Chapter Four
It was Friday morning and Rick was headed to meet Maggie at the condo community. He hoped this place would be the one since he had long over stayed his welcome at Shane's. It would be a step in the direction of creating the new normal for Carl.
This venture was a welcomed escape from the nonsense he had to deal with at the academy as of late. The last two days had been crazy to say the least.
McIntosh had to be sent for an evaluation after her erratic behavior. It was discovered she may have hidden a borderline personality disorder diagnosis which makes her ineligible.
Then yesterday, Recruit Nicholas Traynor freaked out before even getting in the RMP. Traynor said he simply realized he didn't have the gumption to serve and protect. Rick was just happy it happened now versus when he was out in the field because it could lead to someone's death.
Rick guessed he never should have assumed he'd be able to graduate everyone.
He placed his hand on his temple to soothe the oncoming headache as he drove.
To get his mind off that train of thought, he remembered something, rather someone else happened too. Recruit Michonne Hawthorne to be exact.
"Not only does she know her stuff but she's confident."
Rick was realizing he found that increasingly attractive.
When he and Glenn walked out to see the recruits after being chewed out by Col. Blake for their failure to disseminate proper protocols, he was pissed.
As he proceeded to inspect the remainder, he noticed Michonne and he knew he would have to control himself.
He liked her funky style, women didn't dress like her in King County. Her combat boots let people know she meant business but that she also was a rebel.
Those dark blue jeans hugged her curves and accentuated her hips. Her ass would be amazing when he got to see her from the back. Even though her Henley top was long sleeved and covered her except for the top raise of her cleavage, it was form fitting.
And what a form. A tiny waist. That's one of the reasons why her ass looked so shapely.
"Mhm…" letting out a moan from his thoughts of her.
Her collarbones looked lickable. Her neck bitable and her lips suckable.
Her skin was radiant even under those horrible lights. But they did shine in her sable brown eyes which had him mesmerized once more.
Good thing Shane realized what was happening and severed the connection.
Rick set himself to get back on task. But even while completing his checks he stole glances at her.
He liked her hair down; dreadlocks are what you call them. She had added little pieces of jewelry. He liked it. He pictured holding them in his palm when he pulled her in for a kiss.
While she was behind the wheel, her breathing had slowed down as she awaited his command. She stuck her tongue out to wet her lips. Rick wanted to run his thumb across those moist lips.
His headache was sidetracked as the blood was now rushing to his nether region.
Shit, he hoped Maggie hadn't arrived yet, he'd need a moment to calm Python down.
He pulled into an available spot outside the address Maggie'd told him to meet her at and parked. Looking around for a moment, he let out a small sigh out relief.
"Good, she's not here." He thought as he leaned back into his seat and calmed down.
He sat in his truck for a few minutes before getting out to stand in front of his Ford F-150, watching as Maggie pulled up. He waved as he made his way towards her.
"Hey stranger."
"Thanks for doing this for me, Maggie." He said as they embraced.
"Are you kidding me? You're helping me out." She started, pulling away and leading him towards the home. "I have all the paperwork and the keys so we can head straight to the unit." Maggie explained as she and Rick walked side by side.
"Daddy, told me you transferred, now that you are back." She said while looking through her bag and pulling out a set of keys.
"Yeah, I'm over at the academy now. I might of bit off more than I can chew."
"I doubt that." She retorted as they arrived at the unit and she unlocked the door. "We just gotta take our shoes off."
Rick nodded and pulled off his boots looking around at the open floor plan. Kitchen, living room and dining room were all together in one huge space. Maggie pulled the blinds over to reveal the floor to ceiling window she spoke of. Rick grunted appreciatively.
"Nice, right?" Maggie said, leading him down the hall.
"This is the first of the other two bedrooms. I figured you'd put Carl in this one. It's bigger than the other one, faces east so more sun and it's furthest from your room."
His eyebrow raised.
"Why would I want that?"
"Umm, Rick you are a thirty-two-year-old single man." Maggie raised an eyebrow back at him.
He sucked his teeth and kept walking. They saw the other smaller bedroom and the guest bathroom before arriving at the primary bedroom.
"Voila"
Rick stepped in first. The room was enormous. He could set up a king bed and still have space for a seating area. Maggie took him into the bathroom. There was a soaker tub near the window and walk in shower big enough for four and double vanities.
"Where's the toilet?"
"Water closet." Maggie pointed to the pocket door and he peeked in. "Fancy, right?"
It was indeed. He scratched his eyebrow.
"Maggie, just how much does all this cost?"
"Rick, don't worry. It's in your budget. To meet the city codes, they have to sell a percent of units to people originally from King County." Maggie explained, pausing to give him a reassuring smile before continuing. "I know you haven't even seen the rest of the property but what do you think?"
Rick placed his hands on his hips and walked back to the living space with Maggie anxiously biting her finger right behind him.
"I can find something else." Maggie piped up, trying to convince him as he looked out the window with his back to her.
"I…I love it, Carl will love it. I just will have to find enough furniture to fill it." He said before turning around to face her and smile.
"That wasn't funny Rick." Maggie said, swatting at him as he began to laugh.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. The look on your face." He offered between laughs, Maggie shaking her head as she let out a small a laugh too.
"Ha ha. Let's check out the property then we can head to the management office to get you started."
"Sure."
After replacing their shoes and locking up, they began to walk the grounds. If Rick wasn't already sold the rest of the amenities would've got him.
They ended with Rick signing some paperwork and agreeing to return with a down payment check.
Maggie had a lawyer friend, Yumiko Matsuura, who would help with the legal aspect. Maggie already had Otis, a family friend, inspect the place and give it his approval. He even got them to throw in some additional upgrades for free.
"Maggie, I've really got to hand it you. You've really gone above and beyond." Rick said, offering her a grateful smile.
"You deserve this. So does Carl. You've taken care of so many people, it's time that gets returned." She said before returning the smile.
Rick always wanted to do his best and not take chances. But maybe taking a chance was exactly what he needed. A chance at a better future.
He walked over and hugged Maggie.
"Thank you."
"Of course."
They pulled away, starting off towards their cars, only making it a few paces before Maggie spoke up again.
"You know what I just thought of something..." She started, the lightbulb going off in her head. "We are having a get together at the farm for Daddy tomorrow. You should come!"
"Naw, I'm not much onto parties." A small pout on her lips before she started again.
"Look, it'll be good and we can celebrate my path to real estate royalty, your new home, new assignment, new love." She trailed off, mumbling the last part.
"What?"
"Huh?"
His stride came to a stop, his head tilting. Maggie stopped just a step ahead of him.
Maybe this is a chance I need to take?
"You know what? Maybe you're right. " he started slowing before grinning at her. "Maggie, you just may be the one to follow."
"Damn, right." they smiled and hugged before heading separate ways.
"Casual dress, 8PM. You can bring a friend, just no one too copp-y. And a case of that moonshine." she yelled to him as he crossed the street to his car.
"Alright." they got in their respective vehicles and drove off.
Rick had taken the day off to handle the house hunt. Yesterday was an office day to figure out the fate of the misguided recruits so that meant no Michonne sightings. He'd miss her today too but at least he'd see his favorite person.
It was close to 3PM which meant Carl would be getting dismissed from school soon.
He'd called Lori to let her know he'd be picking him up, so he was taken aback when he spotted her outside with the other parents.
"Hi Rick." she approached his truck as he stepped out.
"Hey, I thought I was…" confusion marred his face.
"No, I know. I just didn't get a chance to tell him before he left for school this morning. I didn't want him to be disappointed if he didn't see me." Lori wrapped her arms around her slim frame and Rick nodded.
"How, how have you been?" she asked.
"Fine, you?"
"I'm… I'm good." Lori was being fidgety, so something was up.
"Listen, Rick I wanted to know if we could talk about… things."
"Things?" he looked at her sideways until a group of moms passed by, waved at him and glared at Lori. They whispered to themselves which caused Lori to fidget more.
Lori waited until they were further away before she continued.
"I…I know I was a shitty wife and I'm not winning any mother of the year awards but I want you to know-"
"You know what Lori, you wanna talk, talk to Dr Carson."
He couldn't believe Lori's audacity to try this in front of Carls' school. Rick stormed off in Carl's direction as he came running out of the building.
"Dad!" Carl ran to him and he kneeled to hug him.
"You're gonna spend the night with me. Would you like that?"
"Yes!" Carl was so excited.
"Go say bye to your mother."
After Lori hugged and kissed all over Carl, Rick guided him to his truck. They departed for some much needed father- son time.
When Rick got released from the hospital, he was glad to be with his family. Being shot had given him a new prospective, he'd try again. Lori set up the guest room as his nursing area. She claimed to be worried of hurting him in the night, so he acquiesced.
Carl was so happy to have him home more, that he ignored his intuition.
Something was awry with Lori once more. After a few more weeks of physical therapy while Carl was at school, he confronted her.
"Lori, we should talk." She pondered but carried on with her task. "I know that look. You've been really quiet. What's up?"
She stopped busying herself at the kitchen counter and turned to face him. Oh, she was ready to dredge everything all up.
"You have tried so hard to be reasonable, it's pushed my buttons all the more."
Rick's face displayed his puzzlement, but he braced for the blow up he figured would follow.
"I wished you would just blow up, tell me I'm being a bitch, cause that's what I was being. Instead you're just so…" she shook her head in anguish. "I had been asking myself a lot if I still loved you and I think the answers, yes but I can't remember how that works." she looked to the heavens. "I think we got married too young."
Rick's mind was spiraling and his heart constricted. He never would've guessed the depths of their unions descent.
He raised his hand, but words didn't come out.
Tears rolled down Lori's cheeks.
"I uh, I…I had an affair." She uttered.
Rick balked at her confession.
"It started when Carl was around four with Dr. Carson." Her voice was barely a whisper.
Rick's eyes welled up and he began to pace.
"Oh…no no..." he stopped and covered his eyes. He could hear Lori weeping. When he looked back at her his vision was blurred with tears.
His thoughts came at him rapidly.
When? Where? Was Carl around? In their home? How could he be this stupid?
She had been patronizing him this whole time. Right under his nose, he felt a fool.
His hearing was foggy yet ringing at the same time. He needed to concentrate.
"Rick, Rick." Lori waved her hand but he ignored her.
He'd heard all he needed to hear.
Rick moved past her and upstairs to the bedroom. He promptly packed a duffle bag making sure to grabbing his medical supplies, threw on clothes and retrieved his keys.
When he descended the stairs Lori was sobbing on the couch.
He didn't know where he was going but he couldn't stay there.
Rick just drove until he was exhausted, he pulled into a small rundown motel on the edge of town and got a room.
He'd stayed there two nights before Shane showed up to find him.
His world had been shattered in an instant. He no longer trusted himself instinctively or physically.
Following the days of self-pity, he knew he had to begin his self-care work. And that's exactly what he intended to do.
~~~***I just want to thank everyone for all the love and support!