CHAPTER 13
In the airplane, Daisy focused her attention to people around her: if they had looked at her and Enos, what would they have thought? Friends? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Husband and wife?
The same question when they were going to L.A., but a totally different answer in their coming back to Atlanta.
Enos' head was resting on her left shoulder while he was sleeping, a real sleeping and not an escape from reality; a real sleeping also because of the antihistamine he took at the airport. Daisy smiled amused at the image of him scratching his nape during their walking to the airport, his looking for a small paper in his wallet (Doc Appleby's prescription), his coming in a drugstore and buying pills Doc Appleby prescribed him in case of hives.
In the sunlight entering the small window by Enos' side, Daisy glanced at his face, the red signs slowly fading thanks to the antihistamine, but the price to pay was his drowsiness.
Enos moaned and Daisy touched his nape with her left hand, scratching it gently, "Are you OK, sugar?"
He opened his eyes, his head still on her shoulder, "I can't keep my eyes open. I prefer to scratch myself to death instead of keeping on sleeping this way," he yawned, "sorry."
Daisy laughed, "Oh Enos."
"I can't spend my life sleeping or scratching myself, Dais. Doc Appleby told me the hives can't be chronic and my system is goin' to get used to happiness, but… it needs time," he yawned again.
"Enos Strate," her left hand's fingers intertwined with his short hair on his nape, "are you telling me you won't kiss me or touch me anymore 'til your system gets used to it?"
He raised his head from her shoulder and looked at her, seriously, "Not at all. In order to get used to it, my system needs to do it. Sort of training, and antihistamine is goin' to help my system in this training. The more I train my system, the more it gets used." He rested again his head on her shoulder.
Amused by the seriousness of his face and tone during a so weird talking, Daisy burst out laughing.
"Daisy, are you laughing of my torment?" he pretended to be offended but his tone was amused.
"I'm laughing 'cause you're really funny, Enos," she turned her face to him and kissed his hair.
Silence, just the regular buzzing inside the airplane and the soft voices of people around them.
"Daisy…" Enos' voice broke that silence, "… now… things are different between us. You know…"
Daisy nodded, "Yeah," her voice a whisper.
"I want to marry you." Just few words, direct and clear.
Daisy blushed, smiling, "And I want to be your wife, Enos."
Silence. The buzzing inside the airplane became stronger and stronger in Daisy's ears.
"Well, so, after we arrive in Hazzard, we're goin' to plan everything. I have to find a house for us, 'cause we can't live at the Boarding House, the bed is too small," Enos had a brief laugh, "and I should ask a pay raise to Mr. Hogg… in order to take care of my family… my wife and children."
Daisy smiled sweetly, remembering the dream of the little farm where they lived, Enos living to go to work and waving her goodbye. She looked down at her belly and she rested her right hand on it, remembering the feeling of the new life inside her: even if it was a dream, she recalled it pretty well.
"I suppose you don't want to rush things. You want a romantic wedding and a new house waiting for us, don't you, Enos?" Her hand caressed his nape.
"Yeah… Don't misunderstanding me, Daisy. I'd like to get married soon after we arrive in Hazzard, but… you're right. I want a romantic wedding and a house waiting for us after we marry. Moreover, I don't want to…" he parted from her and looked at her, "… I don't know how to say it, but… I don't want to remember the day of our wedding so close to Turk's death," he shook his head and looked away, "I don't want our wedding anniversary…" he sighed.
"I understand you, Enos. There's no need you try to explain it," seeing his pain, Daisy grabbed his hands, staring at him, "actually you wouldn't enjoy our wedding, 'cause Turk's death has hurt you very much, and you're still shocked 'bout it. And I don't want that, in the future, when you'll recall our wedding, you'll recall also something so painful for you."
Enos slowly looked at her, a gentle smile mixing with the previous pain, a sad smile now on his face, "You perfectly expressed what I feel right now."
"There's nobody in Hazzard who knows you as well as I, sugar," she pinched his right cheek, smiling, "and I perfectly understand your pain and scruples." There was a time she was annoyed by all Enos' scruples and integrity, but, growing up, she's learnt to admire him and finally love him thanks of those scruples and integrity.
"Scruples," Enos sighed and rested his head against his seat, looking in front of him, "you said well. I can't help but having scruples 'bout it, feeling somehow guilty because of bein' happy while Turk is…" he covered his eyes with his right hand, "… sorry," his voice cracked, "I'm happy of what happened in L.A but I'm ashamed of it. I want to erase it, but I don't want to erase it. I'm confused."
"Enos, your happiness isn't against Turk or disrespectful to him. But I understand your pain and confusion, so, I agree with you. We're goin' to get married when you'll be able to enjoy it, with no sense of guilty. Beside, though we aren't goin' to marry as soon as we arrive in Hazzard, it doesn't mean we aren't goin' to date and act as a couple. Step by step: we were close friends when we left Hazzard, now we are officially boyfriend and girlfriend, and finally we'll be husband and wife. I want to help you to find a house for us, maybe a little farm, and I want a romantic and not rushed wedding… if it'll be possible in Hazzard. OK?"
"Daisy Duke," he finally looked at her, smiling sweetly despite the tears in his eyes, "I love you so much."
They kissed.
Resting their back against the General Lee, their arms folded, Bo and Luke were waiting for Daisy and Enos.
"Now, we're goin' to find out what happened between them," Bo winked at Luke.
Luke shook his head, smiling, "What a busybody."
"Hey, they are here, finally," Bo looked at a man and a woman walking to them, "They're distant but I'm sure they are Enos and Daisy," he half-closed his eyes, looking carefully at them, "Yeah, Enos and Daisy… and they're walking hand in hand," he patted Luke's shoulder, "good sign."
"Not just a busybody, but also a romantic soul," Luke smiled amused and shook again his head.
"Come on, Luke, you're as happy as me, both for Daisy and for Enos. Enos won't ever hurt Daisy as other guys did in the past," a dark shadow crossed Bo's blue eyes and his tone turned serious, "and Enos is our best friend, and he deserves some happiness," his tone turned cheerful again.
"Now, why do they stop?" Luke stared at Enos and Daisy in the distance: they were talking, face to face, then they hugged each other.
"Great sign. They're engaged," Bo patted again Luke's shoulder, smiling happily.
"It isn't the first time Daisy hugs Enos," Luke tried to cool Bo's enthusiasm down, his way to tenderly tease his younger cousin pretending to disagree with him, but he was smiling the same way Bo was doing. Happily.
"Yeah, but not that way, and Enos is hugging her," Bo turned to Luke and winked, then he focused his attention on Enos and Daisy, "and now… WOW… they're kissing! They're engaged. No doubt 'bout it."
Luke raised his hands, admitting his discomfiture, "Ok, Ok, you're right, but, please, when you meet them, don't ask them anything embarrassing and respect their privacy. Daisy doesn't know uncle Jesse told us 'bout her real feelings for Enos, so, PLEASE, give them the chance to talk to us the way they want to and when they want to. OK?"
"Speaking of embarrassing things, do you think they…," Bo glanced at Luke, slyly, "…did it?"
Luke looked surprised at Bo, "Enos?!"
The two cousins looked at each other, surprised of that idea and then amused.
"Enos?! NAAAAAHHHHH" they spouted in unison.
Uncle Jesse wiped his hands with a dishcloth and he walked outside the kitchen when he heard a car stopping in front of the farm.
The General Lee: his niece was back.
He stared at Daisy coming out The General, just a brief look and he understood: a wide smile lighted his face as he walked to the car, "Welcome back!"
"Hi uncle Jesse," Enos walked to uncle Jesse, smiling.
Uncle Jesse rested an hand on Enos' shoulder, squeezing it, "Bo and Luke told me 'bout Turk. I prayed for him and his family." Walking to the farm, the older man kept his hand on Enos' shoulder and looked at the deputy nodding and whispering his "thank".
Entering the living room, uncle Jesse noticed what he didn't notice outside because of the nightfall.
"Enos, what's on your face?"
Bo and Luke sniggered at uncle Jesse's question mirroring their previous same question, and they waited for an answer they already knew.
"Uh… well…" Enos blushed, "the hives… it's 'cause…" he looked around until he met Daisy's calming eyes, "… 'cause Daisy and I decided to get married. Not immediately, I mean, we have to plan our wedding and find a small farm where to live. What happened to Turk taught us the importance of not wasting our time, so we've decided to get married, but not soon 'cause…" he looked down at the floor, "… 'cause…"
"I know why, and I understand your choice, Enos. It's your way to respect your friend and to face your grief. I'm proud of you, and I'm really happy for you and Daisy," uncle Jesse shook hands with Enos and hugged Daisy, holding her close, "really happy! And now, help me, the dinner is nearly ready."
While uncle Jesse, Daisy and Enos walked to the kitchen, Bo and Luke stood in the middle of the living room: they were smiling, their arms folded.
Bo glanced at Luke, "The hives. Do you think it's just 'cause they decided to get married? or…"
They looked at each other, blue eyes into blue eyes, "NAAAAAHHHHH" they spouted in unison, shaking their heads and smiling.
Outside the farm, the total and silent darkness of Hazzard, so different from the city's darkness, a darkness weakened by annoying lights; outside the farm just the light filtering from the kitchen's window and lighting up a square of dust in front of the kitchen's door while, inside, the Dukes and Enos' voices resounded as they talked about Los Angeles.