A/N Thank you all for being patient! Let's see...when we left our little family (who don't seem to have caught on to the fact they're a family), they were all tucked in bed, and gee, we've left them there a long time. Lots going on again this chapter.
Poor Beth, she's going to make a discovery and be completely mortified.
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He hadn't really planned to stay there with them all night, he only meant to rest a while. Just long enough to be part of the beauty and the sweetness of them. When he woke and saw his girl and Beth cuddled up together, with his arm laying around the both of them, his heart swelled with warm feelings and he couldn't bring himself to leave them. He stayed as long as he could, watching them as they slept.
He didn't feel any shame or regret in it. It was too good.
When he noticed his daughter begin to stir he quickly got out from under the covers and stood by the bed, hoping it would appear as if he just walked in the room. Her still-tired little eyes looked up at him and in her sleepy voice she said, "Hi Daddy."
Beth woke slowly to the feel of a tiny hand softly stroking her hair, and she heard Mick's Daddy whisper, "Don't ya wake her now Mick."
Mick in her loud little whisper answered back, "I won't Daddy. You'll see I don't. I'm bein' real gentle."
Beth wanted to open her eyes, she wanted to see him, she wanted to see Mick. She'd like to give them both a good morning kiss. But she didn't want the little girl to get in trouble so she pretended to sleep.
She heard him tell the child, "I'ma go get breakfast started, remember what I said."
"I remember Daddy."
Beth waited until his footfalls told her he was long out of the room before opening her eyes and smiling at the little girl, "Good morning Mick."
That's when the child snuggled in tight, and in spite of how sore Beth's body felt she didn't mind at all. She kissed the top of the little girl's head and smiled when Mick said, "I thought you was never gonna wake up an I was missin' ya."
Beth caressed her cheek and answered, "I missed you too. I even had a dream about you."
"Ya did? Was it scary?"
"Of course not! It was wonderful. You were the prettiest little fairy in a garden full of yellow flowers. You had a magic wand and every time you touched a flower with your wand it would start to sparkle."
Mick was beaming, "Really? Was I wearin' a fairy dress?"
"Oh yes, and you looked so pretty in it. Why your little shoes Mick, I wish you could have seen them. They looked like ballet slippers. I wanted so badly to reach out and touch you. I wanted to pick you up in my hand, that's how tiny you were, but I was afraid to disturb you. You were so busy with your work, making the whole garden sparkle and shine."
"I wish I could have a pretty dress like that. I'd be real careful not ta ruin it n I would never get it dirty, never. And pretty shoes. I could have pretty shoes."
Beth kissed her forehead and promised, "If I'm lucky and they find my sewing machine I canl make you a fairy dress. I'll even let you help me."
"Really Beth, really?" The little girl asked excitedly.
"I promise, and besides, it's about time you started learning to sew and I'd love to teach you. It's a wonderful thing to know and it's so much fun. I bet you'll love it as much as I do. We could start with something simple, maybe those big handkerchiefs your Daddy carries."
The bathroom floor felt so cold on his feet. He decided before he went to the kitchen he'd better grab a pair of warm socks. He was at the bedroom door when he heard them say good morning. Once again he did what he wanted, he stopped and listened to them talking.
Beth seemed to know all the things to say to make his little girl happy. Fairy gardens? Fairy dresses? Ballet slippers? huh. He'd have never thought of any of those things. He waited, listening and enjoying their conversation before peeking his head in the room and asking, "You ladies awake? Anyone ready ta get outta bed? Beth, I can help ya."
She glanced over at him, suddenly embarrassed about how her hair was probably a complete mess, not to mention her terrible looking face. Yet she noticed the warm look in his eyes and she knew, he didn't seem to be bothered at all, "Um, I think I can do it myself but if I need help I'll call out, and thank you Daryl."
She wondered if he would ever mention that he'd slept in the bed with her, she decided he probably wouldn't. It didn't matter anyway, he didn't really need to say anything. The fact that he'd done it told her everything she needed to know. He wanted to be there with her.
