A/N Thank you everyone! There was a touch, hmm, there may be more than a touch this chapter. Let's see...
Enjoy!
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As she watches Daryl and Teddy walk out the door of the Solo Café, the brief feel of his hand gliding over hers still has her tummy fluttering. She's certain the touch wasn't an accident, the look in Daryl's eyes told her he knew exactly what he was doing. Thinking about it now has her heart racing again.
Oh my goodness, she has to stop daydreaming and get ahold of herself, she's got a counter full of hungry customers.
Sometimes it's a blessing to be a little too busy, that's exactly how Beth's feeling as the morning seems to fly by. Gosh, the customers just keep coming. The last of the breakfast crowd is still there when the lunch crowd begins to arrive. As she's grabbing an order from the kitchen Jim smiles and says, "You've sure been good for business Beth. People like you, and your baking has got folks so they just can't stay away."
Her smile is shy but happy, "Well gosh, thank you Jim," and she hurries to deliver the meals.
She's hopeful they'll be by, and sure enough, Daryl and Teddy arrive at 12:30 and take their seats at the counter. She brings their water and says, "Good afternoon gentlemen," then looks at Teddy and says, "I have one slice of banana cream pie I saved just for you. Do you want that? Or would you like to try something else?"
"Yes peez Miss Bet. Banana creen."
She turns to Daryl for his approval, he smiles that small smile that she knows now is just for her, and says, "I don't think he has any idea what banana cream pie is, but he knows he likes bananas and he knows he likes whipped cream, so I guess he figures it's a pretty good bet he's gonna like that pie," his smile gets a little bigger when he shyly adds, "especially cuz you made it." Jim doesn't miss much and his eyebrows raise when he hears Daryl's words. So do the brows of a couple of other fellows who are sitting within earshot.
It doesn't take a genius to catch on to the fact, Daryl Dixon has been a different man since the pretty little blonde arrived in Smithton. By now most everyone has heard about how the two of them were sitting side by side at church yesterday, and how they had Sunday dinner together at the Horvath's. Those that are aware include Andrea Smith who's sitting at the other end of the counter with the sheriff's wife, Lori Grimes. The two of them are practically shooting daggers at Beth Greene as they nibble at their Chef's Salads.
Daryl's still smiling when he says to the pretty waitress, "I think I'd like to try a slice of that lemon rub pie please, and I wouldn't mind havin' a little whipped cream on it if I could, oh, and coffee please."
She smiles at both Daryl and Teddy, "Thank you gentlemen. I'll be right back with your pie."
This time when he pays the check his hand doesn't simply glide across hers, instead he gently squeezes it and says, "I don't think there's anyone who could make a better pie than you Beth, that was real good."
Jim hears those whispered words and the grin on his face spreads from ear to ear.
"Thank you, Daryl." Beth is sure she doesn't breathe again until he and Teddy are out of sight.
That afternoon, after Beth's baking is done, she's trying to enjoy her meal of a dinner salad, a bowl of stew and a roll. The trouble is, Amy just can't take another minute of not knowing. She rests her elbows on the counter in front of Beth, and gets right to the point, "I'm sorry, okay? I know it's not my business, but Beth, I just have to know. Did you go to church with Daryl yesterday? And did you go to dinner with him afterward? Or did someone just make that up?"
Jim's been busy giving the grill a good cleaning before the dinner rush, but now he's all ears, and hoping his morning waitress will answer the question.
Beth sets her fork down and dabs at her lips with the napkin as she gets her words together, "Amy, I don't have any reason not to tell you, but I hope you'll keep it to yourself, please."
Amy understands, and she makes her friend a promise, "If you're worried I'll tell my sister, don't be. I know how terrible she is about men, and I don't want any part of whatever it is she and her husband Negan are up to." She lays a hand on Beth's and assures, "You're my friend, I won't tell a soul, I promise."
Beth smiles, after all, it isn't some dark or hidden secret. It was mostly a coincidence. She tells Amy the innocent story about how she was simply "testing" out a new church. It just so happened to be the church that Daryl, Teddy and the Horvath's attend, "Erma Horvath is such a nice woman Amy, imagine her inviting me to dinner and all, and guess what?"
"What?"
Beth smiles coyly and answers, "She's invited me to come back again next Sunday."
Amy stands up straight with her eyebrows raised and a great big smile when she exclaims, "Wowzer, so…um…you and Daryl? Wowzer."
Beth feels the need to clarify, "Nothing has happened at all between me and Daryl, Amy. We sat together at church because that's just the way it worked out. We never…there's never…we aren't…well it's nothing."
Jim wants to call out from the kitchen, "I'd bet you dollars ta donuts it's gonna be something real soon."
Tuesday morning, Tuesday at noon, Wednesday morning, Wednesday at noon, the times Daryl and Teddy spend at the Solo Café go along about like Monday did, except Daryl might be smiling a little more than he ever has in his life. Beth might be giving Daryl and Teddy only her most genuine smiles, and Daryl's hand may linger on hers when he pays the check, he may even give her hand a light squeeze. Other than that, the days move along the same, including the daggers that are directed at Beth from the eyes of Andrea Smith and Lori Grimes.
When Beth gets home in the evenings she curls up in her chair and tells her journal all about the touches, the warm looks and the smiles. She's hopeful about this coming weekend too. Maybe Daryl will walk her home again, and maybe this time when he walks her home he'll give her a little hug, maybe even a kiss on the cheek.
Thursday morning starts off just like her weekday mornings always do. Beth's up early having her breakfast and a cup of tea. This morning it's a soft cooked egg with toast and a small bowl of Mama's canned peaches. The peaches are such a delicious reminder of home.
Today she dresses in her yellow uniform, making sure there are no stains and that it still smells fresh. She's vowed to herself, tonight she's going to start work on a new uniform. She loves the two she has, but two doesn't seem to be quite adequate and she has just enough pale lavender fabric to make another. All she'll have to buy are buttons from the Five and Dime.
For now, the yellow is perfect. She does her best to get her ponytail up high so it will have plenty of bounce, and she ties a small white silk scar around the band. There, just right. Beth's ready for this new day.
Something's not right though. 6:29am comes and goes but Daryl and Teddy don't come walking down the street and into the café. When they don't come in by seven Beth is sure they won't come at all, and they don't. At eight o'clock she tells herself they must have overslept, yes, surely that's what happened. Once they woke Daryl was probably in a very big hurry to get Teddy over to the Horvath's so he could rush back and open the shop. She accepts that, but that doesn't mean her tummy's not bothering her.
Oh no! What if the reason is that he doesn't care to see her again? She's heard all about how he's never dated a woman here in town, and folks speculate that's just because he likes to keep his private life private. There are other towns, towns not so far away where a man could keep a girlfriend and no one in Smithton would know. She heard the laughter when it was said, a man like Daryl might have more than one.
She doesn't believe he'd be a two-timer, or anything less than a gentleman, but what about the privacy? Everyone has seen Beth with him right here in town, and she knows they're all talking. Maybe he wants to put a stop to that by not coming around anymore.
No, please no, surely that can't be it.
The day progresses and as it does Beth's more and more worried about Daryl and Teddy, genuinely scared something bad could have happened to Teddy, to Daryl or to both of them. By the time her shift is over she's feeling nearly frantic, and tells Jim, "As soon as I'm off I have to go check on something. I'll be back in a little while to finish up the baking."
Jim has no doubt what's bothering his waitress, and where she's going now. He's been concerned himself about why Daryl and his boy haven't stopped in today. They're at the Solo every weekday morning like clockwork. "Sure, you go take care of your business, I'll see ya when you get back."
Beth doesn't greet Amy with her usual warm smile and chit chat when she arrives at 1:45, instead it's hurried, "The side work is done, so if you don't mind, I'm going to leave right now."
Amy has no idea what's going on but she can see by the strained look on Beth's face something's not right, "That's fine Beth, but you look a little pale, and I know you didn't have lunch. Aren't you going to eat first?"
"No, thank you Amy, I'll eat when I get back." Then she breaks down a little, hugs Amy and whispers, "Daryl never came in today, not for breakfast, and him and Teddy always come for breakfast, and not for pie either. I'm worried."
Amy gives her a comforting hug back and whispers, "Okay, go. I'm sure everything is just fine."
Beth's out the door, around the corner and rushing up the flight of stairs to her apartment in record time. She quickly changes into capris, a yellow cotton blouse, penny loafers, and drapes a white cotton sweater across her shoulders. She's out the door again and hurrying down the stairs.
She's never been to his place of business, well not exactly. She did walk by it one Saturday though. She was curious so she took the long way to the grocer just so she could see Dixon's Tire and Auto Shop. She simply had to.
Today she's headed there at a much faster pace, and when she gets within a half block or so she can see that the huge rolling metal door is up, the shop is open for business, and there's a man leaning under the hood of a big Buick. It's Daryl. Thank God.
It hurts though, if everything is all right then why didn't he come by the café this morning or at lunch? What's wrong? Is he mad about something? She can't think of a thing that might have angered him. That brings up the terrible possibility that he really doesn't care to see her. Oh my gosh, no. She slows her walk and catches her breath, and when she steps in the garage she says, "Daryl?"
His head immediately pops out from under the hood of the Buick as he pulls a red shop rag from his hip pocket and uses it to wipe his hands. As nervous and heartsick as she's been, she can't help but admire how attractive he looks in those work clothes, or how the muscles in his chest and arms are straining the fabric of his Henley shirt.
He's smiling shyly but happily when he asks, "Beth, what are you doing here?"
She's embarrassed, but why should she be? Isn't it a perfectly normal thing to call on a friend when you're concerned about them? "I was a little worried when I didn't see you and Teddy today. It's just such a routine for you to have breakfast at the Solo so, I don't know, I guess I thought one of you might be hurt or sick."
He's a bit stunned, he's never had someone worry about him that way. When he was a kid he was lost in the woods for days and no one even missed him. It never occurred to him anyone would care about why he didn't show up at the cafe, but now he feels the warmth that comes from knowing Beth cares enough to come check on him, "You're right. Teddy's come down with some kinda bug. I didn't wanna bring him in the café, he could get everyone sick, and I didn't wanna risk takin' him to Dale and Erma's and gettin' them sick. I don't think it's real serious, but he's kinda feverish, a little congested and he can't seem to work up enough energy ta get outta bed. I gave him a couple baby aspirin and he's layin' down in the office sleepin'." He feels the need to explain, "He's got a bed in there and I gave him a bell ta ring if he needs me."
"That was a good idea. Can I visit with him for a while before I go back to work?"
"You're goin' back ta work?"
"Yes, I'm baking a couple of things. It won't take me long to finish up, I got a good start during my shift."
He seems to be shrugging and nodding at the same time, "Well I don't mind, and I know Teddy would like ta see you, but he's probably contagious or sumthin'. You could catch whatever it is he's got and I wouldn't want that."
She smiles, "I appreciate it, but I'm not worried. It's probably one of those kid things that I've already had."
"All right then. C'mon, I'll show ya where the office is." It's not like it's hard to spot, there's a door with a sign above it that says, "Office." But he sets his hand on the small of her back and escorts her anyway.
The little boy appears to be sound asleep. He's all curled up in the small toddler bed and his breathing sounds raspy. She whispers, "Oh my gosh, the poor little guy."
As soon as she speaks the small boy's eyes open and in a weak and froggy voice he asks, "Bet?"
She walks closer to him and softly strokes her hand over his hair, "Hi Teddy, I'm so sorry you're not feeling well. Would it help if I read you a story?"
"Peez."
His Daddy asks, "Ya sure you're okay in here with him? I don't want ya gettin' whatever he's got."
