kill a mountain lion?" Sophia asked excitedly.

"If it's in the woods I've hunted it." He answered plainly. "What bout you?" He asked, looking at Carol.

Her face reddened in surprise. He hadn't ever asked her something about herself. She found herself struggling to answer.

"Momma never got to do no fun things. Daddy always made her stay home. She had to do all the chores and things. I helped, but there was always something to do." Sophia answered instead. "My daddy always yelled at Momma, so she tried hard to be good and be busy."

Carol flushed further with embarrassment and shame. She moved the food around on her plate. "When I was younger I liked music a lot. I also like to read. I used to help my grandmother around the house and with the garden." She answered quietly.

Their eyes locked together. Daryl felt a tingling inside, telling him that something was happening between the two. What was it about this woman that called to him. The spell was broken when a glass of milk suddenly tipped on the table sending liquid onto Daryl's lap.

Carol jumped up quickly grabbing a towel off the counter. Sophia jumped out of her chair and ran towards her room. "I'm so sorry." Carol said, feeling her body start to shake in response. She waited for the slap to find her. If something spilled or wasn't cooked to Ed's liking she often came away with bruises. Without thinking Carol reached down to dab the milk off Daryl's lap.

Daryl felt the coldness before he saw what had happened. He looked down to see his lap full of white milk. He started to stand when the little girl took off running from the table, a small whimper escaping her lips. Then he felt Carol's hands dabbing at his lap with a towel. His body responded almost instantly and he scooted his chair back quickly to get away from her hands. She jumped and flinched away from him a soft whimper escaping her lips.

"I'm sorry." She said her voice fearful and shaking. She had moved away from him toward the counter, her hands moving up protectively.

Daryl used the towel to sop up the liquid and set it down on the table. He realized then what her ex-husband had been like. He sat quietly waiting for her to regain her senses. He sat still, watching her begin to calm and noticed the slight shake in her hands.

Carol realized that silence now filled the room around her. No one was screaming at her, no blows were hitting her in the head. She remembered that Ed wasn't here. Daryl, she thought. It was Daryl. She glanced his way, seeing him sitting in his chair scooted back from the table. The towel was in his hand and he stood slowly laying it on the counter next to her.

"Okay?" He asked, his voice low and quiet next to her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered again, wrapping her arms around herself trying to still the shaking.

"Just an accident. Ain't no trouble." He lightly grabbed her elbow to show her he wasn't upset. "Come on." He said guiding her back to her seat. She sat then, with her head in her hands as she worked to still her breathing. She heard his footsteps leave the room. Moment later he returned with Sophia holding his hand. Her tear streaked face showing that she'd been crying.

Daryl's heart wrenched when he opened her bedroom door and saw her hiding in the back corner furthest under her bed. He thought of how often he himself had done that as a child. He had lay down on the floor, his chin resting on his hands and spoken softly to her until she scooted forward toward him. He smiled and joked with her about looking like a slithering snake coming out from under the bed. They took turns hissing at eachother as her laughter instead of her tears filled the room. He stood then, feeling her wrap her little arms around his leg in a hug. He reached out his hand and she took it and together they walked back to the table.

Carol had started working to clear the dishes. Both Sophia and Daryl joined in. Sophia ran the water in the sink and began to wash the dirty pots and pans standing on a kitchen chair she had dragged over. Daryl stood next to her drying. He reached his fingers in the water then flicked some water toward Sophia. She looked up surprised, then laughed as he did it again. She retaliated playfully. He pretended to tip her chair backward and she grabbed the counter yelling, "Daryl!" playfully. Carol watched from afar. She couldn't figure out how this happened. How had this man come into her life, and just seem to fit in? Those butterflies swarmed again, she blinked back tears of happiness and fear and worry. She smiled as he turned to look at her, his soft eyes meeting hers, the corners of his mouth turning up just so.