Chapter 43
Chris was to be best man. When the day of the wedding finally came I stood in a room with Eveleen, Andrea, Lori, Maggie, Beth, Patricia, Carol and Sophia. Maggie had loaned me a dress she had worn to her father and step-mother's wedding. I never wore dresses so it felt a little strange. However Maggie thought I looked amazing.
"Wait till Daryl see you. He'll die."
"That would not be funny."
We all started to laugh and then Rick came to us.
"I asked Rick to walk me down the isle." Eveleen said.
I smiled and then we all took out positions. We had managed to make the outside a sort of church. I had hung flowers on the porch and Daryl, Glenn and T-dog made a sort of arch. I took Chris's arm and we began our walk. We took our places and I winked at Anthony. The look on his face when he saw Eveleen was indeed priceless. Anthony had written his own vows.
"Eveleen…..the day we met I knew you were the one for me. You're beautiful, smart and don't have a mean bone in your body. And I love everything about you. I promise to protect you and love you everyday for the rest of our lives." Anthony said.
I smiled and Eveleen had tears in her eyes.
"Anthony….there are no words to explain my love for you. I trust you with my life and everything I have." She said.
"Well all that's left is for you to kiss your bride." Hershel said.
They smiled at each other and then their lips met.
"OOMPA!"
I looked over at Glenn.
"I thought you were Korean."
He smiled and just started to laugh. I shrugged and laughed with him and then hugged both Anthony and Eveleen. Of course now I had to dance. I was relieved that all I knew was how to ballroom dance. Chris however was not so lucky. I had to teach him and after about 15 minutes he got it. Glenn and Daryl had a hidden stash of beer. Of course this made the party better. Eveleen remembered how I had made Shane and Rick kiss each other. Well of course once Anthony had sobered up she told him and now he was in charge. Well he and Eveleen and she did not protest when Anthony had T-dog and Shane kiss. I laughed harder then anyone. As I looked around for Daryl I saw he had disappeared. I slipped away and found him on the back porch.
"Daryl?" I asked.
He did not speak nor did he look to me. I walked over and kneeled down in front of him. He was staring off into the distance.
"Daryl?"
"What?"
His voice was a little harsh. However I refused to let this drive me away. I stood and sat down next to him. I did not speak and I did not leave him. He looked at me occasionally and then at last he spoke.
"Ye deserve better then me."
"I beg your pardon?"
He sighed in frustration.
"Don'tcha play dumb! Ye know I ain't good with words and I ain't understanding. Yer better off without me." He said.
My heart broke. He looked back at me and I stood up.
"Why are you saying this?"
"Cause I want ya to have the best. I want ye te have everything ya deserve."
"You believe you do not deserve me?"
He nodded. I did not wish for him to see me cry. I slid my ring from my finger.
"Had it never occurred to you…that perhaps it is I unworthy of you?"
That made him look at me.
"You are a better man then any I have met. I love you with all my heart…..but if you cannot see it…then there is nothing left here for me. So I am leaving….."
"Ye can't!"
"You have no more say. Your words proved that. I will always love you Daryl just as I have said. But your words tell me that you do not love me."
"Ye know that ain't true!"
I shook my head.
"I will never love anyone but you. I love you Daryl. Good-bye."
I set the ring down on the table and then turned and ran. I took my things and changed. I did not say good-bye to anyone. They would only try and stop me. I wanted no one with me. Not even Anthony, Chris and Brandon. I only wanted Daryl….but the question was….was he still mine to have?