Authors: Jill James

Love in the Time of Zombies (18 page)

BOOK: Love in the Time of Zombies

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Chapter Twenty-Eight

The walk back passed in a daze. I held Seth’s hand and I didn’t think I would ever let go. I’d cried with Seth when he told me of his mother’s turning and how she’d attacked him. My heart broke as he explained he’d had to kill her. Tears ran down my face and the road was a blur as the young girl told me of sacrificing Seth’s fingers to save his life. Would I have been brave enough to make that decision? If I had, would I have been able to do it?

I’d cried when Miranda told me of her time with Peters and escaping him, and I’d hugged her when she told me of being unable to kill him. I’d been terrified during my time with that evil man, and I hadn’t suffered the abuse this young woman had. My free hand clenched into a fist. I’d been sure Antonio had killed him, although Miranda’s description of what he had done to Peters was more than I could imagine that kind man doing. Okay, he’d invented the attack signal to use the zombies, so he wasn’t all kind. But he’d been kind to me. The world wasn’t what it had been. We were all being called upon to do the unspeakable just to survive.

I’d laughed at Cody telling of meeting Seth and Ran, as Seth called her, at the library, as much from the story as by his surfer-guy lingo. And I giggled when Teddy told me of his proclaiming himself King of Pittsburg. I smiled, imagining all too well this big man with the big heart declaring himself the ruler of all he surveyed. He’d always been meant for bigger things than driving and protecting Carl.

I left the recorder turned on, but I knew if the batteries failed, I had this group to cover my back. Having seen firsthand what the attack sound could do, they were amazed at what the repel portion could do.

“No one should be able to control the skinbags. It isn’t right,” Miranda said, with her face fierce and her eyes bright.

I watched as Cody wrapped himself around the young girl, but her eyes and Seth’s met in a silent exchange. A twinge stung my heart that she’d been there for Seth and I hadn’t. It passed as quick as it came. I had no room for jealousy of this brave young woman.

As we reached the sound barrier by the RV Park, I turned off the recorder. I grabbed Teddy’s arm and whispered in his ear. He put his arms around the kids and scurried them along.

Seth turned to me, his eyes wary and alert. “You didn’t get to your telling of our time apart. Is there something you don’t want the youngsters to know?” He nodded at the wall. “Or your friend Michelle who seems overexcited to see us. Does she know something I don’t?”

He took a step back. “Do you have a new boyfriend or husband in there?”

The words I’d been about to say sputtered to a stop deep in my throat. How to begin?

“I lied to you.”

“I knew it. You do still have a husband. Did he show up? You could have just said so. I would have understood. Everything is chaotic. People disappear and show up again. We made no promises.”

“Stop, Just stop,” I began, the words tumbling so fast so I wouldn’t pause until I got it all out. “That isn’t what I meant. I told you I couldn’t have children. That it was safe to make love. But I guess I just couldn’t have them with Carl. Because, I’m pregnant and you’re the father and you don’t have to do anything and I’m sorry and I didn’t mean to trap you and I want this baby and I’m glad I’m having it.”

“Are you done?” His voice was low and calm, too calm for my grocery-list of revelations.

“Yes,” I said, staring at my dusty boots.

He grabbed my hands, pulled me to him, and swept me into his arms. He turned and faced the compound. Michelle and her gang of children lined the wall. Teddy, Miranda, and Cody waited at the gate.

“We are going to have a baby,” Seth yelled at the top of his lungs.

Cheers erupted and I hid my heated face against his shoulder. I turned and looked into his eyes. His beautiful eyes filled with love and wet with unshed tears.

“Who would have thought?”

“Thought what?” I whispered.

“Who would have thought something as bad as the zombie apocalypse could bring me something as wonderful as Emily Gray?”

# # #

Dear Reader
,

Love in the Time of Zombies is the book of my heart. It took three years to write in between my other projects. People ask me ‘why zombies and romance?’ I tell them, if someone can find romance with zombies out to eat you, limited resources, and renegades out to steal what you have, how hard can it be in real life? Go, get out there. Find your significant other. The zombie apocalypse could be right around the corner. You never know!

Thanks, Jill James

*Author Note
: To those readers familiar with the Brentwood, California area you may notice some anomalies. I used the area as it was in 2011 when I started the book, so all the wonderful improvements to my town didn’t make it into the book.

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Other books by Jill James

The Lake Willowbee Series

Divorce, Interrupted

Dare To Trust

Defend My Love

All are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other online retailers

The three novellas are also available as audio books.

The Lake Willowbee Series is available in paperback.

Tempting Adam

The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.

Short Stories