In a Relationship

Carol glanced at the clock on the wall. Another thirty minutes here at work and then she could head home. Friday afternoons were always so long and this evening she and Daryl were going to finish putting up the cabinets in the kitchen. The rest of the house was still a disaster but the kitchen was moving right along. The blue slate countertops were sitting in the dining room ready to be installed as soon as they got the bottom cabinets in tonight. The ceiling lights had blue stripes the same color as the countertops and she couldn't wait to see how it all looked together.

Eric moved his swivel seat closer to her, "Got big plans for the weekend. You and Andrea going to hit the clubs tonight?" Eric had met Andrea at her house and thought she was "smashing".

"Andrea is a happily married woman and I have a date to hang cabinets."

"You mean you and Daryl have a date to hang cabinets."

"Eric, Daryl and I are roommates. We aren't dating. Our relationship is based on mutual benefit. He's helping me with my house. I help him with his. End of story." Eric had been complaining that she used the phrase "Daryl and I" too much. And she just had again.

Eric leaned back in his chair, "All good relationships are based on mutual benefit. That's why there are so many babies in this world. You get something that you want from the other person and they get something they want. You and Daryl are living in the same house and you can't tell me that you haven't noticed his arms, his fit body, and that awkward but adorable little grin."

That was the trouble with hanging out with Eric. He knew that she was attracted to men who looked and acted nothing like Ed. "Daryl is in good shape." Very noncommittal. Like she barely noticed how strong he was and that he didn't have an ounce of fat on him. Not that I spend my time looking at Daryl's body.

"Daryl wants what you got too, babe. He is sneaking looks at you all the time. I'm telling you this because you need to be prepared when he finally makes his move. Which he is going to do. Now are you going to put on your big girl panties and be prepared with birth control?Or are you going to keep him friend zoned?"

I don't need birth control. I have Carol control.

Carol gave him a stern look, "Eric, mind your own business. I'm not going to get involved with Daryl. I promised myself if I got out of one bad marriage that I would stay single." And so far that worked for me, but Daryl does have that awkward but adorable grin. Which I totally ignore. Almost always.

"Carol, I have the guy for you. Sweet and smart. His name is Milton Mamet and he works over in forensics. He would be a great guy for you. You are spending too much time with Daryl. Give Milton a chance." Seriously, his name is Milton Mamet? He sounds like a hamster.

"I just told you that I want to stay single, unattached and then you try to fix me up with someone. You aren't listening."

"You have given yourself time to heal. You did counseling. You are ready to have an adult relationship with a man. Milton could be your starter guy." Starter guy? How long do I have to stay with the hamster before I get to move to the adult table?

Carol took her foot and pushed hard on Eric's chair until he was back to his own work space. Eric laughed, "Okay, I'll give it a rest. So what are you doing tomorrow?"

Carol glanced at the clock, "Daryl and I are going to an auction. There is a dining room table and chairs there that might work in the house. One of Daryl's friends works at that auction house part-time, and showed him a flyer for an auction this weekend." Damn, another Daryl and I slipped out.

Eric looked frustrated, "Why don't you and Daryl just buy a big brass bed at the auction? Would look great in the master bedroom. Hey, I think you deserve a big fling with the Daryl. Just enjoy the ride and when that flame burns out? I'll fix you up with Milton Mamet." I guess Daryl gets to be my starter lover. Ladies, rev up your engines.

The mental image of Daryl lying on a big brass bed under a ceiling fan (Mission style of course) came to her. Damn, even my sexual fantasies came complete with house porn. He would be propped up on the bed waiting for her. Naked because what sexual fantasy would put clothes on that body? What would he look like naked? Carol wrenched her mind away from thinking about a naked sweaty Daryl and back to work.

Carol Control to the rescue.

Daryl was waiting at the house. He looked grubby and sweaty and she wished that made her nose wrinkle up in disgust. It's not like Eau de Motor Oil is an aphrodisiac, but it doesn't make me run screaming out of the house either.

Sophia was going with Andrea to one of Carl's Little League games. Rick was working and Andrea said that couldn't go unless she had someone more mature than herself with her. Carol was busy but Sophia promised to remind Andrea to act like an adult and ignore the other parents. Little League was about parents praying that their kid didn't mess up and blaming everyone else's kid when they messed up. Little League games were a jungle and Andrea was afraid that she would wind up on YouTube. "Parents going Postal."

"Andrea coming over tonight when she gets back from the game?" Daryl shook his head. "It's supposed to be fun." Greasy Rider has morphed into Mr. Rogers. He may start wearing a sweater and welcome me to the neighborhood.

"Yes, we'll have to let her vent. Little League has another six weeks to go. Sophia is bringing her cell phone. Sophia is going to hold up her cell phone every time Andrea gets mad." Andrea may be a stepmother but she loves Carl and she proves it my going to Little League games. She even bought a team t-shirt. That's real love and she may even wear it.

"Let's get the cabinets in. Tyreese and Oscar are so coming over in a couple of hours. The pork barbecue smells great. The baked beans are on warm in the oven. The Cole slaw is in the fridge. The beer is in the refrigerator. We're good." Daryl is nervous about having his friends over. I don't think he has ever hosted a get together in his life. He's practically babbling. Beer and barbecue. Relax, Daryl. We got this. Shit, is "We" just another way to say "Daryl and I?" I am just being a team player. Not getting emotionally involved.

The island was already in place. They put the bottom cabinets in first using the level and plenty of shims to make sure that everything was set correctly. Right on time Tyreese and Oscar showed up and helped move the heavy slate countertops onto the island and fasten them down with silicone sealer onto the newly installed bottom cabinets.

Carol went over to the other house to get the food ready. She and Daryl could have put the upper cabinets in but there was that male bonding thing going on. Daryl had been adamant that she not be involved in lifting the heavy countertop in place. It was too heavy for her and she knew it. Her role was to exclaim with delight at the countertop and compliment the men on what a good job they did. The slate looked fantastic and it was easy to go heavy on the gush. She gushed like Old Faithful for a good ten minutes and then left the men to do the upper cabinets. Feed and Praise.

It took them a good while and she fussed around the kitchen while she waited. The Three Amigos came back and the four of them ate dinner out on the back veranda. The conversation was mostly good natured ribbing between the three men. Carol enjoyed listening to them. They were funny without being malicious. Daryl didn't contribute much, but occasionally he got a few zingers in. Tyreese and Oscar left after thanking her for dinner. She and Daryl cleaned the kitchen quickly and then hurried back to the other house.

Carol ran her hand over the slate countertops. The conventional thing to do would be to put in granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and she had went rogue on choosing bluish green slate and went conventional with stainless appliances. She hated granite. It felt cold and sterile. She wasn't crazy about stainless steel but she had to think of potential buyers who would all whine because the countertops weren't granite. She loved the way the blue added color and depth to the room. "What do you think?"

"It looks like something in a magazine but better. Like it is a place to have a good time watching other people cook." Daryl was an awful cook and she refused to let him touch her pots and pans. He liked to hang around the kitchen and talk while she cooked. We could do our own cooking show. I can cook and explain what I'm doing and all the women will be watching Daryl. He'll be wearing a tight t-shirt with no sleeves so that he can flex those arm muscles when he hands me a heavy pot. Women across America will be oohing and sighing. They'll be dropping their panties when he licks the cookie spoon erotically. I'll be the backsplash and he'll be the star, works for me.

"We still have to do the backsplash." A creamy subway tile with a few touches of bluish green. It would tie in the lights and the countertops without being too dark.

Andrea came in with the Sophia and Carl who got bored with the kitchen in ten minutes and begged to go finish a movie at Daryl's house. Andrea shook her head as they left, "Two years from now those two will make us nervous. So is there anything to drink in that new stainless steel refrigerator? I get a reward. I didn't do anything to bring shame and reproach to the Grimes family even though I wanted to."

Daryl handed her a beer, "You are such a good mother."

Andrea laughed, "I'm trying. I love this kitchen. What's next?"

They answered together, "The bathrooms". Damn, now we are talking as one. I am spending too much time with Daryl. It's too easy with him. Too easy to talk about my life with Ed and to understand how the abuse he suffered as a child as affected him. Too easy to understand how important Merle is to him and that Daryl is only here until Merle gets out of prison. Then he'll leave and it will be too easy for her to be miserable without him.

The auction house was just beginning to fill up as they got there the next day. They claimed their seats by writing their names on the paper taped to the chair. Sophia sat down with her book. Carol and Daryl went to explore. The dining table was made of quarter sawn oak but the chairs were in bad shape. There were some antique mixing bowls that she coveted and Daryl kept looking at a slag lamp with a landscape overlay. It wasn't fancy but the landscape was beautifully done. Carol knew it would be pricey. It wasn't a reproduction. Carol fell in love with the sterling silver ware. Her mother had used her silverware for family occasions. Carol's job was to clean it gently and she had loved setting the table with her mother's favorite china and silverware. Ed had sold all of that off to buy newer flashier things.

They were back in their seats by the time the auction had started. The auctioneer started with some not so interesting items to get things going. Daryl squirmed in his seat and Carol suppressed a grin. She knew that he didn't like to be still. He kept leaning closer and asking her questions. He kept his voice low and his lips close to her ear so that it didn't disturb anyone else. But the combination of a scrubbed clean smelling Daryl and the feel of his breath in my ear? Carol Control had taken the weekend off apparently and was off somewhere taking a cold shower.

The next item up to bid was one that hadn't seen on the flyer or on the auction floor. Carol knew that she was in for a long day when it came up. An antique brass bed. Shit, look at the way Daryl is looking at that bed. He looks uncomfortable and now he is reading the sale paper like it has the clues to a buried treasure written on it. Maybe Daryl Control has taken the weekend off too?

Daryl whispered that he was going to go look at the tools. I managed to resist making an inappropriate comment. I need to stop thinking about Daryl in that bed. Damn Eric for putting that in my mind.

He was back in time for the dining room table which she was able to purchase for a fair price because the chairs were in such bad shape. Daryl bought some hand tools, "My grandpa had some like those and he would let me use them when we visited him." Auctions are all about good memories. That's why we buy these things. To help us remember happy times in our lives. Isn't that why I am hanging around to see if I can get the silver?

Daryl scooted off with his friend Big Tiny to load the table and chairs. He was very Big and not Tiny at all. The slag lamp camp up for sale and Carol bought it for Daryl. I am taking Ed's insurance money and buying a man an expensive present. Revenge is best served cold and I am enjoying this way too much. Sooner or later I am going to have sex with Daryl and I hope that I enjoy the hell out of it. Revenge is best served hot in the event that you have revenge sex. But it won't be revenge sex. It will be because I'm ready, because I accept that Daryl is going off to live in some squalid cabin with Merle for the rest of his life. I just need a little more time to get there.

She bought the silver too. For herself and because this silver would someday be Sophia's as well. Her girl would have some happy memories too..

Daryl was shocked when she handed him the lamp, "This is for you." He protested so much that she knew that he really wanted the lamp, "No, you're taking it. We start the bathrooms tomorrow. I'm going to be a real bitch until those are finished. Better start off liking me before we begin." He gave her his best pissed off look and ungraciously took the lamp. Later that night she saw that he had set the lamp on a table beside his recliner. It looked good. Like it was always supposed to be there.

AN

The title? My nephew who is in love with a woman who is almost worthy to him is according to his Facebook page "In a relationship". That could mean almost anything and since Caryl is a work in progress I used it. The girlfriend is wonderful but he's my boy, you know what I'm saying?

You must know by now that I personally don't like granite countertops, so Carol goes rogue and skips the granite. Carol and Daryl should definitely have blue slate countertops.

Quarter sawn oak comes from very large oak trees and is usually only found in antique furniture.

I like to add odd characters and can't you see Big Tiny picking up heavy furniture at an auction? Certainly would suit him better than winding up in prison.

Carol in the television version has control issues. So does this Carol. She doesn't like being out of control. She doesn't do impulsive things very often.

I just ebayed (is that a verb? ought to be) a slag lamp and found the perfect one for Daryl. Not sissy at all.

Little League is a jungle. Just saying.

Who wants to watch the Caryl cooking show? Caryl in the Kitchen. I would watch it.

I love your kind reviews and I hope that I make you laugh once in a while.