Finding My Way
Daryl leaned against the island and watched Carol finish the last round of the kitchen backsplash. Creamy subway tiles dominated the backsplash but she had added blue subway tiles to create a small checkerboard at equal distances in the backsplash. It is so simple and yet so beautiful. Classic looking but original. Just like Carol.
"Looking good." Course I am looking at your ass and not your handiwork.
Carol pushed the last tile in place and began to wipe it all down. "I'm taking the afternoon off. Andrea has a big test coming up and with this rain Carl can't get outside. I'll take Carl and Sophia to the movies and out to eat." That'll take the whole afternoon. An afternoon that I won't be working with Carol. I want to go to the movies. Never got to go when I was a kid because the Will Dixon would have hit me in the face for just asking for the money. I want to go with Carol and the kids. Man up, Daryl."
"What are you going to watch? Subtle, Daryl. Don't go all needy.
Carol made a face. "Terminator Returns. Sounds just awful but they both swear that they want to see it." The tiger observes its prey. Waits until they feel safe and then pounces.
"My back doesn't feel quite right. I think I'll give it a rest this afternoon if you aren't going to be working. Maybe work on the bathrooms this evening." Carol looked concerned. Might as well pounce. "There was some movie I wanted to see."
Carol looked a little suspicious, "What was the name of the movie?" Shit, think Daryl.
"Don't remember, its science fiction." 'Cause there is always a science fiction movie playing. And I actually like science fiction. Every good lie is based on truth. Book of Merle 1:10.
Her face brightened, "Do you want to see the remake of Aliens? It's at the same movie theater." It's better to be lucky than good. I loved Aliens.
Going on for the kill, "It can't be as good. Nobody can be a better Ripley than Sigourney Weaver, but I loved the movie." Look nostalgic. Like you and your buddies watched this movie and screamed like little girls at the scary parts. The good times that never were.
"Come with us and you can watch "Aliens" and I'll take the kids to "Terminator Returns". The prey falls to the predator. You manipulated her from the get-go to get what you wanted. Merle would be so proud.
"Okay, I will. Who is playing Ripley?" Cause I jerked off thinking about Sigourney Weaver for years.
Carol gave me an odd look. Woman is no idiot. Try to look innocent. "We're leaving at noon. I'll make you a sandwich and then we'll eat after. Is that okay?" Carol finished wiping up the backsplash.
"I'll be ready. Gonna go back and work on the bathroom floor. It's still not level. Maybe we can buy some more leveler compound while we're out?" Carol nodded and stepped back to the island to get a look at the backsplash. "That checkerboard pattern really jumps out at ya." She just nods at me but I see how pleased she is to get a real compliment.
Daryl finished in time to get a shower, shave, and get dressed in the right clothes. He knew that Carol liked him in blue jeans and shirts that showed off his arms. So he wore a polo shirt that he had worn before and her eyes had widened just a bit when she saw him. He got the same reaction this time. I'm a swine but she's wearing blue jeans, boots, and that blue top that shows off her tits. All is fair in love and war.
He drove. The kids clattered in the back and he plotted how to get Carol in "Aliens" with him. His stars lined up because Carl said innocently, "Daryl, are you going to have to watch the movie by yourself?"
Daryl shot him a look in the rear view mirror. There was a sort of predatory glint in that lad's eyes that he didn't like. Did Carl want to watch the movie with Sissy and without Carol? He's only twelve. She's only twelve. I'm going to kick his ass.
"I am a big boy. I can watch a movie by myself." I'm actually looking forward to seeing the movie. I'll still be going out to eat with my "family" afterwards.
"Mom, why don't you go with Daryl? You told me that you loved that movie. Carl and I are meeting some friends there. We'll wait in the lobby if we get out first." Sophia looked more innocent than Carl. Merle would love these kids.
Carol looked unconvinced but his stars just kept lining up when they got to the movie. It was still raining so he let them off in front of the theater and then parked the minivan. It was set up by the time he got there. There were other little rug rats about the same age of Carl and Sissy and one set of parents promised that they would keep an eye on Sophia and Carl and would wait with them in the lobby. Carol caved and he bought her ticket and she bought the snacks. No wonder I love her. She remembered that I like Twizzlers. Then there is her ass in those jeans.
"Carl's been really good to Sophia. He introduced her to all his friends and she seems very happy at that school. Just going to the movies with her friends is a big deal to Sophia." Carol handed him a soda and his Twizzlers. He knew what it was like growing up in a house with an abusive father. Being afraid all the time. Never wanting anyone else to know.
The movie theater wasn't too crowded so they settled in an almost empty section which worked out really well because both of them knew most of the good lines in the movie and could recite from memory. She did Newt's line, "They mostly come at night … mostly" and Ripley's "Get away from her, you bitch" perfectly. He settled for doing some classic Hicks and Burke lines. The special effects are better than the original and I should stop wondering if Carol's lips taste all salty and buttery from the popcorn.
The kids didn't shut up on the way to the Mexican restaurant. Carl kept imitating "Arnold" and Sophia kept giggling. Carol was quiet but every once in a while he caught her looking at him. She's worried that she crossed some line in the movies. That we were more than two friends watching a movie together. She isn't so confident hanging out with a straight guy who wants to get in her pants.
The rain had stopped when they got to the restaurant and they walked in together. Carl and Sophia scooted into a booth together and twinkled at him. Carol sat her ass down in the booth like she didn't know she had been played. Wonder if Sissy knows she is getting played by Carl. Notice there were some other boys in that theater. He is marking his territory, the little shit. I'm keeping my eye on him. I know boys. I am one.
The conversation was dominated by the kids. Apparently poor Carl wasn't exactly lighting up the baseball field with his hitting. Like I give a rat's behind if this kid is a loser at baseball. I never even got to play Little League.
Sophia mentioned that there was a park nearby with batting cages and pitching machines. I am being played. Those two want me to drive over there and let the little shit practice. Like I am a damn chauffeur, but Carl has been a good friend to Sissy. "You wanta go over there after we eat and hit a few balls. I got time."
He was the last to order and he just picked whatever Carol was having. The food arrived sizzling hot and all four of them plunged in like they were starving. The mood was relaxed and it felt as if they did shit like this all the time.
Then he drove to the park that had the batting cages. Carol and Sophia disappeared in the direction of the restrooms and they both wanted to see the ducks on a distant pond.
He and Carl watched them go, "I don't know anything about baseball." Didn't want the boy to get the wrong idea.
"I just keep striking out. I'm going to be the kid that only gets to come in for one inning if I don't do better." Carl admitted.
They fed the machine enough quarters and Carl stepped into the plate, swung wildly at the first three pitches, and missed them all. Carl looked ready to burst into tears. Merle would have called him a damn pussy.
Daryl patted Carl's shoulder, "Just swing the bat naturally. Don't try to hit it out of the park. Just let me see that."
Carl swung the bat again and Daryl stopped him, "You ain't no big leaguer. Just swing like you want to meet something in the air. Even like."
Carl tried again. "That's better. Now next time don't think about anything but meeting the ball. Just swing easy and try to meet it. That's what I do when I hunt. I put everything out of my mind and I focus on my target. "
Carl missed three in a row, but he wasn't swinging wildly and he hit it on the fourth ball. Daryl just stepped back and let the kid work through it and the kid was killing the ball most of the time. Carol and Sophia came back later and every one took a turn. Daryl missed the first two on purpose and he laughed when Carl reminded him to "focus" on his target. He hit the next one far enough to impress his audience. Sophia managed to make contact most of the time and Carol swung halfheartedly and handed the bat back. Little afraid to let out her inner warrior. Too much time suppressing it.
Carl came back in and nodded in Daryl's direction, "Relax, just try to meet the ball, and don't think of anything else." Carl repeated the mantra to himself and he made good contact with the ball on most of his swings. Showing off for Sophia, the little shit.
Daryl noticed that Carl was dropping his shoulder after a while, "That's enough, Tiger. Better save something for the game."
Carl lingered by the van when they got home. Carol and Sophia went on in the house. Must be a man to man talk.
"Thank you, Daryl. You helped me and I appreciate it. Just hope I can remember what you told me when I get in a game."
"You'll do fine. Now get the hell outta here so I can get some work done."
Daryl picked up the leveling compound and carried it into the house. I have to get changed and maybe I'll get some work done.
Sophia camped out in the kitchen in a lawn chair reading while he and Carol worked on leveling the floors in the bathrooms and sanded the dry wall in the upstairs bedrooms. They talked as they worked. "You remind me of Ripley in the movie. Never get between a female and her child."
Carol looked sad, "I didn't do a good job of that in the past or I would have got away from Ed long before I did."
"You got away. That's what matters. Don't put yourself down. It ain't easy to just walk away. They get in your head." I ain't judging. I understand.
She nodded and changed the subject, "You were wonderful with Carl. You'd make a great father." I don't know shit about being a good father.
He gave her a slow once over and she blushed, "I am available. Just saying." She blushed even more. I've got her on the ropes.
Daryl leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I got promises to Merle that I have to keep. You will always put Sophia first. But maybe you and me could carve out something that is just for us? Never cared for any woman the way I care about you." I could have spun some shit that I wanted to make all her tomorrows nothing but rainbows and unicorns, but I don't even know how to do that. I owe Merle and he needs me. Carol don't need to get stuck with a dumb ass redneck like me for life. We're just two fucking ships passing in the night.
Carol looked flustered, "Maybe we could carve out something. I am attracted to you, but I'm not really good at sex." Oh, I think you will be wonderful at it. The Daryl is going to show you how damn hot you really are. You are going to break my fucking heart and I know it. I'm never going to love anyone but you. You'll move on to some guy that drives a Volvo and who will be a good and faithful husband to you. I am just your starter guy and you are my forever woman.
He kissed her again. Not so lightly and just enough so that she would know that he wanted her without being pushy. They went downstairs and locked up the house. Carol went upstairs with Sophia and he took a shower to wash off the dust.
Carol called him at noon the next day, "The school called me at work. Sophia is running a fever and I called her pediatrician."
"Do you need me to go with you?" Like I know what to do.
"No, I can handle this, but I may need you to get the prescriptions. Sometimes the pharmacies get backed up. Is that okay?" She sounded worried.
"Just text me with what you need. I can get it and run it home." Oscar had kids and he had let some of the other fathers work late or early to make up time.
There was a text at two o'clock. "Just got out of the doctor's office. It's the flu, and he gave me a prescription."
At two thirty, "The pharmacy is backed up." He called her at three, "I'm leaving work. Where is the pharmacy?"
He was home in twenty minutes with the prescription. Sophia was in bed upstairs and Carol came down to get the medicine. She looked stressed and Daryl asked, "Is there anything else I can do to help?"
Carol shook her head, "I don't think so."
"How's she feeling?"
"Her doctor says that her fever will probably spike off and on for a couple of days. Sometimes children who get this strain of the flu get pneumonia and if that happens she will have to be hospitalized." Carol's voice got a little quivery at the end and he put his arms around her and she nestled for just a few seconds into him.
"I have to get back to Sophia." She pulled away.
"I'm going back to work. Text me if you need anything. I'll work at the other house this evening, but I'll take the phone." Daryl kissed her cheek. "You have to tell me what you need, okay?" 'Cause I am clueless about sick kids but I want to help.
He didn't see much of Carol or Sophia for three days. He kept stocking Gatorade in the refrigerator and working on the bathrooms. He wasn't sleeping well so he decided that he might as well work. Rick and Carl helped him Monday night. Andrea was still studying for the big test and they were at loose ends as much as he was. They got the sinks and toilets in and everything worked. Everything was finished but the tile in the showers. The upstairs bathroom had a bathtub and a small shower and the downstairs had a larger shower.
He talked to Carol Tuesday evening. Sophia's temperature wasn't spiking as high now but it wasn't normal either. Carol gave him a list of things to buy after work but he went to the grocery store and then went to work on the house. He had mapped what he wanted to do and he worked until midnight to finish. Carol was downstairs when he got home. Her hair was still wet from her shower and she looked exhausted. She is so beautiful that she makes my heart hurt to look at her.
"How's Sophia?"
"She is sleeping more comfortably. I'm staying home with her tomorrow, but she is better." Carol drank some Gatorade. "How is the house going?"
First time she has asked about the house. "Not getting much done without you there to boss me around. Go to bed, you look ready to fall down. Do you need anything?"
Carol smiled wearily at him, "No, I don't need anything. I am going to bed." She hugged him before going upstairs.
He stopped by a Walmart on the way home the next day. Sophia was downstairs looking like shit when he got home. Daryl figured that telling her that she looked death warmed over was probably not right. "You remember that book that you were reading on Sunday?"
"Yeah, I finished it that night. I think I left it at the other house." Sophia looked puzzled, "You want to read it?"
Daryl handed her a plastic bag, "Now that you have finished it, I got you the movie and the next book in the series. Give you something to do until you start feeling better."
Sophia tore open the bag, "That's great. We can watch the movie together and I can tell you all the reasons why the book was better. Thank you, Daryl." She gave him a big hug.
Daryl pretended that he was afraid that she would infect him, "Don't give me those flu cooties." Fuck you, Mr. Volvo driving man. I love Sissy and she knows it.
Carol went into the kitchen. She is going to cry. Sophia being sick is making her too emotional. She should handle things better like I do.
His phone buzzed just then and it was Carl on the line, "Dad having to work later than he thought and Andrea needs to study. Can you take me to the game?" Fuck, no. I got plans that don't include babysitting your spoiled ass to a fucking Little League game. "Get your ass over here. Sophia is up and you talk to her while I get a shower." Damn boy.
Carl got two hits in the game and like a good almost daddy he managed to use his phone to preserve it for eternity. Rick was there for the last hit. A solid single that Carl managed to make it to second base when the shortstop threw it over the head of the first baseman. He and Rick celebrated by punching each other on the shoulder.
Sophia was asleep when they got back and Carol watched the video of Carl hitting the ball dutifully. "How bad were the parents?"
"Where is Child Protective Service when you need them?"
It was Thursday night before Carol saw the bathrooms. The master bathroom was perfectly tiled with white subway tiles and with a blue and black mosaic bordering the top of the shower below the window. He had created niches along the shower with the mosaic at the niche. The shower floor was white with a scattering of the blue and black tiles. The backsplash at the vanity sink was the same blue and black mosaic. The bathroom floor matched the floor of the shower stall. Carol loved it.
The upstairs bathroom was white and blue subway tiles. It was simple and looked fantastic. Daryl had created a backsplash in the same pattern. Sophia was tired and they went back to the house to watch the video with her.
Friday night they painted crown molding and prepped to paint the dining room, living room and the downstairs bedroom. Carol looked at him as he finished putting up the last strip of painter's tape. "You kept asking me when Sophia was sick if there was anything you could do for me."
"Yeah, but I couldn't do much more than go pick something up from the store."
Carol looked flustered again, "There is something you can do for me now."
Daryl got down off the ladder, "What do you need?"
"I want you to take me to bed." Good thing I got off that fucking ladder before she said that. I probably would have fallen off and wouldn't be able to do either of us any good. "Not right now. I mean later after Sophia goes to sleep. You do have something here, right?" She sounds so nervous. Guess she means condoms. She would be practical. I guess sex in the new bathroom is out. For now anyway.
Daryl kissed her, "I can do that for you." Like a million times, sex on an endless loop, and we'll ride that merry go round as long as you want.
AN
Here's the thing. I can write house porn and food porn and arm porn ect. But I am awful at writing porn porn. So don't expect their first time to be anything but a comedy of errors.
Daryl loves Carol but he is feels an obligation to Merle.
Carol loves Daryl but she is afraid to make a long term commitment to anyone but Sophia. They are ships passing in the night.
Next chapter will be Carol's side of the event.
I love your reviews.
.