She smiles, "I'll be fine, and I'll just be here a few minutes. I have baking to do."
He nods, "A'ight, if you're sure. I gotta get back ta that Buick, the guy's gonna be here ta pick it up in an hour."
"Okay, don't worry. Teddy and I will be just fine."
Daryl gets back to work on the Buick and a half hour later the engine hums, the windows are clean, the ashtray is emptied, and the floor boards are whisked. It's ready for the customer to pick up.
Daryl washes his hands at the big utility sink, then heads to the office to check on Beth and Teddy. He quietly opens the door and all he can do is smile at the sight. Beth's arms are wrapped around his little boy and Teddy's head is resting on her shoulder, they're both sleeping peacefully. He walks closer, looks down at them a moment and lightly touches the hair of both his son and this woman he's got so many feelings for. Although he knows she needs to get back to work, he can't make himself wake her up, not yet. He'll let her rest another half hour. She works so hard, she works too much, she needs this rest.
He closes the office door as quietly as he opened it and gets back to work. There's a Chevy with a bad fuel pump he needs to replace. He's making good progress with it, shit, he might even get it done this afternoon. That would be great because he's got a Studebaker waiting that's going to be a giant pain in his ass, he's already planning on it eating up his whole day tomorrow.
As he works he's mentally planning the rest of this afternoon and his work day tomorrow, then he hears a familiar female voice call out, "Daryl, hey there handsome. How's work today?" Dammit, he's asked Andrea not to come around. He's told her he's not interested. Why won't she leave him the hell alone, shit.
Meanwhile Beth's in the midst of a very unsettling dream. Her, Daryl and Teddy are at the park together. Teddy's running and playing with another little boy, while she and Daryl are standing under the big tree and she's confessing everything to him. The whole terrible incident that led up to her hurting herself. She has to tell him, they've grown close but he seems tentative, and she's seen the way he looks at her arm. She knows he knows what she tried to do.
She's afraid he'll turn away from her if he knows the truth, but she's also afraid he'll turn away if she's not completely honest with him. So, she tells him the story and he quietly listens. When she's done he nods and is about to speak, but before he can Andrea appears out of nowhere. She hurries to Daryl, wrapping her arms around him saying, "This girl is a fool, you heard what she did. You don't want a stupid child like her, you deserve a real woman. A woman who knows how to take care of a man like you," and then Andrea leans up and kisses him hard on the lips, and Beth's eyes fly open. No!
She's agitated and disoriented at first, then realizes where she is. She kisses Teddy's little pink cheek and slips from the bed, careful not to wake him.
The dream has left her heart hurting and her stomach queasy, her first impulse is to get out of here and run as fast as she can and as far as she can. Then she breathes deeply and scolds herself, she's being ridiculous. It was a dream, a nightmare. Daryl told her he has no interest in Andrea. Still, the dream seemed so real, and that kiss…it's going to take a while to get over this.
She quietly opens the office door and her heart drops again, oh my gosh, there they are, Daryl and Andrea are over in the far corner of the shop. Andrea's shirt could not possibly fit any tighter, and the tops of her breasts are bulging out where she's left some buttons undone. She's purring words to Daryl that Beth can't quite hear, but she can hear his slightly elevated voice sternly say, "I told ya I ain't interested. I don't get why ya can't understand that. Shit, ya got a husband, go home ta him."
With the dream still so vivid in her mind Beth's emboldened and ready to fight for what she wants. She's not going to let this woman bother Daryl any more. Her pace is quick as she makes her way to him. She wraps her arms tightly around his waist, lays her head on his chest and says, "Gosh Honey, I can't believe I fell asleep like that."
He picks up on what she's up to right away, "I'm glad ya did Darlin', you needed the rest," and he bends and kisses her lips.
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A/N Just like that. Please leave a comment. There's a chapter photo on my tumblr blogs, gneebee and bethylmethbrick, I hope you'll check it out. I'll be back next week with more of Love at the Solo Café, I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee