by Christa Lynn
As I step inside, it’s dark and musty, but the smell of home fills my nose. Pictures are still hanging on the walls, the sofa dusty and molded. “It looks the same,” I say. “How can my old home still look the same after all these years?” I ask as I drag my fingers down the dusty wall, my eyes fixating on one of my parents wedding pictures.
“I don’t know, since the Heretics were here last time we came,” Kane says as he walks into the kitchen. I see him looking out the back window as Abe ties up Corndog and the other horses. Everyone is walking slowly, looking around and my eyes catch Walt walking through the woods,
“Damn it, I knew I recognized him from somewhere,” I say quietly, realizing he was my neighbor before this war started.
Emma and Hank are walking through the old corn fields that Daddy took us through that fateful night, Abe and Dani are close behind carrying Aiden as they roam toward one of the outbuildings that we used for storage. “There are a few abandoned houses off in the woods that others can shack up in until we can build new places,” Kane says. I nod as my body moves toward the stairs. I walk up slowly, not knowing if any boards are rotten and I reach the top safely, though Kane is right behind me.
The floor seems to be leaning a little and my old bedroom door is hanging off the hinge, but I walk in slowly and begin to cry. My pink blanket is still on my bed, though it’s messier than I was allowed to leave it. My old trinkets and jewelry are still on the dresser, tarnished or rusted.
I sit down on the bed and rub my hands along the blanket, dust billowing out and floating through the rays of sunshine that are beaming into the room. Kane sits down next to me and pulls me into his arms, pressing soft kiss against my cheek. “Welcome home, princess.”
I smile and lie back on the bed, scooting back so my head hits the pillow and close my eyes, the old bed still comfortable. Kane closes the door best he can, and lies down next to me, and I rest my head on his chest. “As soon as we can get the well going, we can at least take a shower, or bath,” Kane says. “We’ll check out the wiring and try to get hot water and electricity as well. My guys are pretty good, got the compound running within a few weeks.”
“Make love to me,” I say, though the voice doesn’t even sound like mine.
“Right now?” he asks, his fingers brushing against my cheek.
“Yes, I need you, forever,” I say.
“I need you too, but let’s get settled and get the door fixed first, your brother is here and …”
“Right, I suddenly thought it was just you and I here, the way I wish it was.”
“Soon, baby, soon. Let’s focus on getting the house livable and stock it with food,” he says as a gunshot roars through the back yard. “Shit,” Kane says as he jumps up and looks out the window overlooking the backyard, but he smiles. I get up and stand next to him, both of us watching out back as an old cow wanders into the yard.” You up for a steak?” Kane asks.
“You bet,” I say as I follow him back downstairs. At the bottom, I stop and turn to face Kane, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving my life, and for bringing me home.”
“You’re welcome, princess,” he says as he rubs his nose against mine, his lips barely brushing against mine. “I love you,” he says quietly.
“I love you, too.”
“Now, let’s go start making this a home. Our home,” he says as he kisses me once again.
The End
Thank you for reading; I hope you’ve enjoyed Jo and Kane’s story.
Stay tuned for Missing Pieces, Emma and Hank’s story.