by Dawn, M. K.
“The outhouses and bathing area.” Eli pointed in the general direction of both those things. “And the supply barn, which was impressive.”
“There’s a lot of people to take care of, so it may look like a ton of stuff but doesn’t go as far as you would think.”
“Sure, sure.” Eli walked ahead of Britney and Mia, his head darting in every direction. “This place is awesome. That’s a huge greenhouse. It butts up to the pigpens, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” Britney kept walking, hoping Eli and Mia would follow without her having to tell them as much. “We use animal manure as fertilizer. With the garden so close to the pens, it makes things a lot easier. And quicker.”
“Cool!” Eli’s enthusiasm caught her off guard.
“You really love horticulture, don’t you?”
Eli cocked his head. “What?”
Britney studied his face for a moment, trying to figure out if he was being serious. The blank stare in his eyes made her think he really didn’t know what that meant, which was strange if he actually did grow up on a farm. “Never mind.”
“What about water?” Eli asked. “I noticed there are faucets all over the place with running water. How’d you manage that?”
Britney pointed toward the left. “See that windmill over there? It powers the well.” She refused to go into any more detail. What kind of teenager cared about windmill-powered wells, anyway? “Probably the most important things you need to know about are where the bathrooms are, which camper is yours, and what time meals are served.” She checked her watch. “Speaking of meals, it’s time for breakfast.”
Eli slumped his shoulders. “Guess that means the tour’s over?”
Britney didn’t get him. In the barn, he acted like a hardass, and now with her, he was practically pouting. “There’s not much else to see. We have a small school for the younger kids, which isn’t far from the main house. Most of our land is dedicated to livestock or hay for the livestock. It’s not all that excitin’.”
“What about the house?” Mia asked as Britney led them toward the outdoor dining area under the huge tree just past the driveway. “You the only one that lives there?”
Britney hesitated before answering, not sure how much she wanted to disclose. “With my kids and Axel. This farm has been in my family for a very long time. I was the one who opened my home to all these people.”
“So, you get to decide who leaves, too?” Eli asked.
Britney shook her head. “No. A year ago we formed a council who makes most of the decisions. Larger issues, the community gets to vote.”
“That’s very diplomatic of you.” Eli’s sarcasm wore on her nerves.
“Yes, it is.” Britney didn’t mean to snap, but who was he to judge how they ran things. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No,” Mia answered for him. “We don’t have a problem with anything. We’re just so happy to be here and my brother, well, Daddy always said he talked too much.”
Britney spotted Axel coming from the house. He waved and smiled back, and she was overwhelmed with the urge to speak with him. “I have to go. You guys head over and get in line for breakfast. I’ll meet up with you a little later.”
She didn’t wait for them to respond before rushing off.
Axel waited for her on the driveway with a smirk splashed across his face.
“You couldn’t meet me halfway?” Britney jutted her hip.
“I could,” Axel leaned in and pecked her cheek, “but where’s the fun in that? Besides, you have a very sexy jog.”
Britney swatted his arm. “Stop that. This is serious.”
Axel’s eyes followed the twins as they made their way toward breakfast. “What did they do?”
Britney’s breath quickened. “Nothing. It’s just a feeling I get when around them. More from Eli than Mia. She seems okay but he’s...” She could think of a dozen words to describe him, but none really embodied how he made her feel. “I don’t know how to explain it. He was kind of rude to Nathaniel. And Juliet practically drooled when she met him. Diego hardly said a word, which isn’t unusual but still. Then, Eli wanted me to show them around, and he asked a ton of questions about the farm. Again, not strange in itself, but it bugged me, you know?”
Axel stood there smiling as she rambled.
“You think I’m being paranoid, don’t you?”
Again, Axel’s eyes darted in the direction of the twins. “No. Like I said this morning, we should keep an eye on them.”
“A close eye.” Britney spotted Rainey bringing the children over for breakfast. They usually ate with their class in the morning, but today, she had the urge to stay close to them. “Let’s eat with the kids.”
Axel took her hand. “You read my mind.”
“Hi, Mom!” Blake ran over to them with Carson and Molly close behind.
She pulled all three of them in her arms and squeezed them until they protested. A sudden chill ran over her body, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Eli staring at her family. He jutted his chin and smiled. Fear washed over Britney as his eyes bore into her, and she knew they had made a mistake. They should have never let that boy past their gate.
CHAPTER TEN
Sloan set the plate of breakfast on the table outside Evelyn’s camper and knocked. A minute passed, and when Evelyn didn’t answer after the second knock, Sloan let herself in.
The musty, dark room irritated her nose. Clearly, she never opened a window or cleaned.
Sloan set the breakfast plate on the unused table. “Evelyn?”
She knew her friend wouldn’t answer. Ever since they escaped The Bunker, Evelyn had become a shell of the woman she used to be. Losing so many people in such a tragic way had warped her view on the world, leaving her in a severe state of depression. Medication helped, when they could find it, but as soon as they ran out, Evelyn slipped away again.
Sloan opened the door of the small bedroom and found Evelyn lying on top of the blanket, eyes open but unfocused. “I brought breakfast.”
Evelyn made no indication that she’d even heard Sloan speak.
Her poor, dear friend. It broke Sloan’s heart seeing her in such a dire state. Her pixie hair style now hung to her shoulders. And her once gorgeous ebony skin had grown dull from the lack of nutrition and vitamin D. The woman rarely left the camper for anything other than to use the outhouse. Most of her meals she ate in here, if she ate at all. Once a week, Sloan forced her to dine with the community. People used to try to cheer her up, but most had given up over time when she refused to respond.
“Evelyn,” Sloan sat beside her and squeezed her hand, “you need to get out of bed and eat. Maybe take a walk. It’s a beautiful morning.”
She shifted her hand out of Sloan’s grasp but didn’t reply.
“The only way you’re going to beat this is to get up and start living. They wouldn’t want this for you.”
Evelyn closed her eyes as the tears began to fall.
Sloan understood her pain. Evelyn had lost the man she loved and all their friends in The Bunker attack. But the time for mourning had ended long ago.
Sloan had tried everything to pull Evelyn from this abyss of sorrow: space, love, medication, endless conversations. None helped so the only thing left was tough love. Sloan didn’t want to hurt her friend, but this had to stop.
“How is this fair, Evelyn? All of those people died and you survived. But instead of living your life, you’re hiding, wasting away, doing nothing. Do you wish you would have died with them? Because you might as well if this is how you’re going to spend your days.”
Evelyn choked on a sob and rocked in the fetal position.
Sloan stood over Evelyn and held out her hand. “Get out of bed. Now! Your breakfast is getting cold.”
“I don’t care,” Evelyn mumbled.
Sloan couldn’t believe she answered. “Well, you should. I’m sure anyone would have been happy to have your severing of eggs.”
“Give it to
them.” Evelyn rolled to her other side. “I’m not hungry.”
Sloan never had much patience for self-pity from her patients. She firmly believed that a positive attitude went a long way when it came to recovery.
“Hungry or not, you need to eat. Starving yourself is not doing anyone any good. You’re a surgeon. This town needs you.”
“They have you.” Evelyn pulled the comforter over her head.
“What about Rainey?”
Evelyn didn’t even flinch, not that Sloan expected her to. The two women had probably never even spoken more than a couple of times.
“She’s sick.” Sloan hoped the inkling of a patient might coax her out of the haze she’d been living under. “And your specialty is oncology.”
Evelyn opened her eyes. “Was.”
Sloan ignored the attitude. “I believe she has melanoma. There’s a spot on her face that I’m concerned about.”
Evelyn tilted her head. “And what do you think I can do about it here and without the proper equipment?”
The quickness of Evelyn’s response gave Sloan hope. “I went on the supply run to obtain the items you might need to help her, but our SUV was stolen.”
“So, the rumors are true?” Evelyn sat up.
Sloan narrowed her eyes. “Where did you go to hear rumors?”
Evelyn averted her eyes. “I go out on occasion. Use the bathroom, take a bath, wash my clothes. I’m not crazy.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy.” Sloan hated to see her friend so defeated. “But I do think you need to make more of an effort to—”
“To what?” Evelyn snapped. “Make new friends? Fall in love? Raise a family?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Evelyn threw her hands in the air. “No! That’s not what I want. It’s bad enough I’m friends with you and Archer and the other people from The Bunker.”
“How is that a bad thing?”
Evelyn’s entire body trembled. “People die in this world.”
“People died in the old world, too. As a doctor, I’m sure you saw your fair share of death.”
“It’s not the same!” Tears streamed down Evelyn’s cheeks. “I ca...I can’t...it’s too hard.”
Finally, a breakthrough. “What’s too hard?”
“Losing people you love. And it can happen at any time, anywhere, without warning.”
Sloan took a seat next to her on the bed and rested a hand on her leg. “Life has always been that way.”
“Not like this...this is different. Scarier. There are monsters now. Living, breathing monsters whose sole purpose in life is to infest humans. How can anyone live knowing that kind of horror is lurking around every corner?”
“You take it one day at a time. And if that is too hard, one hour or one minute or one second. But what you don’t do is give up. It’s not fair to those who’ve been killed by the infested if we do. Especially those who lost their lives saving others.”
Evelyn wiped the tears from her face and sniffled. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
Sloan slid off the bed and pulled Evelyn with her. “Take it slow. First thing you have to do is get out of this bed and eat. You’re too skinny. Winter will be here soon, and your body will need more nutrition to survive the cold.”
Evelyn took a deep breath and shook her head. “Okay.”
“Come on.” Sloan led her to the table. “Breakfast is on the table though no promises if it’s still warm.”
Evelyn took a seat and uncovered the plate. She stared at it for a couple of seconds before taking a bite of the toast. “It’s good.”
Sloan reached across the table and squeezed Evelyn’s free hand. “Coming out of depression without medication is going to be challenging. Exercise, nutritious meals, and socializing will help, but you’re going to have to rewire the way your brain views the world.”
“I know.” Evelyn hung her head as she pushed her eggs around with her fork before taking a bite.
“I’ll be here for you to help with whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” Evelyn tugged at her earlobe.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes while Evelyn took a few more bites. She didn’t eat as much as Sloan would have liked, but it was better than she’d seen her eat in months.
Evelyn covered her food and pushed the plate to the side. “I think I’ll save the rest for later.”
“Okay. I’ll let Angie know you’ll bring the plate back when you’re done. What are you going to do the rest of the day?”
“I’m not sure,” Evelyn said with a yawn.
Sloan had to get her out of this trailer, or she’d end up back in bed. “Why don’t you go to the clinic and help Makayla? Get a feel of the place.”
“Sure.” Evelyn slid out of the bench seat. “I’m going to get dressed. You don’t have to wait.”
Sloan smiled. “I don’t mind.”
Evelyn opened her mouth, probably to argue, but instead nodded. She had to have known Sloan well enough by now that she would want to make sure Evelyn made it to the clinic. As much as she wanted to trust her friend, she didn’t. Not yet. Evelyn would have to prove that she was making actual progress. Slipping into a deeper depression couldn’t happen. Sloan wouldn’t allow it.
***
After getting Evelyn settled in the clinic, Sloan headed over to speak to Angie about the missing plate and fork. Angie kept a close count on everything that had to do with meals. They barely had enough for everyone to start with, so if dinnerware started to disappear, meal times would be even more difficult than they already were. It was hard enough planning and preparing three meals for so many people. They didn’t need to add any additional stress.
“Sloan!”
She turned around at the sound of Britney.
“Wait up a sec, will you?” Britney jogged over, eyebrows drawn together.
Sloan narrowed her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was just wonderin’ if you had a chance to talk to Evelyn?”
Sloan’s eyes flickered to the dozens of people working in the area. “Let’s talk on the porch.”
Britney followed her in silence, which Sloan didn’t expect. Her sister always felt the need to fill the gaps in conversations.
They took a seat on the wooden bench in front of the living room windows. Before Sloan had a chance to speak, Britney jumped right in.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?”
Sloan angled her body so she faced Britney. “What’s bad?”
“Whatever it is you wanted to talk to me about.”
“Why do you say that?”
Britney crossed her arms. “Because we had to come over here to talk. You know, alone. You only do that when you have bad news. Now tell me what it is. I can handle it.”
Sloan stared at her sister for a moment before shaking her head. “I brought you over here because talking about other’s health is a delicate matter.”
“Is Evelyn getting worse? And don’t even dream of pullin’ that doctor-patient confidentiality crap on me. I have a right to know what’s going on with the people on my farm.”
Sloan held up her hands in defeat. “Fine. I understand that these are different times and perhaps regulations that applied before do not make sense in our current situation.”
Britney tapped her fingers against her arm. “I’m glad we got that figured out. Now, back to Evelyn.”
“I managed to get her out of bed, and she ate a little of her breakfast.” Evelyn’s declining mental state had been noticed by many, including Britney, so Sloan didn’t mind sharing. But parts of their conversation she would keep to herself.
“That’s a good start. Did you speak with her about Rainey?”
Sloan wanted to make sure she handled this subject delicately, considering the close friendship Britney and Rainey shared. “I mentioned the melanoma.”
“And?”
Sloan patted her sister’s knee. “Evelyn will examine her after school lets out to see if
anything can be done.”
“That’s it?” Britney jumped from her seat. “That’s all she said?”
“You know this is not a simple disease. With all the medication in the world, melanoma is difficult to cure.”
“So, you’re just going to give up?” Britney’s voice cracked. “What if it’s just surface level? Daddy went in several times to have spots on his back removed.”
“I’m not an oncologist. That’s Evelyn’s specialty. She needs to be the one to confirm the diagnosis. And I’m not sure how she can do that, considering our lack of equipment. Maybe if we had the supplies I gathered from the hospital...”
“Have you talked to Rainey about all this?” Britney leaned against the railing. “She deserves to know the truth.”
“The truth about what? We don’t know anything for sure. Not until after Evelyn takes a close look at the spot.”
Britney ran her hands over her eyes. “She’s been feeling bad. And is tired a lot.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“She hasn’t said anything. I’ve just been paying closer attention.” Britney returned to the bench. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“I need to speak with her about her symptoms.” Sloan always hated this part of her profession. “Do you think you can watch her class?”
Britney checked her watch. “The kids are in survival training right now. Rainey usually hangs out in the classroom. What’s going on?”
“I need to let her know Evelyn wants to see her after class.” Sloan rested a hand on Britney’s shoulder. “Try not to worry, okay? You’re doing all you can do for this place and more. Everyone appreciates it, but you have to learn to relax and stop stressing so much. It’s not good for your health.”
“I’ll try. Let me know what Evelyn says, okay?” Britney stood and headed for the house. “Please don’t make me hunt you down.”
Sloan laughed. “You’ll be the first person I speak to after the examination.”
***
Sloan found Rainey where Britney said she would be, in the schoolhouse, readying the classroom for the remainder of the day.
“Good morning,” Sloan said as she entered, hoping not to startle Rainey as she had her back to the door.