Red River Blue
Chapter 84
"Did ya think any more about what I asked ya last night," Daryl asked, keeping his voice low. He was alone in the kitchen with Carol. But there were still a bunch of people lingering in the living room and he didn't want everyone to be informed of his personal business. Especially this personal business.
"You were serious about that?," Carol asked. Daryl's eyes shot towards the kitchen doorway. He held his finger up to his lips. Carol tried not to laugh. She was speaking in her normal tone of voice. Which was about half as loud as the normal voices of everyone else in the house. She also didn't realize they were having a top secret conversation.
"I didn't realize you were serious," Carol said, careful to speak just loud enough for Daryl to hear her. "You said it while we were… um… we were naked at the time so I didn't think you meant it."
"I mean everythin' I say when yer naked," Daryl informed her, his voice loud enough that now Carol was the one shushing him up. Once she was sure everyone in the house wasn't going to hear the details of her sex life, Carol leaned back against the counter and took a moment to think the situation over. She didn't realize that Daryl saying he was going to make her his wife while he was literally thrusting into her was a legitimate marriage proposal. And Carol certainly didn't realize that he was waiting on an answer. She had no idea what her answer even was. She knew she was in love with him. But she always sort of assumed that Daryl was just biding his time with her until someone better came along. She was prepared to eventually get her feelings hurt. Not to be his wife. That was something Carol never even allowed herself to consider.
"You don't even have a ring," she countered.
"I can get a ring!," Daryl said, already advancing into her personal space. He clearly took the mention of a ring as her agreement to his proposal. Carol felt his arms go around her. And then Daryl was lifting her up to sit her on the kitchen counter. Like she always did when they were together, she tried to keep her wits about her. But the next thing she knew his hips were between her knees and Daryl's tongue was tangling up with hers. Glenn had to clear his throat twice to get their attention.
"You guys are sort of blocking the silverware drawer," he teased. Glenn had a bowl of soup in his hands and no spoon. Carol wiped her mouth off with the back of her hand and hopped back down onto her feet.
"Can you help me out with somethin'," Daryl asked him, clearing the way so Glenn could have access to the area of the kitchen they were blocking. Glenn nodded. Of course he would help Daryl out. He would help him with whatever he needed.
"We're gettin' married," Daryl announced, "...I need ta go on a run, get a ring and shit."
Carol's mouth dropped open. Not only did she not realize that they were officially engaged. She wasn't expecting Daryl to start announcing it to everyone. And everyone was not an exaggeration. Because Daryl might have been speaking to Glenn. But Maggie and Mika were in the doorway. And if everyone in the living didn't hear what Daryl said, they could definitely hear Maggie squealing as she hugged all over both of them.
"Can I be in the wedding?," Mika asked, tugging on Carol's sweater. When Carol didn't answer her question immediately, she quickly turned her attention to Daryl. "Can I be in the wedding? Can I change my name? I want it to be the same as yours and Carol's!"
"You kin change yer name to whatever ya want," Daryl told her, hugging Mika back when she threw her arms around him. Daryl leaned down, whispering into her Mika's ear and telling her that he was going to get some rings and she could help him pick out which one he gave to Carol. Her little face lit up like it was christmas morning. She hugged Daryl again, resting her head against his chest.
Carol watched them together. She was standing close enough that she heard what Daryl whispered to the girl. And she felt a tug on her own heartstrings. She felt her grief for Sophia like a small stab in her heart, watching Daryl and Mika together and wishing that the daughter she lost could be with them to share this moment of happiness. Carol always felt guilty for not giving Sophia the kind of father she deserved. The kind of father Daryl was going to be to Mika. It dawned on Carol in that moment what a good man he really was. And how lucky she was. And that she really did want to marry him. Maybe more than she ever wanted anything ever before in her life. She fanned at her face, trying to keep the tears back.
"Are we really doing this?," she asked. "Are we really about to get married?"
"Fuck yeah we are," Daryl announced. Mika still hadn't released his hold on him, but he pulled Carol in anyway so he could hold them both. Carol's mind started to swirl, the thoughts of everything that could and probably would go wrong already creeping in around the edges. But she forced those thoughts back. They would eventually return. But for now she was just going to allow herself to live in this moment of bliss. The violent new world was always there, waiting to snatch their happiness away. But this time she was going to hold on to hers as long as she could.