A/N Thank you all so much! I love reading your thoughts on what's happening with our couple, and what may happen next. This chapter we're going to find out Daryl's reaction to the book, we'll visit his auto shop and learn what's going on with Beth's car, and someone will show up and...oh dear.
Enjoy!
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He wasn't sure what he ought to say, but he knew now he should never say "porn book" again.
He kept his arms wrapped tightly around her, leaning back just enough so he could see her pretty face. He was absentmindedly brushing the damp curls from her cheek as he spoke, "Hey now Darlin', c'mon. I's just teasin'. It ain't no big deal, it's just a book. C'mon, don't cry."
She was so embarrassed he'd seen the book and she'd been emotional since the accident anyway. Her voice was a little shaky when she told him, "I…I…I just don't want you to think badly of me, like I'm, like…I can't say it."
"Beth, look at me. I know the kinda person ya are. I think I knew that right away the first time I seen ya. You're good. It was like Mick said, the signs were all there."
Then he smiled and he couldn't help a soft laugh, "I's a little shocked when I got your wash outta the carry bag and there it was, but I didn't think no less of ya. I thought it was kinda funny. I put it in the cabinet where Mick wouldn't see it cuz a that picture on the cover. Holy shit."
She covered her face with her hands and in a low voice she just kept muttering, "Oh my god, oh my God."
He gave a slight shrug of the shoulders and casually commented, "Merle used ta say women like ta read about dirty stuff and men like ta look at dirty pictures."
He knew when she squealed, "No!" That wasn't the right thing to say either. Shit, he had a lot to learn.
It almost seemed like she was gasping for air when she asked, "Oh my gawd you didn't tell Merle did you?"
"Fuck no I didn't tell Merle, ya think I'm nuts? I'd never hear the end of it." Then he apologized, "Sorry for the language."
He pulled her close again and tried to reassure her, hoping this time his words would come out right, "Beth, I'm sorry, I know I ain't the best at sayin' the right words. I didn't mean ta make this worse for ya. I know it's just some kind a romance novel, and if ya got it at this library here it couldn't be that terrible. Anyway, I don't think no less of ya cuz ya read some dumb book. Now please, quit crying and let's just forget about it. Please."
She sniffled a couple of more times, took two deep and ragged breaths and started to say something, "Daryl I…"
She was interrupted by the back door slamming and the sound of little feet coming their way, "I can't let Mick see me like this," and she broke free, running toward the bathroom.
The little girl asked her Daddy right away, "What happened ta Beth?"
He thought fast. "She was feelin' a little sick in her tummy. She ran in there just in case. She'll be alright though."
Mick's forehead wrinkled as she thought about that, "I know what happened, she ate too much a that cookie dough."
Her Daddy smiled as he rubbed a hand softly over Mick's head, "Is that what the two of ya been up to while I was gone, eatin' cookie dough?"
"We had so much fun Daddy. Beth telled me how ta make cookies and we made about a million of em. I did a lot of work on em too Daddy, and I done a real good job. Beth said I did. They're real delicious too, you're gonna see they are."
"Yeah, well maybe I better check and see right now."
"Yeah and maybe I better too."
"Oh yeah? How many ya had already?"
"Hardly any Daddy.'
"I bet. One. You can have one and that's it. Alright?"
"Yeah and then maybe when I eat all my dinner you'll say I can have another one."
"Plannin' ahead huh? I think we better take this one cookie at a time."
Beth had the cookies in a big jar on the kitchen table, he loosened the lid, grabbed one and handed it to Mick, "There ya go, and take the time ta chew it." Then he reached in and grabbed four more.
"Hey Daddy, why do you get so many?"
"First of all, I'm the Daddy so I can have all I want cuz we both know, it don't matter how many I eat, I'ma still eat my dinner. 'Sides that, I ain't already had some like I know you have, and I'm sharing these with Beth."
"I wanna see Beth."
