"Get! Your! filthy paws off my silk drawers Durl!" Sasha exclaimed as her offender made an awkward attempt to remove her torn, pink underwear from among the quaint country aesthetics that was her room at Serenity. The name of the ranch owned by her friend's new husband was an oxymoron in itself; being at Serenity felt like it was going to be a huge pain in her ass. Daryl had managed to transport Sasha upstairs, she had been kicking and screaming all the way as expected. Michonne hastened to have her set up in one of the guest bedrooms as opposed to having her laid out on the couch with an arrow in her rear for everyone to see like an open sepulchre.
All propriety had been thrown out the farmhouse window waiting for Dr. Carson to enter the scene. By the time he arrived she was rendered silent due to the level of mind numbing pain she was forced to endure while she pondered on how her surprise visit for Michonne had gone so awry. After a shredded jeans, that she explained cost more money than Daryl's crossbow and a torn up underwear later Sasha was almost sedate on the bed propped up on her side, her derriere stuck partially in the air under a soft sheet. She was trying but failing to engage in the conversation Rick, Michonne and Daryl were having. She did manage to see when Daryl grabbed up her clothes to discard and despite feeling like she had a liposuction procedure done on her butt she mustered up some energy to contest his actions.
"The name's Daryl sugar. And you won't have any use for this again." Daryl held up the torn clothes, having had to do the cutting himself given he was the one with a knife in his pocket at the time. The deed didn't come without horrendous repercussions, Sasha threatened if he ever touched her again she would castrate him. The lady with the bruised behind threw her eyes at Michonne who was standing next to her tall, vanilla and brooding husband; both their arms folded while their eyes danced back and forth between Daryl and Sasha like they were at an intense tennis match.
"Michonne…" Sasha cautioned, still paying Daryl most of her attention.
"He means well Sash." Michonne said.
"The country Zorro shot me Michonne! What the hell!" Sasha struggled to grasp why Daryl's long, dark brown hair needed to cover his eyes and half of his nose, she could have sworn she saw a hint of blue underneath the shagginess; it almost made him look humane.
"As much as I'm thrilled that you're here, I'm sorry you got shot Sash. Thank God it wasn't deep. I still don't think I understand how or why this happened."
"Daryl arranged everything as per your husband's instructions. It was supposed to be a surprise. I didn't know the joke was gonna be on me though." She tapped her thigh ensuring there was still some feeling there and she wasn't going to be paralyzed from an arrow shot for the duration of her stay at what was feeling more and more like Green Acres.
"You said you were leavin' tomorrow!" Daryl reminded her which is why he was just as surprised by her arrival as everyone else.
"I. Said. By the time I get here it would be tomorrow! Because where is here exactly? It isn't even on the map!"
Michonne held Rick's arms, not caring Sasha and Daryl were still bickering, granted she told Rick how much she needed a visit from Sasha she was touched by the notion her husband wanted Sasha's visit to be a surprise. Her belly felt heavy, like caterpillars were rolling around ready to burst out into beautiful butterflies but she wasn't ready to admit what that feeling meant.
"You did this for me?" Michonne said leaning closer into Rick her eyes dancing with gratitude.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" He touched her hair, glad that despite the day they had she was still smiling. He couldn't erase the feeling of dread that immersed him when Maggie came speeding down to the ranch to tell him she'd fainted. The dread was quickly replaced with delight when he discovered she was pregnant with his baby and it wasn't because of any baby race.
"Sasha, look I said I was sorry aite! Anything I can do to make your stay here more comfortable I'll do it." Daryl said her clothes still in his hand.
"You can stay the hell away from me!"
"Sasha!" Rick and Michonne said in chorus.
"Daryl is my best friend I trust him with my life." He trusted him with his wife's life too. "He'll stick close to you while you're here. Make sure you're okay. Isn't that right Daryl."
Daryl muttered something between his pursed lips about city girls which Rick interpreted as his acceptance, reluctant as it was.
"And here I thought mumbling wasn't your first language and you were just having a rough time with sentence construction."
"Pity I didn't shoot you in the mouth. How's that for sentence construction?" Daryl's agitation was peeling away the more Sasha dished out her snarky retorts, realizing she didn't want to admit how scared she was when everything happened; talking a mile a minute was her best defense against her nerves.
"Ha! Good one! At least I know I've got my own knight in shining pleather because you know Durl them pants ain't real leather!"
Rick and Michonne couldn't help but laugh a bit at that quip. Daryl stared down at his faux leather pants and bit his lip about to tell Sasha at least he was wearing pants but he held back.
Sasha adjusted the purple coverlet that covered her lower half, still wearing her olive long sleeve sweater and matching jacket.
"I feel like you're avoiding my question on purpose. Why did you shoot Sasha? Why did you have your bow ready? Were you hunting?" Michonne knew Daryl wouldn't have been hunting in their front yard, so she was suspicious about his actions to say the least.
"I thought she was someone else." His eyes danced to Rick as though expecting him to subliminally sanction his answer before it slipped from his lips. Rick didn't want Michonne to know about Gareth and by piercing Sasha with his arrow he had backed himself into a corner trying to come up with a certifiable reason why he was playing sentry late at night outside Serenity.
"Who?" Michonne drew the cream lace curtains closed as Rick turned on the air condition. Sasha awkwardly took her jacket off after refusing help from Daryl.
"Michonne, how about we turn in for the night and we talk about this in the morning. I'm sure Sasha is exhausted from her... eventful night." Rick held her hand drawing her close, his protective frame overshadowing her reluctance to leave.
Sasha was astonished by the buoyant manner in which Michonne melted at Rick's subtle command. Where was the Michonne who didn't submit to anyone?
"Sasha maybe Rick's right." She checked her rose gold watch, "It's after midnight. Tomorrow we'll discuss this and I'll introduce you around." Michonne bent over Sasha on the bed and gave her a sideways hug hoping despite tonight's incident her stay at Serenity would be a fruitful one.
"I am glad you're here."
"Me too." Sasha was too tired to complain.
The complex manner in which Rick and Daryl mitigated any potential revelations of the night in question had Sasha on guard. It was always a disaster when a girl with trust issues felt like she needed to be on the defense all the time. It was where the similarities between her and Michonne stopped; Michonne was too trusting at times, leading with her heart and not her head while Sasha was the opposite, she didn't trust people, it was too much of a risk.
"Sasha if you need anything...that line," Rick pointed to the black cordless phone situated next to the antique brass lamp. "...dials straight to Olivia, she'll pick up if you need anything so don't hesitate to call."
"Who's Olivia?" Sasha asked hearing the name for the first time since she'd entered the large, stately home. The Grimes home looked rich with its high ceilings and stained glass windows and nooks and crannies that were begging to be explored.
From what she saw in the dark outside before her colorful life flashed before her eyes there were tall ancestral trees watching over the property, they had to be a beautiful sight when dawn was breaking.
"She's the -"
"Maid?!" Sasha interrupted.
"Housekeeper. She's practically part of the family." Rick said, he had known Olivia since they were kids. Her father worked for his dad for many years before he opted for retirement.
"Mmmhmm." was Sasha's response.
They bid their goodbyes.
Sasha fluffed her pillow to settle in for the night, knowing an uncomfortable, restless sleep was waiting for her but she closed her eyes anyway hoping sleep would at least ease the pain.
…
Michonne picked up two of Rick's old college jerseys, contemplating which one to wear to bed for the past five minutes. He knew her well enough to know she was deep in her thoughts, he needed to get her to come back to him.
"Michonne." His soft voice pulled her back, she turned to face him, clad in her bra and underwear, her eyes latching onto his like she had found harbor in his soul.
"Come to bed sweetheart." He fluffed one of their six pillows behind his head and propped up against the frame waiting for her to join his side.
She opted for the grey t-shirt, slipping off her bra, she threw the shirt over her head and crawled her way over to him.
"Rick?" She found a comfortable spot next to him with her back against the hard wall of his chest. "Thank you for bringing Sasha out."
"Your welcome."
"You didn't think it was weird Daryl was patrolling outside, armed?"
"Nah, he was probably securing the place."
Rick's nonchalant response didn't sit right with her. She had been at Serenity for almost two months and she had never seen Daryl take watch. "Rick?"
"Mmm?" His fingers traced light circles on her bare thigh causing the hairs on her body to stand up.
"If something was wrong you'd tell me right?" She turned to face him, her hand resting on his bare chest. "Like if something was wrong with the ranch, you'd tell me. Right?"
"Michonne…." Rick didn't share his burdens, he carried the responsibility of being the eldest Grimes' son on his back like a cross, all she wanted to do was lighten his load and all he wanted her to do was trust him with hers.
"You can Rick. We're partners in this."
He wanted to believe in her words so desperately.
"Even if it's just for a year." It hurt her to utter the words.
He was reminded of their union of convenience, "Everything is ok I promise. The same thing applies to you. You can come to me with anything, anything. You can trust me." He pecked her lips wanting to say more but wrestling with fear and fate was making him feel crowded in the ring. He wanted to forget their arrangement, for the most part he did. Despite the non existent declarations of love everyday felt like they were on honeymoon but he was living in a fool's paradise. Was he wrong to think their passion could out last a year? Michonne was everything he never knew he needed and everything he always knew he wanted; she was the answer to his prayers but she was also the reason he was praying.
He was falling for her and sometimes when she shattered in his arms after their passionate, life altering love making he felt she might feel something for him too. Still, their arrangement was like the third wheel in their marriage; a constant reminder they had an expiration date.
He didn't want to bargain for her love, he'd rather just believe she was made to be his. Every thought that passed through his mind she owned it, she was his smile after a long day in the field, she was his laughter when things didn't go as planned and he was struggling with accepting defeat. Sometimes when he was feeling inadequate and small she was still the biggest part of him and he needed her for the rest of his life. He wanted to promise her forever with his heart and not solely twelve months with a contract.
"I know I can." She turned around, preferring to be the little spoon to his big spoon.
"I don't want you worryin' about anything. The doctor said it's not good for the baby." He reached his arm around her tiny waIst and pulled her closer until they were back to chest, he slept better when she was closer to him.
He had no choice but to find a different approach to the topic of Gareth, Michonne wasn't going to be forthcoming with her story, whatever her rationale was for it.
"I'm fine Rick." she snuggled her bottom against his crotch and he groaned in wonderful misery.
"I think you should start cuttin' back Michonne, no more drivin' the tractor, or goin' with Daryl to find any strays. No more shovelin' dirt with the fellas. Maybe no more ridin' for a bit."
"So you did want me barefoot and pregnant in the house." She heard the concern in his voice, she wouldn't do anything to threaten the life of her baby.
"I want you safe." His hand rested lightly on her belly, "I want you and our baby safe." He was about to confess how he felt when he found out she fainted but held back because he didn't want to remind her of the hardest part of her day. He was also not good at discussing his feelings.
"You need me Rick." She let out a breath.
Rick knew she would never comprehend the depths at which he did need her; more than the earth needed to spin and sinners needed to sin.
"But I hear you. I'll take it easy I promise. Mama G and I've got a lucrative jam making business underfoot you know." She kissed the back of his callused hand, laced with her own.
He was surprised be her concession to his not so subtle demands.
"Hey umm did she say when we're getting the baby bonus?" She didn't want to break their earned closeness or mean to come across as eager as she sounded but it had been more than a month. There was a pregnant pause between them and Michonne couldn't deny how tense Rick's body grew against her own. She knew talks of his birthright agitated him easily. Considering the loops he had to jump through to claim it she couldn't blame him.
Rick stumbled to divulge everything to her as he held her in the safety of his arms, as they lay in the safety of their room but bad judgement hindered him into thinking he was going to lose her prematurely even though she was never really his to lose.
"Tell me what you need. I told you I can transfer some money to pay off your student loans. We'll run to the bank and we'll get it done tomorrow."
How could she admt to him the student loan was just the tip of the Iceberg?
How could she expose her brother's series of bad decisions that ended up killing him and leaving her with a pile of his debt? He would never look at her the same. She needed the money but she didn't want it coming between them and the temporary haven they found in each other.
She was stuck in a dilemma of her doing, they had an agreement but it wasn't falling through as she expected.
"I thought by now we would have it. I need to pay what I owe." Even in the veil of darkness he could hear the trepidation in her voice, "We need to make the investment soon for all the things we initiated. If we don't get the money then all the planning will fall through and you'll be in a worse off position than when you started."
"We're still in the lead for the baby race." Everything she said was the truth, they needed the capital but he had given it all away after he discovered she was worth more to him than all his earthly possessions. He was only richer for knowing her and experiencing the warmth of her touch and her caring heart.
"I guess so but we can't wait seven and a half months for the money Rick. Promise me you'll talk to Mama G in the morning."
"I promise." He said knowing either way he had nothing of substance to offer her at present.
She leaned back and kissed his jaw, the sheets had trapped his scent and now it lingered on her skin. "Let's get some sleep."
Despite the pile of lies he had stacking up against him his body felt relaxed at her innocent acceptance to his placid agreement. He was ready to drift into a contented sleep.
He reach behind him and took off the lamp then kissed her soft cheek reminding himself to savor the feel of the one woman who had captured his heart before she left with it.
"This one's yummy! What do you call it?" Sasha licked her lips from the orange concoction that dripped from her fingertips. Her taste buds were hosting a dance party in her mouth from Michonne's famous jams and jellies.
"Look what Marmalade. Mama G made that one. It's my favorite so far."
Sasha had a patterned tray in front of her as she sat around the aisle in the roomy kitchen that she was still admiring. The hanging pot rack, oversized farmhouse sink, white cupboards and heart pine floors gave it an acquired-over-time feel and if she wasn't actually wearing a plaid shirt she would've thought she was dreaming about this jam tasting session. The tray held an array of crackers; blank canvases waiting to be painted with the confectionery goodness of Michonne's creations that she was so eager to taste.
"Try this one -" Michonne pointed to a mild colored delight, "One in a melon. I also have Peach of my heart and Kiwi be friends."
Sasha raised her eyes at Michonne's hilarious jam titles and even funnier looking labels as she held up two jars for Sasha to inspect.
The crutch Daryl found in the old shed was sufficient for Sasha to get around without much hassle or unnecessary pain. Despite wanting to continue to loathe the loner she was grateful he had been so considerate of her needs.
"I'm working on a combination one like all the fruits squashed in a car together on a highway and someone shouts 'we're stuck in a jam'!"
Sasha held her mouth, stifling a laugh, afraid she would choke on the jam and crackers.
"Rick loves the taste but he thinks my name's are wack but they sell like fresh bread at the farmers market." Michonne shrugged, she thought her titles were clever enough.
"If your hubby doesn't appreciate your fruit puns you need to let that mango."
They both screamed out in laughter and Michonne was reminded how much she enjoyed her girl's company. They used to laugh at so many things together in their college days when times were tough and all they had were each other. They were laughing so much they didn't see Daryl's appearance in the kitchen.
"Sorry to interrupt you ladies but I um ..gotcha somethin" Daryl said holding something behind his back. What was noteworthy of his appearance was the oddity that Daryl was wearing black jeans; Michonne had never seen Daryl wear denims, only cargo and pleather pants.
Sasha was glad his balls were getting a break from the heat.
He pulled a black butt pillow from behind him and handed it to Sasha.
"You got this for me?"
"Yeah I still feel bad and I um….wanna make it up to you, at least try to."
"That's….sweet. Thank you." She sat on it, the softness giving her considerable ease.
"You wanna try my jam Daryl?" Michonne asked.
"Nah Chonne. I ain't a jam lover."
"Oh c'mon D! I have a berry one you might like."
He had too much of the sweetness as a child, he ate those fruits in forms of jams and preservatives until he was sick to his stomach. He had outgrown the taste for the sticky delicacy. Just the thought of it was making him sick. "I'm not a berry lover, especially the dark ones." He liked apples, plain and simple. There was never any fanflare involved eating an apple.
"Well Durl, you're missing out." Sasha said taking a sip of her coffee.
'How so?" he shrugged, waiting on the smart ass answer he had come to expect from her.
Sasha winked at Michonne and hit him a famous line. "Because everybody knows the darker the berry the sweeter the taste." She popped a blue berry in her mouth and closed her eyes, savoring the juicy taste for emphasis.
"You always this spicy?" Daryl was beginning to respect her wit. He wasn't as dumb as she thought he was, underneath all their witty banter was a flirtation that he was beginning to enjoy and he knew she was too.
"What can I say I'm blessed and highly flavored" Her response didn't disappoint. He knew they could bat at crease all day and decided to take his leave, laughing to himself and shaking his head as he did.
Michonne stared at Sasha, the thought of jams pushed to the side.
"What?" She asked guiltily as she pulled the tray of crackers and jams back to her.
"What are you two really doing? Is this how you court in the wild? Insult each other to death and then have sex?" She asked trying to hold back a vulgar laugh.
"Sex?! Me and Daryl?! Girl please!" She stuffed some kiwi jam on a cracker into her mouth not trusting herself to speak any further on the topic. She wasn't sure what was happening with Daryl but she was oddly beginning to like it.
"So you do know his name. Can you at least try to be polite to him?"
"Polite? I don't know her." She shrugged.
Michonne shook her head, if she was fire Sasha was and would always be the fireworks.
"I believe you owe me a story. I've been fed Missy. Now spill it." Michonne chuckled to herself, if Mama G was here and heard Sasha say she had been fed after munching on some jam and crackers she would be appalled. Michonne couldn't wait to introduce the two women to each other.
"I'm only married to Rick for a year." She thought she might just start at the most difficult part.
"What!?"
"I didn't meet him online like I said, well technically I did. But it was more of an ad than a proposal really." Listening to herself trying to explain their odd situation to Sasha made her see how ludicrous it all sounded. She flowed into the codicil left in the will and the stipulations for the Grimes boys to fulfill their father's demands in favor of receiving an inheritance.
Sasha's eyebrows raised almost to her hairline, "Lord! You're a bride for hire? You're in a living harlequin romance you know that right? Why do they even need the money?" She gestured to the house and the fine pieces of art that decorated every room, and furniture that she could never afford and the massive library down the hall that held some rare gems.
"I'm not sure of the true nature of the books. The Triple S is a popular ranch and I've implemented a lot since I've been here in hope it'll help Rick see a return in the short and long term. I think Rick needs the money to do some long term investing and he doesn't have the capital but we've already won half the money because we got married the same day as Andrea and Shane.
"Shandrea sounds like a hoot by the way" Sasha pinched herself for using the word hoot, it was too early to be adapting to her southern climate.
"Okay so I see what Rick's getting out of this and I understand that you're living like Ellie May Clampett but what exactly do you get out of this marriage for a year? You've already made a big sacrifice for this guy." Sasha didn't want to mention she had given her virginity to a man she didn't love, knowing Michonne it wasn't something she would have surrendered too so easily.
Michonne sipped her hot chocolate, giving Sasha a reprieve to take it all in.
It felt good having someone to talk to, she felt like she was a pressure cooker waiting to burst keeping everything inside. Considering what Carson said about keeping her stress at bay she decided to tell Sasha everything even though in the back of her mind she wished she was spilling her guts to Rick.
"I'm in trouble Sasha. Money trouble. Bob owed some bookies money. They kidnapped him a few weeks before he died and he told them to call me, it's like he knew I'd do anything I could to bail him out. After mom and dad died we were all each other had. But Bob didn't take it well he was either getting high or coming down from one and I was still swimming in the grief of losing two parents at once. I was selfish. I didn't help him, I didn't reach out, at least not until it was too late. By the time the call from Bob came I felt obligated to help him get out of his debt. I told the man, his name is Gareth I would pay off his debt. I gave him my word. And for the most part I did but it was too much, then Bob died by the hands of someone else he owed for god alone knows what. Mike left when he realized my bank account was empty. I dipped into my savings. I lapsed on my own loan payments…." She paused for a breath, feeling the tears brimming under the surface as she thought of the shitty circumstances she had to endure. She took a breath of air in and out and continued, "I was out of a job, no one was hiring. I was literally at my wit's end. Then Carol came to the city and told me of a man who needed a wife for a year for a fee. It was enough to dig myself out of this debt and get a fresh start somewhere. There wasn't much to deliberate really…."
"Michonne why didn't you tell me. I would've helped you."
"I didn't want to get you involved. The less people knew the better. Gareth, Gareth is a dangerous man. Plus you don't have that kind of money Sasha." Potential danger was another reason why she wanted to clear her debt. There was only a sliver of peace knowing he couldn't trace her back to Oakland.
"That's so damn true. These days when I get my paycheck I LOL, Live On Less!" Sasha said, her tone dry.
Michonne laughed at her quip.
"Seriously Michonne, you're my girl, I would've tried to help in any way."
Michonne touched her hand, "You being here now is helping."
"You and Rick seem pretty close." She sipped her tea again, waiting for Michonne to spill some tea of her own.
"He's a good man Sasha. He may be a little rough around the edges but he is sweet and kind and caring…." Michonne's eyes softened with the mention of Rick's name, she was in deep.
"A little rough?" Sasha cackled. "So after a year you two just part ways? After living as husband and wife for a year? I mean you are sleeping with him. How's that gonna work?"
"It's what we agreed on. Rick isn't in this for love and neither am I." It was their initial plan, now with a baby on the way those plans had been blown away in a tornado and the uncertainty threatened to control her every thought.
"Hmm."
"So much things have changed since our first agreement." She sighed.
"You have feelings for him." It was a fact, Sasha would fight anybody on that.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Nah!" She shrugged off her comment, "Girl Stevie Wonder could see that you look at him like he's the only man on the planet and he looks at you like you invented the word wife!"
"You think Rick has feelings for me?" She knew Rick cared about her but she didn't dare expect more from him.
"Did the Kardashians buy their butts?"
She grew pensive under Sasha's gaze, even if Rick did have feelings for her all that would change the minute he heard about Gareth which was exactly what she was trying to avoid. She needed to talk to him about advancing the funds to her account, she needed to make a payment as soon as two weeks ago.
"There was another clause in the will…." Michonne continued.
"There's more?" Sasha pushed her coffee aside, giving Michonne her full attention.
"If one of the son's were to produce an heir within the year of their marriage they would win two hundred thousand dollars."
Sasha coughed violently when she heard the ridiculous amount, Michonne rushed around the island to pat her back.
"Shut. Up!" The plot thickens! So Rick's Dad is rolling in doe? He's just holding it back because he has a kink for grave chess?"
"I guess you could say so."
"And you don't think this family is weird for that? At all?" It was certainly a lot to take in.
"The way affairs are run around here you got your own version of Sex and The Country. Only you're Carrie which would make me Samantha of course! So Rick is your Big! Is he…. big by the way?"
"Sasha….."
"Can't blame me for asking. Rick could very well be the next marlboro man with his chiseled looks."
She couldn't deny that, Rick was the most attractive man she'd ever met.
"I'm pregnant Sasha."
"Pregnant with what? Potential?"
"With a baby. We only found out yesterday.
Silence. Dead silence.
"So you're doing the baby race?"
Michonne nodded.
"How is this going to work out when you two have to part ways?" Sasha asked pulling Michonne back from the cusp of a daydream where Rick confessed his undying love for her and told her there was no way he was ever letting her leave. She wished it was her reality but fate was never a contender for a half hearted kind of love, certainly not one where trust didn't abound.
"I haven't thought that far ahead as yet." Which only made her feel worse, she was usually a girl who had her shit together but the past year she had lost control of her life; she felt like she had been sucked into a pneumatic tube with no way out. Being with Rick was giving her pieces of it back, day by day.
"If you two are gonna have a baby I suggest you tell him everything Michonne. A baby changes everything. You aren't having a Chia pet."
"I know that Sasha. You don't think I know that? I just need to get the money from Rick and pay Gareth off. I'll tell him everything when the debt has been paid."
"You sure about this?" Sasha didn't know how to say the secrecy wasn't going to help her friends twelve month marriage but when Michonne made up her mind on something there wasn't much that could persuade her to do otherwise.
"I am."
"Okay, you have my support but the sooner the better."
She was gonna stick close to her girl, she was going to be needed.
Despite her deep curiosity to meet the Grimes Matriarch Sasha couldn't muster up the energy required to drive for three miles in a car to visit Sweethearts. She opted to stay at Serenity while Michonne visited her mother in law with a promise she would meet Georgia soon. The pain in her bum was more intense than it had been the four days she had been at the ranch and thought it was best to rest today.
Never a subscriber to boredom she left the confines of her room and trudged downstairs to select a book from Rick's surprisingly vast library. Rick gave her free reign when he learnt she was an avid reader and she took him up on his offer considering she had so much down time. She was running her fingers over the titles on the tall shelf as she skimmed until something caught her attention; she was surprised to browse titles like The Great Gatsby, Crime and Punishment and Lord of the Flies among the lot. Rick Grimes had depth and Sasha added ten points to her list that was rapidly growing for her friend's new husband.
Bypassing True Grit and latching onto To Kill a Mockingbird she relaxed into the plush leather chair that sat in the middle of the library, next to it was a coffee table that was home to another beautiful brass lamp that complimented the rustic feel of the room.
For a minute she questioned the volume of her background thoughts as she read a few pages from the book about growing up in the 1930's in the south under extraordinary circumstances but it was clearly male voices she was hearing and they sounded closer than she thought.
She closed the book on her lap, and eased off the sofa, tiptoeing to the second door in the room; it was a large mahogany door but she assumed it could also be an adjoining door to somewhere else.
It was the type of house where adjoining doors to different rooms were quite possible.
Hearing a clearer pitch of at least two voices she pressed her ear against the door to see if she could make out anything. She didn't want to pry but she was certain she heard her friend's name and if they were talking about Michonne Sasha wanted to know what it was about besides she was okay with blaming her curiosity on her mother who made her watch too many reruns of Murder She Wrote.
"Daryl I hear what you're sayin' but if she finds out I lost all our money I don't know what she's gonna do."
"Exactly Rick. You don't know what she's gonna do. You'll only know when you know, so tell her already."
She heard Rick take a deep breath. What money had Rick lost? Sasha got a sick feeling in her stomach, she hoped Rick didn't trick her friend into marrying him.
"Daryl, she's pregnant. I don't know what this news will do to her."
"Michonne is a lot tougher than you give her credit for."
"You're right. I have to tell her…..you think she'd forgive me?"
"I don't know." She heard Daryl mumble.
"I don't trust Gareth man. He's gonna be back, I just have this feeling. If he does we can't let him take her but surprise."
"If he comes back here and touches her I'll kill him Daryl."
Sasha heard a fist pound on a table and gasped at the severity of Rick's words, the force of his intonation implying he meant what he had spoken. Rick and Daryl were in Rick's office it seemed.
"The last thing she's gonna be expectin' to hear from me is that I paid off Gareth with our marriage bonus. I don't know how she's gonna look at me after that. I reneged on our deal and now I ain't got nothin' to offer her." Rick sounded drained, tired from the obvious secret he was holding from his wife.
"Maybe she'll realize comin' 'ere was never about the money." Sasha was surprised by Daryl's astuteness.
"Things don't ever work out the way I plan. I got married like Dad wanted, we're havin' a baby just like dad wanted, got the money for it and I still lose."
Sasha blocked her mouth with her hands preventing a shriek from escaping her lips. Rick bought Gareth off with his and Michonne's marriage winnings. According to Michonne, Rick didn't know about Gareth so how did he do it?
Sasha's mind began to race, what if Gareth had been at the ranch to threaten Michonne then when rick found out about her debt he paid Gareth to go away and he never told her. As noble as his intentions were Michonne had a right to know.
Sasha pressed her fingers to her temples, easing away from the door.
Rick and Michonne were keeping more secrets than the United States government, both trying to protect the other by their acts of omission.
To think she thought the city had drama, country life wasn't as boring as she thought it was.
Now she and Rick were stuck in a quandary, pondering how to break the news to Michonne. Sasha hoped Rick got to his wife before she did.
