Suddenly...Gone

Chapter 12

As usual, the job took longer than it should have. The whole time Daryl was fighting with the drain under the small bathroom sink, Merle was flirting with Krista, the tenant. Daryl shook his head as he heard them agree to meet up at a bar later tonight. He didn't understand how women could fall for Merle's line of crap.

When he was done, he handed the inexpensive ring back to its owner, said his goodbyes and left. He was ready to get back to Emma. His Emma.

Merle hurried after him. "While we're out, could you look at a few other things for me?" he asked.

"No."

"C'mon, bro. We won't get credit for the rent if we don't do more work around here," Merle told him.

"If we don't do more work?" Daryl said sarcastically. "This job is yours, not mine. I've already done a half dozen jobs here this week, what have you done?" Daryl was putting his tools in the back of his truck. He knew they needed the rent credit from the maintenance job in order to afford the monthly rent. "Did Merle do anything around here," he wondered.

Daryl wanted to say no, but he didn't. They needed the four hundred dollars that the job contributed towards the rent. He rested both hands on the side of the pickup and took a deep breath. "What else is there?"

Merle laughed, "Knew I could count on you little brother."

Daryl shook his head and got into the truck, and he and Merle drove to the next job.

Four hours later they finished. Daryl pulled the truck into his spot in front of their trailer. Emma's car was still there. Daryl was hungry, but he knew they had no food left. He had missed both breakfast and lunch today. He decided to shower first and then check in with Emma.

Daryl took a long hot shower, and it felt good. He also did something he hadn't done in a very long time, he shaved...well sort of. He cleaned up his face, so the scruff on his cheeks and neck was gone. He kept everything else. He looked himself over in the mirror and thought he looked pretty good for a change.

Dressed in his best jeans and shirt, Daryl headed over to Emma's. Even though it was only mid-afternoon, he didn't want to come back to change his clothes. He wanted to take her out to dinner that night. The money he had gotten from fixing the Porsche was still burning a hole in his pocket.

He knocked on Emma's door which she quickly opened with a smile. "Hey, come on in."

"Sorry, I took so long. We ended up having to do a couple of repairs around the park. I hadda do them as it helps with the rent." Daryl explained as he walked into the living room. Emma just melted right into his arms, and they stayed that way for a couple of minutes. She tilted her head back and looked into his blue eyes.

"Missed you," she said smiling up at him. Then she noticed the scruff on his cheeks was gone. "Hey, you shaved."

"Missed you too. Yeah, I was starting to look like a bum. Just cleaned it up a bit."

Emma turned his face so she could see it better. "I didn't mind it before, not at all, but this does look really good. I may have to fight all the women off now trying to get to you," she told him with a wink.

"Yeah, right," he said rolling his eyes. "I ain't anything special to look at. Still surprised that you think so."

"Are you serious?" Emma asked him completely surprised. "Daryl you are really good looking. I mean when I saw you the day you fixed my tires I almost couldn't talk because I thought you were so hot." She thought was that Daryl was looking at her like she was crazy. "I'm dead serious. When you came by the diner to pick me up that day, my friend Cassie was there, and she completely agreed. Face it, Daryl, you're a hot guy," she teased him. It was the truth.