"Ya can after while. Right now ya finish your cookie, then ya go up to your room and keep yourself busy colorin' or readin'. I'll be up ta get ya when Beth's feelin' better. Alright?"
"Yes Daddy. I'ma be so good you're gonna wanna give me another cookie."
"Ya never know, miracles happen."
He watched Mick run up the stairs before softy knocking on the bathroom door, "Beth? Beth lemme come in. Please."
The door opened and he walked in, shutting it behind him. He was happy to see she'd quit cryin', she had a washcloth in her hand and he suspected she'd been putting cold water on her face. He held out the cookie and said, "Here, Mick always says cookies help ya feel better."
Finally he saw that big pretty smile as she reached for it and agreed, "I'm sure that's true. Thank you. Daryl."
He popped an entire cookie in his mouth, not even seeming to chew before swallowing it, "Nah, thank you. Ain't anyone here ever baked a cookie and now I hear from Mick she knows all about it. I'ma be eatin' cookies all the time."
She laughed again, "Well you'd be proud of her Daryl. She listened, followed directions, she was a good helper. She'll make a fine baker someday."
That's when his thoughts came out as words, "Yeah, she will if you stay around n teach her." It caught them both by surprise and neither was quite sure what to say next, they just stared in each other's eyes a minute until he said, "You're good with her Beth."
She was relieved he'd spoken because she'd been at a complete loss for words. She smiled when she said, "She's good with me. I love spending my time with her and we had a lot of fun making the cookies." Then she said what was on her mind, "It was a wonderful day except when I found that stupid book in the cabinet. I'm never reading another one of those books.'
"Beth, ya read what ya want."
"No, I don't want to read those anymore. I know now, those stories aren't real. That's not what real romance is at all."
He shrugged, "I wouldn't know. I don't know nuthin' bout that stuff."
She didn't tell him he was wrong. She didn't tell him that he was romantic all the time. The romance was in the way he cared for her, and that even though she looked so terrible he argued that she didn't, that she was pretty, the marks meant nothing.
The romance was in the way he tried so hard to get her to stop crying and to stop being embarrassed about the book, telling her it didn't matter. He didn't judge her, he didn't criticize, and he teased but he didn't make fun of her.
The romance was in the fact that he'd washed her clothes and he'd fixed her meals. He ran her bath and thought to add the bubbles. And if all that wasn't enough romance, he crawled in bed with her, not to try and touch her but to just be with her. He kissed her goodnight and he called her Darlin'. She couldn't think of anything she'd read or heard more romantic than any of the things he'd done.
She didn't say all that, she didn't know how. She only said to him, "I think you know a lot about romance Daryl, you just don't know you do."
"Pfft, yeah, you're crazy girl." He quickly changed the subject, "Now are you comin' outta here so I can start cookin' dinner, or are we stayin' in the bathroom all night?"
She shook her head but she was smiling, "I'll come out if you let me help with dinner."
"Shit, you're as bad as Mick, always bargainin'."
She was just standing there, not disagreeing with him at all, just smiling as if confirming what he'd said. It happened, it felt like it needed to. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, "C'mon then, I'll give ya all the hard work."
As soon as they were out of the bathroom he called up to Mick, "If ya wanna come down we'll be in the kitchen."
She peeked her head out the bedroom door and said, "I'll be down in a minute Daddy, I'm doin' sumthin' real portant."
He had an elk steak thawed and while she peeled potatoes he pounded and floured it on the big work table. She put the washed and cut potatoes in a pot, he covered them with water, remarked, "It's too heavy for ya to be liftin'," and carried the pot to the stove. She didn't fight it, she simply smiled and nodded in agreement.
She got out the plates and flatware while he got the steak frying in the pan, and she asked, "Should we have a vegetable?"
"Oh yeah, almost forgot. I got some canned stuff in the bottom cabinets there. Pick what ya like."
There were tomatoes, green beans, carrots, corn and peas, she chose a jar of tomatoes. "Do you can Daryl?"
"Nah, I buy em like that from a lady I know. They taste better than the stuff from a tin can."
She was already daring to think that maybe by the next harvest season she'd be canning vegetables and fruit for them.
The water was rolling and bubbling in the potato pot, the meat was frying, and the tomatoes and bread were on the table when Mick came down. She had a paper in her hand that she held out to Beth, "I made this for ya cuz Daddy said ya got a tummy ache."
"Oh my, how nice and thoughtful of you Mick." Beth looked at the drawing of a stick figure with blonde hair sprouting every which way, some straight, some curly. There was what she was pretty sure were supposed to be flowers and trees and a house. She kept studying it like it was a masterpiece, then told the little girl, "Mick this is a beautiful picture. Do you know that no one has ever made me a picture before? I love it. I'm going to hang it up and admire it every day. Thank you so much."
Mick was beaming as she clapped her little hands together, then asked, "Did it make your tummy feel better?"
"It did! It's like my tummy ache just magically disappeared."
They had their dinner and cleaned the kitchen and Daryl told his daughter, "Bath time little girl."
Beth volunteered, "I can help her with her bath."
He didn't say no but he seemed a little surprised by the offer, "Ya sure?"
"Yes of course, us girls will get ourselves ready for bed together."
He smiled and shrugged, "Yeah, okay. Thanks."
He tried to read his book but he was distracted by the muffled sounds of them talking and giggling. As much as he loved those happy sounds, he worried. What about when Beth realized she could do so much better, what about when she didn't want to be part of their lives anymore? Then what? Mick's heart would be broken, maybe even worse than his.
The books he read told him it was common for people like him, people who'd been through what he'd been through as a kid to always expect the worst. He understood what they meant, the things they were saying. But knowing all that didn't mean what he felt wasn't true. Someday she'd catch on he wasn't good enough and she'd want to leave.
Then, at least for the moment, his dark thoughts disappeared. He couldn't help the tender feeling he had when they came out of the bathroom smiling and pink faced from the warmth. They were both in their pajamas with matching braids in their hair. Mick came scampering over to him and asked, "Daddy can I get pink jammies like Beth's?"
He looked at his daughter's pajamas with their pattern of cowboys and horses and said, "Yeah, pretty soon. When Beth is all better she's gonna take ya shoppin' for some things, you can get new pajamas then, alright?"
"Yay!" She was jumping up and down clapping her hands as he stood, rested his open hand on her head and told her, "For now you an them cowboy pajamas are headin' upstairs for a story and bed. Say g'night ta Beth."
But Beth asked, "Can I come too? I'd like to hear a story."
He was a little surprised but also happy she wanted to join them, "Yeah, a course, can ya make it up them stairs okay?"
"Yes, can't you see, I'm much stronger today."
He just smiled knowing that even as sweet and tenderhearted as she was, she was strong in a lot of ways.
Mick crawled in her bed, patted the spot next to her and said, "You can lay down here by me Beth while we listen."
It had been a long day and Beth was exhausted, she didn't hesitate. She smiled and crawled in next to the little girl.
Her Daddy said, "Oh no ya don't Mick. I ain't doin' all the readin' myself." He fixed the pillows so his daughter and Beth were propped up a little, looked at Beth and explained, "I read a page then Mick reads a page."
She smiled, "Oh that's perfect. I can't wait."
By the time they were to the sixth page Beth and Mick were both sound asleep. He smiled as he set the book on the night table, gently fixed the pillows, covered them and whispered, "Sleepy girls," as he stood watching them for a few minutes.
He went downstairs, checked locks and lights, got his pajama bottoms and t-shirt from his dresser and went in the bathroom. He took a long bath, thought about Beth and wished something could somehow work out with her. After his bath he trimmed his facial hair, cut a little hair that was hanging in his eyes, brushed his teeth and he was ready to read himself to sleep.
He considered just taking his own bed, but he worried Beth might come down in the night and he shouldn't be there. He'd take the couch.
He picked up his clothes from the bathroom floor and took them to his room to throw in the laundry basket before making up the couch. He stopped cold when he got to the door. Beth and Mick were in his bed and cuddled up, just like they'd been the night before.
He dropped his clothes in the basket, turned to leave the room and thought, fuck it, why not?
He carefully and quietly slipped into bed with them, just as he had the night before. His arm was laying softly across his daughter and Beth when he leaned over Mick, kissed Beth's cheek and whispered, "Sweet dreams Darlin'."
She startled him when she took his hand in hers, lifted it to her lips, kissed it softly and said, "Goodnight Daryl, sweet dreams."
He couldn't quite believe it, she knew he was there and she didn't tell him to leave. He pulled them closer, held them tighter and he and Beth were both smiling as they drifted off to sleep.
He made sure he was up and out of the bed before Mick woke in the morning. He was already in the kitchen with sausage frying when his daughter and Beth walked in. He and Beth smiled shyly at each other, both of them thinking of the sweet moment they'd shared just a few hours before.
They didn't speak of it, not with Mick in the room. Beth simply said, "Good morning Daryl, we're here to help."
The three of them enjoyed a breakfast of toast and jam, sausage and eggs. Beth had scrambled the eggs and Mick smiled at her when she said, "I like these better Beth, none a that runny stuff."
After breakfast they dressed for the day and Daryl announced, "Mick and me are goin' ta work now, we'll be home around lunch time. Ya rest while we're gone."
"No."
"No?"
"No. I want to go with you. I want to see your shop."
He thought for a minute and said, "Yeah okay, I'll take ya over there ta see it, but I don't think it's a good idea for ya ta stay all day." Then he chewed his lip and said, "How bout ya stay a while, Mick can show ya her apartment, and then I'll walk ya back here."
"Her apartment? I can't wait. Can she stay here with me when we come back?"
"Why is everyone always tryin' ta make a deal? Sheesh. How bout we just see how it goes, alright?"
She smiled, "Yes, I think that's a good idea."
She liked the way he so naturally took her hand and held it, and she took Mick's as they walked the 90 yards or so from his house to the shop. When they arrived she quickly looked back, happy to note his house wasn't visible from the shop. The trees and bushes acted as natural camouflage. For some reason she felt like that was a good thing, especially with a little girl living there.
The back entrance was a big metal door, it looked heavy but he opened it with ease. She smelled the odors of grease, oil and rubber, things you'd expect in an auto garage, but everything was neat and tidy. She looked at her car and asked, "Do you think it can be fixed Daryl?"
He shrugged when he answered, "Yeah, it ain't nuthin' too serious. It's the generator, the cut-out switch went bad."
She had no idea what he was talking about, "What's that?"
"It controls the charging system so when it goes out ya got no power, the car ain't goin' nowhere. I'ma put in a new one and while I'm at it go ahead and replace the battery and the belts. I'll give it a tune up and an oil change and it should run like new."
"Gee, Enid's boyfriend told me it was a goner."
He shrugged again and said, "Well it looks like Enid's boyfriend don't know much about cars." He got a little more serious when he added, "Folks get anxious ta throw old stuff away and get new stuff, but this car will last a lot more years. We just gotta make sure we service it regular."
She didn't miss that he'd said "we." "I'm so grateful Daryl. I couldn't imagine what was wrong and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to afford getting it fixed. I know I'd never be able to save up enough money to buy a new one. Thank you so much."
He looked embarrassed as she expressed her gratitude and she wasn't surprised. She'd gotten to know how he was.
Mick couldn't stand it another minute, she was tugging on Beth's arm, "C'mon Beth, I gotta show ya my partment, Daddy made it just for me. You're gonna like it a lot. You'll see ya do."
Daryl looked like he was trying not to smile but Beth wasn't hiding her grin, "Well I can't wait, show me!"
She knew right away what the room was originally intended to be, the office for the business. It had three big windows that looked out into the garage area, but he had them covered with blinds. She suspected it was to keep Mick out of sight of customers, not for their sake but for Mick's privacy.
Daryl opened the entry door and when Beth got a peek inside she was grinning even more than she had been.
She'd just assumed someone cared for Mick while Daryl worked, a babysitter somewhere. Now she knew better. She probably should have guessed he'd keep the little girl close.
She was amazed by the room, it really was an apartment. It was obvious he'd tried to think of everything his daughter might need or want while he worked.
The room was long, but not too wide, maybe eight feet wide. The only sign it was ever used as an office was a file cabinet and a small desk with a telephone at the far end of the room. The rest of it was all Mick.
There was a child-sized wood table with two small chairs. A play kitchen complete with metal cabinets, a play refrigerator and stove, tin dishes and pots and pans. All child-sized. There was a low three-shelf open bookcase with children's books and puzzles, art supplies like finger paints and Crayolas, coloring books, lined paper for practicing letters and numbers, plain paper and construction paper.
A small cozy looking cot was setup in one corner. On the pillow there was a teddy bear and doll all tucked in, covered with a pretty little quilt. The sight of it brought back memories for Beth. She remembered always tucking her dolly in bed before leaving for school in the mornings.
Mick distracted her from the memory, tugging on her arm again as she hurried her around the room to see everything. "Ain't it the best place ya ever been Beth?"
"It's wonderful Mick. I would have loved to have a place like this when I was little. You're so lucky."
"You can stay right here and play with me while Daddy works. Don't worry, he checks on us all the time. Ya wanna play don't ya?"
"Oh yes, I do want to, thank you for inviting me to."
Daryl realized he'd been smiling the whole time. That wasn't like him at all but seeing the two of them so excited and having fun together made him feel heart happy. "Alright, well you ladies have fun." Then he took it from his pocket, a long thin chain with a whistle at one end. He put it around Mick's neck like a necklace and smiled when he said to Beth, "If ya need me Mick knows what ta do."
Mick took Beth's hand and asked him, "Can we watch ya open it Daddy?"
"Yeah, a course."
Beth had no idea what it was all about as he walked out the door ahead of them, then Mick whispered to her, "Wait'll ya see this, Daddy's the strongest man in the whole world."
They stood just outside the "apartment" door as Daryl kicked the foot brakes loose on either side of a huge metal door. He slid the metal bar out that held a heavy chain in place and pulling the chain hand over hand he rolled the door up.
Mick said to her, "See how strong Daddy is Beth?"
Beth knew the type of door was a common thing in an auto shop and that Daryl wasn't the only man capable of opening one. She was also sure there was no man that ever looked better doing it. She smiled at the little girl, "Yes I see, you're right he's very strong."
He got busy working on Beth's car while Beth and Mick stayed equally busy in the little room, first with finger painting, then a puzzle and then reading stories to each other.
It had been about two hours or so when a car pulled up just outside the big open door. Daryl put down his tools, wiping his hands on a shop rag as he walked toward the vehicle. A tall wiry fellow got out of the car and Daryl immediately had a bad feeling.
There was just something about the dark-haired stranger, the closer Daryl got to him the more he felt it. But this was business and he couldn't let some weird feeling get in the way of that. He asked the stranger, "Can I help ya?"
"Yeah, I got one back tire that's bald as an egg and the other has some kinda big nail in it. It won't hold air. I's hopin' ta get em fixed."
Daryl crouched down and rubbed a hand over both tires as he told the guy, "Yeah, ya gotta replace the bald one or you'll be havin' a blowout, ain't no tread left on that one at all and no way ta just fix it. Ya oughta get this other one replaced too but I can try patchin' it. It's up ta you."
The dark haired fellow answered, "I'd like ta replace em both but there's a problem, I ain't got the cash right now. I got some pretty good stuff in the trunk though, if you're interested ya might wanna make a trade."
Daryl was about to tell him "No." Not because he was opposed to making a good trade. He was all for that. It was just this guy, he didn't trust him. He was going to tell him he was strapped for cash himself, then suggest the guy try making a trade with some other shop. He'd just opened his mouth to speak when the dark haired fellow popped the trunk to show off his goods.
If the sewing machine, the small jewelry box and the radio didn't give it away, Beth's handbag would have. He recognized it from their trip to the movies. There were other things in there too, no doubt from other burglaries. Daryl was focused on Beth's property and the knowledge this was the son of a bitch who'd hurt her.
Two things happened at once. Daryl threw a hard right hook to the guy's jaw just as Beth was coming out of Mick's room. She saw what was happening and quickly forgot she'd come out to visit with him while Mick napped.
She simply stood there, frozen in place as she watched Daryl pummeling the dark haired man.
At first it seemed like an even fight but soon Daryl gained the upper hand. Maybe it was because he was the more enraged of the two, but it really didn't matter why. Even when the guy fell to the ground and it looked as though he was down for the count, Daryl kept on punching him repeatedly. All he could think of was how the bastard had hurt Beth, and how much worse it could have been.
Merle saw the ruckus and came running over to see what was going on. He tried coaxing, "Little brother, c'mon now, he's out. C'mon."
Finally Merle succeeded in pulling his brother off the guy, but what she'd seen and the sight of Daryl covered in the other man's blood had Beth unable to move.
It was partly because she'd never seen a man as infuriated as Daryl, she'd never seen anyone give another person a beating like he'd given the dark-haired man.
Yes, that was part of it, but it was also partly because she recognized the man and his car.
Merle called her over, "Hey Missy, is this stuff here in the trunk what's missin' from your place?" She was hesitant to walk any closer to any of them or the car. Merle coaxed, "C'mon, it's okay, it's all over girl. I'ma call the sheriff here in just a minute. I just want ya ta tell me if this stuff is yours."
She got only close enough to see what was in trunk, then nodded her head at Merle. She could barely speak, and he strained to hear her, "Yes, it's my sewing machine and radio, my jewelry box and my handbag. I don't know about the rest."
Merle could see his brother's muscles still twitching from the adrenaline surging through his veins. He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder and instructed, "Daryl, listen now. Ya get in the bathroom there and try'n get some a that blood offa ya while I call Grimes. When he gets here ya let me do the talkin'."
It was like Daryl didn't even see her standing there, he walked right passed her as he made his way to the shop bathroom.
Her stomach was in knots and she could feel her heart beating so rapidly it scared her. She didn't know what to think or what to do. Merle could see her distress and he took her arm, "Hey now, it's gonna be okay Beth. C'mon, ya come in Mick's place with me n sit. I'll call the sheriff."
They walked in the little room and there lay Mick, sound asleep on the cot. Beth simply walked over, lay down next to the little girl and held on tight.
Merle made the fast phone call and went back out to keep an eye on the dark haired man. When Daryl returned from the bathroom his brother told him, "I'll keep my eye on this asshole, you best go see about Beth. She seems mighty shook up."
For some reason he felt so nervous, was she pissed at him for fighting? Was she upset at him for getting so out of control he damn near killed the guy with his bare hands?
He walked in and saw her laying there on the cot with Mick, her back to him. He quietly walked over and got down on his knees next to the little bed. He lay his hand on her shoulder as he softly pleaded, "Are ya mad at me?"
She rolled over, her slim arms wrapping around his neck, "Mad at you? No Daryl, no." And she kissed him.
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A/N Well, hmm...we'll see what the sheriff has to say next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you'll leave a comment / review. As always, there's a chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. Thank you all so much for reading along. Until next week remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee