Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Daryl bent down in front of the two-year-old and smiled happily at the beautiful baby girl with those gorgeous blue eyes and big, blonde curls, babbling at him like he could honestly understand all of it. His heart was warm and full of love at the sight of her. She was simply the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes on, and he wanted to know how he was blessed to have her in this life. She was simply an angel. His savior.
"Yeah." He nodded his head in agreement to the babbling, and she giggled. "I totally got that. I feel the same way, man."
Her mother giggled at the sight of them and set the cups of coffee down on the wrap around counter for him whenever he was ready. He was so in love with girl in his arms, and she worried she might not ever get to actually talk to him about anything. She loved that he loved her, and she loved him so much for stepping up, but there was a conversation to be had.
"You are such a big girl." He scooped her up into his arms and held her close. "I swear you keep growin' on me. You gotta stop. I'm gettin' too old over here."
"Oh, hush." Amy waved her hand at him. "That would mean I'm getting old too."
"Nah, just older." He rocked back and forth on his feet to sooth the curious child as she reached up and touched his face, babbling still and making little laughing sounds as she explored his face and his ears, lightly tugging on his shoulder-length chestnut hairs and found the loop earing in his ear. "Okay, enough of that." He bounced her up and over to his hip, joining Amy at the counter and accepting the cup of coffee. "Thanks."
"No problem." She curled her fingers around the mug and beamed at the sight of them. "You two are so precious."
"Nah, it's just her." He drank the black coffee and set it back down on the counter, feeling little hands moving from his shoulder and knowing they were headed for the cup in his hands previously. He chuckled and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. She pouted her lips and nodded her head before resting her head on his shoulder and sucking on her thumb. "Aww."
"She just loves you so much." Amy was glad. She worried Ana might not like him after so many years apart due to living in different states and being broken up that she might not recognize her own father, but that wasn't the case at all. Daryl had been there during the entire pregnancy, and that seemed to cement who he was to Ana, because the second he spoke during that first meeting, she got super excited and started worming around in her high chair and reaching for him. It was the cutest thing Amy had ever seen, and she had it on video tape to rewatch. Thanks, Connie.
"I feel the same way." For the most awkward night of his life, he had made the most beautiful creature he'd ever known. He was so lucky to have gone out with Merle that night and met Amy and made this amazing little princess. She was the closet person to him—literally—and she healed him in so many ways. He couldn't believe he had such a little human in his life. God, he loved her more than he thought he could love anything ever. "She's so amazin'. Thank you for…lettin' me be here now."
"I should have let you be involved sooner, but…I was scared." She shook her head. "It's silly now, and I've talked it out with my friends, who agree it was silly to be afraid. I just…am new to motherhood, even now, and I suppose I let it control me more than I should have."
"You've done so well. Why be afraid at all?" He searched her eyes and frowned. "Amy…."
"I just didn't expect to be good at parenting, and I was worried you would be good. Like you'd be out of this world amazing at parenting, and you'd want to take her, because I was failing as her mother. I was scared I wouldn't bond with her, and that I might end up neglecting her needs in some way." She exhaled deeply. "I just…was a big chicken, and after two years I kinda still am, but she's not just mine. I realize that now. She's…ours."
"Yeah." He looked over at his daughter and kissed her brow. "She is."
"And I want you fully involved in her life. I know you live in Georgia, and I live here, but we can work something out, right?"
"Of course. I want to be involved in her life." He'd gotten a real, legal steady job, an apartment with two beds so she could spend the night, and he'd buy all that proactive baby crap just to keep her safe. He would be such a good dad, like his father never was. He had no example to go on, but he'd make it up as he went. He hoped that was in the best way for her interest and his own. He'd be a good dad. The best dad. He'd give it all he had.
"Perfect." Amy glanced over at her phone and pressed her lips together. "Why don't we get lunch prepared? She's bound to be hungry."
"If she'd my kid, get used to that." He chuckled, and Amy laughed with him. "I'll help you make her favorite."
"Ah, so chicken nuggets?" She clapped her hands together and smiled. "I will get the oven preheated, and we will just have sandwiches, because if I have to eat another chicken nugget, I will vomit."
"I dunno. Chicken nuggets sound good to me."
"Ooh, so she is her father's daughter." She smirked. "Why don't you keep her busy while I cook?"
"That also sounds good to me."
