Modern Love 2: The After Years

Shopping With A Child

Shopping With A Child

She didn't think there were some many things she needed. A car seat was essential, a compact stroller, baby medical things, food, learning toys, regular toys, clothes, shoes, shampoos, blankets, everything pretty much in Baby's R' Us. Van sits in the hopping cart and swings his feet back and forth, occasionally bumping one into Beth's stomach. She just laughs and then tells him to be careful. Then he smiles am stops swinging his feet.

Reaching the check out, two carts full of things, Michone and Rick have just walked in with Judith and Carl. They eye Beth and Van up and then come over, Michone really excited to see the lil boy.

"Beth! He's so adorable! What's his name?"

"Vannick." Rick and Michone both halt and then look at her questionably. "He's from Hungary. Daryl and I have jus been callin him Van though."

Rick steps closer to see the child and he hides his face in Beth's purse.

"What was that?" Rick looks at Beth.

"He was abused by his father. He hasn't even warmed up to Daryl and it's making him very sad. But this morning, Van was mimicking how Daryl did stuff and it was so adorable. I video taped the whole thing! It was so cute." Van looks up and everyone smiles at him.

"Well, no one'll know you adopted him. He looks just like you." Michone says and caresses the boys cheek with her hand. "Does he talk?"

"Not yet. Don't know if he speaks English or Hungarian, so I'm gonna get something to break the barriers." Beth pays for her items, says goodbye and then exits the store. Going to her truck, Beth unloads everything into the bed of the truck. Pulls the cover over it and sets up the Car seat for Van. She like's Daryl's truck better it has a duel cab so

Van can sit safely in the back. In her truck, he has to sit in the front, which she doesn't like.

Heading toward the book store, Beth truly wonders about Van's life. She pulls into Barnes and Noble and parks. Unbuckling, Van, she carries him in the store. She didn't realize how heavy he can get. Sure, he's really tiny, but constantly picking up 35 pounds, can get tiring.

She heads down the escalator, which Van seems to enjoy, and goes to the language isle. Searching and searching, she only can find one Hungarian Language book. She takes it and decides to get Van a book...or two (probably a lot more than he needs.)

Heading upstairs, who does she run into? No other than Zach.

"What the hell is this? Beth, you have a kid?"

"Yes, I adopted him." She tries to adjust him on her hip, but has to set him down before losing books from her hands. Zach, being a dick, makes a face and then tries to bend down and see Van. When he reaches out, Van runs away from him and Beth just throws the books at Zach and runs after the scared crying little boy. "Van! Van sweetie, it's okay!" She finds him attached to a guy's leg, who is face in the door consoling him.

"I'm sorry sir...." The guy turns around. "Daryl. What are you doin here?" Daryl looks down and his hand on the boy's head, almost feeling so happy that he's clinging to his leg, after always running or going from him.

"I was comin' to pick up a language book or CD so I could maybe get him to understand that I won't hurt him, when I find him running up to me crying. What happened?"

To answer his question, Zach comes strolling up, books in hand, smug face on and stands beside Beth. Van is tugging and crying at Daryl's pants to pick him up. Daryl scoops the boy up, who hides immediately in Daryl's leather vest, and gives Zach a displeasing look.

"Forgot these. And what the hell was that about? I didn't even touch him."

"Yeah and yer not goin' too." Daryl growls. Zach puffs his chest out, having wanted to fight Daryl for a while now. Beth grabs the books and stands by Daryl.

"Whatever. Yer welcome. Bye Beth." Zach stocks away and Daryl just looks at Beth.

"Let's go." His angry tone is back and they check out.

Getting to the car, Daryl straps Van in the front seeing. The child has gone back to hiding from him and he feels a pang of pain in his chest from it. He thought Van would love him after that. Guess not. Beth puts tenge bag of books in the middle of the bench seat and looks at Daryl. He shakes his head and gets on his motorcycle and rides off.

Why was he mad at her? She just let him down for a second and it was Zach who scared him. Zach. That's the reason he's angry. She sighs and follows Daryl all the way home.