Then again, maybe it was Mick he wanted to hug.
She smiled reminding herself, it was her he kissed and called "Darlin'."
Her first stop was the bathroom to try and do something about her appearance.
She'd been so upset the day before, only thinking about her bath and how horrible she looked, she hadn't really "seen" the room. This day she took a moment to look around. The white clawfoot tube was huge, maybe six feet long. He had some sort of a contraption at the faucet, a sprayer that a person could hold in their hand to rinse themselves off. She supposed that would come in handy for a working man who undoubtedly got grease and such on himself.
Along one wall were recessed shelves that held clean, neatly folded towels, his shave kit, Mick's bubble bath and lotion and extra toilet paper. The white porcelain sink was on the opposite wall. It was extra wide and the chrome fixtures shined. The hot and cold faucets had ceramic inlays, one with the letter "H" and one with a "C."
Above the sink was a large mirror with beveled edges, and there were beautiful old sconces on either side. They were small but they let off a nice warm light.
She guiltily looked over her shoulder as if someone might be in the room with her, keeping their eye on what she was doing. Of course no one was there and so she gave a little tug on the mirror to reveal the medicine cabinet behind it. She knew why she felt guilty, she shouldn't be snooping. She just couldn't seem to help herself.
It was the usual assortment of items. There were toothbrushes and toothpowder, children's and adult aspirin, Mercurochrome, camphor oil, adhesive tape and gauze for bandages, alka seltzer, children's milk of magnesia, grooming scissors and Peroxide. Nothing more exciting than the usual.
She shook her head and mumbled under her breath, "What did you expect to find?" It wasn't so much what she expected to find, it was more what she worried she might find. Would she discover something that might belong to a woman? After all, Daryl was a very good-looking man with a nice home and a good business. There was undoubtedly more than one woman interested in him.
She was relieved to see there was nothing in the cabinet to indicate there was a woman there regularly. Then she scolded herself, "Shame on you for spying Beth."
She felt terrible about what she'd done as she hurried and finished up, then went to find him.
He was in the kitchen busily laying strips of bacon in a cast iron pan. That's what his hands did but his mind was on the blonde-haired woman staying in his home. He was worried that he cared for Beth way too much. How could it ever work? He couldn't imagine that it ever could or should.
The sound of her footsteps brought him out of his thoughts and he turned to see her standing there.
Her hair was a little disheveled and her face a mess of bruises and swelling, and that damn crescent shaped wound on her cheek looked so painful. It made him angry every time he saw it. She still wore his t-shirt, it reached to mid-thigh on her and it hurt him to see the bruises covering those thin but shapely legs.
There was something else he couldn't quite put words to, but he could feel it. It was like she had a strange kind of power over him. Just the sight of her standing there filled him with both strong physical desire and a deep emotional need. All he could think was how badly he wanted to go to her, take her in his arms and carry her back to his bed.
No. There was no chance of that. It wouldn't be fair, it wouldn't be right. A woman like Beth deserved a lot better than he could ever give her.
She smiled so prettily and asked, "Good morning Daryl, is there anything I can help you with? I'm handy in the kitchen."
"Nah, but thanks. I don't want ya doin' nuthin' but restin' Beth. The doc said the next couple days."
She knew it was senseless to try and argue with him, "Well if you won't let me help, maybe I'll just go ahead and get dressed." Then she remembered, "Oh no, did we bring clothes?"
His face had the look of a child caught sneaking a cookie, "Sorry."
She slumped down in the kitchen chair and he chewed on his lip, trying to think of what to do next. "Whaddya say we have breakfast first. After that you can put them pajamas on and at least you'll be covered. We'll ride over ta your place. You tell me what ya need n I'll go in and get it."
She sighed when she said, "I'm a lot of extra work for you, aren't I Daryl?"
He looked almost hurt when he responded, "That ain't true. If I'da fixed the damn car before, none a this woulda happened. Anyway, I wanna pick it up and tow it over here ta the garage. I aim ta get it runnin' for ya."
"It's very nice of you to offer Daryl, and I really do appreciate it, but there are two problems. Number one is, I don't have the car keys anymore. They were on the key chain with my house key. The second problem is, what money I had to put toward fixing the car is gone."
He frowned, "I don't need a key ta get in your car or ta get the car in gear. And I got no intention a chargin' ya ta fix it."
She sounded firm when she told him, "Well I'm not going to just let you do it for free. That's not right Daryl and besides, you've already done so much for me."
He knew she was dug in. He wasn't giving up though. He was determined about a few things himself. He was going to take care of her until she was well, and he was going to get her car running.
There was one other thing, somehow he was going to find the son of a bitch who did this to her and make him pay.
He thought for a minute about how to say what he wanted to say, then made an attempt at striking a deal. "Mick's gonna start kindeegarden come fall and she'll need school clothes. She's gotta wear dresses and shit, I mean stuff, and I got no idea bout buyin' girl things. I'd more'n likely pick out all the wrong kinda clothes. She's gonna need a couple dresses, pretty ones. Some pretty shoes too, and a sweater and a coat."
When he said those words, "pretty dresses, pretty shoes," it just didn't sound like him. She was sure he must have heard her and Mick talking earlier. She didn't mind.
He was gnawing on his lip as he thought, and then asked, "How bout I fix your car, and you take my girl shoppin' for what she needs? I'll pay for everythin', you just pick what's right and make sure it fits and such."
That brought a warm smile to Beth's lips, "Gosh, kindergarten, I still remember my first day like it was yesterday. I was so happy and excited to finally be going to school, but I was also kind of scared. Mama made me feel better about it though. She made me a pretty new dress with a matching bow for my hair. It made my first day so special."
He was almost smiling as he nodded his head, "Yeah, that's it. That's what I want for Mick. I want her ta have the things the other little girls have. I want her ta know she's just as good as any of em." The look on his face and the scars on his body told Beth he hadn't felt that way when he was a child. She suspected he still didn't think he was quite as good as other folks. She had a far different opinion of him, but now was not the time to talk about all of that.
"I'd love to take Mick shopping for school clothes, but what I really wish is that I had my sewing machine. I could make her four dresses for what it costs to buy two."
"Really? But ain't that a lotta work, makin' clothes n such?"
She smiled when she told him, "Well I love sewing and I'm sure it's no more work than fixing cars."
He saw the look that appeared in her eye, it told him she was sad about the machine. It also made him feel even more angry and anxious to make the bastard who took if from her pay. "Well maybe sumthin' will happen bout that sewin' machine. Rick said he's gonna be checkin' pawn shops and a few other places. Maybe it'll turn up." Shit, if it didn't turn up maybe he'd just go ahead and buy her a new one.
Mick came walking in the room then, her overalls on backward and the straps hanging loose, her little fingers wrapped tight around the laces of the shoes she carried in her hand. "I tried every which way ya said Daddy. No matter what I done I couldn't get these dumb things ta go on right."
"Things ain't always easy Mick, I'm proud ya keep tryin'." He held out a hand and said, "C'mere, lemme help ya."
Beth intervened, "How about I help Mick? You're busy cooking."
He pursed his lips, about to tell her no, she didn't have to do anything. It was his job to take care of Mick. Then he thought better of it. Just a hint of a smile came to his lips and he nodded, "Thanks."
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She told him the parking was behind the building and her slot was 3B, just like her apartment number, "It's a maroon-colored '36 Chevy."
He pulled up behind the car and said, "Glad it's a straight in and no one's parked in front of it, gonna make my job a whole lot easier than I thought it was gonna be." He pulled the truck around in front of the Chevy, then backed the rear of the truck up to the front end of it. As he was getting out he instructed her and Mick, "Wait here, be right back."
Mick looked up at her, "Watch. Daddy does this part real good."
They turned to watch as he grabbed something from the tool box in the pickup bed. It was a long and narrow flat metal bar. There was a handle at one end and an odd-looking hook-like shape at the other. He walked over to her car, held his hand on the door handle, stuck the metal bar between the window and the door frame, pushed down once and the door opened.
Mick was smiling broadly when she said, "See Beth? Daddy knows how ta do everythin'."
"My gosh yes, you're right. He does."
He rigged up the front end of her Chevy with a tow bar, then hitched it to his pickup. He walked back around to the passenger window and said, "It's ready ta go when we are, all I gotta do is slip your car into neutral."
She was so impressed with him, and she was thrilled by the thought her car might actually run again, "I can't believe how easy you made that look Daryl."
He shrugged and looked down just like he always did when she paid him even the slightest compliment, "Yeah, um, so just tell me what ya need from your place and I can go get it. Whatever ya want."
"I'd really like to go in. I just wish I was dressed."
"We can all go in if ya want. Just as long as ya let me help ya."
She didn't want anyone to see her dressed the way she was, but she wanted her things. She nodded okay and after he helped her and Mick from the truck he told her, "Put your arm across my shoulder and lean your weight on me." She did as he asked while he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist.
She didn't really think she needed the help. She was fine to walk on her own. But then again, his arm was around her and his body was pressed so close to hers, she wasn't about to complain.
Satisfied Beth wouldn't fall, he took Mick's hand in his free hand. He was sure they looked like a strange little group as they walked toward her apartment but he didn't care. He liked the feeling of his arm around Beth, her body next to him, and his daughter's hand in his.
He was happy to see Maggie was there straightening things up and Beth's sister seemed in a pleasant mood when she greeted them, "Aw Bethie, you're up and about. You already look better and stronger. You must be taking good care of her Daryl." Then she smiled at Mick and asked, "And who's this pretty girl?"
Mick did what she typically did around strangers, she slipped behind her Daddy, hanging onto him tightly and barely peaking around his leg to have a look at the lady talking to her. Her Daddy assured her, "It's alright Mick, this is Beth's sister, Maggie. She's here helpin' fix things up." Then he looked at Maggie and said, "This is my daughter, Michele Marie, she's called Mick."
Maggie had an uncharacteristic softness in her tone when she said, "Nice to meet you Mick. I promise I don't bite."
Mick responded, "Yes ma'am, ya ain't s'posed ta bite. Daddy says it's naughty."
Maggie liked the little girl right away, "Well your Daddy's right."
Beth spoke up then, "I came to get a few things Maggie. I didn't have any clothes at Daryl's. And thank you for saying what you said, but I know I look terrible."
He wouldn't have her feeling bad about herself and he started to tell her so, "Hey, nah, don't…"
His sentence was interrupted when Mick hurried to her, wrapped her little arms around Beth's leg and said, "You're not terrible Beth. You're the prettiest girl in the whole world."
Maggie smiled when she agreed, "Mick's right, you always look pretty. C'mon, I'll help you change and get a few things."
Daryl was concerned even though he knew he didn't need to be. Her sister was capable of helping her with this, and besides, he wasn't the one to help her change clothes. Not that he wouldn't be willing, but no, that wasn't about to happen.
Once in her room with the door shut Maggie took charge. She insisted Beth opt for the sundress over the pants. "You don't want that fabric rubbing on your cuts and bruises."
Beth tried to argue, "But my legs, everyone can see how awful they look when I wear a dress Maggie."
Maggie smiled as she shook her head and answered, "Well there's only two people who are going to see you and they both think you're the prettiest girl in the whole world."
Beth argued, "Well Mick, does anyway."
Maggie was still smiling, "So does Mick's Daddy, he just hasn't figured out how to tell you yet. It's going to take some time for that man."
He felt his heart start beating faster when she walked from her room. She had on a pretty cotton dress with a light sweater laying across her shoulders; and she wore those flat slip-on shoes she seemed to favor.
She looked so pretty, so delicate and feminine and so…so much like the woman he wanted to hold in his arms and kiss. Maybe forever. Instead he muttered, "Ya look swell. Ya got any other things ya wanna take?"
Maggie answered, "She does," And as she handed him the small suitcase she told him, "We packed a bag. That ought to be enough to get her by a couple more days until she can come back here."
Maggie remembered something then, "I talked to the landlord and he's going to repair the door and install a new lock."
Daryl's brow furrowed, "I coulda done that for her, I planned on it."
Maggie smiled and said, "I'm sure you would have Daryl, but the landlord came by and said he wasn't charging for the work or the lock. I think he's trying to look like a good guy."
"Yeah well, I'll be the one puttin' locks on all the windows."
He drove to the shop first, insisting she and Mick just sit tight while he unhitched her car and him and Merle pushed it into the service bay. Daryl looked at the Chevy and felt the pull to get busy on it right away, but he had something far more important to take care of first. Her.
He and his brother spoke for a few minutes, then Merle came to the pickup window and smiled, "Hey Little Lady, and hey ta you Miz Mick. How're you girls doin' today?"
Mick spoke right up, "We're doin' so good Uncle Merle, guess what?"
"What's that Sweetie?"
"Beth stayed all night at our house, she slept in Daddy's bed."
A big wide grin spread across Merle's face as he remarked, "Is that so? Well ain't that nice n cozy."
Both Daryl and Beth's faces had turned ten shades of red and Daryl was quick to respond, "Don't start brother. It wasn't like that an ya know it, I took the couch."
Beth didn't say a word, what was there for her to say? But she didn't miss it when out of sight of Mick, Daryl gave his brother that naughty middle finger and Merle just laughed.
Daryl climbed back in the truck, turned to Beth and muttered, "Sorry bout that. My brother…" Then he thought of his daughter and left it at that.
Beth smiled at how this coarse man got every bit as flustered and embarrassed as she did, "Merle doesn't mean any harm. I like your brother. I see so much good in him."
He looked over at her and wondered for what seemed like the millionth time, could she really be so nice? So tolerant? He responded, "Yeah? Well if he is, he works pretty hard at hidin' it."
By the time they got back to his house it was time for lunch. He told Mick, "Go on now and play outside a little, ya ain't been out all day and it's nap time after lunch." Mick didn't have to be told twice, she made a beeline for the backdoor.
Beth asked, "Will she be able to have a nap every day when she starts kindergarten?"
"Yeah, they told me the kids all gotta lay down after lunch. Oh shit, that reminds me. That's another thing she needs for school, a lunch box."
"I'll put it on my list," she smiled.
She was pretty sure no meal he ever fixed was fancy, but everything he'd made her was tasty and hit the spot. She'd never known a man who raised a child alone, kept house and cooked. She was like Mick, she wondered if there was anything he couldn't do.
Lunch was simple. He'd opened a couple of cans of tomato soup and made grilled cheese sandwiches. He put a sandwich and a bowl of soup in front of Beth, and a half sandwich and a small cup of soup in front of Mick. For himself he had two and a half sandwiches and a large bowl of soup.
He looked at Mick and spoke sternly, "That ain't much n I expect ya ta eat every bite. If ya do I got a treat for ya. Miz Horvath brought a jar of her canned peaches by the other day when you was napping."
All through lunch he seemed fidgety and Beth could see he was anxious. It was as if there was something he needed to do. She waited until the meal and the dishes were done, and he'd come back from putting Mick down for her nap. That's when she asked, "Is something wrong Daryl? Is there something bothering you?"
"Not botherin' me exactly. I'm just kinda anxious ta have a look at your car. It seems like ya keep it in good shape n I'm just wonderin' what coulda happened. Ya say ya went out one mornin' and it wouldn't start, but was there trouble before?"
She thought back and answered, "It got to be a little hard to start some mornings, and a couple of times when I stopped at a stop sign it just quit. Stalled. I had a hard time getting it to start up again."
"Alright."
He was chewing his thumb and pacing a little and she just couldn't take another minute of seeing him suffer, "Daryl, go. Mick's napping, I'm here. We'll be fine, go."
"I can't just leave ya."
"Daryl, look at me. I'm not an invalid and anyway, I'm going to go lay down now myself. It's been a busy morning and I really am tired. You go. I mean it, go."
"Are ya, anxious ta get rid of me?"
"Yes." They both started laughing on that and then she looked at him again and said, "Please. Go, I can't stand to see you so miserable."
He nodded, "K, lay down though. Ya gotta have rest ta heal. Call me if ya need me. I won't be long."
"I know, now go on. I have a nap to take."
He surprised her when he laid his hands gently on her shoulders and kissed her forehead, "I'll be back soon, lock the door behind me."
She really was exhausted and she went right to his room, turned the quilt back on the bed, lay down and covered herself. She was out like a light. It was an hour or so later when she woke to the feel of the small hand stroking her hair. She smiled at the little girl who said, "Hi Beth."
"Hi Mick, did you sleep well?"
They lay there chatting for a moment, both of them still a little sleepy-eyed. Then an idea popped in Beth's head. The recipe was so simple, surely he would have all the ingredients she needed to make sugar cookies.
"C'mon Mick, I'll help you with those overalls and we'll use the bathroom, then I need to check something in the kitchen."
She wasn't going to mention cookie baking to Mick until she was sure they had everything. Finding the flour and the sugar was simple. He kept them in gallon jars right on the open shelf of the big metal kitchen cabinet.
It was when she opened the upper cabinet in search of a mixing bowl that she was sure her heart stopped beating completely. There it was. The romance novel.
It was her darkest secret and now she knew Daryl, of all people, knew about it. Her legs felt weak, she had to sit. She rested her elbows on the table, her head in her hands as she worried and wondered what he must think of her. She could only imagine. He probably thought she was like the women in those books. That she just…oh no, oh no. It was her own darn fault. She was never reading another one. Not ever.
Mick came in the room and pulled her from her dark thoughts, "Did ya find what ya needed Beth?"
She straightened up and took a deep breath, telling herself that baking with Mick would be good. It would take her mind off this horrible, horrible turn of events. No, not really. Nothing could make her stop thinking about it, but at least it would keep her busy and more focused on Mick than on trouble.
Two dozen cookies would be enough for most but she knew he loved sweets, and it was so much fun rolling out dough with Mick and showing her how to cut out the cookies with the rim of a glass. They ended up making four dozen.
They'd just gotten their baking mess cleaned up and Mick was outside playing when Beth heard the front door open.
He walked in the kitchen with a smile on his lips, a smear of grease on his cheek, and wiping his hands on one of those big handkerchiefs he always carried. He looked at her and said, "Smells good in here, like sweets."
Her heart and her head were both pounding when she rushed over to him, her eyes now full of tears. It didn't matter to her that he was dirty from his work. She put her arms around his waist and her head on his chest as her body trembled and her tears fell.
He was shaken by her behavior. His arms wrapped around her and his hand stroked her back and he asked her, "Beth, Darlin' what's wrong? What happened? Did sumthin' happen? Are ya in pain?"
Her voice quivered as she just kept repeating, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm not like that. Honest. I'm not."
He drew back, gently cradling her battered face in work-worn hands, his voice just a little more scared and a little more demanding, "Tell me. Tell me Beth. What the hell happened?"
She swallowed hard as the tears ran down her cheeks and she looked in his eyes, and then down at his feet, "The book. The book was in the cabinet."
At first he was confused, "The book?" Then he remembered, "Oh yeah, your porn book."
She started crying harder and he pulled her closer.
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A/N oops! That darn book. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you'll comment / review. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. Lots more to do, see and hear next chapter, and what is Daryl going to say about that book?! We'll find out next Friday. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee