When they got inside, Daryl reached over and took Sophia's sunglasses off. The bruise looked infected. Daryl was shocked, how could a man do this to a 7 year old.
"I have a shirt you can wear for dinner and before you go back there you can put this shirt back on okay sweetie" Daryl told her handing her one of Carl's shirts. Yes it was a boy shirt but he didn't really think Sophia minded. "I'll put something on that after dinner too okay?" Sophia nodded and Daryl pointed her in the direction of the bathroom.
Daryl removed Carol's sunglasses and thought about how beautiful she was even with the bruises. Daryl handed her a shirt and pointed her to his room.
"One question. Why do you stay with him?" Daryl asked. Catching her off guard.
"I don't have anywhere else to go." She responded. Then she turned and walked into the room.
Daryl went into the kitchen and started making plates. He set the table put the food on it and got out water bottles. When Sophia came into the dinning room, she was covered in bruises. Her arms just looked horrible. Daryl would help both her and her mother, he was sure now. He put Sophia in a chair and made her plate for her.
When Carol came out it took so much strength not to hug her and find out where she lived so he could kill the man that did this to her and Sophia. Daryl pulled out the woman's chair and pushed her in.
"I didn't quite catch your name outside." Daryl said while making his plate. He noticed she wasn't making hers so he made hers for her.
"Carol." She said. She was quiet. Merle would give her a nick name like little bird or mousey.
"It's nice to meet you Carol That is a beautiful name. My name is Daryl." Daryl restated to Carol she smiled. She had the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.
"Your name means strong, caring." Carol said looking up from her plate. "Are you? Strong and Caring?" She asked taking a bite of the chicken in front of her.
"Well let's see. I own a farm and I do all the work. I have two strangers in my house eating my food, and I plan on helping them more then just this. What do you think?" Daryl responded taking a bite of corn.
"I think you are a regular cowboy. Nice and kind but strong and firm. How else do you want to help us? We don't even know you and you don't know us. Why do you want to help us?" Carol asked as she finished her plate. Sophia was done now too. Carol held Daryl's gaze for a long time before breaking it to tell Sophia it was time to leave.
"Wait." Daryl said catching Carol by the hand. "I want to help you because no one helped my mom or my sister or me or my brother. I want to help you before it's to late like it was for my mom." Daryl said. He never let go of Carol's hand. "You said the only reason you stayed was because you had no where else to go. Stay here. There's plenty of room, I can hide your truck back in the woods and in a day or two I can run you into town and you can file for divorce and a restraining order. For both you and Sophia, please Carol." When Daryl said her name he felt something. He felt protective.
"What do you want from me for this?" Carol asked scared.
"Company. Nothing more. Hell, I cook and clean and take care of everything else. I just want someone to talk to." Daryl said. What he said was true. He didn't want anything from her or Sophia. Just someone to talk to.
"Mommy can we please stay? I don't want to go back to daddy" Sophia said crying. Carol picked her up and held her close.
"We can stay." Carol said to Sophia but was looking at Daryl who smiled.
Daryl showed Sophia and Carol around the house and showed Sophia where she would be sleeping.
"It's pink! Daddy said that pink is an ugly color so I'm not aloud to have anything pink." Sophia said. She looked like she was going to cry.
"Well for as long as you are here this is your room. Pink is beautiful just like you." Daryl said. Sophia smiled.
Daryl left the room while Carol put Sophia to bed. When she came back out into the hall way Daryl lead Carol to his room where she would be sleeping.
"Thank you for everything." Carol said as Daryl got her out some pajamas.
"Your welcome. Thank you for staying." Daryl said setting the clothes down on the bed. "Do you want to go to the courts tomorrow or the Thursday?" Daryl asked turning around while Carol got dressed.
"What about school for Sophia? I would prefer to go tomorrow so they can see the bruises." Carol she then said okay and Daryl turned around and was surprised to see Carol already in bed.
"A friend of mine teaches the local kids. I can walk Sophia over there tomorrow morning with ya and talk to her about it." Daryl responded.
"Okay." Carol said. Daryl smiled then left the room. She could sleep up in his room. He always fell asleep on the couch anyway.