Chapter 6

Beth

Unbuckling Aiden from his high chair, I looked over at Daryl who was stacking my plate on top of his and jokingly asked "Wanna help?" Aiden, my sweet boy had strawberries and maple syrup from head to toe and was in desperate need of a bath before Maggie got here. His sister wasn't much better but she had strawberry jam and whipped topping instead of syrup.

He smirked at me and stood up. "Sure." He said, the nervousness obvious in his voice.

Chuckling at him I placed a sticky and smiling Aiden into his hands. "Don't be scared, he won't break as long as you don't drop him." I told him as I moved his hands to make Aiden more secure and comfortable in Daryl's arms. Aiden resting his back against Daryl's chest with one hand under bottom and the other arm around his stomach. "Be a good boy for Momma's friend, okay?" I told my boy as I pressed a quick kiss to his nose. Daryl needed to get used to being around my kids if he was going to continue pursuing me because I was a mother of two and the three of us came as a packaged deal. "You good?" I asked Daryl as I looked up into his face while my parents watched from their seats with amused looks on their faces.

Daryl nodded and hummed causing Aiden to twist his head to look up at Daryl. "Dog?" He asked Daryl, giving me an opportunity to get my sweet girl from her highchair.

"He's outside, bud. Your momma said he had to stay outside." Daryl told Aiden as I unfastened a messy Aurora from her seat.

Aurora giggled at me when I plucked a piece of strawberry from her shoulder. "Messy girl. Y'all ready for a bath then shopping and play time with Aunt Maggie?" I asked them as I pulled Aurora into my arms, mindful of the mess she was covered in.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The chanted as I led Daryl through the house, up the stairs, and into the bathroom I shared with my kids.

With one hand I turned the water on, adjusting the temperature, and putting the plug into the drain before sitting on the side of the tub to strip my sweet daughter. "Mama?" She whispered to me as I unfastened her onesie.

"Yeah baby?" I asked as I tugged her socks off her feet.

She pointed to Daryl who was standing in the doorway with a content Aiden. "Bubba too?" She asked as I tugged her outfit over her head, ruffling her red curls.

"Yes ma'am, bubba is going in with you." I told her as I tugged her diaper off and put her in the bath water. She immediately grabbed for the toys in the basket I had suction cupped to the wall. "Come here, big boy." I told Aiden as I noticed the distressed look on his face at Aiden's wiggling around in his eagerness to join his sister in the tub. "It's okay, Daryl, you can put him down." I told him with a slight chuckle.

Daryl carefully placed Aiden on the floor where my boy took off towards me as soon as his sock clad feet touched the tile floor. "I've never been around kids." He mumbled as he leaned against the doorjamb.

Quickly stripping Aiden's clothes and diaper off he attempted to climb over the side of the tub to join his sister in the water. "Chill out, little boy, before you bump your chin again." I told him as I picked him up, putting him in the water next to his sister before grabbing the thick bath towel and tuck it up against the tub to catch the water they would undoubtedly splash out of the tub within just a few minutes. "Daryl, I hate to tell you this, but it's pretty obvious that you've never held a small child before today. And mine are almost two years old." I teased as I knelt on the floor to scrub my kids clean quickly so they could play for a few minutes before it was time to get out and dressed for their visit with Aunt Maggie.

"Does that bother you?" He asked as he watched me as I began the process of wetting Aurora and Aiden's hair.

I shook my head as I squirted a bit of their baby shampoo into the palm of my hand. "Not at all because when I turned 12 years old I began babysitting the little kids of the community and working in the church nursery and I was still lost when these two were born." I explained as I scrubbed the food out of the kids hair. "I just want you to be comfortable with them and around them."

"Of course and I will be the more I'm around them. I know that the three of y'all come together." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You being a mother doesn't bother me one bit, Beth."

I hummed as I rinsed the soap from Aiden's head, causing him to gasp and giggle as the water poured over his face. "I hope not. Can you hand me their toothbrushes from the cup holder on the sink?" I asked pointing to the silver holder sitting next to the sink with two tiny toothbrushes and my bigger one in it.

"Toothpaste too?" He asked as he grabbed the two tiny brushes.

"Just put a tiny dab on each brush please." I explained as I soaped up one of their wash cloths, rubbing it all over their bodies, having them stand up one at a time so I could wash their bottoms and legs.

Daryl waited until I had Aurora sat back in the water to hand me the toothbrushes, one at a time. Working together we quickly finished their baths but instead of handing him Aiden, I handed him Aurora instead. "She's smaller than Aiden and not as rambunctious so you don't have to hold her as tightly." I explained as I positioned a towel clad Aurora in his arms, chest to chest.

"Okay." He whispered as he looked down at my wide eyed baby girl. "Hey, pretty girl. You don't know what to think about me, huh?" He asked her as he adjusted his hold on her to be more comfortable and natural.

The sight brought a smile to my face as I pulled the plug on the bathtub causing Aiden to frown up at me. "Put the toys in the basket, Aiden. We've got to get ready for Aunt Maggie." I told him as I grabbed his frog towel from his hook on the wall.

Begrudgingly, Aiden put the bath toys back into the basket before holding his arms up for me to scoop him out of the tub. Daryl and I carried my little frog and duck into the nursery to finish getting them ready for their day of fun. "Can you watch them for a few minutes while I run across the hall and get ready? That way we can leave right after they do." I asked nervously as I tied the strings of Aiden's shoes.

"You sure?" He asked nervously as he glanced to Aurora who was playing on the rug in the middle of the floor with some blocks.

I nodded as I placed Aiden into the floor next to his sister. "I'm sure. I'll only be five maybe ten minutes. Just keep them in this room and you'll be fine." She said as she pointed to the basket of toys that Aiden was digging through. "They should play the entire time. Trust me, they don't bite. You good?" I asked him as I slid the baby gate into place more so for Daryl's peace of mind than the safety of the kids since Aiden had mastered climbing over them a few weeks ago.

Daryl looked at me with wide eyes but nodded anyways as he glanced between me and the two toddlers playing at his feet. "We're good. But hurry." He told me as he gulped loudly.

With a giggle I walked down the hallway to my bedroom, stepping inside and closing the door behind me so I could change clothes that would be appropriate to meet the house movers but also an afternoon of splashing in a creek with a giant dog. I had changed into the only bathing suit I owned which was a modest tie-dye two-piece that I had owned long before I ever got pregnant and hadn't been brave enough to pull out since giving birth. Since we had other plans before the fun of splashing in the creek I tugged on a pair of shorts that ended mid-thigh and a simple bright yellow t-shirt over my bathing suit.

Half an hour later I was climbing in Daryl's truck next to Dog who had refused to move from the passenger seat leaving only the middle spot available for me to sit. "You sure this is okay? I can make him move." Daryl asked once again as he climbed in next to me on the bench seat, our thighs touching. His jean clad thigh rough against my bare one.

"It's fine. That's his spot and who am I to make him move?" I teased I reached over to scratch between Dog's ears as he pressed his nose to the window as Daryl brought the truck to life, the cool air quickly pouring from the vents to cool us all off.

"You're the human and he's a dog." Daryl huffed as he pulled out of my driveway.

I shook my head. "Maybe so but this is his human's truck and I'm just an invited guest on this journey today. But I swear, he's fine and so am I." I reassured Daryl as he turned out my driveway.

"How far does y'all's land go?" He asked as we rode slowly down the gravel road that needed grading soon.

As he drove us slowly towards the highway I pointed out all of our acreage as well as the spot where my house was going to be moved to next week. I also told him about my future plans which included buying my neighbors acreage once they retired in a few years to expand our farm even more. The Jameson's to the south of out property had one of the most profitable flower farms in the state and rumors had it that their children wasn't interested in taking over the business. So I had plans to go visit them soon and see what we could work out that would be satisfying to both of us in their retirement. The Henson's lived on the backside of our property and had 100 acres that was used as an animal rescue as well as a donkey and mule farm. I didn't want some strangers moving in around my family's farm and possibly destroying everything I'm working so hard to create. "Do you think I'm crazy?" I asked Daryl as we turned onto the highway headed for town.

"Not at all. I think you just have a big imagination and the determination to make anything possible." He said as he placed a hand on my knee, squeezing gently. "When I was your age I was just lost in the world."

Placing my hand over his on my knee I squeezed it gently. "I understand. I've been lost too. I spent my whole pregnancy being lost and angry but that all changed when I met the sweet faces of my babies."

"I can't imagine you being lost, you seem so in control of your life. And know exactly what you want and work hard to get it." Daryl complimented as he ran the pad of his across my knee gently.

Taking a deep breath, I stared out the windshield as I muttered my truth into the cab of the truck. "I've been focused, knew what I wanted from life, and worked hard to get there. But I got derailed from my focus when my first college party resulted in my kids. Being the youngest sibling to Shawn and Maggie meant that I was subjected to not only the parental talks when I was preparing to leave for college but also talks from Shawn and Maggie. I wasn't a party girl by nature but my siblings had warned me about how college guys would take advantage of a naïve little farm girl like me. My roommate begged me to let loose and attend a party with her my junior year. So I did and my kids are the result of some douchebag drugging a cup I never let out of my sight. I have absolutely no clue who their father is and after the way they were conceived I don't want to know." Heaving a heavy sigh I take a chance and look at Daryl to see his reaction to my story. His free hand was clenched on the steering wheel, the one on my leg had long stopped the soothing motions but remained gently on my knee, his jaw kept clenching and clenching which meant he was angry. But why? "You can take me back home if it's too much for you. Our business arrangement won't be affected at all." I whispered as tears sprang to my eyes.

Instead of speaking he quickly pulled the truck to the side of the road and leapt from the truck almost before it was fully in park. I just hung my head as Daryl paced back and forth in front of the truck, mumbling to himself before sliding his hands through his longish hair, gripping chunks of it in his fists before walking back to the truck and opening the door. "Sorry."

Shaking my head, I felt the tears stream down my cheeks. I was so hopeful that this would work out that his rejection hurt deep in my chest. I had protected myself and my kids for so long that I felt like it was okay to finally open my heart and life to someone else but this was a failure of epic proportions. "I promise it's fine. You can just take me back home and we'll pretend like this never happened, Daryl. No need for explanations."

"Beth, no." He told me as he motioned for me to slide towards him on the bench seat. "Com'ere."

I shook my head stubbornly as I leaned towards Dog who was watching us curiously with his ears perched high on his head. "I don't want or need your pity, Daryl. Please don't put me out here, you can drop me at my driveway." I whispered as a sob ripped out of my chest causing me to bend over until my forehead rested on my knees with my arms wrapped around my stomach. Dog whined next to me as he nudged my shoulder in worry and curiosity.

"Ya got it wrong, baby. Com'ere. Please." He whispered as he reached across the seat to rub my back. At his continued urging and pleading I rolled my head to look at him through red watery eyes. "Please stop cryin'." He whispered as his fingers swiped away my tear tracks, his southern roots shining in his voice. "Please com'ere." He pleaded some more.

Taking a deep breath I raised up and scooted over until I was positioned under the steering wheel. "Daryl, don't make this any harder or more awkward than it has to be. Please." I whisper as I slide my hands over the steering wheel, concentrating on feeling each and ever little bump on the back side.

"I'm not going anywhere, Beth. I just needed a moment to breathe and get myself back under control. Your story was heart wrenching and overwhelming because it brings back a lot of bad memories for me. I'm so sorry ya thought I wanted this to end." He whispers as he tugs one of my hands from the steering wheel. "I had high hopes for this date." He said cockily. When I turned my head to actually look at him a smirk slowly appeared on his face. "Was hoping to work up the courage to ask you for a kiss and a second date at the end of the night. Is that still possible? Or do you wanna go home? Choice is yours."

Pulling my hand from his I placed it on the stubble of his cheek and stroked the apple of his cheek as his head turned slightly into my hand. "I'll stay. And if you're lucky I'll make the kiss worth putting up with my emotional bull crap."

"It's not bull crap, Beth. It's your reality. You will see my emotional side when my brother gets released from prison in a few months." He warned me as he tugged my knees to turn me sideways in the seat so that my legs spread to rest against the sides of his as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a comforting hug. "You scare me, Beth Greene." Daryl whispered into my hair as I laid my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

I nodded because he scared the living daylights out of me too. After a few minutes of soaking up his comforting hug I pulled back and suggested we better get on with our day since we had places to go, people to see, and things to do.

As he pulled into the not yet finished driveway of the country store and butcher shop I was immediately impressed. Walking through the entire place listening to Daryl explain the process of getting the meat from my fields to our tables I was blown away. He was just as passionate about butchery as I was about my farm. When we were finished with the tour we settled into the rockers on the front porch of the storefront with two cold sodas. "My dream and hope is that my brother will want to join me in the butchery business and eventually run and operate a second location in a few years." He whispered to me as he looked down at his boots.

"You think he will want to be part of this? My siblings don't want anything to do with the farm." I told him as I took a sip of my soda as Dog settled between our rocking chairs with a groan. He had been roaming the property since jumping from the truck when we arrived since he wasn't allowed inside the buildings.

Daryl shrugged. "Who knows with Merle. He may not stick around once he gets out. He's been in and out of jail and prison since he was 18. I hope he's ready for a change and for once he actually didn't crack a joke or poke fun when I told him of my plans for all of this. He seemed impressed so hopefully that is a good omen for his future. I've told him in my letters that there is a job waiting for him here when he gets released and a room in my house for him if he wants it." He said with a heavy sigh and slumped shoulders.

"You can't force him to change if he doesn't truly want to. All you, and I if this is still happening, can do is be there to offer him the opportunities to better himself. If he doesn't want to work here in the butcher shop or store front, then maybe he could come work out at the farm." I suggested with a supportive smile on my face.

He jerked his head up to look at me with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "You wouldn't be scared to have a felon work with you on the farm?"

"Would he hurt me or my family? Steal from us?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Absolutely not. That's not Merle. He's not dangerous to anybody but himself. He's just a jerk and an idiot without a filter." Daryl muttered with a shake of his head.

I smiled at him. "Manual farm labor has a way of making idiots with slack jaws and manners so tired they're too wore out to do or say anything stupid at the end of the day. Have I mentioned that I'm selling all of my dad's farming equipment and implementing horse drawn equipment instead?" I mentioned as I smugly took a sip of my drink.

"You really are a glutton for punishment aren't you? Isn't modern equipment used to make farming easier and quicker?" Daryl asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Quicker and easier is what's polluting the earth that my children are growing up in. We can still get the job done just without polluting the air we are breathing in the process."

Daryl simply smiled and nodded as he finished off his soda. "You ready to go see your house again and meet the movers?"

Jumping up out of the rocker I did a giddy little dance right there on the porch while Daryl chuckled. "Yes!"

DARYL

Following Beth's directions, I drove us to where her house was currently located. "That's a huge house, Beth." I told her as I parked beside two other trucks in the dirt and grass driveway.

Beth nodded with a huge smile on her face. "Yep, over four thousand square feet if the side addition makes the trip." She said as she nudged me to hurry up and get out of the truck so she could be released from her confinement. "Isn't she beautiful?" She asked excitedly as she led me and Dog towards the house where an older gentleman was standing with a clipboard in his hands and a hardhat on his head while a crew of other guys worked on removing what I'm sure were once very substantial brick chimneys.

"How you know it's a girl?" I teased as I paused beside her as she suddenly stopped to just stare at the house.

"It's definitely a girl. Is it silly that I'm nervous?" She whispered, wringing her hands nervously in front of her.

Shaking my head I tugged one of her hands free, interlacing my fingers between her damp ones. "Not at all. This is a big moment for you. Just wait until she starts moving down the highway." I teased as I nudged her to motion towards the guy that was slowly making his way towards where we stood. "Here comes that guy." I muttered uselessly. "At least he looks like he knows what he's doing."

My smart comment got me an elbow in the ribs just as the older gentleman spoke up to her. "Beth?"

Beth nodded, extending a hand towards him as Dog sat on the ground practically on top of her foot to offer his support and protection. "Yes sir. This is Daryl and Dog." She said introducing us with and eye roll at Dog's unoriginal name.

"My name is Thomas Irons, it's nice to meet all of you." He said as he shook Beth's hand before extending it in my direction. "We've been here since sunrise working on dismantling the brick chimney's Shall we take a walk around the house so you can see the progress?

"How's she doing?" Beth asked as her eyes scanned the house from one end to the other.

Thomas smiled and motioned towards the house. "No trouble out of her yet." He joked as he led the way towards the house. "All five chimney's will be completely dismantled by end of day tomorrow." He explained as we walked slowly around the house where the bricks were being taken down and stacked in fairly neat squares. "Any questions or concerns so far?" He asked as we made our way back to the front porch.

"What about the porches? Can you save any of them?" She asked as she pointed to the wood trim details that decked out the front porch.

Thomas pointed to the boards beneath our feet. "This frame is too soft to make the trip but we can use angle braces to support the roof of the porch and attempt to save some of the details of the home but I make no promises that it will survive the trip but I will try." He said with a kind smile. "Shall we head inside?"

"Yes, please!" Beth said excitedly.

Beth was a bundle of energy and excitement by the time we climbed back in the truck to head to my house for some fun and food. I just chuckled and smirked as she rattled ninety to nothing about her plans for the house because honestly it was a lot. But in a good way. I was thoroughly impressed with not only her plans but also her knowledge. "Where did you learn all of this stuff at?" I asked when she finally took a deep breath, settling against my side with her head resting on my shoulder.

"My dad and Otis but mainly Otis. When I was a kid, Patricia bugged Otis to do little projects on their house and he would wrangle me into helping him. For a few years I though maybe I wanted to be a designer or architect or something but the farm has always been my comfort place and ultimately my dream. I want to carry on the legacy of our farm so my children can have something to be proud of when they're older." She explained as she wrapped her hands around my arm, sliding her fingers down until they intertwined with mine. "I'm sure you think I'm crazy for everything I have going on in my life." She whispered softly.

I nodded. "Maybe a little crazy but at least you know what you want and are going after it. And I like that about you. Just make a little room in your life for me and you'll hear no complaints from me or Dog."

She giggled but no words were spoken as we settled into a comfortable silence as I drove the now familiar roads that led to my house on the outskirts of town, about fifteen or so miles from Beth's house. As I pulled into my driveway, Dog let out a low bark as he stood up in the seat wagging his tail. "Someone knows this is home." Beth chuckled as she scratched Dog's head.

"He'll head straight for the creek. I don't know why but every time we pull up after being gone for hours he beelines for the creek to splash and romp for a bit before settling down." I explained as I pulled the truck into the garage next to my motorcycle. As soon as I turned the key off Dog began whining and squirming in his seat, anxious to get out and run around. "Hold on, boy. Ladies first." I told him firmly as I opened my door, climbing out before extending a hand in for Beth to grip as she climbed from the truck. "It's still a work in progress but it's home for us." I told her as she scooted out of the truck as Dog playfully nudged her from behind.

Beth chuckled as she slid from the truck and out of Dog's way as he bound from the truck, taking off for the creek at full speed and deep bark. "Everything in my life is a work in progress, Daryl, so how about a tour before fun and food?"

With a quick nod, I grabbed her hand and led her through the garage door into my kitchen.