Rose looked back behind her and he met her eyes. He saw sweetness there and joy. Her face was beaming with an inner light and he felt nearly intoxicated. He would go slow. He’d let her be in charge of their relationship. It was too important to him to let it be otherwise. He knew he had something so special here. Reggie did too, he’d seen it on the man’s face. Reggie had been given a second chance. They all had. He hoped that one day he’d hear form Xander and hoped that he and his little family did well and survived. He was sure they would. Zahara was so wild that he was sure she’d kill anything that even thought about hurting her Shay. He laughed softly to himself and felt like he was the luckiest man on earth.
Ž
As they drew closer to home, Xander felt excitement, hope and relief fill him. He and Zahara only left two weeks before but it truly seemed like a lifetime ago. He’d gone to Huntsville expecting to head back to work. Then come back with a family of otherworldly creatures in a world that had fallen apart and was filled with mindless monstrous zombies. He pulled up to the gate and got out, looking into the truck. Zahara’s face nearly glowed and he saw the bright excited eyes of Jack and Shay. They were going to see their new home.
He was glad to see that the locks had not been tampered with and he unlocked the gate and swung it open. Zahara had gotten behind the wheel and pulled the truck forward. The rooster crowed in the large kennel and he laughed, he thought even the rooster knew he was home. He closed the gate and walked to the other side and got in.
“Is this our home?” Shay asked, her voice almost hushed.
“It sure is. You and Jack get to sleep up in the loft. I’ll have to get some wood and build a little wall, so you can each have your own room, but I think you’ll like it,” Xander said and hugged Shay.
“I get to share?” Jack said and a wide grin split his sweet face. He giggled and Shay giggled too. Zahara drove up the curing drive and soon the cabin came into view. He felt the tension bleed from his body, it had been there since they’d seen their first zombie. Zahara parked the truck and turned off the engine. It was silent around them and no one spoke or moved. He closed his eyes and listened to the birds that were calling from the trees. He heard the buzz from the ever-present cicadas and the frogs by the pond.
“Welcome home,” he said softly to his family.
EPILOGUE
Ten years later
Ethan pushed the cart filled with dried cow manure. Rose and the twins were in the high field getting the ground ready for planting. It was the end of February and the weather was turning warmer each day. He had already set up the benches with the old gallon milk jugs. The jugs were cut nearly in half and the lower half held nutrient rich soil with a seedling while the top half covered the seedling making a mini greenhouse. During the day the twins moved the benches in and out of the sun for maximum advantage. At night, the benches were moved into the barn. When it got closer to April, they would harden the seedlings and by May they would be out in the gardens to grow.
Chicago didn’t let go of winter until late April but here, it was already spring. He liked the warmth better and it had taken a few years for him to acclimate. The children seemed oblivious to it and he shook his head. He’d talked to Xander the night before. It had taken nearly two years to find a working radio and contact his friend. They met up once a week now for a few minutes to catch up. It was an odd feeling to know his friend was only a six-hour drive away yet he might as well be on the moon. He’d not heard a car engine in years. He stopped a moment to wipe his brow. He was right beside the graves and squatted down to pull up a dandelion. Rose would want that for a salad later.
“Good morning Reggie, it’s a warm morning already. The boys are with Rose and they talk about you a lot. They miss you. I miss you too, friend. Lauren will be getting married soon. Larry’s son, Jordan, has already gone to Rose for permission. Not sure why he needed her permission, Lauren is twenty-one and a grown woman. I guess we’re falling back to old times. She and Jordan will move into Rachel’s place. It’s nice having Larry and his family on the other side of us, I’m glad you suggested they take the place. I guess it was a good thing they took over that farm because the horses make it so much easier to plow the cornfields. Rufus even goes back there for a visit, though he’s getting a bit old. Mostly he lays on the porch. Well, better get back to work or Rose will have my hide. Tell your family I said hello.” He moved away from the grave.
Reggie had died almost two years ago. He’d had a stroke
