A/N Hello and thank you all again! Daryl let it slip, he thinks she's pretty. We'll take a quick step back to when Mick was tiny, then pick back up in the diner.
Oh, and there's an invitation :)
I hope you enjoy!
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Mick seemed so tiny and he worried that her Mother might not have taken proper care of herself when she was carrying the little girl. How would that affect his daughter? He knew what he needed to do. The day after Mick came into his life he called the office of a local family doctor. The nurse who answered told him the doctor would be making house calls that afternoon and would stop by about four.
He stood nervously watching, alternating between biting his lower lip and chewing on the side of his thumb while the doctor completed his exam. The man told him, "She probably shouldn't have been released from the hospital so soon. She's just over a week old and still only five pounds five ounces. She's underweight so don't worry about feeding schedules for now. Don't deny her food even if it's not time, give her as much as she wants any time she wants. We'll see if we can get some weight on her. I'm also going to write down the name of a vitamin you need to put her on. It's a liquid and you just add the drops to her formula."
The doctor didn't need to tell him he shouldn't deny his girl food. Daryl couldn't imagine ever doing anything of the kind. He still had vivid memories of what it felt like to go hungry himself. He'd do whatever he had to do to see his daughter never went without food or anything else.
The doctor told him that other than her small size, his girl seemed just fine. She was alert and happy, and the doctor even added, "She sure does favor you. Those eyes are a giveaway that she's your daughter, they'll be turning an even brighter blue before long.
Daryl tried his best to give her extra feedings but Mick had her own ideas. She let him know when she was hungry and when she wasn't. When he tried and she wasn't interested, those little lips sealed up tight and he could swear that was a defiant look the infant gave him.
He touched the tip of his finger to the end of her nose and told her, "Ya know what? Besides gettin' my eyes it seems ya got my stubborn nature. I can see it comin' already, you an me girl, we're gonna have us some battles."
Almost five years later he was still trying to get her to eat.
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He'd stunned himself, the way the words just came out. He couldn't recall ever having told a woman she was pretty. Those weren't the sorts of conversations he had with women. But when Mick asked the question the answer was there. He was only being truthful, she did look pretty. But shit, he said it out loud. And was this the time and the place to tell her that? Would there ever be a right time or place?
His eyes did not meet hers and he was chewing on his lip as he and Mick made their way to the last booth. He was still feeling uncomfortable about the way it all happened when Beth showed up with their waters.
He didn't miss the pink in her cheeks and he knew why it was there, dammit, he'd embarrassed her. He felt like just getting up and getting the hell out, but that wouldn't be right. He forced himself to act like a man and look at her when she spoke.
When he did things changed. His mood lightened and all he could think of was how much he liked the way she smiled. All she'd said was, "I'll be right back with your coffee and milk," but he liked the way the words sounded when she said them.
Then he managed to put a dark cloud over the good feelings he'd been having. He told himself her smile wasn't really for him. She was getting paid to smile.
Meantime, Beth thought she might shake herself apart from excitement. Daryl said she looked pretty. They were standing right there in the middle of the diner when those words came out of his mouth. Then she took herself from feeling all warm and happy, to feeling pretty darn sad and blue. It could be that he only said it to appease Mick. Yes, it was probably just easier to agree than to argue with a child.
Now that she'd managed to take herself from feeling ecstatic to feeling blue in a matter of seconds, she simply sighed and began making Mick's chocolate milk. The bell above the door jingled and she looked up to see Merle walking in. He nodded toward her and cheerfully called out, "Mornin' Hun!" She smiled back while thinking it didn't take a genius to realize he was the outgoing brother.
She reached for the small round tray, loaded their coffees, the cream pitcher, Mick's chocolate milk and went back to their booth. She tried to look as cheerful as possible as she set their beverages in front of them, took out her pad and pen and asked, "Are you ready to order or shall I come back in a few minutes?"
Merle didn't know what the hell was going on, he only knew little brother looked shook and the pretty blonde waitress looked a little shook herself. He took the lead, "Mick, ladies first. Ya go ahead and order."
Beth was just happy someone was doing some talking because things had become uncomfortable. She was sure Daryl regretted what he'd told her. Mick on the other hand was excited as she gave her order, "Ina have one pancake Beth, but Daddy wants me ta have a egg too. You're gonna see, Ina eat that first. Just like ya told me. An I need one piece a bacon too, gonna dip it my syrup, like ya said. Please."
Just having the little girl so happily give her order relaxed Beth and brought her smile back. She was grinning when she told Mick, "That sounds so delicious. I just know you're going to enjoy it."
She'd started to turn to Merle for his order when the little girl started talking again, and Beth thought Mick might explode with the news. "Guess what Beth?! Guess what?!"
"I can't imagine, what?"
"I'm so itcited! Next Saturday Daddy's takin' me to a matter day at the Bijou. They're gonna play bout a hunert cartoons. It was in the newspaper. It said so, Merrie Melodies."
Beth tried to equal her excitement, "Oh my, a matinee with all cartoons! And Merrie Melodies will have my favorite cartoon character of all, Bugs Bunny. It sounds so wonderful. I just know you're going to have the best time. I'm excited for you Mick."
It was then the little girl set everything in motion. She smiled so innocently at Beth and said, "Well why doncha come with us? It'll be fun, Daddy don't mind, do ya Daddy?"
Beth felt the fire in her cheeks and she was so happy she hadn't worn the rouge. She was trying to formulate any kind of response when Merle thought it was time he stepped in. "So brother, what time is this cartoon extravaganza startin' up?"
Daryl suddenly felt the urge to drink, and he wasn't thinking about coffee. He needed a cold beer and maybe even a shot to loosen up his throat and his tongue. He swallowed and managed to get the words out, "One-thirty."
Merle could see this still wasn't going anywhere, not if he didn't step in again. That's what he did, "Beth why don't ya just go ahead n write your address down on one a them order deals, that way Daryl'll know where ta pick ya up. What time brother?" Merle's eyebrows were raised as he took a drink from of his coffee, looking at his brother over the rim of the mug.
"Um, me n Mick will be by at one. Is that okay?" He wanted to slap himself. Why couldn't he be more confident, more outgoing, more like Merle? Shit, no one was as full of themselves as Merle.
Mick was practically jumping up and down in her seat, clapping her little hands together as she said, "Oh goodie, this is so itciting. We're gonna have so much fun Beth. You'll see, we will."
Beth tore the paper from the pad, set it upside down on the table and slid it over near his hand. She tried to put all of her focus on the little girl, that made things so much easier. She smiled back at the child and again tried to match her enthusiasm, "I can't think of anyone I'd want to see a hundred cartoons with more than you Mick."
She saw a fellow hold up his coffee cup and realized she'd been there way too long, "Oh golly, I'd better hurry and get the rest of your order. I have to take care of my other customers." It was a blessing really. She needed to get behind the counter, get a drink of water and try to catch her breath.
She called in their order and as she was clipping it on the wheel, Jim joked, "They been orderin' the same darn things every Sunday for years. Sometimes I'm tempted ta start cookin' it when I see Mick and Daryl walk in the door. I'm just afraid as soon as I did, they'd decide ta change everythin'."
Then he added to the embarrassment Beth was already feeling. He stated it plain and simple, "I've never seen Daryl and Mick talk ta anyone as much as they talk ta you." Embarrassing yes, but still she liked hearing it.
As wonderful as it was to hear, she managed to talk herself out of her happy feelings pretty darn quick. When she returned with their food she noticed Daryl was having a hard time looking at her. She was afraid she knew why.
It hadn't been his idea to ask her along. It had simply been a little girl who was excited and wanted to share that excitement. As for Merle, he seemed like the type who liked to egg things on. Poor Daryl, before he knew what was happening, he was obligated.
She decided the right thing to do was let him off the hook.
When she walked over to refill their coffees she slipped another note near his hand, he looked up at her then, his eyes questioning as he picked the paper up and slipped it in his shirt pocket. She hurried away before he could read it. She didn't have to, he planned to wait until he got outside.
The first time he walked in the diner and saw her he knew his Sunday mornings would never be the same, he just had no idea how much everything would change. Even him.
He didn't regret telling her she looked pretty, she did look pretty. The way she got those rosy cheeks when he said it, and the way her smile suddenly seemed kind of shy. Truth was, he thought she looked even prettier then.
He'd never been a flirtatious man, he had no way with sweet words. If he did, and if he thought she cared to hear them from him, there were so many sweet things he'd like to say to her.
Anyway, even if he knew what to say and how to say it, he would never get the chance. She probably had a steady guy and a plan to marry soon. Shit, just thinking that way made him blue.
He and his small family sat there in their usual spot and he never saw it coming. How could he possibly know Mick would ask Beth to join them at the movies? Then that dumb ass Merle just chimes right in and practically asks her on the date for him. Yet he wasn't mad at his brother. He was relieved someone did what he couldn't seem to do himself.
He nearly tipped over sideways when she wrote her address down and slipped the paper to him, then later she gave him another paper.
Now, as he sipped his coffee and watched Mick finish up her pancake, he convinced himself she'd written about how she changed her mind. That she wouldn't be going to the movies. He would have never even thought to ask her, he never would have asked her in a million years. But when everything happened like it did it felt good and right. It felt like fun and he already had himself looking forward.
Now that he was sure she'd changed her mind he asked himself, why wouldn't she? Why would a pretty young woman like her want to waste her Saturday afternoon going to see a bunch of cartoons, and with the likes of him and a little girl? Fat chance.
When he got outside and had Mick securely on his shoulders. He pulled the note from his pocket and read what she'd written. "I would enjoy going to the movies with you and Mick very much, but I know you didn't really mean to invite me. Please don't feel obligated to include me. I understand, Beth."
He didn't even realize he was just standing there staring at the paper. He read the short note over and over and wondered what the fuck a guy was supposed to do next. It was Mick who brought him back, "Daddy, why ya just standin' here? Ain't we gonna go ta the park? Ya said we were."
"Yeah, yeah Mick, we're goin', but first I gotta take care a sumthin', sumthin' I forgot ta tell Beth. C'mon, we're just gonna go back inside for a minute." He reached up and helped Mick off his shoulders, took her hand and told her, "Ya hold Daddy's hand for now. I'll ride ya over ta the park after."
Beth was standing at the end of the counter adding up someone's check. Daryl's strides were long and deliberate as he and Mick walked over by her, Mick practically running to keep up. He had something he needed to tell her before he had a chance to chicken out.
Beth looked up from her work and asked, "Daryl? Mick? Did you forget something?"
He was so nervous he could swear even his brain was sweating, "Um, yeah, yeah um, I forgot ta say, we're happy you're comin' ta see them cartoons with us. I meant for ya ta come, I want ya to. I'll be by ta get ya Saturday at one."
Her smile was worth every bit of his discomfort. Even he had a smile when she said, "I'll be ready, I'm excited."
She stopped at the payphone on her way home, dropped the nickel in and called Maggie, "Oh my gosh Maggie! You won't believe what happened today!"
When Beth had shared her news Maggie laughed, "Well thank goodness the little girl and the brother are on the ball. The two of you might never become an item if they weren't."
Her voice got a little softer when she added, "That was mighty sweet of him to come back in and let you know he wanted to take you with them." Then she was back to being Maggie, "It sounds like one of those situations where you're going to have to make the moves Bethie. You're just going to have to give him a big juicy kiss so he gets the message loud and clear."
"Maggie! I swear! Is that what you did with Abe?"
"It was. Now I can't get him offa me!"
"Maggie, you are so naughty. Mama would just faint."
Maggie was smiling on the other end of the line, "Is that what you think Bethie? I think you got that wrong. She kept it well hidden from us kids, but Mama had her wild side."
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She got home, took a nice long bath, dried off and tried on every outfit she owned. Not that she had a big wardrobe, but there was a lot to think about. Which shoes to wear, which accessories, what about a sweater in case the movie house was chilly? And what about her hair?
After an hour she put everything away and decided she didn't have a thing to wear. She also didn't have any extra money to buy something new. Then she started laughing out loud, "For gosh sake Beth, you're going to a Saturday matinee to watch cartoons."
She laughed and laughed, but that didn't change how she felt. She didn't care where they were going. She was going with Daryl and she wanted to look nice.
She worried over it for three days, then on Wednesday Maggie showed up shortly after Beth got home from work. She was all smiles when she handed Beth a box from the JC Penny store. "I thought you could use a new blouse to wear to the movies. This ought to look just swell with your pink capris."
Beth was so excited she squealed as she took the box from her sister. At the same time she said, "Shame on you Maggie, you shouldn't be spending your money on me."
"I beg your pardon young lady? I should spend my money however I want to." Then she laughed and said, "Besides, I charged it to Abe's account."
Beth almost dropped the box, "Oh no, what will he say?" She tried to put the box back in her sister's hand and said, "Maggie, you're going to get in trouble. Here, take it back to the store."
"Don't be silly. I told him I was going to get you a gift. He just smiled and said it was fine with him, as long he got paid for it."
"What? You mean you charged it to his Penny's account and now you have to pay him?"
Maggie was laughing, "Not with money silly, with favors."
"Favors?"
"Oh Bethie. I hope this hillbilly man of yours hurries and teaches you a thing or two about men, women, and the little games they play."
Then Maggie told her sister what she meant.
"Oh Maggie…oh my."
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He left the shop an hour earlier than usual on Monday so he and Mick could get over to the Sears store. There weren't too many things he disliked more than shopping, but if she was going to the movies with him he damn sure wasn't wearing anything he had hanging in his closest. He supposed if he didn't know anything else, he knew better than that.
The good news was, he knew what size he wore so there was no need to try the stuff on. He also knew what he liked. He bought the same things every time he went shopping, every three or four years.
He got two pair of denim pants, he preferred the Levi brand with a button fly. He got them a little long so he could peg the cuff. He liked that because then they fit nice and snug around the shaft of his boots. He got two blue chambray shirts, two black broadcloth shirts, underwear and socks. He was set for another three or four years.
He bought Mick two new striped t-shirts, a pair of black corduroy overalls and one pair of blue denim overalls, a new pair of pajamas and some socks. She was delighted with the new denim overalls and said, "Daddy, we got the same pants!" That's when he thought he might be doing something wrong. Maybe he'd have to think harder about the clothes he bought Mick.
For this day all he was thinking about was he'd spent close to 45 minutes doing something he hated, clothes shopping. He was glad though. He felt better about how he'd look and what she'd think of him. She'd see he wasn't just some bum.
He was busy that week, everyone seemed to need an oil change, a tune up and new tires in the same week. Not to mention a couple of brake jobs, and the poor bastard who'd thrown a rod and another whose transmission was a goner.
None of it kept him busy enough that he didn't think about her. She was on his mind every day. Some if it was just sweet thoughts about how pretty she was and the way her curls framed her face. Some of his thoughts were far spicier. Things he wondered about, like what it would be like to kiss her, and other things that went beyond just kissing.
She was busy all week long. Two of the other telephone operators were out sick with some kind of respiratory bug. That meant the other women were all working a little harder. Besides work there was the job of keeping the house and the laundry both up, plus getting to the store. My gosh, she'd been so busy she didn't even get a chance to read her books.
She was happy for all of it though. It made the time go a little faster, although it still seemed to drag. She was excited about this innocent date with Daryl and Mick, and she teased herself again, "For gosh sake Beth, it isn't Senior Prom. It's a cartoon matinee!"
As far as she could tell there was just one big problem. She didn't get off work until noon Saturday and he'd be picking her up at one. She wouldn't have time to eat her meal, she'd have to leave right away and run home. There wouldn't be time for a bath, just enough time to take a bird bath in the sink.
She had to get dressed, fix her hair, maybe put on a little makeup.
She reminded herself what mattered most, she'd be spending the day with Daryl and his daughter.
During the last half hour of her shift that Saturday she kept glancing up at the clock. Even Jim noticed, "Ya got somewhere ya gotta be young lady?"
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a clock watcher Jim, but yes I have an appointment at one."
"Don't have ta be sorry, as long as ya get your work done and ya treat the customers right, that's all I care about."
When the afternoon girl, Jessie, showed up, Beth practically flew out the door, and she really did run all the way home to her apartment. She drank a big glass of water, quickly buttered a piece of bread and ate as fast as she could, then hurried to the bathroom to wash and get herself ready for the big date. She kept on trying to remind herself, it wasn't really a date at all.
He usually worked until noon on Saturday, but this Saturday he knocked off a little earlier, eleven.
He and Mick had some lunch, he took a quick shower and remembered how he'd meant to get a haircut. He wished he would have. He did his best to cut some of what was in his eyes and he combed the rest back. Then shook his head, shit, it was only a kiddie matinee.
The only reason she was even going with them at all was Mick. It didn't matter what Beth said about wanting to go, he was sure she probably just felt like she couldn't turn the little girl down. After all, she was a good person. That's just the kind of thing good people do.
She put the rouge on her lips, puckered up and thought "I'm ready to kiss you Mister Dixon," and embarrassed herself so much she was blushing, but she'd also made herself laugh, and at least that relieved some of her tension.
She'd just tied the small scarf around her ponytail band when there was a knock on the door. Her stomach tightened up a little and she tried willing it to stop. She took a deep breath, walked to the door and opened it with a smile on her face.
It was the sweetest thing she'd ever seen. There he stood in his jeans, chambray shirt and boots. His hair was slicked back a little and he smelled of Lifebuoy soap and Old Spice. She thought it made a wonderful combination. The cute part was that Mick was holding his hand and she was all smiles in her denim overalls and red, white and blue striped t-shirt. They kind of matched.
He was about to speak but Mick beat him to the punch, "Hi Beth, gosh ya look so pretty. Ya always look so pretty. I think you're the prettiest girl in the world, don't you Daddy?"
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A/N It's about to happen, the big cartoon date :) Thanks so much for reading along. I'd appreciate if you left a comment / review. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. I hope to see you all back next Friday for more of It Matters to Me, and a hundred cartoons! Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee