A/N Thank you all very much. We're going to start out with a little slice of Daryl and Mick's very early days together, then we'll pick up where we left off in chapter two. I hope you enjoy!
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It took him about two weeks to figure it all out. Well, not exactly figure it all out. He was smart enough to know he'd never have it all figured out, but at least he and Mick got in a routine.
He learned how often she needed to eat and how much. And just as he suspected, he found out he didn't care at all for changing diapers. He supposed no one really did. But he got to where he was pretty fast and efficient at it, and thanks to the clerk at Woolworth's he learned about diaper pails and the benefits of soaking things.
Back when he was working on the house he'd debated with himself about putting a washing machine in the mud room. He thought it'd be just as easy to take everything to the washateria. He was damn glad now that he'd changed his mind. For someone so tiny his girl made an awful lot of big messes. It seemed like since she arrived he had something in the washer all the time.
He didn't mind any of it. He was completely captivated by his daughter. She was so little and so perfect. He found he could waste most of an evening just playing with her tiny fingers and toes. She was good natured too, and alert. Her little eyes were always darting around, responding to every noise and change in lighting.
He knew she couldn't see that well yet, but that didn't stop her from trying.
She slept real well too. He gave her a last bottle at nine and she didn't wake again until 2:30a. He fed her, changed her diaper and she was sacked out until six.
He was the one who didn't sleep. He tried, but what sleep he did get was always fitful. Instead of sleeping he'd find himself sitting on the edge of his bed with the bassinet pulled close. He'd lean his arms on it and watch the gentle rise and fall of his little girl's chest while she slept.
Never could he have imagined he'd ever love anyone as much as he loved Mick.
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Beth was trying to appear calm, she wasn't calm at all. Her head felt light, her tummy was rolling and she was sure her face was bright red. She did her best to keep her smile genuine and to act as if everything was just peachy. "Good morning, booth or counter for you today?"
He looked at her and opened his mouth to speak but before he could say anything Mick grabbed Beth's hand, "I'ma show ya our spot." Beth just went right along, letting the little girl lead her like she was an obedient child.
Mick stopped at the last booth, patted her hand on the seat and said, "We always sit right here. Me n Daddy on this side n Uncle Merle there," she pointed at the opposite bench.
Beth sensed Mick's Daddy right behind her and her stomach was now turning somersaults. She was determined to hide her nerves, her excitement and whatever that other strange feeling she was experiencing might be. She smiled at the little girl and turned to look at the long haired man named Daryl, who appeared to be every bit as nervous and uncomfortable as she felt, "How nice. You two go ahead and have a seat. I'll get waters and menus. Would you like coffee?"
He looked so awkward she felt sorry for him, then he apologized, "Sorry, I dunno know what's got into my girl. She don't usually take ta strangers."
"It's fine, honest. I enjoy it, she's very sweet."
The best he could do was nod, take a breath and then the words came, "Um, yeah, please on the coffee. We don't need menus, we know what we're eatin'. We'll wait for my brother ta get here 'fore we order though."
The little girl patted his arm, "Don't forget Daddy."
He looked in Beth's eyes again, "Oh yeah, and a chocolate milk. Please."
She was giving herself high praise for being an excellent actress when she smiled and calmly responded, "I'll get those for you right now."
Beth turned and started walking toward the counter and she overheard him tell the little girl, "If ya don't eat your egg yer gettin' plain milk when we come next week."
She heard Mick respond, "I'ma eat that egg Daddy, ya just watch. You'll see I do."
She'd set their waters on the table and had just returned with the coffee and chocolate milk when the bell above the door jingled. She glanced that way and tried hard to keep her expression from giving her reaction to him away.
He looked so rough and even kind of frightening. Far rougher than Daryl. Even though they didn't look much alike, she was sure the man was his brother. His hair was short and curly and his face had a well-worn look to it. His eyes appeared hard, as if they were just daring someone to try and cross him.
She saw he was missing a hand, he had one of those hooks. She had all the respect in the world for war vets, but something about the hook made this particular man look even more menacing.
He started walking toward the back and despite her anxiety she stepped in to do her job. "Good morning, can I show you to a table or would you prefer to sit at the counter?"
He looked at her and she was surprised when the huge smile spread across his face, "Well good mornin' ta you Missy. Thanks, I know right where I'm goin'. Just joinin' my brother and his girl."
Oh my she thought, there's two of them and one's rougher than the next. "Alright, can I bring you coffee?"
"You bet Hun, and plenty a cream too. Please on that."
She walked behind the counter, retrieved two breakfast platters from the window and set them down in front of two other diners, got the curly haired brother's water, coffee and cream, took the deepest breath she'd ever taken, and walked back to their booth.
She had the pad and pen ready and she put on what she hoped was a friendly smile, "Are you ready to order or would you like me to come back in a few minutes?"
Daryl had been keeping an eye on her since he and Mick were halfway across the street. He'd been stunned to see she was working at the old diner. Mick, Merle and him had breakfast together at the Castle every Sunday morning. It was the closest thing the Dixons had to a family tradition.
He'd seen waitresses come and go from the Castle, but he'd never seen one that had him so spellbound. Shit, she even made him notice the uniform, no one could look cuter in it than she did.
It had little pink checks, a rounded white collar, short puffed sleeves with a white hem to them and she wore a white apron tied at the waist. She had on white leather shoes and white socks and it all made him think of a word he'd never associated with a grown woman. Adorable. That's what she was, adorable.
Some of her pretty blonde hair had once again escaped her ponytail and he liked the way the curls fell along her cheeks. Fact was, he hadn't noticed anything about her he didn't like, and everything about her had him taking notice. He wasn't oblivious to feelings, and he knew he was feeling something for her.
He knew something else, he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell with a woman like her. But he sure did enjoy getting an eyeful of the small blonde.
The older brother smiled up at her as he grabbed the handle of the cream pitcher with his hook. He began adding cream to his coffee and although she didn't realize it, she must have been staring because he teased her, "If yer wonderin', I used ta be a pirate. Now I just pump gas," and he laughed loudly.
She was mortified, she wanted to die on the spot.
Daryl saw her face turn red and he was embarrassed for her. He got a little snarly with his brother, "Knock it off, Merle."
Merle smiled, nodded at him and then told Beth, "Sorry Hun. Yeah I think we're ready ta order." Then he looked to his niece and said, "Ladies first Mick."
Mick looked at Beth and asked, "What's yer name anyways?"
Daryl started to say, "Mick..."
But Beth looked at him and said, "It's alright, really." She grinned at the little girl and answered, "I'm Beth, and you must be Mick."
"Yep. I like your name, Beth, that's pretty and you're pretty too."
Beth felt her face turn red all over again, "Well thank you Mick, I was just thinking how pretty you are. What are you hungry for today?"
Beth took another little chip out of the armor around his heart when Daryl saw his little girl grinning so wide. "Thanks Beth. I like them pancakes."
Her Daddy gave her a soft nudge and she added, "An a egg."
"Okay Mick, anything else?"
She looked at her Daddy, then at Beth and said, "One bacon. That's all. Mostly I just like pancakes."
Beth began to respond, "It all sounds delicious…"
Then the little girl's Daddy got stern, "Ya ain't gettin' nuthin' til ya remember your manners."
Mick looked at her, and said so seriously, "Please Beth."
Then she quickly got up on the seat so she good wrap her arms around her Daddy's neck, "Sorry Daddy."
He rubbed his hand on her back and said, "I know, I ain't mad. Ya just forgot is all. Try real hard ta remember, s'important." He kissed her cheek and said, "Go on now, have ya some chocolate milk."
Beth had to force herself to look away from the tender moment and look at the brother, "What can I get you sir?"
"Name's just Merle, Hun. I'ma have the hash with eggs over easy, grilled tomato, biscuits and a side a bacon. Please."
She jotted it down and said, "Okay, thank you Merle."
Then she turned to him and she felt the knot in her tummy but she got through her question, "And what can I get for you?"
That's when Mick said, "He's my Daddy, Beth. His name is Daryl."
She heard the curly haired man let out a little snort, and she could swear Daryl's neck turned red. Mick was all smiles. Beth knew her own face was red but she thought she did a pretty good job of keeping her voice calm, "Thank you Mick. So Daryl, what would you like for breakfast?"
He was doing his best to just act like he always did when he gave this order, every Sunday since Mick was six months old. "I'ma have a short stack, extra butter and syrup, eggs over easy, a side a ham and one of bacon, grits and a glass of orange juice. Please."
She couldn't imagine how anyone could eat so much food in one sitting, but she just smiled and said, "Sounds good. I'll get your order started."
She was giddy and nervous, and she was surprised she could walk at all as she made her way to the window. She called the order to Jim, clipped the written order to the wheel and got the juice.
She helped her counter customers, sat two new customers at tables, and Jim rang the bell again.
Beth brought their orders and she saw the dread on Mick's face when the little girl looked at her egg. Beth smiled and told her, "You know what I do Mick? I hurry and eat all my egg first, then I get to have my pancake and just enjoy how it's so sweet and yummy. I forget all about that darn egg."
"Really?"
"Really. Why don't you give it a try?"
Mick still wasn't completely happy, "But what about the bacon?"
"Oh that's the best part, you dip it in the extra syrup floating around on your plate, then bite it. It's sweet and salty and so, so delicious."
Mick's Daddy and her Uncle just stared at the waitress as she spoke, and they knew it was magic when Mick started eating her egg as if she were actually enjoying it.
Beth came back to the table with the coffee pot to refill their cups and Mick was already done with her egg, eating her pancake and dipping the bacon in her syrup. Happily munching away.
Merle was the one who said it, "I dunno what kinda witchcraft ya got goin' on there Hun, but that's the first time Mick ever ate a egg without it bein' a struggle."
Daryl chimed in, "Yeah thanks."
Merle'd seen what was going on. The pretty blonde waitress had an eye for little brother, little brother had an eye for her. But there was someone else. Mick was crazy about the young woman and she seemed to like Mick real well too.
He asked her, "So now Beth, we're here every Sunday and we never seen ya before, you're new huh?"
She smiled, "Yes, today is my first day. I have another job during the week but I'll be here every Saturday and Sunday morning."
She was sad to see them go and shocked when she saw the tip they left. Most folks had been leaving ten or fifteen cents, a quarter was a treat. The Dixon brothers left a whole dollar.
She took a chance no one would notice as she turned toward the door, and she smiled when she saw Daryl lift Mick up on his shoulders. She almost got misty-eyed watching the way the little girl leaned down so that her cheek rested on her Daddy's.
By the time her shift ended she was exhausted. Her feet hurt, her legs hurt, all she could think about was getting home and soaking in the tub. She wasn't used to standing for hours, her job as a telephone operator had her seated all day.
She was starving too. For her meal she chose a bowl of what Jim called his world famous chili, a glass of milk and a dish of Jell-O. She'd never consumed a meal quite that fast. When she was done she let out a deep sigh as she thought about the walk home. The she reminded herself that the next day she'd be sitting so long she'd wish she could get up and take a walk.
She definitely moved a little slower on the way home, quietly humming to herself and thinking about Daryl and his little girl. She had a crush on the long haired man, there was no use trying to tell herself she didn't. There was more though. She was already getting attached to Mick and she realized that was a dangerous thing. For all Beth knew the little girl's Daddy had a girlfriend, and even if he didn't, why would he be interested in her?
She wanted to talk about it with someone and there was only one person she'd ever tell all this stuff to. Only one person she'd reveal the thoughts she was having about him to. Her sister would surely have some answers.
Although she worked for the phone company, she did not have the luxury of a phone of her own. She stopped at a payphone just three blocks from her house, dropped in a nickel and dialed Maggie's number.
Thank goodness her sister answered and not the big redheaded man, Abraham. He'd always been very nice to Beth but he was so big and so loud she was a little intimidated by him. "Maggie, how are you?'
Her sister could read her like a book, "I'm just fine. The question is, what's wrong Beth?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just thought maybe we could talk about something."
"Where are you?"
"I'm at the payphone on Main and Elm."
"I was just thinking about how enjoyable a Sunday drive would be. Wait there, it'll take me 10 minutes."
Maggie smiled at her beau, "Gimme your keys would ya Honey? I have to go take care of my little sister. I won't be gone long."
Beth was so relieved when her sister pulled up. She quickly slid in the front seat, so happy to finally get off her feet. They hugged and Maggie said, "Let's go up on Crestline Ridge and take in the view, want to?"
"Gosh yes, that sounds wonderful. I haven't been up there in at least a year."
"That's because you don't date enough. If you did those boys would be taking you up there to park all the time. You'd get a view and an education."
Beth felt the fire on her cheeks and scolded her sister, "Maggie, shame on you."
"Shame on me nothing. Men and women enjoy each other's company, that's a fact. You need to start living a little. I bet there's a line of young men who'd like nothing better than to take you up on the Ridge and show you just how swell they think you are."
"Maggie."
When they got up on the Ridge and her sister parked the Studebaker, Beth told Maggie all about the long haired man, his daughter and even his brother. She told her about the way just looking at him made her feel all warm, and how she thought that maybe she wouldn't mind if he asked her out. She added that she was pretty sure he never would.
"Well if he has a brain in his head he'll be asking you out before you know it. Now what's this business about you working at the Castle Diner? Why in the world would you take on a weekend job when you have a perfectly good job with the phone company?"
Uh Oh. Beth knew if she told Maggie about her car Maggie would have Abraham look at it, and before Beth knew what was coming they'd have it fixed. That would be wonderful except for the fact Beth didn't want to be treated like a child who couldn't take care of herself. She wanted to prove she could be independent, an adult who could figure things out on her own.
She wasn't 100% truthful. "I just want to save a little bit of extra money. I never did get to save up before we had to move off the farm, and I spent all my graduation money getting my apartment and the things I needed to have. I just felt like it would be a good idea if I had a little something extra tucked away."
Maggie's eyebrows raised and she said, "My goodness, you are such a responsible young lady, thinking about your future and having money hidden away. Bethie, don't you know, women aren't meant to worry about such things. When you and this rough, tough fella finally become an item, all the bill paying and saving will be his job."
Beth shook her head and reminded her sister, "Maggie. There's no reason to think we're going to become an item, or even friends."
"Nonsense. Like I said, if he has a brain in his head he'll be making his move on you before you can say boo. Mark my words."
Maggie dropped her off at home and within twenty minutes Beth was soaking in a bubble bath and soothing her aches. Except for the ache she felt for him.
Like damn near every other business in town, every other business in the country, Dixon's Fuel and Auto Repair was closed on Sundays. When they left the diner Merle went off to spend his morning puttering, and the rest of his day with Karen.
Daryl hoisted Mick on his shoulders and they walked to the park. He pushed his girl on the swing for a while, then watched nervously as she climbed all over the monkey bars and laughed as he watched her slide down the slide. He'd swear she was up the ladder and down the slide fifty times. He didn't mind, he could watch her laughing and having fun all day long.
At first he'd wondered why in the world she was so friendly and chatty with the blonde woman named Beth. Mick was just never that way. But looking around, thinking about it, he thought he knew. Something big was missing from Mick's life. It always had been.
There were several young families at the park and one thing all those other families had in common was a Mommy. His little girl only had a crusty Daddy and an even crustier Uncle. No wonder she craved the softer attention of a woman.
Not just any woman though. She'd never been particularly friendly or outgoing with Karen, and definitely not with any of the waitresses who had come and gone from the Castle Diner. But then none of them had been like Beth. He knew what his girl saw in the pretty blonde, because he saw it too. Beth was someone special.
He hated that Mick was going to get her heart broken by this situation, but he was sure that was the way it would turn out. He'd never have the balls to ask a woman like Beth out and even if he did, a woman like her wouldn't give a guy like him the time of day.
Thank God he and Mick did just fine on their own. He kept her properly fed. She had clean clothes every day and he never let them get too worn. She had good shoes and he kept her bathed, he saw too it she had fresh air and he read stories to her.
He was even teaching her to read a little and do her numbers, even though she wouldn't be starting kindergarten until the fall. It was important though, he wanted his girl to have a head start. He didn't want her to be like he'd been, always behind the other kids and always struggling to get by.
She shook him lose from his thoughts when she yawned and asked, "Can we stop an get an ice cream cone on the way home Daddy?"
"That sounds real good Mick but it's Sunday. The drug store is closed. I tell ya what though, by the time we get home it's gonna be time for your lunch. If ya eat good and ya take a little nap, it so happens I got a quart a vanilla in the freezer. When ya wake up we'll both have us a dish."
The next six days seemed to pass like six years. It wasn't because he didn't have anything to do, he was plenty busy at the shop and there was Mick. Hell, that was a full-time job on its own. Not that he was complaining, she was the best part of his life.
What made the week drag the way it did was that pretty blonde. She was on his mind more often than not, and it wasn't just him. Mick would talk about Beth and she'd ask him questions like, "Daddy, ya think Beth'll be there when we have breakfast on Sunday?"
He answered truthfully, "I think she should be. As long as she didn't quit or sumthin'. She said she was gonna be workin' Saturday and Sunday."
He wanted to see her, shit he was dying to see her, but why? What was he going to do about it when he did? Nothing, that's what. Eat his breakfast with Merle and Mick while he was sneaking looks at her.
Her week seemed to last forever. She kept herself busy, that's for sure. Now that she was working seven days a week she was trying to do a little of her housework every evening, dusting, mopping and such.
Wednesday she took two carry bags with her to work. The market stayed open until six at night and Beth stopped on her way home. She got everything she thought she would possibly need to get her through for the next week.
It didn't amount to much really. A box of grits, a dozen eggs, bread, cottage cheese, a little milk, some tea, a few vegetables, two apples, a jar of peanut butter and a chicken. That was more than enough for her, after all, she got two free meals a week at work.
It was carrying the food home that was the hard part. It was only five blocks but it felt like five miles. She just kept reminding herself, soon she'd have enough money saved to get her car fixed. Everything would be back to normal and so much easier.
She was so grateful that Enid liked to do her washing on Thursday right after work. She said she didn't want to ruin a perfectly good Saturday on laundry. She offered to take Beth with her to the washeteria, "It'll be more fun if we suffer together, at least we can chat."
No matter how busy she was though, it seemed she was never too busy to think about him. She wondered if him and Mick and Merle would come in on Sunday. It seemed to be their routine. They had a regular spot where they sat, and they apparently knew the menu by heart.
If for some reason they didn't come in she was pretty sure she'd simply die. But what if he did come in, then what? What was she going to do about it? She couldn't ask him out. Oh my gosh, no. It wasn't proper and even if it was she could never be that forward.
Sunday morning she was up extra early. She washed up and she took more time than usual with her hair, trying to get it to stay in the ponytail. She tied a small white silky scarf around the band, and thought, "yes, it's prettier like that."
Then she did something she never did, she put a little rouge on her cheeks. She thought it looked pretty too, but then she thought about herself blushing and how the rouge would make it worse. She got it off with a washcloth and decided, rather than wear it on her cheeks, she'd put a little on her lips.
He was up early. He washed up, found his best shirt in the back of the closest, and when he put it on he realized his best shirt wasn't in too good of shape. Maybe he ought to get himself something new next week. For now, it was the nicest thing he had.
He took the fingernail scissors and did his best to trim up the hair on his face, then used his straight edge to cut the hair out of his eyes. Maybe while he was out getting himself a couple of new shirts he'd see about getting a haircut. Shit, was he crazy? All the new shirts and fresh haircuts in the world weren't going to help his cause.
He and Mick got as far as the corner when he caught a glimpse of Beth carrying a couple of breakfast platters to a table of diners. He felt himself almost smile and Mick bounced up and down a little on his shoulders and said, "Daddy, there's Beth."
The smile the blonde gave him when he walked in the door had his heart beating a little faster. She said, "Good morning Daryl, good morning Mick. Have a seat, I'll get your waters and coffee. Oh, and does Mick get chocolate milk this week?"
He swallowed hard and answered, "Um yeah, please and, good mornin' ta you."
Mick was all smiles, "Mornin' Beth. Ya look so pretty. Doesn't she look pretty Daddy?"
He was stunned when what he was thinking actually came out as words, "Yeah, she does Mick. Real pretty."
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A/N I hope you liked it, and I'd appreciate you leaving a comment / review. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. I hope to see you back next chapter when an invitation is extended and accepted. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee