A/N Thank you all again! We had a sweet little exchange just as Daryl was leaving for work and we pick up right there.
Note, Merle's on his way: in 1930 Hittin' the pipe = opium
00
Driving to work he can feel the big stupid grin on his face. He knows exactly why it's there. It started with the way she smiled at him and the sweet look in her eyes, but what really got to him was the way her fingertips lightly grazed the back of his hand.
What the hell is the matter with him? How could such a fleeting and innocent touch give him such a thrill? Why is he so taken by her? It's not like she's the only woman in the world, this city's full of women.
He shakes his head at himself for being such an idiot, and then he acknowledges the truth. There might be plenty of women around, but she's the only one who interests him.
How can that be? It doesn't make any sense at all. They hardly know each other and yet she's the woman he can't stop thinking about. She's the woman he didn't want to have to leave this morning. He wanted so much to stay there and talk with her a while, and when the time came for him to finally go he found himself wanting to take her in his arms and kiss her goodbye.
He has to quit thinking this way. When did he become such a dreamer? He hasn't got time for such thoughts. He's got important things he needs to concentrate on. He needs to be thinking about work if he wants to keep eating and keep a roof over his head, not spend his time thinking about pretty little blondes with big blue eyes.
Yet his smile grows again when he remembers how much he wanted to kiss that pretty mouth.
He's got to make himself stop. He can't be doing anything of the kind, it wouldn't be right. Not with her. He's not any sort of expert when it comes to men and women and the ways they act with each other, but he's seen enough to know there are different rules with different women.
He's been to the dancehall plenty of times. He and his buddy used to go regular, that's where his pal met the woman he married, the dancehall.
Daryl never danced with anyone. Mostly he just leaned against the wall discreetly taking nips of whiskey from his hipflask. He liked listening to the music and watching the couples dance, he especially liked when they danced the fast ones like the lindy hop and the jive. But no, he never asked anyone to dance.
He's aware of what happens after the dancing too, at least with some of the couples. He saw it plenty of times walking out to his truck. Guys and gals out behind the dancehall thinking just because it's dark no one can see what they're getting up to. There was always a lot of necking and touching and plenty of other stuff going on out in that lot.
He's 100% sure she's not the kind of woman who would allow those sorts of goings on. And she's definitely not the type to let a fella just grab hold of her and kiss her because the mood struck him.
Nah, sweet Beth wouldn't be one to give her kisses away quite so easily. If a guy was to want to get anywhere with a woman like her he'd have to set about proving to her he's worthy of her affections.
Maybe, just maybe someday he'll be able to convince her he's an honorable man and she might just believe he is, but not now. For now there are too many other things he needs to see about, like his work and his place he's got to finish. Yep, his plate is full.
Besides, he doesn't even know how a guy goes about getting something started with a woman like her.
He makes a quick stop at the Chinese laundry to drop off his bag of dirty clothes and pick up the box of freshly washed, pressed and folded clothes. It's the one indulgence he allows himself. Since he got his place he doesn't have time to spend washing and ironing.
There's a pink glow in her cheeks and a happy smile beaming across her pretty face as she turns away from the door, only to find she's looking right into the concerned eyes of Erma Horvath.
The woman walks closer, takes hold of Beth's elbow and gently reminds her, "Beth, you remember the rule don't you?"
Beth's face is now flushed with embarrassment and although she hasn't done anything wrong she feels guilty.
Erma Horvath is not simply a woman she considers her friend, she's also Beth's employer. The young woman speaks quietly and respectfully as she does her best to explain, "Miss Erma, honest we, Mister Daryl and me, we…we weren't doing anything to be ashamed of."
Although the tone of Erma Horvath's voice is not harsh, it is most definitely stern, "Well I'm sure you weren't Dear. You're a very sweet young woman, I know that. However, I don't know Mister Dixon well at all and it's my responsibility to protect you from the wrong sorts of people. You're an innocent and you may not be aware that some men are not to be trusted. They have their ways of getting what they want from innocent young women like yourself, all while convincing that young woman their intentions are honorable and sincere."
Beth's stomach is so knotted she's fearful she could double over at any minute, still she tries to convince her employer she and Daryl are both innocent of any wrong doing, "Honest Miss Erma, the only thing that took place was, last night he noticed my hands are very chapped and he was kind enough to give me a jar of cream he said would help. This morning he only wanted to ask me if it did."
She holds out her hand then, "See? Remember how terrible they looked? They're so much better now. That's all it was. This morning I showed him my hand and I thanked him for the cream."
"Indeed, they're looking much better. I apologize for not having offered you something myself." The woman's tone gets a little softer and a little more motherly as she continues, "Beth Dear, you don't want to be beholden to him for anything, do you? It just wouldn't be proper."
She takes Beth's hands in hers and continues, "I'm going to strongly suggest you return the jar of cream to the gentleman. I'll have Mister Horvath go out this morning and get you some of those rubber gloves to wear while cleaning and doing dishes and your own jar of Jergens. That should take care of your hands."
Beth thanks the woman for her kindnesses at the same time she feels tears start to sting her eyes. She's not used to being reprimanded in this manner, and she doesn't want Miss Erma to be mad at her. But what she's most upset about is not being allowed to speak to Daryl, and having to return the cream that he so kindly gave her.
What can she do? She really has no choice. This job is far too important to her, and not just for herself. What about Daddy? She needs the money she makes for both of them. Although she's heartbroken she nods and agrees, "Yes Ma'am," and returns to her chore of clearing the table, then dutifully stands at the sink doing dishes while Miss Erma busies herself with the downstairs dusting.
Doing dishes is simply routine, the chore requires almost none of her attention. So as Beth washes, dries and returns the dishes to drawers and cupboards, she has plenty of time to dwell on her heartache. She's fighting back tears and asking herself why in the world she's this upset? She hardly knows the man.
It's not as if he's her intended, my goodness he's not even her suitor. They've barely spoken. All that's happened between them is that he did her a nice turn. It was a lovely gesture, very kind of him. But other than that, who is to her? He's no one.
Miss Erma's right too, she doesn't even know anything about him. Maybe there is a motive behind his kindness and she's lucky to be rid of him.
The trouble is she doesn't believe anything of the sort, not even for a minute. It may not be evident to most, especially not at first glance of his rather rough outside appearance, but she's sure he's a principled man.
There's also that certain something she saw in his eyes right from the very first time she met him. It's not something a person can put words too, it's more of a feeling. What matters is she's sure Daryl Dixon has a goodness in him that goes right down to his core. If no one else is capable of seeing it, well that's just tough tiddlywinks for them. They're simply not as perceptive as she.
She shakes her head and asks herself, "So what are you going to do about it Beth? Tell Miss Erma you don't care what she says, you're going to do as you please?" She knows she can't and won't do anything of the kind. She'll do exactly as she's told to do whether she likes it or not.
When the dish washing is complete she makes enough dough for five loaves of bread. Four to be used in the dining room and a loaf for she and the Horvath's to share. In the meantime Miss Erma is busy making a peach cobbler for tonight's dessert.
It's not the typical Monday night dessert, tapioca pudding is the usual. But yesterday at church one of Miss Erma's lady friends blessed her with the gift of a large basket of fresh peaches, and tonight everyone will enjoy that blessing.
As she kneads the dough Beth finds her mind once again returning to thoughts of him. The sweet fragrance of peaches is in the air and she feels happy knowing he'll get to enjoy such a nice dessert. She only wishes she could have been the one to make it for him. She's sure that will never happen now.
She leaves the covered dough to rise and begins her other chores. She has a bucket filled with her cleaning supplies including plenty of rags. She'll clean the men's bathroom first, then clean the wainscotting in the hall and lastly she'll vacuum the hall. She takes the backstairs up to the men's quarters to begin her tasks.
It so happens that Miss Erma is the very proud owner of a Vacuette Electric vacuum cleaner. It purchased following a demonstration given her and Mister Dale by a door to door salesman representing the Kirby Company. Beth will use the appliance in the upstairs hall, however, Miss Erma has agreed Beth does not need to use it on the stairs.
Not since the incident. The Vacuette, and Beth right along with it, nearly toppled down those stairs.
It was just two days after she moved in, her very first time cleaning upstairs. She had no familiarity with an electric vacuum cleaner whatsoever. She didn't realize how heavy and cumbersome the Vacuette is. The awkwardness and weight of the appliance, along with the narrow backstairs and Beth's small build almost proved deadly.
Thank the Lord Mister Abraham arrived home at an odd hour that day to retrieve his forgotten football playbook. He started coming up the stairs after it, just as Beth was falling down them. Disaster was averted when he caught her.
A decision was immediately reached. Beth now uses the carpet sweeper on the stairs and Mister Dale carries the Vacuette up and down the stairs when she's to vacuum the hall. Beth would much prefer to forgo use of the Vacuette altogether and simply use the carpet sweeper or even sweep the carpet with a stiff broom. But it's not her choice to make and Miss Erma is very proud of her modern appliance.
Once at the top of the stairs Beth pauses and looks at what she knows is Daryl Dixon's door, wondering again how in the world she will return his cream and tell him about the rule. Maybe he won't care, but she'd like to think he will.
She tells herself to stop worrying over these things and carries the bucket to the bathroom door. She always knocks before entering, even if it's open and even though she knows none of the men are home. She always has that little fear in the back of her mind that she'll walk in on a half-dressed man, knowing she would simply die right there on the spot.
She's grateful that even with so many men using the one bathroom they don't leave terrible messes. They're courteous with each other and with her, and that makes an awful job not nearly as nasty as it could be. She begins with scrubbing the sink, then the tub and toilet, polishes the mirror and wipes down the wainscotting. She finishes up on her hands and knees, washing the floor. By the time she's done cleaning the bathroom, the whole upstairs smells of Bon Ami cleanser and Clorox bleach.
Next she busily cleans the wainscotting in the hall and Mister Dale turns up with the Vacuette, "Here you go young lady. I'll be back to retrieve it."
When her work in the hall is completed she runs the sweeper on the back and front stairs, and then it's time for lunch.
00
He's no sooner at the job site than his former housemate drives by on the way to his own job site, "Hey Daryl, how's the rooming house treatin' ya?"
"Well the food's decent and the other fellas ain't nearly as annoyin' as I thought they'd be."
They both snicker when his buddy replies, "Yeah? Well give em a little more time." Then his pal says, "I got somethin' ta talk to ya about. Somethin' I think you'll like knowin'. Can ya meet me for lunch at Cliff's Diner right up here on the corner?"
"You bet. See ya there."
Working in the sun all day means it's hotter than blue blazes and the work itself is hard and physical. There's a lot of under the breath cussing and grumbling from a couple of the guys and the complaining is starting to wear on Daryl's nerves.
There are times he hates being a lead person, but not in this case. He isn't asking them to work any harder than he is and he has no trouble telling them, "It ain't called fun, it's called work and you get paid ta sweat. Quit your bellyachin' and no cussin' out here in public or you'll be lookin' for a new job."
They shut right up because they know he means it, he's a fair man but he's also a hard case.
When lunch time rolls around he pulls a kerchief from his back pocket and wipes the sweat and grime off his face and the back of his neck as he's walking down the street to Cliff's. His buddy's already waiting at the counter.
The fans are slowly spinning overhead and the little breeze they create feels good on his damp skin. The waitress sets a glass of water in front of him which he proceeds to down in one swallow, smiles and says, "Thank ya Ma'am, could I get another?"
Then his buddy breaks out his news, "You remember meetin' my wife's brother the day we got married?"
"Yeah, sure I remember. He's a farmer, right?"
"He was a farmer, now the bank's callin' his note. They're gonna take the whole darn place away from him. They gave him 30 days to clear his family and his stuff out and be gone."
"I'm sure sorry ta hear that, he's got a couple a little ones too, don't he?"
"Yeah he does, twins. They're all gonna move in with his wife's sister while they try n figure out how ta start over."
"That's a shame. Lotta people havin' tough times." It makes Daryl angry all over again thinking guys would complain about hard work.
"It's the worst times, my woman she's feelin' real low about it all. Still, there might be a little good news for you in all this, which would turn into good news for him."
"Oh yeah, how's that?"
"Before his thirty days are up he wants ta try n sell everythin' he can. He's got one a them steam generators you was talkin' about and a real good mechanical well pump, a boiler, heck, he's even got a water tower. He's got household furnishins and all manner a other things. He's willin' ta let it all go dirt cheap, he don't care what he gets for any of it. All he cares about is he don't wanna see the bank end up with any of it. If ya wanna have a look we could drive out there on Saturday."
"I wanna be workin' on my place Saturday, how bout we go tomorrow right after work? If it starts ta get too dark I can turn my truck lights on ta see what he's got outside."
"Sure, I'll let him know."
That's when his buddy gets to the other news, "Your brother come by my place yesterday afternoon lookin' for ya."
Daryl's got the ham sandwich almost to his mouth, he sets it back on the plate and asks, "Merle was by?"
"Yessir. He didn't smell like booze or act like he'd been drinkin' at all. He didn't act like he'd been smokin' Mary Jane or hittin' the pipe either. I still didn't let on to him where ya moved to. I told him I didn't know for sure. He said if I seen ya ta tell ya he'd be by your place on Saturday mornin' first thing."
Daryl almost let's a cuss word slip out right there in a public place, but he catches himself and only says, "I hope ta heck he's towing the line. I ain't got time for his shenanigan's right now. Thanks for steerin' him clear of the roomin' house. I think them folks might take exception to a fella like Merle Dixon."
His buddy laughs and claps him on the back and says, "C'mon now Daryl, ol' Merle ain't a bad egg, he's just got a couple a bad habits is all."
Daryl gives him the side eye and says, "If that's what ya wanna call it."
Merle, shit he hasn't seen him in a year, he wasn't even sure where he might be. All he knew was his brother was alive, he had to be. Nothing can kill Merle but Merle. There's also no man alive who can find trouble as fast or as deep as Merle Dixon can.
Daryl wishes he didn't care for the big blowhard like he does, his brother can be a royal pain in the ass. Still, somewhere down deep in him Merle really is a pretty damn good egg. When he was a kid his brother saved Daryl's bacon more than once. It'll be good to see him again, he just hopes Merle shows up without those habits of his.
He makes a quick stop at the market on his way home. He's got to a get a couple things he can have to eat in his room and stuff he can take for lunch. He was always in the habit of fixing a lunch for work. If he has to start eating in a diner every day, at four bits a day, shit, that's two and a half bucks a week. What a waste.
He picks up some apples, a jar of peanut butter and one of jelly, a loaf of bread, four cans of BeeNee WeeNee and a box of saltines. That's a start. The boarders aren't supposed to have food in their rooms but how's anyone ever going to know?
He gets to Horvath's with just ten minutes to spare before dinner. He rushes up the backstairs, hits the toe of his boot on a small package as he unlocks his door, picks up the package and tosses it on the bed. He'll have a look at it later. For now he stashes the grocery sack in the closet, sets the box with his laundry on the bed and hurries to the bathroom to wash up.
He hasn't been at the table more than 30 seconds when she walks in the room. It's like the whole place lights up and it's Abe who says, "There's the woman we've all been so anxious to see."
She giggles and responds, "I don't think it's me at all Mister Abraham. I believe it's this chipped beef you've been anxious to see."
She's adorable and Daryl likes that she has a sense of humor. What he doesn't like is the way she's laughing and joking with the other men but she's not even looking his way. It's not just that either. It's not like she just hasn't happened to glance at him, he'd swear she's going out of her way not to look in his direction.
Well she's going to have to eventually. She's walking around the table setting a plate in front of each man and they all seem pleased as punch. It pleases him too, chipped beef on toast is a hard one to beat, and he almost laughs thinking of what his army buddies called it, S.O.S, shit on a shingle.
Talk like that wouldn't do in this house and he'd never talk that way about anything she prepared. But why is she's avoiding looking at him? What the hell is going on? He doesn't know, he only knows he doesn't care for it.
She sets a plate in front of him saying, "Here you go Mister Daryl." The same thing she says to every other guy at the table.
He answers back, "Thank you, it looks good."
Then it's Aaron speaking to her, "Miss Beth no one makes a finer serving of chipped beef than you. Thank you."
Shit, why couldn't he speak to her that way? She still won't even glance over at him. He notices something else too, like she's fearful or nervous about him. What did he do? In what way could he have offended her? This morning when he left she was all smiles and thanking him, she even touched his hand. What's changed since then?
Dinner is gone from their plates in what seems like seconds flat, and then everyone starts on the platters of bread with butter and fresh peach jam. None of it lasts long either and then she's clearing the table and telling them with a smile, "We have a special dessert tonight."
It's the young one, Alden who asks, "What's that Miss Beth?"
"Peach cobbler."
There's nothing but happy smiles and anticipation at the table as she takes the cart of dirty dishes from the room, returning just moments later with plates of cobbler. Again she walks around the table setting a plate in front of each man and when she gets to the Doctor he makes a request, "We had a sad day at the hospital Miss Beth, could I ask you to play, 'In the Garden' for me? That one always makes things a little better."
"Of course I will, and I'm sorry you had a difficult day."
Daryl doesn't know what they've been talking about or what she's doing when she quickly leaves the room.
And then he knows, and once again she goes straight to his heart. It isn't the beautiful music coming from the piano that gets to him, or even the pretty and soothing words of the hymn, it's her angel voice that has him entranced. It's as sweet and pure as he's sure she is, and the sound of it makes him wonder again, why has she turned away from him?
There's a feeling deep inside him and he recognizes what it is, hurt.
Everyone seems to be milling around downstairs after dinner so he has no opportunity to ask her what's wrong. He takes one last glance her way before starting toward the stairs and he's surprised when she finally looks at him. But the look she gives him leaves him feeling even more confused. She seems so sad and all he can do is give a slight shrug as he turns and goes.
When he gets to his room he plops down on the bed and sits hunched over with head in hands. What the hell he wonders. Then he remembers the package. It's a small paper sack with the words, "For Mister Daryl," written on it in a feminine hand.
He can't imagine what it could be as he cautiously opens it as if a snake might jump out at him. His brow furrows when he sees the jar of cream he gave her, and there's a note.
Beth's been a bundle of nerves all day and it's worse when the time comes to serve their dinner. She's so sad she's afraid she might burst into tears at any moment. She's grateful the men are so talkative and seem to be in such good spirits. It helps.
Normally she simply sets the food at the center of the table family-style and the men dish up their own plates. However, when there's just one serving for each of them it avoids potential trouble if they're each simply given their share.
She reaches in front of him to set his plate on the table and she worries she'll faint. It's so difficult to be so close and to not be able to even look at him, much less speak to him. She's too fearful to say even the most innocent of conversational things to him. She's scared she's too full of emotion and she'll lose her composure and begin to cry.
She does everything possible to avert her eyes from Daryl Dixon throughout the entire meal, yet she feels his eyes on her. She wonders, has he read her note?
It was after lunch that she thought to write it. She had her half hour break in her room but instead of resting she wrote the letter to him,
Dear Mister Daryl,
Thank you very much for the use of your cream. It worked so well and my hands felt much better by morning. Although I appreciate your thoughtfulness, I should have never accepted the cream from you.
I am forbidden to socialize with the men of the house in any way, and I cannot accept gifts or kindnesses as you may then consider me beholding to you in some way.
These are the rules of the house and in order for me to retain my position here I must abide them.
Thank you for your understanding of my situation.
Most Sincerely,
Elizabeth Greene
She slipped the cream and the note in a small paper bag she'd saved from the drug store and wrote his name on it.
Then she told a fib. She told Miss Erma she thought she may have left one of her cleaning rags in the upstairs hall, "I'll just run up and collect it." Instead she placed the bag in his doorway, where he couldn't possibly miss it.
His first reaction to the letter is anger. He's on his feet ready to race down those stairs and give the Horvath's what for, but something tells him to hold up. He sits again, forces himself to take a deep breath and re reads her letter. He realizes how unfair it would be to her if he were to make a scene. She'd lose her job and it would be his fault. He can't do that to her.
He works it over in his mind. If he knew her better, and he was sure she wouldn't be offended, he might ask her if she'd be willing to try and sneak around. Maybe they could see each other on the sly. But no, he can't.
No one's in the bathroom and he takes advantage. He needs to do a little better job of cleaning himself up after working all day in the hot sun. He does just that, goes back to his room and lays back on the bed munching on an apple while he thinks.
He makes a decision, this is a sign. He's got a big job ahead of him at his place, it seems likely he'll end up spending the last of his savings on equipment and furnishings, he won't have the time or money to try and start anything up with her anyway. It's best if he just forgets the idea altogether.
He only wishes the decision didn't make his heart and his head hurt so bad.
It's early morning when she flips on her bedside lamp but the time doesn't matter. She's barely slept all night. All she's been able to do is think of him. It's so unfair, they're not doing anything wrong and besides, what if he's her meant-to-be and just because of some stupid rule it never happens? What then? Will she go through life alone and filled with regret because she gave up so easily?
Yes, but what if he read her note and thought it was too much trouble to pursue something with her? Maybe he never had any romantic intentions at all. Maybe he was just being nice and now she's completely embarrassed herself by assuming he wanted more. Oh my goodness this is all so awful and confusing.
She wishes she knew what Mama would advise but all she knows is her heart is breaking.
The men are all sitting at the table and ready for their breakfast by 6:20 am. The Tuesday morning menu is oatmeal with dried fruits, brown sugar and cream for toppings. There will be a basket of fresh hot biscuits along with butter and jam, and a loaf of date nut bread.
She makes her appearance in the dining room at 6:25am with the big pot of coffee in her hand a smile on her face, and the men all greet her with a chorus of, "Good morning Miss Beth."
She smiles back and cheerfully responds, "Good morning to you gentlemen."
Then Daryl says, "Don't bother settin' a place for me at dinner. I got somewhere else ta be."
She looks at him with the saddest eyes he's ever seen and all she says is, "Oh."
That one little word feels like a knife to the heart.
00
A/N Well darn. Please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I'll be back next Friday with a new chapter of The Stranger Upstairs and I hope you'll be here too. In the meantime stay safe and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee