Page 56 of Wildflowers

“Just really looking forward to the teenage years,” mutters Dean.

Natalia and Leon’s house is crowded with people. Charlie and Avan volunteered to keep watch, but everyone else is present. The children are in the spare bedroom watching a movie on a working laptop provided by Jack. They couldn’t be more excited to get back in touch with technology, even if there’s no internet. You would think they’d been living in the Dark Ages..

Pedro is a handsome fifty-year-old veteran with brown skin. He’s accompanied by a German shepherd named Honey. Ignore the humans. She is hands down the most important addition to the town, according to the children. “So tomorrow we get the rest of the dead in the ground, get some security cameras up around town, and figure out how to deal with this asshole and his people,” says Pedro. “Sound like a plan?”

Natalia sips at a cup of coffee. “It’s as good a place to start as any. The houses on this street have been cleared. But some of them might need more of an airing. You’ll want to judge that for yourself.”

“You got a place with a hot tub for us, right?” asks Wyatt.

Jack nods. “It’s a need, not a want.”

“There actually is one,” I say in bemusement.

“Please don’t encourage them,” pleads Trisha with a pained expression.

“Pretty lady, give us all the details.” No idea which of the twins said it. But they’re both giving me the most flirtatious grins.

Standing beside me, Dean crosses his arms over his chest. He doesn’t seem quite so amused for some reason.

George squeezes his eyelids shut tight like he has a headache. I know they mentioned threats of divorce over Scrabble issues as a reason to leave their bunker. But I would pay good money to know how many times the lives of the twins had been threatened by their grandparents due to the boys’ big mouths and excitable attitudes.

“You two are on watch for the rest of the night,” says George. “Go on.”

This sets off a lot of moaning and groaning from the pair. Likea lot.

“I’ll relieve you at two,” says Pedro.

“Thank fuck for that,” mumbles Jack, as he and his brother head for the door. “We owe you, man.”

Pedro smothers a smile. “Yeah, yeah.”

“We usually share the watch around in two- to three-hour lots,” says Dean.

But Pedro shakes his head. “Don’t bother. I don’t sleep for shit anyway. If I manage a couple of hours it’s a good night.”

“Why don’t I keep you company,” offers Naomi.

Pedro gives her a nod. “I’d like that.”

And so Wolf Creek’s population goes up to seventeen.

Dean stands in the doorway to my bedroom. Navy pajama pants sit low on his hips and an old white tee covers his chest. He’s frowning for some reason. “I’ve never been in your bedroom before.”

“Haven’t you?”

“No,” he says. “Am I allowed to be here?”

“Yes.”

It’s eleven o’clock or so. Sophie is fast asleep and the world is quiet. We stayed for a while at Natalia and Leon’s, talking to the new people. And giving the children time to finish their film.

You would think I had bear traps laid out on the floor with the careful way he wanders inside. The room has a solid wooden four-poster bed with white linens. There’s devil’s ivy growing in a wine bottle filled with water. Which is how it survived the apocalypse and lack of care for a while. And a couple of framed black-and-white photos of trees on the wall taken from interesting angles. Along with a cool old glass chandelier-type light fixture it would be nice to see working someday.

But of course, I’m using a couple of pillar candles sitting on a plate on the bedside table to see what I’m doing. Which is lying on the bed in a pair of plaid boxer shorts and a tank top, reading a book on companion planting. I am determined to develop a green thumb. Like my life depends on it. Because once all of the canned food runs out, it will.

“Do you like all of this?” he asks, indicating the furniture and décor.

I nod.

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