Marla came out of one of the homes, carrying two-year-old Jessica. Her stomach held the weight of the toddler. Marla was six months pregnant, she glowed with happiness. Henry came out behind her, his face glowing a happy bright pink. His large hand rested on her shoulder.
Marla let Jessica down and the little girl ran squealing to the other children who started up more squealing and laughter. Sarah smiled, everyone looked healthy and happy. Her eyes went to William, Hunter, Leo and Gabe, who were playing cards. She shook her head, degenerate gamblers all. They all grinned and raised their hands in greetings, but none got up, too much on the table to leave the game.
“How are the kids?” She asked Diana, who scooted over as Sarah sat down beside her.
“Into everything of course, you know how it is. Let me hold that little girl.” She cooed as she took Grace from Sarah.
Sarah watched Aiden walk over to the table, and laughed, she hoped he wouldn’t get sucked into the game. He’d lost a good knife the last time.
“Where is everyone else?” She asked.
“They’re off hunting. Tom said he saw some pigs and so he and Sam, Bruce and Hudson left earlier this morning. Hopefully we will have some smoked ham at some point.” She laughed.
Sarah looked over and saw Grayson, he was nearly naked except for the loin cloth. His body was thin and hard, but healthy looking. His hair was completely gray, and he was talking to Michael, she smiled because Michael leaned over and patted Grayson’s face, making the older man smile.
He’d lost that madness look in his eyes, but she knew he preferred to live away from the main camp, only coming in from time to time to trade or visit. Often, she thought he knew of their coming and came to the main camp to visit them. He liked the children and he was always gentle and sweet with them.
Sarah looked around and smiled softly, though their numbers were few, there was a joy here among these people. She was sure they missed their loved ones and often wondered, just as she did, on how they fared, but they all seemed happy in their lives here and now. It was a beautiful primeval land that they inhabited. Their children were going to grow up in a wild paradise, without technologies, without crime.
She laughed, Marla had taken both Henry and Gabe as her husbands. They’d all rewritten their lives. She almost thought that they were all the better for it. Almost. A small part of her, the tiniest part was sad that they’d lost the rest of the world, but when she looked down at her daughter, she couldn’t help but be thankful that things had worked out the way they had, in their primeval life.
