Read Savannah's Only Zombie (Book 2): A New Darkness for Free Online Page B

my
mom the first day everything went bad,” Jeremy responded, his smile turning
sympathetic.
    CJ nodded.
    “Yeah, me too kinda,” he said, breaking
his eye contact to stare out the window. “Mom hasn’t been the same since it
happened. It was weird. Like, she just shut down. That’s not like her at all.”
    His gaze returned to Jeremy. For the
first time, the boy smiled.
    “So, what do you do for fun CJ?” Jeremy
asked, changing the subject.
    “Well, I use to play football…”
    A sound at the door interrupted CJ.
Jeremy could have sworn it sounded like snorting. CJ smiled at Jeremy, seeming
to enjoy his confusion.
    “It’s okay Bacon. You can come in. Come
on boy!” CJ said, leaning in and clapping his hands.
    A small pink snout poked in from the
doorway. The brown-haired piglet it was attached to made its way into the
bedroom, snorting and galloping on its tiny legs. It ran up to CJ, who picked
it up and turned back to Jeremy.
    “This is Bacon. I found him after his
mother was attacked by some zombies. Well, he found me technically.”
    Jeremy smiled and reached out to pet the
pig. The small hog closed its eyes in enjoyment as Jeremy scratched behind its
ears.
    “He seems to like you,” CJ said, noticing
how relaxed the pig seemed in his arms.
    “Well,” Jeremy said. “Us guys who lost
moms got to stick together.”
     
    ***
     
    “You shouldn’t have brought them here.”
    Josh locked eyes with his mother-in-law.
He knew this conversation would be a part of bringing Lexx, Tori, and Jeremy
with him.
    “And why is that Mom?” He asked.
    “You don’t know these people-”
    “Actually,” he interrupted. “I’ve spent
the past few days with them, so I know them pretty well. We’ve fought for our
lives together and I don’t know of any better way to get to know someone than
that.”
    She had no response to that, but he knew
this would not be the end of the conversation. She turned and walked away,
leaving him standing there alone in the hallway.
     

Chapter
Five
     
    Laura and her mother prepared dinner
downstairs. The rationing was uplifted for the night, because tonight was a
celebration. With Josh’s return and the joining of other able-bodied help,
tonight was not a night for the earmarking of food.
    Josh walked into the open kitchen area,
both women not paying him the least bit of attention. A casserole dish full of
spaghetti sat cooling on the island countertop. Josh picked up a fork, readying
to sample some of the dish. She swatted his hand away as he went in for the
bite.
    “Hey!” He said.
    “Not yet!” Laura said. “You’re gonna have
to wait like everyone else!”
    “Aww man, but I thought tonight was for
me?” He asked, sticking out his lower lip in a pouting manner.
    “Please,” she said, as she pushed him out
of the way. “I don’t care how long you were gone. That look will never work on me.”
    Her mother smiled as she mixed the sweet
tea.
    Josh grinned and leaned in to kiss his
wife on the cheek.
    “And that’s why I need you,” he said,
planting the kiss before kneeling down.
    He put his hand on her belly and leaned
in.
    “We’re going to have to stick together
princess or Mommy isn’t going to let us have any fun,” he whispered into her
abdomen.
    Laura pushed him with her hip, knocking
him over.
    “Oh please! Get out of the kitchen you!”
    He stood up and smiled wide.
    “Geez, I’ve only been back a few hours
and I’ve already worn out my welcome? Tough crowd.”
    “Oh, you think this is your welcome
back?” She started. “Just you wait until later-”
    Her mother cleared her throat, to remind
the couple that she was still very much in the room. Laura gave her husband a
quick wink and went back to preparing the Caesar salad. He returned the wink
and made his way to the front porch where Lexx and Tori were talking with his
father and brother-in-law.
     
    ***
     
    Lexx had a hard time believing his eyes.
The scene before him was completely surreal.