-2-
We are ordinary people
living ordinary lifes
dreaming ordinary dreams...
Music from his computer speakers is filling the room. Hell, he remembers that song. "Ordinary love" by Carol and the Cookies. It was a hit, about 15 years ago. Ed Peletier produced it, the internet says. That song has been his biggest success. He married the singer and songwriter Carol Mason at the time the song was released. They produced several other songs, but since their daughter Sophia was born, Carol refuses to perform again. Ed tried more or less successful to produce different songs by different artists. But he never ever had a hit again.
...but together
we are better
we are special
we are strong...
Daryl´s phone rings. "Hey there Daryl. It´s Michonne. Beth is here with me, buying complete outfits. She says, she has to be stunning this evening. And she says, you will pay her bills. Is that okay with you?"
"It is", Daryl replies. "She´s going to sing at Tara´s tonight, and a music producer will be there."
"That´s great for her! I´ll make her look overwhelming!"
"Thanks. Bye."
He sighs and rubs his face with his hands.
And he listens to the soft voice of Carol, the producer´s wife.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Daryl showers, shaves and dresses, he knows what Beth wants him to wear. And he wants this evening to be perfect for his princess.
Tara´s place is crowded by the time he arrives. But Tara had reserved a table for him and Ed. He already sits there, a beer and an empty shots glas on the table, waiting for Daryl and for the show to start.
Beth sings here once or twice the week together with a local band, and she has made quite some fans. The people like her voice. And the look of her.
Tonight she wears very short jean shorts and new boots and a white tank top, hugging her curves in all the right places. Her hair tied up into a messy bun, her cheeks burning with exitement. She looks young and innocent and while Daryl takes a seat next to this Peletier guy, he feels his heart beat hard and fast. And when she starts to sing and the people around him start to whistle and yell, he´s proud of her.
Maybe this is where she belongs. On stage. Around the country. Maybe around the world. And not in their small home town, somewhere in Georgia.
The way, that Peletier guy looks at his fiancee makes Daryl skin itch. "Mymymy", he mumbles under his breath, "what a sight! Whow! That girl is a damn gold mine. And I found her! I have to talk to her", he insists.
Daryl nods. "And you are her fiancee?" Ed asks and rises a brow.
"I am." Daryl says.
"Don´t waste your time on a marriage. Wifes are nagging sluts, wanting kids and good neighborhoods and perfect schools and shit and they have headaches and you have to snuck out of the house to have some fun with a young and willing cunt. Marriage is so overrated. Fuck her and make money and walk away, while you still can. Before she burdens you with a bunch of crying kids."
Daryl crings inside. He heard it before, men talking like that about wifes. About women in general. His dad talked that way about Daryl´s mom. And Daryl knows that it can be a narrow rigde between verbal abuse and physical abuse. Fuck, he knows it from his own experience.
Daryl clenches his fists. He wants to punch this asshole.
But maybe that man can help Beth. He can only imagine how she would react, if he beats the shit out of this music producer. She would be mad. And dissapointed. And Daryl wants her to be happy, so he swallows his disgust, orders a beer and listens to the music.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
When the musicians take a break, Beth walks over to their table, sitting down between Daryl and Ed. And Daryl witnessed how the repugnant asshole morphs into prince charming.
He´s polite to Beth, corteous and appropiate. Beth beams.
"I think, we can work out some things. You´re voice is great and so is your look. You will blow them away. Let´s meet tomorrow and set up some things. This is going to be so good", he chuckles.
Beth smiles at Daryl. "You heard that? I´m good!"
Daryl replies the smile. "I always knew, princess."
He turns to Ed: "Will your wife be there, too? I heard, she used to be a singer. Maybe she has a few tips for Beth."
"Oh, please. I would like to meet her." Beth begs. "We´ll talk after the show! I have to go now." She gives Daryl a quick peck on the cheek and rushes back to the band.
"My wife is a used up hag. Good for nothing." Ed Peletier mutters and orders shots of whisky.