Chapter 6

It was Ed's weekend once again. Carol dreaded Friday's that she knew her ex-husband would be picking up her daughter from school. She worked to pack the small panda bag that Sophia had picked out for her overnight stays. She added in several outfits, and an extra pair of flip flops. She put in Sophia's stuffed dog and her favorite blanket. Sophia was brushing her teeth in the bathroom next door.

"Pack my barbie and my Daryl doll too okay." Sophia said in between brushing and rinsing.

Carol smiled as she picked up the Barbie and Ken doll, placing them in the bag. Sophia spent hours playing with these dolls. The Ken doll she referred to as Daryl had participated in many dances, balls and weddings. She used her small barbie dream house they picked up at a yard sale as the backdrop for her many scenario's she played through.

"Pack their house too. It'll fit in the bag right. Oh, and pack my jump rope. I want to show Daddy that I'm getting the hang of it now." Sophia walked into her room where her mother was packing her things.

"Can I just stay the one night and come home in the morning?" Sophia asked quietly, her eyes pleading with her mother.

"I'm sorry honey. But the judge says you have to stay every other Friday and Saturday night. We have to follow what the judge says. He is the man that helps make the laws." Carol zipped the bag closed.

"And Daddy will pick me up from school?" She picked up her small backpack and put her arms through the holes.

"He will." Carol smiled. "The bus is coming honey, lets walk down to the bus stop." Carol reached out her hand and her daughter grabbed on tightly. "Here we go."

The two stood at the bus stop, Sophia playing with her friend Lucy. They were running circles around their mothers and the bus stop sign. Carol and Lucy's mother Dawn made small talk as they waited on the white bus with happy colorful children painted on the sides. A loud roar of an engine came closer as the woman paused their conversation and the children covered their ears to block out the noise. The truck slowed to a stop at the stop sign just down the road. Carol recognized the truck as belonging to Merle, Daryl's brother. She spotted Daryl in the passenger seat, drinking a cup of coffee that came from the gas station nearby.

"Oh, that is so annoying. Why do men by trucks that are so big and loud." Dawn spouted as she squinted her eyes at the loud noise.

Carol, without thinking waved to the two. Daryl looked up from his coffee when he noticed her wave. He smiled slightly, and waved his hand in return.

"Daryl!" Sophia shouted, seeing him raise his hand in a sort of wave. "Hi ya Daryl. Hi ya Merle." She sang out. "Where ya going? Ya going to the shop?"

Merle pulled up next to the bus stop and stalled the engine. Carol saw Daryl turn his head and say something to his brother. Merle leaned over him to speak out the passenger window.

"Good morning little lady. You look like you're all ready for school." Merle smiled at Sophia.

"Yep. Just waiting on the bus. Then I gots to go to my Dad's cause the judge said I have to and he makes the law." Sophia said smiling.

"Hear that little brother. Sophia here will be gone all weekend." Merle teased Daryl. Daryl looked at the ceiling and shook his head.

Carol smiled toward the truck. She knew Merle was teasing and it didn't bother her in the least.

"It's nice seeing you both." Carol said in response. "Be safe on your drive."

Daryl made eye contact with her, his cheeks slightly red with a hinge of embarrassment.

"You too." He said quietly.

"She ain't driving you idiot. She's waiting on a bus at a bus stop." Merle bumped his shoulder.

Daryl shook his head and scowled at his brother. "I meant nice seeing you." Daryl said again, his voice in a low growl.

"Okay." Carol answered, a hint of laughter in her voice. "See you later."

"Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, sounds like an invite little brother." Merle purred, loving the way his brother squirmed in discomfort. "Excuse my baby brother here. He ain't real experienced if you know what I mean."

"Shut up Merle." Daryl said, punching his brother in the arm. "Bye." Daryl muttered out the window.

"Wait!" Sophia yelled running toward the truck. "I found one of your wrenches under the sink yesterday. I put in on my dresser so I could get it back to you." She was hanging on to the side of the truck, one foot on the door trying to climb up to see him face to face.

"Thanks." Daryl said, smiling at her bright eyes as she tried repeatedly to jump up and see him.

"Alright kid. Off the truck now." Merle said with a gentle smile. "Glad to see ya'll, take care."

Merle started the truck and Sophia jumped backward and covered her ears against the roar of the engine. She waved, wincing at the sound of the truck, smiling and jumping up and down. Carol waved and Daryl nodded in return, an uncomfortable smile upon his lips.

"You know those two?" Dawn asked as the roar of the loud engine faded into the distance.

"I do, it's a long story. I don't know them well, but yes. I do know them." Carol said watching the bus turn the corner and pull to a stop. "Ok Sophia. You have fun this weekend and I will pick you up at Daddy's at 6pm on Sunday." She pulled her daughter in a tight hug and watched as her small legs climb the large bus stairs.

"Love you Mommy." Sophia waved as she made her way on the bus and slid into the front seat. "See you Sunday."

Merle smiled at his brother as he drove towards the shop where Daryl worked. "I think that lady is sweet on you." Merle said watching for his brother's reaction.

Daryl ignored him and took another swig from his coffee cup.

"She gonna be home all alone this weekend. Maybe now is the time to make a house call, if ya know what I mean." Merle nudged him with his elbow. "She's cute, if you like that kind of thing. She's kinda skinny for my liking short hair, but you know, we all have our type."

Daryl turned and glared at his brother, the warning in his eyes for Merle to back off. As usual, Merle didn't take the hint.

"She got a kid though. This one's a package deal. So maybe just friends with benefits. Ain't that a saying? You can just hit it every other weekend." The truck pulled to a stop in front of the shop.

Merle stepped out of the truck to help Daryl get the brokendown motorcycle out of the back of his truck. Daryl got a call early that a co-workers motorcycle wouldn't start. He offered a hand and with Merle just getting home, still on a buzz from his overnight achievements in the drug dealing business, Merle didn't mind driving the truck.

"You decide that ain't something you gonna do, you just let ole Merle know. May not be my type but hey a pu…" Merle was interrupted by the fist that made contact with his jaw. He stumbled backward a step, his hand going up to his jaw.

"Best shut up." Daryl said, pushing his way past his brother. He didn't make it far before Merle pushed him forward. Daryl stumbled and fell into the side of the truck.

"Don't be like that little brother. After all, I could give you some real pointers when it comes to women." Merle smiled, a hint of blood playing on the lip that was starting to swell.

Daryl came at him again, he pushed Merle hard, causing the man to take a few step back. Daryl stood with his fists raised, ready to fight.

"Now, now, what's this? You think you can take me on? Put them hands down little brother. Don't make me bruise that pretty little face o' yours before you meet with your lady." Merle laughed. Daryl shot forward and Merle was ready. He stepped sideways and punched Daryl hard in the stomach. Daryl fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

"Now look, you gonna be sore. How about we stop here. You gonna need all them muscles if you do it right, ya know what I mean?" Merle said, taking a step back as his brother stood off the ground. Daryl swung hard, this time he connected with the side of his brother's head. Merle stumbled backward for a moment, then swung and connected right above Daryl's left eye.

"Boys!" Jim shouted from where he stood inside the garage, watching the brother's fight like children. "Knock it off now."

Daryl charged forward and took Merle to the ground. Now they were in a tangled heap on the pavement. Jim and his team ran forward pulling the men apart. Both were banged up, trickles of blood running down each's face. Daryl's eyebrow was cut and already bruising, Merle's nose bled. Daryl continued to try and get lose, trying to get ahold of his brother. Jim stepped in between them, and Daryl settled at the sight of his boss.

"Enough." Take Daryl inside, get him some ice, clean him up. You two, unload this bike from the truck bed. Merle, get in your truck and stay there." Jim demanded. All did as they were told. Jim was a good man, respected, and cared well for his employees and their families.

Daryl sat on a stool in the back of the garage looking angry, an ice pack above his eye.

"Now Daryl, I know Merle can take things too far. But I can't have this in front of my business. A customer driving by sees my employee acting that way, it'll scare 'em off and you know that." Jim chided, his finger shaking in Daryl's direction.

"He just don't quit. Gotta keep talking and talking. Tired of his shit." Daryl said, anger melting away, a look of remorse creeping into his features. "I'm sorry Jim." He said quietly, now looking up under his eye lashes at his boss.

"I'm sorry too. You're pretty busted up. Ain't letting you work here like that today. Can't go home cause Merle's there and I don't want you two starting up again. Go somewhere, cool off. Come back tomorrow ready to work. You already lost today's pay. Don't do anything stupid and cost yourself tomorrow's too. Now go." Jim said, no room for argument in his tone.

Daryl stood then, walking toward the garage's exit.

He was on foot now, as he'd ridden with Merle. His motorcycle was at the house, and he knew Jim was right. If he went home now, he'd get into with Merle again. Merle never let up. Daryl thought he must get pleasure from causing pain and frustration in others. He walked carefully. His stomach ached where Merle had punched him. He'd never fully healed from the last beating he'd taken from his father. Probably because he never went to the hospital, just let everything mend on it's own. It had been ten years since his father had broken his ribs, but he had a daily reminder as certain movements still hurt. He walked into the coffee shop a few blocks from the shop, ordered a black coffee and sat at one of the outside bistro tables. He heard a familiar voice nearby, and his first thought was to flee the area. As he went to stand, he saw her, their eyes connecting. It was Carol, with another woman, walking into the coffee shop.

"Daryl?" Carol said, seeing the man for the second time that day. "What happened, did you get in another accident?" She asked, concern showing plainly on her face.

"Nah. I'm good." He responded, gripping his coffee tightly. He really didn't want her to see him like this. Now she'd be scared of him like she was of her ex-husband.

"Whose this?" Lori asked, watching the two interact.

"This is Daryl. He's the one I ran into when the brakes went out in the car." Carol explained, then watched him sink further into his seat.

"Oh! I'm so sorry that happened to you. You okay now?" Lori asked, she acted just as concerned as Carol.

"I'm good." He muttered, keeping his eyes on the coffee he held tightly in his hand.

"Well Carol, why don't you sit here with him, and I'll go order our coffee's. Be right back." Lori smiled as she made her way inside.

"I was just leaving." Daryl said quiet and low.

"Why don't you stay, we can talk for a bit. I could use the company. I hate these Friday's knowing Sophia has to go with her father. She never wants to, and I hate making her." Carol said, watching Lori get in line in the shop.

"So don't." Daryl said, then took a big drink of his coffee.

"Don't?" Carol asked, confused.

"Don't make her go then, she don't want to." He said, looking up now, his head cocked slightly to the right.

"I have to, the court says…."She started.

"Fuck the court. What he gonna do if you don't send her? He gonna take you back to court?" Daryl stated.

"He would just show up to the house and take her. He'd call the cops. I'd be in contempt of court." Carol said, her body sagged, she looked dejected.

"Mmm." Daryl responded, now looking down at the table.

"Alright you two. I got your Mocha Latte, my soy latte, and Daryl I got you a refill." Lori said setting the three coffees down on the table. "What are we talking about?"

"Oh nothing. Daryl, what are your plans today? Headed to work or you have the day off?" Carol asked, now sounding cheerful in front of her friend.

"Got the day off. Don't know. Huntin maybe." He shrugged.

"Eew, you're a hunter. I could never shoot an animal, their living, breathing creatures. Far too beautiful to just go and shoot." Lori said, a hint of a whine in her voice.

"You would if you were hungry enough." Daryl shot back.

"I was thinking of working in my garden. I'm gonna try to plant this year I think. Never could before, I didn't have the time. But now, Sophia could help me keep it weeded, it would be so nice to have some garden fresh tomato's. I just need to till it, I think I could rent one." Carol went on. "Do you know where I could rent a tiller?" Carol asked to the two people next to her.

"Can rent one down at the hardware store. It's heavy though. Hard work." Daryl said, crushing the empty cup in his hands.

"I've never been afraid of a little hard work." Carol answered, sad that he'd finished his coffee so quickly.

"Well, thanks for the refill." Daryl said, standing from the table. "Have a good one."

"Bye." The girls rang in response.

Daryl pretended he didn't hear when Lori told Carol that she thought he was attractive, but dangerous. He kept his head down and walked toward home. He then heard laughter and glanced behind him. Was she laughing at him? He wondered, he turned and glanced their way. Carol wasn't laughing, she was watching him walk. A sparkle shone from her blue eyes, she wiggled her fingers in his direction. He was shocked to see that his hand had responded in turn, his fingers wiggling in return. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and picked up his pace.