A/N It's all about the love...
Thanksgiving 1970
Her Daddy and the Base Commander at Ft. Moore Army Base are old friends, and Beth's family has done this every year for as long as she can remember, always on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
It's her Mama, Daddy, sister Maggie and herself. Her brother Shawn used to go with them, but now he's serving in the army himself, stationed overseas on a U.S. Base in Germany.
The back end of the family station wagon is positively bursting at the seams with individual gift bags filled with cookies, homemade candy, caramel corn, and there are other treats too. Mama always makes pumpkin cakes and the other ladies from their church send along cookies, candies, cakes, and pies, and so much more to be served at the Thanksgiving luncheon.
The back seat between Maggie and Beth holds two stacks, five each, of pie boxes. They're Mrs. Neudermeyer's special pumpkin pies, and it's Beth and Maggie's job to hang on as needed and make sure nothing happens to those pies. Both young women are convinced if even one pie was ruined, they would be killed by Shelly Neudermeyer. As kind as it is of her to bake these pies for the soldiers, they have never known her to perform even one other act of kindness.
Otis and Patricia are following behind them in their big suburban wagon. They have all the decorations and more of the snack bags. There are going to be a lot of young soldiers at this Thanksgiving party, 100 of them.
The soldiers who are attending the party have been hand-chosen, the Commander calls them the cream of the crop. They've shown exemplary behavior as soldiers on the field of battle, and as gentlemen. They've all served in Viet Nam, and they were all wounded there.
Beth has never questioned her parents as to why they spend all the money to buy the ingredients for all the food they prepare, and for the other items in the gift bags, or why they work so hard to do all of this for a two-hour celebration. She never has to ask because Daddy raised her to know what he knows, everyone owes these boys a little extra thanks, and we should do what we can to bring some happiness into their lives, especially during the holidays.
Her Daddy will begin the celebration with a prayer of gratitude and a blessing for the future of the young men, Beth will sing a couple of songs, and Maggie will sing one with her. There are going to be several drawings for prizes that have been donated by local business, like a dozen free donuts at the Donut Parlor, burgers, shakes and fries for two at the Burger Bandstand, two tickets to the movies plus popcorn and cokes, and lots more. Every soldier will also find a twenty-dollar bill tucked in their gift bag, thanks to very generous donation made by Dale and Erma Horvath.
Beth never worried about singing for the men, she always enjoyed it. That is until she was 16. That's when she became self-conscious. She hoped she'd grow out of that, but she's 19 now and she hasn't yet. She can't get out of doing her part though, she won't even try, she knows Daddy would scoff at her reason and say, "Bethie, you have a beautiful voice and these young men will appreciate hearing a lovely song." So, she'll just grin and bear it and hope she doesn't embarrass herself.
They arrive on the base at 9am, plenty of time to get their decorating done and get the yummy foods and treats out. The base will be supplying a meal of baked ham, potato salad, mac and cheese and a fruit compote. There will be a table of drinks like lemonade, iced tea, and coffee, and several tables of desserts and treats the visitors brought. The soldiers are encouraged to eat up and have fun.
Oh, and there will be music playing, a small ensemble of soldiers from the base. Those soldiers will also accompany Beth and Maggie when they sing.
Eleven o'clock rolls around and they're just about done with the decorating. The treats are all on the tables, and Beth is thinking she has a half hour before the festivities begin to relax and focus her mind on her hostess duties, and oh my goodness, her singing.
The Commander arrives just after eleven in a Jeep driven by a young soldier who steps out, waits for the officer and follows behind him. The Commander walks straight to Daddy, they shake hands and talk, and then he greets Mama, Beth, Maggie, and Otis and Patricia.
That's lovely and all, but Beth can't take her eyes off the soldier standing behind the officer, and his eyes are fully focused on her. It doesn't matter that she hasn't seen him for seven years, she'd know him anywhere. Daryl Dixon.
Beth's about to point that out when Mama says, "Oh my, my, my is that you Daryl? It's been way too long since we've seen you and I've worried about you so!"
He's on duty and in service to the officer, so he's quite restrained, "Yes Ma'am Miz Greene, it's real nice ta see ya."
Mama, Daddy and even Maggie make a fuss over him, while he and Beth just sneak long glances at each other.
The Commander smiles, "Oh, I see you know my young soldier. He's been my righthand since he got back from Viet Nam, what's it been now Dixon, three or four months?"
"Six Sir."
The Commander chuckles, "Time truly does fly, doesn't it? I tried to convince him not to, but he'll be separating from the army next week after three years of admirable service to the United States Army and to his country. Why, he's such a go getter he already has a business waiting for him and he's gotten himself a little place to live in Columbus. Boy, I'm going to miss him."
Daryl's face is flushed as he nods and says, "Thank you, Sir." Everyone is so busy chattering, they're oblivious to the looks that pass between the soldier and the pretty young woman, who never have a moment of their own to talk.
Soon the room floods with hungry young soldiers and Beth is busy dishing food on their plates and handing out bags of treats, and then it's time for her to sing. Oh no, the situation is even worse than it was, she'll be singing for Daryl now too. How embarrassing.
The young soldier is grateful the Commander is quiet and respectful while the young woman sings, because he wants to listen. She could be singing about anything; it wouldn't matter to him. He could listen to her forever.
As they catch each other's eye they both remember how it was. She was only 10, he was only 12 when he came to live on the Greene farm.
It was the preacher who approached Herschel Greene about taking Daryl in. The boy's Mama had passed when he was just eight, his older brother was away in the army, and the young boy's Dad had just been sentenced to five years in prison for repeated drunken driving violations.
The preacher told Hershel Greene what he believed to be true, "If we send that boy to Juvenile Detention now, it will be like sending him to training school to become a criminal."
Hershel wasn't quite ready to commit, "I don't know. I don't know the boy, but I do know his Daddy. That man should never have had children, he should never have had a wife. How do I know this boy isn't like his father?"
The preacher scolds, "Hershel, are you going to lay the sins of the father on a 12-year-old boy? At least give him a fighting chance. He's a very nice young man, I can attest to that. He's quiet and respectful, but sure, he's a little rough around the edges. You'll smooth him out. He'll work hard too, I'm sure of that. Will Dixon has worked both his boys to the bone. Working for you will seem like a vacation to young Daryl."
Hershel was worn down and the boy came to live with the Greene family. No one ever regretted the decision.
He stayed in the extra bed in Shawn's room. He didn't have hardly a change of clothes until a neighbor brought a sack of things over that her son had outgrown, it seemed to start a minor flood and pretty soon, Daryl had all the clothes he needed.
He did whatever work Daddy told him to do and never made a complaint. He ate whatever was put before him without question, and he always had a word of thanks and a compliment for Mama as to how tasty the food was. Even when Beth noticed him fighting to swallow those pickled beets, he never made a sound.
Those first few weeks he and Beth barely said a word to one another. Both of them were shy and unsure. Then one Saturday Daddy suggested, "Bethie, why don't you show Daryl how to saddle up Brownie and you two could take a ride over to the Horvath place. Your Mama has some fabric she wants to give to Erma."
Beth was a good girl, not one to argue with her Father, "Yes, Daddy."
Daryl was scared to death of that horse; Beth could see it clearly and so could the horse. She managed to calm them both down though, and her and Daryl had a nice ride over to the Horvath's, they even stopped on the way home and picked some wild berries. Beth told the young man, "If we get enough of berries Daryl, Mama will make us a pie, and Mama's pies are the best in the world."
"Ya don't gotta tell me twice, I'll pick em all." They laughed and picked the berries, and that afternoon their friendship began.
It was a youthful, innocent friendship. They rode horses together, they fished, they helped each other with their chores. Beth helped him with his math homework and Daryl taught her how to skip stones better than either Shawn or Maggie could.
Then it happened, right after Daryl's 14th birthday the news came. His Daddy was being paroled, and because he had the promise of a job there, he had the state's approval to move with Daryl to Waycross.
Daryl and Beth went out riding together the afternoon before he was scheduled to leave, and when they stopped by the lake to take a walk, she told him, "I don't want you to go Daryl. I'm going to miss you so bad."
"I don't wanna go either. Shit Beth, life here is real good and you're the best part of it. I was hopin' they'd keep my Daddy locked up forever."
She looked at him with tears in her big blue eyes and he did something neither one of them expected, he kissed her on the lips, and then he held her and kissed her again. He backed away, apologizing, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't a done that."
She was honest, "It's okay Daryl, I liked it."
"Ya did?"
"Yes, I did."
He smiled so shyly, "I liked it too."
They rode slowly back to the house and promised each other that someday when he was older, and she was older, and he could get away from his Dad, they would be together again.
They no sooner got home from their ride than will Dixon showed up. He refused to come in the house, he waited in the yard while Daryl went upstairs and got his things. Beth waited in the hall near his room while he packed, and no one else was around when he came out of his room with his duffel bag, just Beth standing there waiting. He stopped in his tracks, said, "I'm sorry Beth, I gotta go," and gave her a very sweet kiss, and she kissed him back.
They walked down the stairs and just that fast and he was gone.
The only person who saw that kiss was Maggie, and Maggie never said a word to anyone. Not even Beth.
They didn't hear from Daryl again. The sheriff told Daddy that Will Dixon had broken his parole and had taken the boy and disappeared with him, "He's probably up in the hills making Moonshine. That's about the only real skill that man has. It's a shame about the boy though."
Everyone at the Greene home was heartbroken and concerned, but none of them knew how hard it was on young Beth. She silently cried herself to sleep every night for weeks, missing Daryl like only a 12-year-old girl with a bad crush and a broken heart can.
Well, one of them knew. Maggie knew.
No matter what else went on in Beth's world over the next few years, Daryl Dixon was always in her heart and on her mind.
00
Daryl finally had a nice life, and there was even a girl he liked a lot. Maybe it was more than just like. Beth Greene was the prettiest, smartest and sweetest girl he'd ever met. What was astounding to him was, she seemed to like him as much as he liked her. Then everything went to hell.
His rotten Dad picked him up from the Greene's and Daryl barely had a chance to say goodbye. He was grateful that at least he got to give Beth a kiss.
His Dad told him they were going to Waycross, that he had work there. Daryl thought maybe sometime he could take the bus and visit the Green's on their farm, mostly Beth.
Like usual though, it turned out Will Dixon lied. There was no job, no apartment, not even any Waycross. His Daddy drove them up to that old moonshine cabin. The place wasn't suitable for anyone to live in, but they lived there.
The day he turned 18 Daryl hightailed it the hell off that mountain, into town and straight to the Army Recruitment Office to join up. He'd rather fight in a war on the other side of the world than have to spend another minute in that cabin with his Dad.
He flourished during his service. The army made sure he got his GED, equivalent to getting the High School Diploma he was robbed of because of life on that mountain. He learned how to get along and get ahead, and he discovered what it felt like to be respected.
All those years, through the good, the bad, the fun and the frightening, Beth Greene was always in his heart and always on his mind. He even had a plan. He thought if he could make something of himself, prove to her and everyone else he wasn't just the loser son of that ultimate loser, Will Dixon, just maybe he and Beth could have something together.
He made it his goal to excel in his duties as a soldier, then, when he got out of the Army, he'd get a good job and a decent place to live. When he had those things he'd go to the farm and maybe she'd agree to spending time with him.
Things were working out. When he left Viet Nam he got assigned to Ft. Moore in Columbus, Georgia, not far from the farm. He'd saved every dime they paid him while he was in service to his country, and when he was on leave he went scouting for just the right kind of business. He found it. A motorcycle sales and service business. The owner was retiring and selling it fully equipped. A turnkey business.
Daryl went to the bank and they worked with the young soldier, and shit, he can't believe it, but three days after he separates from the Army, he'll be getting the keys to his new business.
00
Beth is despondent, she never even got a minute alone with Daryl. No chance to speak with him, and now the Commander says they have to go, he has another engagement.
Daryl and Beth share one more longing glance, and then he's opening the vehicle door for the Commander and soon they're driving off.
Everyone is so wrapped up in the fun and festive mood of the day, they don't notice.
Except Maggie. Maggie notices.
Beth's been going through the motions all week. Being a wonderful daughter to her mother. Cleaning, ironing tablecloths, and baking and whatever else Mama wants her to do to get ready for the big Thanksgiving feast. Even though Beth feels like Mama's going a bit overboard. It's just going to be the four of them, Mama, Daddy, Maggie and her. Then Mama tells Beth no, set an extra place. Maggie has invited a friend.
Hmm, that's just weird. Maggie hasn't mentioned any special friends to Beth, and Thanksgiving isn't exactly the kind of holiday where you introduce a male friend to the family unless he's someone really important in your life. Like engagement important. What is Maggie hiding.
Beth has been nagging her sister constantly, trying so hard to get her to spill the beans, but Maggie just says, "You'll see. I think you're going to like him a lot. He's something special." Humph
What Beth doesn't know is Maggie got the Commander's telephone number from Daddy, but Maggie didn't phone the Commander. She phoned his wife. They had a talk and the guest will be at the farm for Thanksgiving Dinner.
The table is set, the pies are baked, the sweet potato casserole looks delicious, the glazed carrots are done, the mashed potatoes, the potato salad, the Jello mold is made, the dinner rolls are ready for the oven. The turkey will be coming out any minute, and Mama will be making gravy while it "rests" for a bit, before Daddy carves it and the rolls bake.
The house smells heavenly as Beth helps Mama lift the turkey from the oven, just as the doorbell rings. Mama smiles at the sound and says, "Beth, honey, answer the door please."
"Yes Mama."
Beth walks to the front door, expecting that when she opens it some strange guy will be standing there, Maggie's "friend." Wait, it's not Maggie's friend at all, "Daryl, you're here!"
Those are the only words she says before he's got her in his arms, kissing her and holding her tight, "Happy Thanksgiving, Beth. I'm real grateful ta be here."
"Happy Thanksgiving Daryl, and I'm grateful you're here too. Can I have another kiss?"
"You can have all the kisses you want for as long as you want. I ain't ever leavin' you again."
00
A/N I hope you enjoyed it and that you'll leave a comment. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs, gneebee and bethylmethbrick. Happy Thanksgiving, and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee