Broken Dreams (53 page)

“Quit distracting me!” I swatted at him again. “I’m trying to keep an eye on Claire. Go sort your socks or something.”

He smirked at me, then slapped me on my ass. “Later, love.” I turned around and gave him a dirty look. He laughed and left the room. I looked back out the door and watched Claire. She stood there, tall and strong, watching for undeads, chatting it up with Addie.

All of a sudden, she collapsed. I burst through the door without even thinking. As I ran to her, I pulled out my Sig, ready to take out whatever hurt her.

“Claire!”

***

“So, Addie, this is your home?” Claire was trying to make small talk, while continuously watching for undeads in all directions.

“Yes. I’ve lived here my entire adult life.” Claire heard the sickening whack of the butcher knife. An intense wave of nausea rushed through her body. With her stomach being off, she was afraid the slaughtering of the chicken would send her over the edge.

“You okay? You look a little peaked.”

She put her hand over her mouth, and couldn’t hold back any longer. Claire fell on her knees and heaved. Addie ran over to her and grabbed her ginger locks and pulled them back.

Once Claire finished, she sat back and began crying, her hands covering her face. “Sweetheart, it’s alright.” Addie stroked her hair and face.

“No. It won’t be alright.” She continued to cry into her hands.

“How far along are you?”

Claire pulled her hands away from her tear-streaked cheeks. “I’m not even sure if I am.”

“I have a knack for these things. Between your family there treating you like a delicate flower, your rosy complexion, and the fact that you just vomited, I have a good idea that you’re with child.” Claire looked into Addie’s eyes and broke down. Addie wrapped her arms around her. “Shhh… It’ll be okay.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be burdening you with my problems.”

“You’re not burdening me. I have a daughter who’s missing. Now you know one of my problems.” Claire smiled through her tears. “She would have been seventeen.” Addie smiled, trying not to show any signs of weakness. “Does he know?”

“Yes.”

“Is the baby his?”

“Yes.” Claire wiped the tears off her cheeks.

***

“Claire! Claire!” I ran as fast as my legs would go which, incidentally, had improved since this whole thing started. “Get away from her, or I will kill you!” I screamed at Addie. She stood up and backed away.

“Elaina, stop! It’s fine. Put the gun away.” Claire stood up. I looked between her and Addie. Claire could see the concern on my face. “Really, Elaina, it’s okay. I was just sick. That’s all. Addie was trying to help me.”

I felt my face flush in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I thought that…”

“It’s fine. I understand. I really should get back to this chicken so I can get y’all a nice meal before it gets too dark.” Addie went back into the barn, coming back out with a basket. “Here, Claire, go gather some vegetables from the garden, if you feel up to it.” Claire took the basket and walked to the garden that was about twenty feet away. I stepped a few feet into the barn so I could still keep an eye on Claire.

“Please accept my apology. Here you are, opening your home to us, cooking us a meal, and I nearly blow your head off.” My voice was low and riddled with shame. Addie looked up from the chicken.

“I understand. It’s crazy out there, and no one knows who is trustworthy.” She looked back down, continuing with the chicken. I heard someone running toward me. I turned out of the barn and aimed my Sig in the direction it came from.

“Jesus, Elaina! Don’t shoot me!”

“Sorry, Nick.” I put the gun back down.

“What’s going on out here? I heard you yelling.” His breathing was a little labored.

“Claire got sick. I saw Addie over her so I made the assumption…” Nick’s body language said it all: throwing the head back, the eye roll, the hands on the hips. “Look, I know, and I apologized.”

Addie yelled from the barn, “Yes, she apologized, and I accepted! Everything’s fine!” Addie walked out with two buckets, a bunch of feathers clinging to her clothing. “I’m going to rinse this off at the pump and then we’ll get started.”

“Yes, thank you,” Nick said politely, glowering at me. I was feeling a little self-conscious. “Go back inside, you trigger-happy nut. I’m going to go check on Claire.” I took the walk of shame back into the house. I sat down at the kitchen table and pouted. Henry came in and sat down with me, a bottle of vodka in tow.

“We have to be careful. You can’t be so trigger happy.” I rolled my eyes. He had no room to talk. He took a long pull from the bottle, which was becoming a regular thing with him. I wondered what he would do when he ran out.

“I’ve already been lectured by Nick so, I don’t need to hear it from you, as well.” I crossed my arms and turned away from him. “I thought she did something to her.”

“Why would she let us stay the night and cook us dinner, only to kill us?” He had a snicker in his voice.

“Shut up, Henry.”

“Is this five-year-old Elaina that I’m speaking to?” I grabbed the towel that was on the table and threw it at him. “Apparently so.” He laughed. I wanted to throat punch him.

Addie, Nick, and Claire came back inside. Addie put the chicken down on a cutting board. Nick set the basket of vegetables on the counter, and guided Claire to a chair. “Sit down for a while. You need anything? Water?”

“Water would be great. Thanks,” she said in a low voice. Nick ran and retrieved a bottle of water. Thomas had followed Nick in, and sat down at the table.

Claire looked a little green and exhausted. Henry glanced at her when she moaned. He was nursing the bottle of vodka, and glared at me with a raised eyebrow. I felt it coming.

“Elaina, may I have a word with you, please?” Shit, I thought. I can’t lie to Henry. I suck balls at lying. Not to mention that I’m totally against it. I’ve avoided the whole conversation by not saying anything at all. I looked at Claire.

“I know it’s about me so I might as well fess up. Since everyone is here…” She paused, took a sip of water while searching for the words. “There’s a really good possibility that I’m pregnant.” She picked at the label of the bottle.

Henry choked on his last pull.

“How many of you knew?” He looked around at all of us. I meekly raised my hand like a scared kindergartener on the first day of school. Nick and Addie followed my lead. “You told a perfect stranger, but didn’t think that telling me, your leader, was important?!” Oh boy. It was not a good time for “Captain Henry” to make an appearance. Or “Angry Henry”, or even “Drunk Henry”. Oh, Christ, what the fuck did it matter?

“Obviously, I just found out. She was sick outside, and I put two and two together.” Addie went back to cutting the chicken into pieces.

“But you knew,” he stabbed a finger at me, then at Nick, “and you knew?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice shaking.

“And neither one of you felt compelled to tell me?” When no one said anything, he threw his arms into the air. “Brilliant! Absolutely fucking brilliant!” It was a combination of “Angry Henry” and “Captain Henry”. I didn’t think I liked this new “Captain Angry Henry”. He drank some more. I was crossing my fingers that “Drunk Captain Angry Henry” wasn’t barreling in from around the corner.

“Watch your mouth, young man!” Addie scolded. “In my house, we do not use language like that. And I would appreciate it if you took it easy on the bottle.” I snatched the bottle away from him and capped it.

“I apologize,” he said with embarrassment.

“Accepted.”

“I’m not one hundred percent sure,” Claire continued.

“Whether you’re sure or not, I would think that someone would have said something to me!”

“Henry, calm down. Let’s not show Addie your temper. After all, she’s being a gracious host.” I scolded him like he did me.

He stood up, grabbed his bottle, pushed past Thomas, walking out the front door. I turned back to Claire and, of course, she had started to cry. Nick was furious. He stood up.

“Nick, sit back down,” I growled. I refocused on Claire. “Claire, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think he would act like that.” I rubbed her hand.

“I knew this would be a burden. I’m such an ass for letting this happen.”

“What?” Nick was upset. All aboard an emotional train. Our tickets may say Happyville, but watch us pass directly through Pissyville, and let’s not forget the all too important Melancholyville. It was odd to me that Addie just stood at the counter, prepping dinner, while our little soap opera was unfolding before her.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant the baby. We should have been careful.” The tears were flowing fast and heavy. I picked up the towel I had chucked at Henry moments before, and handed it to Claire.

“And how were we supposed to be ‘careful’? There isn’t exactly a twenty-four hour quickie mart open that I can drive to and buy a box.” Oh, yes, we were passing right through Bitterville, as well.

“Okay. Nick, stop. You’re just upsetting her more.”

“Well, she’s making it sound like she regrets our relationship.” We were quickly approaching Whinyville. When would I get off the fucking train?

“That’s not what she’s saying,” I said. “She’s just worried. Worried about the ifs, whens, and whats.”

Addie walked over and took a seat at the table. “Listen, I can tell you this. No matter what, a baby brings joy into the hearts of everyone. The circumstances may be a little different here, but y’all will get through it. I promise you that. Giving birth without the help of a doctor or a midwife will be difficult. And I’m going to be real here and tell you that the pain is nothing like you ever had, but you will get through it. The best thing that y’all can do is get along, stop fighting, and work together for the sake of your family. They may be all you have left.”

“I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”

Addie grabbed Claire’s hands. “Sweetheart, please listen to me. Times will be tough, there’s no doubt about that. The baby will cry when you don’t want it to, and that was true even in the days of convenience. Y’all just have to deal with it. It’ll be difficult, I’m not going to sugar coat it, but once you get to your destination and settle down, y’all will deal with it. With all the hurt, anger, fear, and death in this world, a little life will bring some hope. We all need a little hope, don’t we?”

I wish Henry had been there to hear what she said. I probably should have taken notes so I could repeat it back to him, and maybe he would feel guilty about behaving the way he did. I heard the front door open and close.

“It’s just me,” Henry announced as he came back into the house. He looked defeated…and drunk. “I would like to apologize to everyone for my behavior. Sometimes I can be a real prat.” Not one person said a word. He stood quiet for a moment, looking at everyone, then he focused in on Addie. “Is there anything I can help you with for dinner?”

“You know, I could use someone to watch my back while I grill. I think there’s enough propane left to cook.”

“Sure, I can handle that.” Henry walked through the kitchen, without a glance in my direction, and went out back to check for undeads. Great, he was pissed at me. Just perfect.

Addie was pulling out seasonings from her cabinets. “Would you ladies like to make a dressing for the salad while I cook the chicken?”

“Yes, of course,” I said with mild enthusiasm. I admit that I’m no Julia Childs, but putting together a dressing would be easy enough.

“And you two can set the table, too. Everything you need is right in this area.” She waved her hand in front of the cabinets and drawers. Addie took the platter of chicken and headed out back.

***

Addie opened the door, and saw Henry starting the grill. “Oh, goodness, thank you.”

“It’s the least that I can do,” he said apologetically, flashing his charming smile.

“You need to take it easy on that girl. You’ll cause a divide within your group if you choose to keep acting the way you are,” she lectured.

Henry hung his head like a child. “I know. I’m ashamed of my behavior.”

“You need to be a little easier with that bottle, as well.” Henry looked off to the side. “Speaking from experience, it can damage relationships.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Henry didn’t know what else to say. He knew that he was becoming more attached to the booze, but he wasn’t ready to shake it yet. Nor was he ready to admit anything. He also knew that Elaina was watching his intake. The silence grew even more uncomfortable.

“I’m not going to lecture you about it because it’s none of my business and you know what you’re doing to yourself, but just understand that breaking the habit is a difficult road.” Addie cleared her throat. “Well, enough of that. So, tell me, where in England are you from?” she asked, placing the chicken on the grill.

“The east end of London.” Henry was careful not to elaborate or speak too much of the truth.

“I’ve always wanted to travel to the UK. But, because of one thing or another, it just wasn’t in the cards.”

“Family?” He was genuinely curious.

“Yes. I was married, and my husband passed two years ago. He was ill for a long time. He was an alcoholic.” Henry let out a loud exhale and shied away from Addie. Then, in a sad tone, she said, “I had a daughter, as well.”

“I’m sorry.” His voice was gentle and full of compassion.

“It’s kind of nice to have a group of people around. It’s been a little while. My daughter used to bring her friends over all the time. We always had a houseful. But it’s been lonely, as you may have figured out.”

“Did your daughter…?”

“I don’t know. I’ve looked for her every place that I can think of, but I can’t find her.”

“Where was she last?”

“At school.”

“And you’ve been to the school?”

“I have driven past, but there were a lot of those…zombies, I guess you would say.”

“We call them undeads.” Addie began pushing the chicken around on the grill.

“Right. Well, there were a lot of undeads roaming around so I couldn’t get into the school. Then I went to all of her friends’ houses. It took a while to get to all of the houses. I saw a few things I didn’t want to see. I have done some things that may not be forgivable at those pearly gates.”