Amy went on to prepare lunch, Daryl played and got to know his very smart little girl, and Amy set up the dining room for their meal. She looked in on Daryl and Ana playing, and she couldn't help but feel laughter in her throat at the joy she felt there. There were other emotions, some lighter, some darker swirling around inside of her like clothes spinning in a washer, and she felt raw and gutted. She knew what she was doing. She had already paid the price for her actions, but it had been done. It wasn't going to change anything to pretend like she hadn't said what she'd said and done what she'd done. It was over now. Things would be better now. For Ana.
Carol sat in the airport waiting area with her wheeled luggage resting between her ankles, her hands resting on the bump of life growing inside of her, and she nervously checked her watch to ensure she didn't miss her flight. She knew if she missed it, she would have to call her husband and explain why she was late. She didn't want to do that. He had a schedule set for her, and she had to follow it to a T. If she didn't, there would be dire consequences. She didn't want to have to pay them, even if it wasn't her fault for being late or behind.
She had nothing to do while waiting for her flight but watch the people. Like the parents trying to tame their little ones—the little girl with the braided pigtails running to keep up with her big brother on speedy six-year-old legs. Their parents were fussing at them lightly, trying not to make a scene as they ran and pushed each other and giggled. Or if one fell, they let out a roar and went mad after the other. It was a constant back and forth until the father stepped in and scooped up his big probably seven or eight-year-old boy and set him straight while the mother knelt to speak to her daughter about acting more like a lady. Carol didn't understand how fun having had a gender preference but all right, whatever.
There was an old couple to the left of her, watching the planes leave out and holding hands. They were on a late flight to New York, but they'd come to see this one plane leave. Their son was the captain, so they would watch him depart. Carol had overheard their conversations while she was watching the planes a few hours ago. She thought it was best to leave them be to enjoy the moment, but she caught a smile from the wife who'd seen her belly bump and offered no advice, simply that warm, loving smile. It was very kind and appreciated.
Carol was starting to get hungry, but she only had a few dollars on her. She knew there would be a meal on the flight, but she had one on the way here that wasn't so great. She'd puked it up almost as quickly as she'd eaten it. Her stomach didn't appreciate it, neither did the baby. She apologized and settled on crackers and ginger ale. It went over well, but she wanted real food. She just had to figure out what would be best in this situation. If she spent all the money, she'd get a lecture. If she ate too much, she'd get a lecture. There was no winning.
She exhaled slowly and remembered she had been given a few snacks from her father. She set a hand on her belly and reached down between her legs, unzipping the case and pulling out the extra-large baggie filled with homemade cookies, veggie chips, bite-sized candy bars and of course a peanut butter and fluff sandwich. She smiled at the loving snack pack and helped herself to the peanut butter and fluff sandwich with a few veggie chips. She was content with the healthy-ish meal and sipped on the water she'd bought from the gas station on the ride over. It was perfect. It hit the spot exactly.
She felt her daughter stirring and smiled lovingly down at her belly. "I hope you like it, too. It's Mommy's favorite combination right now." She was sure once she wasn't pregnant any more, she'd be sick of it. Whenever she ate them at home, her husband would kick up such a fuss of disgust and tell her to take it easy, because she was gaining a bit too much weight for only five months pregnant. She wasn't sure how big she was supposed to be, but she loved it. She loved the stretchy pants, the growing belly, the kicks and stirs of her daughter—all of it. Even the bad parts, because her body was making some so special and so sweet. She couldn't wait to hold her and kiss her and simply enjoy being her mommy. It was the most excited she'd been about anything in her thirty years of life.
She stood up to stretch her legs and walked the length of the chairs and back, stretching her arms above her head and moaning softly at the popping of bones and release of tension. She dropped her hands to her long, auburn locks and once more considered chopping them off. She loved her hair, she really did, but there were a few reasons to remove most of it. It wasn't like…he'd meant to grab her like that. It was just an accident, and while she was sure it wouldn't happen again, she didn't want to give him the chance. But mostly she wanted a new look. She was going to be a mother. She had to look the part.
Although she wasn't sure what the part was just yet, but she knew the baby might tug on her hair, too. She had brief experience with babies, and it was only a matter of time before it happened again, and while it wouldn't hurt as bad as his, she didn't want to relive that. It smarted more than she cared to admit. She had lost a few hairs in that moment, and she just didn't want to relive it. She'd get a haircut as soon as she got home. Yeah, that was best solution.
She lowered herself down onto the bench and suppressed a yawn, rubbing her nails lightly against her belly and swallowing another yawn before clearing her throat. She looked to the left to see if that old couple was still there, but there was no sign of them. They must have left while she was stretching. She hoped they had a good life. They seemed so sweet….
As her eyelids grew heavy, Carol forced herself to stay away and recount the new memories she'd made on her trip. She had to stay awake. Sleeping was for the flight, not while…while waiting for the flight. She yawned again and knocked her ankles accidentally into the suitcase. She closed her eyes for just a moment. Just one moment—the briefest—and suddenly it was quiet….
Daryl helped clean up the lunch dishes, Ana was playing with her toys and making crashing sounds while cartoons played, and Amy was getting in the shower. He had to head home today, and it was going to be rough. Weeks upon weeks without any Ana would be the most challenging of his life. He had to get his life back on track before he let her into it. He couldn't just expect everything to fall into place simply because everything was slowly coming into place. He had to be patient and iron out the wrinkles messing up his life with Ana and Amy.
"Hey, Am?" Daryl noticed her phone had been ringing off the hook since this entire weekend, and he worried someone might be giving her a hard time. She had a lot of money owed out there, and it wasn't easy paying it off. He knew that from experience. Maybe he should handle it.
She didn't respond. She couldn't hear him over the sounds of the shower, busy scrubbing her hair with cucumber-melon shampoo and humming happily to herself.
He picked her phone up and tilted it, using the light to see the zigzag way she unlocked her phone, and he aped it well enough to unlock her phone, finding over fifty messages from the same number. He frowned and glanced down the hall. He had no right to invade her privacy like this, but it had already been done. He needed to know if someone was threatening her, because he would handle it. That was his job now—to handle the difficult tasks with her and Ana. He wouldn't let her stand alone in this. No matter how she felt. He'd explain that to her should she find him on her phone.
He read over the first message to find it angry and hateful, and as he scrolled down, he recognized the texting style. He knew this person. He couldn't explain how, but he knew deep in his gut that this person was familiar to him. So he continued to read to see what mutual friend was harassing Amy.
You're not gonna reply now? That's rich. You drop that bullshit on me and then nothin? What the hell kind of person does that? At least give me a chance to respond! For Christ's sake, Ams.
You need to answer me right now. Before you do anything else, contact me. Don't be a bitch about it. I told you how it was, and now you're gonna give me the cold shoulder? Grow up.
All right, all right, fine. Have it your way. Keep our kid. Keep your shit on strugglin'. Don't try and find me neither. I ain't gonna be your knight in shinin' bullshit. I never was. I done told you that. You need to get a hold of that rich ass sister of yours and stop tryin' to concoct dumbass plans.
Daryl paused on that message and re-read the line about "our kid" then looked over at Ana, who was chewing on the ear of her teddy bear. He frowned and wondered if it was a mistyped word. He didn't like the feeling gnawing in in the pit of his stomach, and he pulled his own phone out, knowing now who this person might be and actually praying he was wrong.
He pulled up the contact information and checked the numbers—they matched. Amy was ignoring texts from his big brother Merle Dixon. Ice ran through his veins at the possibilities of these texts and this random reaching out Amy had chosen to do. He swallowed the coals building in his throat and looked over at his daughter once more.
She was gorgeous with curly blond hairs, big blue Dixon eyes, Amy's nose and mouth, and it would be impossible to tell Daryl from Merle in this child at such a young age. Daryl and Merle weren't twins, nor did they look that much alike, but the traits and genetics the child had received from the father could make it easy to pick and chose which father Amy wanted for her daughter.
He gripped the counter and shuddered at the thoughts now coursing through his head, and he set his jaw before scrolling down to the last few texts Merle had sent to her, seeing more confirmations of Ana being his daughter and not Daryl's. There were a million reasons why Amy would pick Daryl over Merle as the father of her daughter, namely Merle's passionate love for drugs, drinking and getting arrested. He was a terrible role model, and as much as Daryl loved him, he had to admit as much. And potentially more. Merle wasn't even the type to want kids, let alone accidentally have one with the baby sister of the lawyer who busted her ass to keep him out of jail that one time back in June after he was arrested for public intoxication and indecent exposure and so on.
But how did he fall for this? How could she be so cold and calculating to up and decide to contact him again after moving to this armpit of a city? He'd been there for her all throughout her pregnancy and then she moved away under the guise of a better job opportunity without even explaining it to him. He'd been a good friend to her back then before he knew the child was his, and he'd been there, so how could she do this to him? Lie to his face like this? Break his heart into a million small pieces and…smile at him like she had? How could someone be so cruel? Why did life have to pretend to reward him with something so special and amazing only to come back and knock him down, busting open his lip and cracking open his chest at the truth? Why was it always like this?
Tears burned in his eyes as he tried to sooth himself, losing track of time as his nails dug into the counter and his teeth dug into his lip hard enough to draw blood; but he was far too upset to deal with anything here. He picked up Ana and placed her in her high chair, grabbing his phone and his coat and his overnight bag to leave when he heard Amy's slipper in the hall. He swallowed the lump in his throat and exhaled slowly before turning to face her.
"Oh, you're leaving already?" She lost her smile and set the towel she was using to dry her hair down on the island counter. "I thought we should hang out a bit."
"I'm gonna miss my flight if I don't head out now." He was lying. He had time, but she didn't know that. "I'll be in contact real soon."
"All right. Can I at least get a hug?"
"Sure." He leaned in quick for a short hug, but she held onto him tightly. She smelled of cucumber and Dove soap, and he remembered that night two years ago when she and he met up in the back of the RV at that rave. They had gone to take a couple pills Merle had given him, and he lost track of the night, so he easily could have not slept with Amy as the night was a pure blackout event. If that were true, if he'd only woken up with her in the grass because she sought him out after a bad night with Merle, then she was a terrible, manipulative person. Like every-fucking-body in this godforsaken world.
"Be safe and call me when you land." She released him and smiled widely up at him. "I can't wait for our next visit. I'm so excited."
"Yeah, me too." His voice was hollow, dead, and she was too lost in herself to notice.
"All right. Um, do you want me to real quick throw you together a lunch? I can."
"Nah, I'll eat on the flight. Sure it won't be too bad."
"All right then. I'll see you when I see you." She stroked his arm and stepped back. "Goodbye."
"Bye." He nodded and headed out.
She inhaled deeply and chuckled softly as she exhaled, looking over at Ana and spotting her phone screen darkening from lack of use. She frowned and approached the counter, seeing her phone was unlocked, and all the texts from Merle were revealed. A lump formed in her throat as her guts churned, and she shook her head for a moment before going to the door to catch up to Daryl, but he was long gone.
"Fuck," she murmured under her breath and closed the door, hitting her forehead against the firm wood there. "Fuck me."
Daryl slapped his hands down onto the steering wheel of his rental car and cursed loudly in the parking lot of a Family Dollar. He was panting and ranting and pissed royally the fuck off. He couldn't believe he'd fallen for such a trap. He should have known the world wasn't going to be so kind as to grant him a reason to start over greater than himself. He should have known it'd simply laugh in his face and mock him as it always had.
He folded his arms and rested his head in them over the steering wheel, exhaling the fumes and trying to calm down. He was too exhausted to be this worked up. He couldn't deal. He simply wanted to hide away and forget this ever happened to him. He just wanted to vanish and be at peace alone in the woods. That was all he ever wanted, and he was going to make it happen once he got back home. No more Amy, no more phone calls, no more lies—just the woods and fresh air and hunting. Yeah, that was the plan….
"Hmm…."
By the time Carol roused the airport was almost completely empty, panic seeped into her bones, and she shot up, collecting her items and trying to find a member of staff to speak to. She couldn't have slept through the announcement of her flight. She couldn't have. There was no way. She had to speak to someone, get this straightened out, and she hoped it didn't cost any money. She hoped it didn't mean a later flight. God, please, no. Ed would kill her.
She noticed a few staff members huddled up by one of the gate entrances and sighed in relief, slowing down her pace to speak to them. She cleared her throat and adjusted her clothes and opened her mouth to greet them when someone else came running up behind her and knocked into her.
He demanded to know if his flight had left, looking like he, too, had just woken up from an impromptu nap, and the staff stared at his man with clear regret for the conversation ahead.
"What flight do you mean?" the male employee asked.
Daryl had to dig his ticket out to be sure of the flight number and tried to answer the man when a woman politely interrupted him and mentioned she had been there first. He waved her away and answered the man, and the woman scoffed.
"Look, lady, you're the not only person in the world who needs to speak to 'em. Why don't you talk to the lady?" he spat without looking at her and turning back to the man. "I missed that flight, didn't it?"
"Yes, it departed about two hours ago," he confirmed. "Were you coming to ask about the same flight, miss?"
She nodded.
"Well, I am very sorry, but that was our last flight—"
"You can't be serious. You gotta have another flight to Georgia. You gotta make it right. I was here. I was caught up in the parkin' lot with some bullshit by another employee. I need to get a late flight or—or another flight early tomorrow mornin'. I got shit I need to get done." He pulled out his heavy, angry accent, and the more he spoke, the angrier he sounded. He didn't mean to abuse the staff as he went and went, but he couldn't help it. The fire from Amy's lies returned with a vengeance and demanded someone right here right the fuck now make it right. He couldn't have this be screwed up, too. He could fucking not spent another day with that lair and his niece.
God, the thought made his eyes water, and he couldn't deal with any of this. "I need to get home!" he roared. "Now! And so does she! You make it right!"
The man in front of them with the nameplate reading Noah blinked and stammered. "Well, Sir, I—"
"I don't want excuses. I want an early flight and for this to be made right. It ain't my fault y'all staff is so backwards!"
Carol bit her bottom lip and sent an apologetic look to the young man who was only trying to do this job, and the woman who looked annoyed and royally miffed. She didn't want to be caught up in this man's bad day. They didn't want to be either.
"Just do your damn job and right this."
"Look, Sir, we apologize for your inconvenience, but there is nothing—"
"I don't want to hear what you can't do. I wanna hear what you can do to make this right." He glowered at her. "Let me see your manager."
"Oh, God." Carol stepped back and looked at the time, knowing Ed was likely trying to contact her now and demand to know where the fuck she was. She couldn't handle this. She felt sick. He was truly going to kill her.
Daryl turned to snap at the woman behind him when he noticed how heavily pregnant she was and lost his temper instantly. He saw how pale she was and closed the space between them to ask if she was all right.
"Why don't you sit down?" The woman set a hand on her shoulder and sat her down in the chair beside them. "Noah, go get her a juice. Her blood sugar may be low."
"Right." He ran off to get a juice from the cooler a few feet away.
"Just take it easy." The woman instructed. "I am very sorry for the missed flight, and while we can't do anything about it today, we can set you two up in a nearby hotel. We do business with them all the time, and don't worry about the cost. It'll be on us. All right?"
Carol nodded.
"It'll good for you to relax and settle down from this stressful day." She smiled at the pregnant woman and rubbed her arm.
"You'll do that?" Daryl softly inquired.
"I'm the manager, so yeah, I can do that." She watched him pale now, and she inwardly chuckled. "Here comes Noah. We'll get you feeling better then have him escort you both over to the hotel. It's next door."
Noah handed Carol a bottle of apple juice and an apple, kneeling down to check her heartrate as his nurse girlfriend had taught him, and he wished he could take her blood pressure to ensure it wasn't elevated. She was older, so this pregnancy was likely a high risk, and he didn't want to harm the baby; thus, he was relieved when Paula told him the plan for these two. He exhaled his relief and was happy to show them the way to the hotel.
He took her bag and helped her to her feet, escorting her out of the building and leaving the man to follow them. Paula made the call to the hotel to let them know their reserved rooms were going to be used, but sadly they did have another couple come and gripe up a storm and Milton caved and treated them to a room for their trouble. They only had one room available for the rest of the month, and their credit was just about up, so she was lucky to get this one room at all. Luckily it had two beds, so that had to count for something. She just hoped Noah got out of there before that asshole started to bitch. Motherfucker.
"All right. You two wait here, and I'll get the keys to the rooms." He set the woman's bag down and approached the counter.
Daryl awkward stood beside her, holding his bag over his shoulder, and he wanted to apologize for his attitude and explain the cause for it, but he didn't want to spew his life story at a stranger. He would simply apologize before they got to her room and let her alone. Yeah, that would be the best option.
Carol stroked her stomach and exhaled deeply, trying not to linger on the punishment Ed would deal out to her tomorrow once she was home. She inhaled and tried to keep from crying, because she couldn't handle this. She wanted to go back to her father's and pretend Ed never existed, but he would come for her. He always did, and there was no point in running. There was never a point to running.
"Okay, so some bad news." Noah returned to the two and frowned.
"You couldn't get us a room?" Daryl guessed.
"No, we were able to get a room." Noah nodded his head and pressed his lips together, rolling them out until a tsk escaped as they parted, and he held up a paper cardholder. "A room."
"Wait, we have to share a room?" Carol blanched. If Ed found out about this, she was dead.
"It's a two bed room," he assured them. "And there's cable and HBO and room service. It's on us. Just…try and relax."
"You're puttin' two strangers in one room and tellin' us to relax?" Daryl snatched the keycards and grumbled. "Thanks."
"We'll call over in the morning to let you know when your new flight is ready," he weakly informed them. "We'll switch the flights over, so it won't cost you."
"Thank you." Carol spoke up with a smile. "We appreciate this."
"Yeah, man, we do," Daryl decided to not be an ass and smiled a bit for the kid. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He raised his hand and pointed. "It's the last room on the left. You'll take the elevator up, and it's pretty self-explanatory from there."
"All right. Thank you." Daryl picked up the woman's bag and headed to the elevator, glancing back as she said goodbye to the young man and followed after him.
They rode up in silence, not speaking to each other and allowing tension to fill the air between them. They stepped off, and it felt like the tension expanded throughout the entire hotel floor. Walking to their room, Daryl juggled the bags and unlocked the door, allowing her to enter first. He was a gentleman, even when he acted like an ass to get this way. He couldn't forget that. He'd apologize tomorrow to the woman and man he'd acted a fool towards. It wasn't their fault his life was shit.
Carol looked over the small room, seeing it was a nice and clean room, and she did her usual check of bedbugs and roaches and such, and it came up empty. She set the untouched apple juice and apple on the nightstand and sat down on the bed, sinking into the mattress and biting her bottom lip. She couldn't take her mind off her husband, knowing he was fuming back home, waiting for her and not hearing from her.
Daryl set the bags down on the floor and looked up in time to catch the woman fleeing to the bathroom. He cringed at the sound of her throwing up, and he shuddered, knowing he would have to use that toilet for the rest of the night. He then shook his head for that asshole thought and headed to the bathroom, kneeling over and gathering up her hair as he'd done for Amy, and she jolted between puking and looked over at him before gripping the seat to heave again. He didn't know what had upset her stomach, but he spotted a vending machine outside, so if it persisted, he'd get her a ginger ale.
"All right. You empty?" He flushed the toilet as she dry heaved, and she nodded. "Here, lean on me." He helped her up to her feet, moving towards the beds. He sat her down and looked her over. "You sure you're good?"
"Yes." She exhaled deeply to calm her stomach and looked up in horror at the man before her. Red painted her cheeks as she stammered and ducked her head instantly. "I—I—I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" He sat down across from her and dropped his hands on his thighs, leaning towards her. "You got sick. It happens."
She forced a nod and cleared her throat, rubbing her arm and trying to avoid eye contact.
"I'm Daryl Dixon, by the way." He held his hand out to shake hers. "And you?"
"Carol Peletier." She accepted his handshake with trembling fingers. "It's nice to meet you."
He laughed. "No, it ain't."
"Excuse me?" She frowned.
"I was an ass to those workers. I tried to bully them to give me my way, and it didn't work. I… I've had a rough day." He scratched the back of his head and plopped back onto the mattress. "This ain't how I had my day planned, all I'm sayin'."
"Yeah, me neither." She placed her hands on her stomach to feel her daughter's movements, hoping it would sooth her, and it did. The only light in her life washed an ocean of relief over her, and she felt calm but not happy. She would still have to handle the repercussions of falling asleep and missing her flight tomorrow with Ed. She could only pray it wasn't too bad.
Daryl heaved a sigh and slid off the bed. "I'm gonna take a shower. Do you mind?"
"No, I think I'll take a walk. Get some fresh air. Call my…husband."
He nodded. "All right, see you back here then." He rolled off the bed and stretched wide. Carol chuckled at his noises, and he looked over his shoulder at her. She blushed and averted her eyes, and he smiled at her a little. "Hey, why don't we do dinner later?"
"Huh?" She lifted her eyes. "Dinner?"
"Yeah, I mean, we gotta eat, right?"
She pressed her lips together and nodded. "Okay. Dinner would be lovely."
"Cool." He grabbed his bag and stepped into the bathroom.
Carol smiled softly to herself then slowly her smile crumbled to tears at the thought of husband and having to call him. She departed from the room to cry without worrying he'd hear her and come out of his shower to investigate. She found a small corner in the hall where nobody could see her, no cameras or anything, and she sat down and wept at the avoidable punishment that would occur when she landed in Georgia.