A/N Thank you all so very much. I have a lot in store for this story, not just for Merle and Beth, although they are primary, but also for Daryl. Right now, we have a bit more drama.
Merle couldn't believe the woman could cook like she did. Man oh man, that was the best damn rabbit he ever ate, and she'd cooked up some a the taters in the pantry, mashed 'em and made a gravy the like a which he never tasted, but the best part, the best part may have been the biscuits, or maybe it was the way she smiled when he told her she was the best cook in all of Georgia, and just maybe the whole damn United States of America.
"Girl, I'm thinkin' a strikin' up a new deal with ya," he grinned. "Oh really, what kind of deal?" she was a little nervous. "How 'bout you make me up a grocery list for the week, I'll stop by the market on my way home tamorrow n get the things, and you can cook us supper in the evenin's. Hell, ya can stay in the dang apartment free if ya cook like this for me every night," he said with a big smile. "Oh no I couldn't Merle, it's not that I mind the cooking part, I would be happy to do that, but for you to just let me stay free, somehow that doesn't seem right," now she was looking down again.
"Looka here Beth, yer gonna cook for me, yer gonna do my ironing, and yer gonna clean my house. Hell, that's worth way more than $20 a month. You know how many times a week I eat supper at the diner? And I pay the Chinese laundry to wash and iron my clothes, I'll be savin' money!" he declared.
She still wasn't convinced, "Okay, I'll make a list, and you get the things and I'll do the cooking for the next week, then we'll talk about it again, I don't want to be a charity case Merle, and you've already been so kind to me and Tommy."
"I never would treat ya like a charity case, yer gonna be workin' mighty hard Beth, an I ain't very good at all this stuff, 'specially the cookin' part. Yer gonna be a big help ta me. Work's really pickin' up at the garage, an I'm gonna be spendin' a lot more time at the shop, I'ma need someone ta help me keep my bases covered. You're here, you're capable and I trust ya to be in my house when I'm not here. That's definitely a first for me, I don't usually trust anyone Beth," he rubbed the back of his neck. Damn, she was making this hard for him.
"Okay Merle, we'll give it a try," embarrassed again, she couldn't quite meet his eye. She knew how lucky she'd gotten; Merle seemed to be a genuinely good man. She also wasn't stupid, she knew he could get a lot more money for the apartment out back, and she knew he kept his home clean on his own; she'd had to look for things to clean and had ended up wiping down walls and cabinets, sorting the pantry, and stripping and waxing the kitchen floor. She knew he must know how to cook at least some, just based on the foods in his pantry. So, why did he seem so determined to help her and Tommy? She worried a lot about men and their motives, she'd learned from experience, although Merle hadn't made any inappropriate remarks to her, or been forward in any way. And though she had some fear and apprehension, she wasn't going to deny her child food and shelter if she could provide.
Merle didn't know exactly why, but he felt a little excitement over this agreement they'd made. It had seemed like it took her forever to write out that list. When he got to the market and took it out he was a little taken aback. It wasn't just the large, child-like printing and letters, it was the misspelled words. Again, he felt bad for her, "hadn't she been ta school," he wondered, "as slow as I think I can be I got better spellin' and penmanship." And again he wondered to himself, "what the hell happened to this woman?"
Merle felt pretty confident he'd figured it all out and gotten everything she wanted and needed for the week. He felt mighty pleased with himself when the little fella ran to him as he came in the kitchen door, and when he saw the big smile on her face, he thought he felt his heart beat a little faster. Damn, Dixon, yer taken with this woman.
She'd known it would be a late start on dinner Monday evening so she'd planned on something quick and simple, hamburger steak with grilled onions and gravy over her homemade, which she baked earlier that day, and she made steamed carrots with a honey glaze. She knew he worked hard and needed a good dinner, but it was more than that, she found she cared about him; she wanted him to be happy. Even though she was still a little afraid of him, she also felt attracted to him. He was so kind to her and Tommy, he was fun to be around and he didn't judge her. And she also admitted to herself, he was ruggedly handsome.
Merle took a quick shower while she cooked, and Tommy played with pie plates. Merle was smiling through dinner, "This here is real nice Beth, I busted my um, well my butt taday and didn't have time ta eat lunch, this here hits the spot, and I thank ya." "It's my pleasure Merle, it was no trouble at all," he swore her smile was gettin' bigger, "I hope you don't mind, when I was wiping down the pantry I found canned peaches, and there was sugar, cinnamon and flour, and well, I made a peach cobbler. I know it would be better with fresh peaches, but I'm sorry, I didn't have those." "Ya kiddin' me woman, ya made a cobbler? Well I'll be darned. YER the peach girl, and I told ya, quit bein' sorry," he gave her a big happy grin.
Beth wanted to clean the kitchen on her own but Merle insisted he help. Merle washed, Beth dried, while Tommy, happy with his full tummy, again amused himself with the pie pans and some spoons. Beth had never known a man to do the dishes.
When the work was done she asked Merle in a tentative tone, "I couldn't help but notice the beautiful piano would it be okay if I played a song on it?" Damn if she wasn't shakin' again. "You bet, I just look at it and wish I knew what the hell ta do with the thing," he smiled.
Beth sat at the piano and Merle couldn't take his eyes off of her as she began to play "Amazing Grace" and when he heard her voice, he knew he was a goner. Was there anything about this woman that wasn't beautiful? He didn't think so. She rounded it out by singing "Hush Little Baby" to Tommy.
When she was done playing and singing he walked her and Tommy back to the apartment and waited while she lay Tommy down. "Got sumthin' ta say here Beth," he began, nervously rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm real sorry 'bout what happened with Carlotta. There was no excuse for what she done. I was seeing her a little, but we'd agreed it wasn't no big deal an no strings were attached. We weren't datin' or nuthin' like that, just messin' around. When I ended it, she was real mad at me, but she took it out on you. I feel terrible 'bout that." He looked uncomfortable, and even ashamed. "Okay Merle," was all she said. He nodded his head and as he was walking away said, "I'll see you and Tommy tomorrow after work." She smiled and nodded back.
She knew what Carlotta had been to him, and she also knew that Carlotta had obviously wanted more from their relationship. She felt jealous and she didn't understand why. It wasn't like she and Merle were in any kind of relationship, she was just his renter, housekeeper and cook. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't deny she was attracted to the big man.
All week long she cooked him good meals, the kind he loved, pot pies, casseroles and stew. Plus there were the homemade breads and the pies. And as if it was some kind of bonus, she'd started packing him lunches of leftovers. He couldn't figure how a guy like him deserved such great treatment from a beautiful woman. And she was so kind, always interested in hearing about his day, always patient with the boy. Most of all, he couldn't help but notice how much better she and Tommy looked since they were eatin' regular and that made him happier than anything. In fact, he didn't recall ever being happy like this, never thought he would be, not until Beth moved in the apartment out back.
When Saturday came around Merle was up and out of the house early headed to Sears. When he got back one of his employees, Axel, showed up as planned. Merle had a small bed in the back of the pick-up and some building materials. He went to Beth's door and knocked. She opened it with a smile and shyly greeted, "Hi Merle." "Hey Beth, this here's Axel, he works for me down at the shop. We're gonna move a small bed in the bedroom for Tommy, that alright?" "Oh, well that's very nice, but you really didn't have to, we were fine with one bed," "Yep," was all Merle said.
Once the bed was moved in Merle and Axel went to work putting a large chain link gate across the driveway. Ever since the incident with Carlotta, Merle didn't want anyone to be able to just get in. With a gate across the driveway the back would be completely enclosed, and no one could get to Beth's place unless she unlocked the gate. Besides that, Tommy was startin' to play out in the yard more and more and Merle didn't want him to wander off, or have anyone be able to get in and grab him.
When the task was done, Merle slipped Axel some cash and thanked him for his help. Axel wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even he could spot something brewing with Merle and Beth.
That night Beth made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner, and there was vanilla ice cream plus homemade molasses cookies for dessert. Merle smiled broadly, "Saturday night meatloaf, girl you're sweet as sugar."
After the dishes were done, she played piano and sang, and Merle just kept fallin' harder and harder.
Beth couldn't deny how nice this life was. She enjoyed taking care of Merle's home for him, she loved cooking for someone who appreciated it so much, and he always wanted to help her with the clean-up. He asked her about her day, always wanted to hear everything Tommy had done, he seemed so interested in her and Tommys lives, not just his own. He listened to Tommys jabbering, played tag with him in the yard and was teaching him to throw a baseball and a football. She couldn't believe how blessed she was.
Sunday he was up and out of the house early, he had a hankering for squirrel and he sure hoped Beth knew how to cook it, although he couldn't imagine anything she couldn't cook. He couldn't believe his luck; he had taken four fat squirrels in record time. He did a little wandering around out in the woods, just breathing in the fresh air and enjoying nature, before heading back to the house. When he got home he went to the backyard and started dressing his take. He heard a car pull-up and walked around to the gate, it was Rick and Lori Grimes.
"Well hey there Officer Friendly, and the lovely Lori, what have I done to deserve a Sunday visit" Merle greeted, but then he noticed they looked pretty serious, and the kids weren't with 'em. "Hey Merle, Lori's gonna go chat with Beth for a while, how about you keep me entertained?" Rick half smiled. Lori was already knocking on Beth's door.
"What's goin' on Rick?" Merle was mighty uneasy. "Ah shit Merle, there was an incident at church. Someone said something out of line to Beth, insinuated she was over here living in sin with you, tradin' a place to live and food for sex. I'm pretty sure Carlotta started a rumor, she's been madder than a wet hen every time I've stopped at the diner for coffee this week. Heard her saying you dumped her to sleep with a little girl." "Nah, fuck, we ain't got nuthin' like that goin' on," Merle was pissed.
Merle was shaking his head, his fists were balled up and he wanted to punch something or someone, plus he was worried sick about Beth. She'd just been startin' to come outta her shell. He started pacing, damn, how the hell was he gonna make this right?
"When we got home Lori asked our neighbor Karen to come watch the kids so she could come talk to Beth, she thought maybe she could comfort her in some way. She's real fond of the girl. You sure there's nothing going on buddy?" Rick studied Merle. "I'd be lyin' if I told ya I wasn't attracted to the gal, that I wouldn't like ta take up with her, but there's nuthin' like that goin' on Rick," Merle heaved a deep sigh.
Rick just nodded at his friend.
"I'll just finish dressin' out these squirrels, then how 'bout you n me have a beer," Merle rubbed his hand over the back of his head. "Sounds good Merle, as long as I don't have to sit on the porch swing with you," Rick smiled broadly. "Ya ain't that lucky Rick, I'ma make ya sit out here on the back steps and listen to me tell ya about my plans for this yard. Then if yer lucky, I might talk sports with ya," Merle grinned at Rick, but Rick knew Merle and knew he was angry and frustrated.
Beth let Lori in and Lori immediately hugged her, "I'm so sorry Beth. What that old bitty said to you was cruel and she should be ashamed of herself for behaving like that." "I appreciate it Lori, but I know what people think of me, they think I was some kind of loose girl having relations with all kinds of boys and that I got caught. That's not what happened, but it doesn't really matter, everyone just assumes they know."
"Beth, if you ever want to talk about it, I would listen. I don't judge you I wouldn't be in a position to, even if I was inclined. I have my own past," Lori looked at the young woman with such care and concern, Beth responded, "I think I would feel better if I could talk to someone," and over the next hour she told Lori her story. They both cried and they hugged each other tightly.
"Now that you've shared your story with me Beth, I'll share mine with you. We'll keep each other's secrets safe," Lori's smile was small and strained as she began, "Rick and I are from King County. We were high school sweethearts and when we were seniors in High School I got pregnant with Carl. We quickly married and our Mother's tried to manipulate dates, but everyone knew we'd gotten married because I was pregnant. Thankfully Rick was a very popular member of the community and he was able to get on with the Sheriff's Department and we made it work. Then the war came and he joined the Army. He was a sharpshooter and earned a lot of notoriety; he was even awarded the The Silver Star, plus several other medals. He was a hero. I tried to be a good service wife and I did do my part at home. I had my Victory Garden, I donated time, energy and blood to the Red Cross, I wrote Rick a letter twice a week. But I made a terrible mistake. Rick had a close friend from our school days, Shane. Shane got out of the service a few months before the war ended, honestly I'm not even sure why. He started coming by the house, offering to help out with this and that, and it was so nice to have a strong handsome man around the house again. One thing led to another and we had an affair, I ended it when Rick got home, but Shane didn't give up easy, and to further complicate things, I discovered I was pregnant. Rick forgave me and has never questioned that Judith is his child, but Shane was angry and refused to just go away quietly. No one in town was angry with Rick or had a bad thing to say about him, but my life was a living hell. Rick, God Bless him, wanted to protect me from the hatred and the gossip. When we got the opportunity to move here, Rick took it. Shane was killed in a hunting accident a couple of years ago. I won't tell you things weren't tough for Rick and I, our marriage was on shaky ground for a long while, but we were devoted to each other and our marriage, and I can honestly say that now our love is stronger than ever. Please don't give up on yourself just because people are cruel Beth."
Beth sighed and admitted to Lori, "I want to move on with my life, but it's been so hard Lori. It just seems like too much to hope for that Tommy and I could have a pleasant life."
"I'm going to say something Beth and it's up to you to think about it or dismiss it, Merle Dixon is a good man. I know he's rough, but he's really a diamond in the rough. He had a terrible home life growing up, but he pulled himself up by the bootstraps and made a good life for himself. More important than that, he's been a good friend to Rick and to me. Rick has known him since grade school and Merle knows our story. He has never let on anything to anyone, has been a wonderful and loyal friend to Rick, and he has never treated me with anything but respect," Lori looked at Beth with a soft smile. Beth hugged Lori and thanked her for trusting her and comforting her. Beth walked Lori to the door and they hugged again.
Merle and Rick watched as the two women stood in Beth's doorway. Merle could tell they were both crying and he was worried, confused and felt like an asshole, even though he wasn't quite sure what he'd done wrong.
He could see Lori's eyes were red, and he knew she'd cried off her make-up, as she and Rick said their goodbyes, Merle shook Rick's hand and gave Lori a firm hug. "Thanks for comin' by, I appreciate it, I do," Merle said as they got in their car.
Merle immediately went to Beth's door and knocked.