Carol got dressed in the bathroom while Sophia flipped through Shawn's extensive music collection on his i-Pod, so that she and Shawn could talk without her hearing what they were saying. Carol knew Sophia was listening, because she could hear the lyrics to Shake It Out coming from the headphones and Sophia's mouth. Shawn was on the other side of the door, listening as Carol told him about what happened with Daryl.
She opened the door, zipping her the boots Karen bought her. They were new and possibly a size too small. Carol couldn't wear her tennis anymore, and someone threw away her other shoes, so she was stuck with these. They would do for now. "Satisfied?"
"You're working together." He was smirking. "Nice thighs."
"What? Apart from creepy!" She looked herself over. She wore a faded floral dress with draped flutter sleeves and defined waist. It was the only thing she felt comfortable in. It was the first dress she wore the first time she left her dorm with the best friend she'd ever had. It meant a lot to her. She was also showing a lot of leg, even if her boots almost went to her knees. "I should change."
"No, don't. You look great."
"You just want me to leave so you can tell Sophia every one of my embarrassing childhood stories." She put earrings in.
"Well, duh." He stood up. "I have so many. Where will I begin?"
"I don't care, just leave out everything to do with Daryl." She grabbed the knapsack. "Camera?"
"Break it and I'll kill you." He handed his precious baby to her. "Gently, please."
"It's a camera." She set it in the knapsack, zipping it. "That's all I need. Break her, and I'll do worse than kill you."
"I know. She's in good, pillow-padded hands. Beth's already threatened me."
"Beth's really taken to her, hasn't she?" Carol smiled.
"Like a vicious mama puma."
She checked her watch. "I should go. Daryl's lunch is at one, and I have to look over that entire house. I'm scared to see what he did to it."
"Me too. That guy never cleans. Five years of grime—good luck."
She rolled her eyes and crouched down next to Sophia. "Honey?"
"You gotta go?" She tugged the headphones down, sitting up. "Why can't I come?"
"'Cause you and Shawn have horses to feed and Violet may have her babies today." She pulled Sophia closer. "Besides, Mr. Dixon and I need to talk—about the house and repairs. It's boring."
"So? I like him. I wanna come."
"Don't whine. Once I know what all needs to be done, you can help me with painting and gardening and deciding where furniture goes. I promise."
"Okay."
"Give me a hug?"
Sophia hugged her mom tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too." She kissed the top of her head and released her. "I'll be home soon. Keep an eye on Shawn."
"Ha ha." He shot her a glare.
"Bye, baby." She left the house and went to Daryl's house. He'd left a note in the mailbox with the key inside. She smiled at the note—keep your nosy ass outta my mailbox, Jeanette—and went inside. She'd forgotten how nosy their neighbors were. They were probably all looking his way now that she was back in town. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable at all. She was just trying to sort out her life now. He was apart of her life, no matter what, and if they could be friends, she would gladly take that chance. She hoped this job was his way of reaching out. She was going to make his house look amazing, so he'll stay and maybe they can bond while...scraping off grime.
She set her bag down, digging out Shawn's camera and taking it out of its case. She started down in the basement. It was full of old junk still. She smiled at the memory that old junk brought.
– – –
"Go see what's down there."
"Why me?" Daryl asked, leaning on the door frame.
"Those steps could break under my weight." Carol gestured to the baby bump, trying to make it seem like she weighted so much more. If she turned around, no one could tell she was pregnant. In fact, her pregnancy looked like a basketball was resting under her shirt.
"What weight?" he challenged.
"Please. The sooner we know what's down there, the sooner we can get the washing machine and dryer down there."
"You owe me." He took the flashlight.
She smirked. "Sure, I do."
"If I die down there, I'm hauntin' you."
"Then I'll take Andrea up on her "gift"."
He glared, clicked on the flashlight and went down the stairs slowly, Carol bit her lip nervously as he fell out of sight, and he started choking on the dust in the air. He covered his mouth with his shirt and looked around. It was full of old toys and a few tables. It was probably spacious if they cleaned it up. He weaved his way through thick ass cobwebs and found the the broken bulb dangling above his head. He changed it and called up to her.
"Should I come down?" She turned the light on.
"No, definitely not." He saw spiders everywhere, but none of them were deathly. "Damn, I'm gonna need a bigger shoe."
"Daryl?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you almost done? I'm hungry."
He made his way through the junk and headed up the stairs, shaking dust out of his hair, and Carol was smiling, thoroughly amused. "What?"
"You went in black and came out gray." She picked a web out of his hair. "C'mon, the hose out back should work."
He smirked. "Hell no."
"Daryl, you're covered in dust and cobwebs."
"So? Been dirtier than this."
"Fine, but you look like Grandpa Daryl."
"Oughta get used to it. One day, I'm gonna get called that."
"Do I hear resentment?"
"Do you?" He arched a brow.
"Daryl." She searched his eyes. "Do you regret—?"
"I regret lettin' you pick out the name," Daryl finished. "Ethan Dixon? I know it means a lot to you, but our kids gonna get his ass kicked."
"He will not. And there's always Nora," she added with a smile. "You chose Nora. Besides, we're waiting, remember?"
"Next one's on me." He was totally going to sneak a peek at the chart. Ethan Dixon or Nora Dixon, he had to know.
"Deal."
– – –
She walked up the stairs to the first floor and turned to kitchen, taking pictures of everything. She could see the counters needed major work, and the tiles were chipped. The walls needed to be repainted desperately. She and Daryl had decided on a cheesecake yellow, because it was inviting. Now it looked like mustard had died on the walls. Maybe a blue or green. It would give it some life. They could add a plant.
She opened the double French doors. They needed cleaning. She might be able to some stained glass for them. Karen's sister was an artist, and she was in town for two weeks. She loved Carol like a sister, so if she wanted stained glass, she had it free of charge. Katrina did it for a hobby too, and Carol loved the flowers she did.
She looked over the living room and internally cringed. Daryl had kept the same furniture, and that would be fine if it wasn't so dingy now. The TV was the only thing worth saving. The couch was broken down, the chairs were usable and decent, but they would look better in the basement. Daryl would probably want a room to keep his crossbow and other hunting gear, so the chairs could go down there.
She glanced down and saw the ugly clay dish she'd made her freshmen year. She and Daryl kept it to put keys and candy and receipts in it. She thought for sure Daryl would've thrown it away. He hated it, always tried to throw it away, but she wanted to keep it as a memento. Perhaps he kept it...because it meant so much to her, and he couldn't let go of her completely.
Don't. She shook her head and started up the stairs. Just don't. Her body was forever marked by Daryl. Before she got pregnant, Daryl talked her into getting a tattoo with him. He wanted something to cover the scars, and she tagged along. He left with two killer tattoos, and she left with a Cherokee rose, Daryl told the story again after they lost Ethan.
She started in the guest bedroom, deciding to redo the whole room—new mattress, new sheets, new curtains, etc. She wanted to bring some light into this room, but she wanted to it to still be Daryl's. They would have to go look at sheets and curtains together. He may not like it, but they were going to spend a lot of time together. She hoped he could re-tile the kitchen and bathroom floors. She might have to recruit T and Shawn.
She took a deep breath before opening their bedroom door. She hoped Daryl hadn't destroyed it. She didn't want to have to redo this room. She loved it and all of their time spend in there together. She braced herself and opened it.
The room was dusty, but untouched. Daryl hadn't move anything. It was all in order, just a few drawers hung open and the blankets were pulled down. He hadn't set foot in this room since she left him, had he? That cut her deep. What had she done to him?
– – –
Carol looked over the house with the realtor that he and Shawn had found one the other day when they got lost following Shawn's directions, and he could see she was already very taken with the house. It had everything she ever talked about in a house. She used to go on and on when Beth kept bugging her just to prove that she was leaving the minute she could afford a house and to prove she could bug Beth back. The house needed a little work, but they had time to fix it up before the baby came. Carol wasn't even showing yet.
He waited downstairs as Jenny showed Carol the upstairs and backyard, and when they returned, Carol was biting her lip to not smile. He pushed off the wall and joined them, Jenny gave them a moment to talk, and he asked her what she thought.
"I love it," she admitted. "Can we afford it?"
"Don't worry 'bout the price." Daryl has never told her he'd been saving his money for years, and Hershel had even offered to help pay for the house. "You love it?"
"Yes, it's a perfect place to raise a family. Did you see the backyard?" She was smiling wide now. "And the upstairs? Three bedrooms and two bathrooms."
"Guess we're home."
"We're home." She hugged him.
––
They had finished moving in the boxes, the mattress and since Carol couldn't do heavy lifting, she, Beth and Maggie were setting up her and Daryl's bedroom while Shawn and Daryl were moving in the heavy items: couches, chairs, dressers, etc. Annette and Patricia were unpacking the dishes downstairs, and Hershel and Otis were repairing the fence in the backyard. Jacqui was stopping by with some paint and lunch later, and T-dog was going to bring over some tables the church didn't have a use for anymore.
Beth set the last pillow on the bed and smoothed out the comforter. "So, how long till you know the sex?" Beth picked up a box of extra sheets and opened the closet. Carol and Maggie exchanged looks then rolled their eyes, and when Carol didn't answer, Beth looked at her. "Carol?"
"Why?" Carol folded a box.
"'Cause I wanna know." She set the sheets on the shelf near the back. She was going to try and make something for the baby over the summer since she had no plans. She didn't want to use white or yellow. She wanted to use pink or blue. Yellow was not gender neutral. "How long till you know?"
"I'll let you know."
"Do you have any names in mind?" Maggie set the framed pictures on the dresser Daryl and Shawn had just brought up.
"A few." Carol shrugged. "But I haven't talked to Daryl about them, and we don't know the sex, so they're just...suggestions."
"Like?" Maggie pressed.
"For a boy, I was thinking...Ethan."
"After your dad." Beth smiled a little. "That's real sweet."
"And for a girl?" Maggie turned.
"I'll get back to you on that." She looked around. "That's everything?"
"Almost." Beth pulled out a small box. "I brought red velvet cupcakes. Well, red velvet, Dutch chocolate and a poppy seed muffin."
"Aww, Mom's gonna kill you," Maggie reminded her. "She wants Carol healthy."
"So? It's just one cupcake."
"It's just one cupcake," Carol agreed.
"Why am I bad guy?" Maggie put her hands on her hips. "Always the bad guy. Why the hell is that?"
"I don't know." Carol licked icing off the cupcake.
"Maybe 'cause you're always remindin' us of what Mom doesn't want us to do." Beth held out Maggie's cupcake. "Glenn made it special for you."
"Glenn?" Carol's brows rose.
"Beth!" Maggie glared.
"Well, she's gonna find out sooner or later."
She snatched the cupcake and sat down on the bed. "It's nothing. He just has a stupid little crush on me. I'm not interested."
"In Glenn?" Beth frowned.
"In men." She licked icing off her fingers. "At least not right now. I gotta leave next week, so I'm not gonna start a relationship."
"But he's so cute."
"And virginal," Carol teased.
"Really? A virgin? I thought you were a virgin then you tell us you're pregnant."
Carol smacked Maggie's hand, the cupcake smashed into her mouth and nose, and Beth and Carol busted out laughing at the result. Maggie would kill them when no one was looking and after the baby was born.
––
"No more boxes." Daryl dropped onto the bed, exhausted and sore. "Or couches and shitty tables."
"They were nice tables," Carol reprimanded. "They just need polished." She flicked the bathroom light off and crawled under the covers. She noticed how Daryl watched out the window, as if waiting for somebody. "Did you tell your father?"
"About you and the baby?" He shook his head. "Hell no."
"Why not?"
"I don't want him to know 'bout you." He looked at her. "After the last time y'all met, I don't want nothin' to do with him. He don't deserve a second chance."
"Don't you dare give him one either," she huffed. "I was only asking, because I don't what him to know or Merle, but I can live with Merle knowing."
"Deal." He half-smiled. "I got somethin' for you."
"Really? And what's that?"
He reached into the nightstand that Shawn had generously given them from his own bedroom—since he dropped and broke Carol's nightstand—and pulled out a flower. It wasn't real. It was a pastry from Rhee's, and Carol could hear her mother telling her not to eat it, but her mom wasn't here, and it looked really, really good. "Figured we could share it."
"That'd be great." She smiled. "It's really pretty."
"It's a Cherokee rose." He opened the container.
"I know. I have it tattooed on my hip." She took one of the petals.
"Regret it yet?"
"No." She bit into the petal, and it really soft, not too sweet. It almost had a lemon flavor. Faintly. It was really good. Glenn's mother could bake like no other. If he and Maggie got together, she'd be the husband still, and Maggie should hope he can cook like his mother. "Why this and not a red velvet cupcake?"
"'Cause I ran into Beth at the shop. This one's healthier, supposedly."
"I have a question." She met his eyes. "What would you want to our baby's name to be if it's a girl?"
He shrugged. "Thought you'd have a name."
"I don't. I do for a boy."
"Ethan?"
"Yes. Am I that predictable?" She bit her lip.
"Nah, it's what I was thinkin' too."
"Really?"
He nodded.
"Why?"
"I'm gonna brush my teeth." He set the container down and left.
"Uh, Daryl!"
"Uh, Carol," he aped her.
"Yes, very mature." She brushed invisible crumbs off the bed. "My child has no father."
He chuckled softly, poking his head into the room with the toothbrush in his mouth. "Stop."
She laughed.
– – –
She closed the door and finished the last two rooms. She needed to talk to him, but slowly. She didn't want to rush him with the whole story, but he had a right to know. It was their marriage, not hers, and she would tell him everything, no matter what. She had to after that phone call. She really hoped he didn't bring it up right away. She needed time to not think about Ed.
––
"So," T-dog began, "I heard Carol Greene's back."
Daryl didn't even blink. He wiped his oily fingers on his rag and met his eyes. "Yeah, she's back."
"With a four-year-old little girl," he pressed.
"You hear this from Jacqui?" Daryl took a drink of water.
"I'm just sayin'. Y'all split up four, five years ago? She could be yours." He leaned against the car.
"So?" He closed the hood and shrugged. "Don't mean nothin'."
"So, you don't care if that kid's yours?" He eyed Daryl. "Or that maybe Carol came back to be with you?"
"It ain't like that."
"Then what's it like?"
Daryl didn't reply. He honestly didn't know what to say. Why was Carol back? Did she want to reconcile just their relationship? Did she want more? Maybe she lost her house and came back home so Sophia didn't have to sleep on the floor or at a shelter. Maybe someone nutjob was after her—probably that since that phone call. But only Carol truly knew. He'd find out eventually if she was preparing his house and making it ready to be sold.
"I don't wanna see you get hurt," T confessed. "The first time she left, it took us all by surprised. If she plans to leave again, make sure you know."
Daryl gave a slight nod.
"Get back to work." He tossed a wrench at Daryl. "I don't pay you to stand there and look pretty."
Daryl scoffed. "It's my lunch break."
As soon as he said it, Carol walked in. T-dog had to look twice to make sure it was her. She was tall, skinny, and she'd dressed up. Her hair was curled, she wore makeup, and her dress was more than flirty. He felt bad for Daryl. He knew Carol still had his mangled heart in her clutches, but she probably didn't know that, and she was seriously playing with it right now.
"T-dog!" She started to hug him, but he held his hands up, gesturing to the grease on his uniform. "Right. I'll get back you." She smiled and walked over to Daryl. "Ready?"
"Lemme change."
She nodded and waited there while he went to the back and changed. "So," she said to T as he worked, "how have you been?"
"Good. I've been real good. And you?"
"I'm better now. I forgot how much I loved it here. And Sophia—my daughter—loves it here too. I think we're going to stay."
"That a fact?"
"I understand that I pissed you off when I left," she stepped toward him, lowering her voice "and making you swear to me that you'd look after Daryl no matter what was wrong. I should've been looking after him, and I shouldn't have left, but I had my reasons. And I promise I'm not going to do that to him again. We're going to be friends."
He met her eyes. "You don't need to tell me that."
"I know. I just...felt as though I should. You and Daryl are close, so—" she cut off when Daryl entered the room. "Well, it was nice talking to you, but we should go. We have a lot to discuss over lunch."
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off?" T offered. "It's been a slow day anyway."
"Really?" Daryl didn't trust his reasons for giving him the day off.
"Yeah."
"Okay." Daryl turned to her. "Your car or mine?"
"Yours, if you don't mind. I still have luggage in mine."
They left T-dog to finish the Horvath's car, and they went to the Greene Leaf since it was nearby and Daryl always went there for lunch. They weren't pricy and the food was good. They got a seat in the back, Jacqui brought them Daryl's usual drinks and two sandwiches that she made only for Daryl. She gave them a knowing look before leaving.
"So, how bad is it?" He bit into the sandwich.
"Not very." She crossed her legs and pulled out a folder of pictures. "We can do it within a few weeks." She tucked hair behind her ears, moving her plate and showing him the kitchen pictures. "I circled the areas that are fine, but the house hasn't been cleaned properly since...I don't know, the fifties? We never really got around to it, so it's going to be a lot of work."
He nodded, looking over the pictures as she went over them. He glanced over at her as she explained why he needed to re-tile, and he examined her face. Her eyes were accentuated by the makeup she wore, her skin looked so soft but it was her mouth caught his attention. He remembered the taste of her lip gloss. It was always the same kind, and he always tasted that artificial strawberry out of the blue when they were together. She wore a light pink lipstick now.
"I was thinking we could buy a loveseat and a new couch and move the chairs downstairs." She looked at him to see how much he hated that suggestion, but she just found him zoned out and staring at her. "Daryl?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Not really. I'm tired. Didn't get much sleep last night." He wasn't lying. He'd been up half the night trying to sort out how he felt about Carol being back and what the hell he was going to do if Sophia was his daughter. "Can't this wait? We needa talk."
"Yes, of course."
"Not here."
"Where then?"
"My place. C'mon." He paid for their lunch then drove back to his house. They settled in the kitchen, sitting on stools with the pictures on the counter, but the folder was closed. Carol waited for him to ask her the question, but he didn't start the conversation off that way.
"I started drinkin'," he told her. "I fell back on old habits after you left."
She dropped her eyes, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry. I honestly never thought I was hurting you." She lifted her head. "We were in a horrible place, and I thought—"
"You thought wrong," he snapped.
"Don't snap at me. I had every reason to believe you didn't want to be with me. You had pull so far away from me, Daryl. I tried to reach you, but...nothing worked." Her eyes filled with tears. "I was hurting too, but I put my pain aside to try and help you with yours."
"Bullshit," he seethed. "You were just as distant as me, if not more! Wouldn't even let me touch you, and you barely looked at me!"
"I was never taught how to cope with the loss of a child! Were you?" she hissed. "I tried my best, and it wasn't enough!"
"Tsk, like you gave it your best! You put more effort into school than our relationship after Ethan!"
"I'm sorry I didn't want to cater to you after I had to give birth to our stillborn son. I'm sorry therapy wasn't working or the medications. I'm sorry you were gone, drinking and doing God knows what when I needed you. I'm so—"
"I really hate those words," he growled.
"So do I."
"By the way, Carol, who do you think made me drink?" His eyes might as well have been pitch black as he stared intensely at her. It wasn't a glare, but it burned into her so deep. She wished he was glaring. God, his eyes told a story that made her ache, and she was a part of that horrid story now too.
"What more do you want?" she demanded.
"The truth! Why did you leave? After the show you put on, why?"
"I wanted the best for you, and I thought if I left, you and T would become partners and you would have your focus back. You wouldn't have me and our personal hell at home. I thought I was doing you a favor!" She searched his eyes, trying to see if he understood that.
He scoffed. "Do you even know what you did?"
"Yes, I know." Her eyes followed him as he began to pace, rubbing his jaw. "It was the best way for me to leave things. It was the best way to say goodbye."
"I don't mean you leavin'," he informed her. "I woulda been fine if you hadn't—Tsk. Stupid..."
"If I hadn't what?" She couldn't tell what he was thinking. His eyes were hardened, and his body language was all over the place. Her stomach was tightening. "Daryl, if I hadn't what?"
"You gave me hope," he confessed. "I thought... Hell, I thought we were makin' progress. I thought we were gettin' better."
Her heart sank to her stomach. "Daryl, I—"
"Stop," was all he said before he left the room.
Her eyes burned heavily. Of all the things she thought that night meant, she never thought it meant they were reconciling. She had so many plans and so many things to do the next morning, and she kept focusing on the little things. She couldn't let herself think that that was the first step to trying to make their relationship work again. She always thought they were doomed to have a horrible divorce and forever hate each other. She thought that was the gentlest way to say goodbye. When he came home, he didn't even look at her, and they were barely talking during dinner, and even while they made love, she felt disconnected from him. She thought he felt the same, but...he didn't. He thought they were recovering. How did she not know that? How could she not have known he felt that way?
Her decision to leave was apparently the best choice if she didn't know he felt that way. They weren't who they were before her pregnancy, and they wouldn't be those people again. Her decision really was for the best, even if they both went down horrible paths after. They were home now, and maybe now they would try and make a relationship work. Maybe now they could help each other.
For now, she needed to just go, but only after they talked about the house. She wasn't giving up. They may never have a decent relationship, but at least Daryl's house will be a home. He never had a home permanently, so she owed him that much.
Drying her eyes, she went to his bedroom and knocked. "Daryl?" She put her ear to the door. "Daryl, we need to talk."
He said nothing.
"Do you want my help with the house or not?"
He opened the door, she jumped back in surprise, and he met her eyes. "Yeah, I want your help, just gimme some time."
"If I had known you felt that way, I would've—"
"Don't. If Sophia ain't mine then you're wishin' her away."
She nodded. "I'm so sorry, Daryl."
"Waited five years just for that." He shook his head.
"Not just that," she assured him. "We have more to talk about, but later."
"Much later," he agreed.
"I'm going to look at paint options, and I'll call you." He nodded. "Let me know which ones you like. When you're ready to see me again, of course. I—I won't push." She offered him a small smile.
"Yeah."
She hugged him, he tensed up momentarily then wrapped his arms slowly around her, pulling her closer. He hadn't held her in his arms in so long. He never thought he would again. She fit perfectly against him, and she was warm in his arms. He held her tighter, smelling the coco on her hair and the scent of soap lingered on her skin, and he didn't want to let her go. He'd held in so many emotions for so long. Sooner or later, he was going to erupt.
– – –
The birds were loudly chirping the next morning, the sun streamed in through the open curtains, and Carol woke to movement. She opened her eyes and found Daryl's looking her over. She sat up as he set his feet on the floor. She saw more scars on his torso, and she made herself not cry. She'd seen Daryl shirtless before, but she'd never seen those scars. Probably because the lights were always off. Her chest ached.
"What time is it?" Daryl asked, groggy.
"I don't know. It's past seven, though. Mom opens the curtains in the house when she gets up at seven-thirty."
He rubbed his eyes. "What happened?"
"Daddy cleaned your wounds and gave you something to ease the pain." She set her feet on the floor and leaned over to look at his face. "You're going to be fine, and these shouldn't scar."
"I needa go home."
"What?" She prayed she misheard him.
"I don't like it, but where else am I gonna go?"
"Here. My parents said you could stay as long as you need."
"I ain't stayin' here."
"Why not?"
"'Cause it's gonna be weird. Your "daddy" don't even like me, and your mom's just too damn sweet to throw me out 'cause I'm injured."
"No cussin' in the house," Annette told Daryl, entering with a tray of breakfast food. She set it down on the table beside him then dug through the drawers. "These oughta fit. They're Shawn's. He never wears them." She set out a red plaid shirt and brown pants. "If you need anything, Carol can get it for you. I have work to do."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Thank you, Mrs. Greene."
"Call me Annette." She kissed Carol's forehead. "Happy birthday, pretty girl."
Carol smiled and blushed. "Thanks."
Her mom left the room, Carol picked up the glass of orange juice from the tray since her mom had brought two, and she peered out the window,
seeing Otis and Patricia helping her father. Maggie and Beth were probably in school right now. Carol was glad her mom didn't ask her if she was going today. She really didn't want to go and deal with other people today.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Daryl cussed under his breath.
"You love breaking that rule." She smiled and leaned against the windowsill. "What is it?"
"I forgot today was your birthday." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That's okay." Carol could hear the disappointment in her voice. She walked over to the door and opened it. "You should eat and get changed. I'll see you later." She drank the orange juice on the way to her room then took a long shower and got dressed. She returned to Daryl's room. He was buttoning up his shirt, and since the tray was gone, he'd taken it back after eating. That was sweet of him.
"May I come in?" She leaned in the doorway.
"'Course."
She closed the door behind her. "I think we need to talk."
"You think?"
"I know." She remained standing."Why didn't you tell me you were being abused by your father?"
"Why should I have told you? It was my problem."
She swallowed. "Daryl, we have been dating for two years, but I've known you longer than that, so your problems become our problems."
"How the hell was I supposed to tell you? On your birthday? On a holiday? At school? You don't tell nobody somethin' like this and expect—" He cut off, sighing and shaking his head.
"Expect what?" she demanded. "Don't stop. Expect what?"
"Expect everythin' to be same!" He shot up. "You woulda actin' different around me, treated me different."
She didn't say anything.
"It was my problem. I was handlin' it."
"Your entire body is covered in scars, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Who's ain't? Mine are just visible."
"How long has this been going on?"
"Tsk, I don't know." He rubbed his jaw. Too goddamn long.
"I can't tell you what to do—no one can—but I think you should press charges."
He narrowed his eyes at her.
"What he did was wrong, and he had no reason to do it."
"Lemme deal with my problems."
She sighed and shook her head now. "If you really want to be left alone with your problems then so be it. I have chores."
He watched her leave and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. He waited until he heard the backdoor shut then met Shawn at the front door.
"Was pissing her off really necessary?" Shawn asked.
"To get her off my back, yeah, it was."
"You'll never tell me what're you planning, so this better be worth it. She's still my little sister." Shawn slid him Maggie's car keys. "Be careful."
Daryl gave a nod and left just as Carol reentered the house. She couldn't find any shoes, not even her work boots that were left outside. What the hell?