End of Chapter 7.

.........They all laughed; Mama the hardest.

Katrina checked the beef pot pie and the crust was perfectly browned and fluffy. She grabbed the rooster-shaped oven mitts out of the drawer and carefully lifted the ceramic dish out of the oven. Chris got up to help her, starting by switching the oven off and grabbing a serving spoon along with forks, knives and plates. Mama got up to grab them some iced tea from the pitcher she made earlier. Katrina nipped the wine off the counter before she sat down.

Mama was the first one to dig in to the crust, with the gravy streaming out from the incision. Steam rose off her plate as the vegetables and beef spilled out of the crust. Katrina and Chris helped themselves, but waited for Mama to take the first bite.

“Mmmmmm.” Just the response they wanted. Her eyes were wide and fixed on the potpie. “This is delicious. Who knew you could cook?” She chuckled to herself.

Chris had the same reaction. Katrina smiled; their happiness was what mattered—even if she couldn’t taste it.

Chris couldn’t stop thinking about the photo album and continued to glance over at it throughout dinner. He thought about when he could ask Katrina about the birth announcement, or if she would tell him on her own. But what if she didn’t know? He decided to wait until they had a moment where her guard was let down enough to want to talk to him.

Most of the dinner was finished in silence with no breaks for wine or iced tea. After most of the potpie was gone, they all rose to help put things away. Mama thanked them and gave them another hug each before grabbing the pie out of the refrigerator. Chris and Katrina grabbed extra utensils and plates. They each grabbed a piece of pie and returned to the table.

“So are y’all goin’ to Stumps tonight then? I hear they’re havin’ a big welcome back for you and the others Trinket.”

“We’re thinking about it.” Replied Katrina. She knew that they were more than likely going to make an appearance, but she didn’t want to sound too eager; she knew there was going to be people there that she didn’t want—or need to see.

“Oh you should go chicken. And take Chris, it will help him meet the locals.”

“I guess it would.” Katrina took her last bite of pie and glanced at Chris. He shrugged to show her he wouldn’t mind.

“Okay, well, I guess we should get ready then. I still have to have a shower.” Katrina skipped off.

“Mama fitted herself into a chair in the living area.”

“Aren’t you going to come Mama?”

“Oh no child, I’d have about as much fun as a priest in a whore house. I think I’ll just stay in tonight.”

Chris laughed, “Okay, I’m gonna go to my room and see what I can do with my notes from today.”

“Okay ducky, see you later.”

Chris grabbed his notebook off the counter and walked back through the hallway only to run into Katrina on her way to the bathroom. She was wrapped in a small towel and noticeably embarrassed. Chris couldn’t help thinking of things he shouldn’t. He quickly averted is eyes and made a beeline to the bedroom.

He sat on the bed going over the interview in his head. He pieced together a few sentences with what he had, trying to make them sound as professional as possible. He knew it was going to be hard to write about real live—well half-live Zombies and have people actually believe him.

He took his cell phone out of his bag and turned it on hoping there would be something from his boss. He needed some form of reassurance.

Sure enough there was a text: ‘Chris, I’ve tried calling the local hotel in F.H. They don’t have a record of you. Please let me know you arrived safely and it’s working out. –S.K.’

Chris texted back:‘Staying with a local from the plane, she just came from Colorado. Might need extra day, but going fine. Not much for long distant cell service here. –C.P.’

After the phone confirmed it sent the message, Chris turned it off and tossed it back into his bag. He dug through his clothes wondering what would be appropriate for a bar in a logging community. He went with his dark-blue jeans and plain blue t-shirt. He checked the mirrored closet door to make sure his hair was still workable and spritzed a couple pumps of his cologne on. As hot as it was, he hadn’t been sweating and he didn’t want to use up the water since he didn’t know what that situation was like.

He sat down on the bed reading his book while he listened to Katrina going in and out of the bathroom and blow-drying her hair.

When he figured she was about done getting ready he went out into the living room.

Mama was knitting and Katrina was sat on the couch with a glass of wine flipping through a magazine. Chris sat in an open chair in the corner and Katrina smiled at him. She had a feeling Chris would say something about the way she looked. She wasn’t stupid; she knew she was attractive and even more so when she was wearing make-up and did her hair.

Chris did noticed how beautiful Katrina looked with her hair down and light make-up enhancing her features. She wasn’t dressed fancy, but her ripped jeans were fitted to her body and her white v-neck t-shirt hung just right. He was embarrassed to comment how good she looked in front of Mama but he couldn’t help himself. “You look great.”

She looked back at him noticing his new outfit made him look fresh as well, she returned the compliment: “you do too.” Mama was grinning at her knitting needles.

Chris grabbed the wine bottle off the table and poured the remainder into their glasses.

They finished their drinks and decided it was time to go. Mama got up to walk them out, giving each of them a hug before locking the door behind them.

Chapter 7 Cont, Back at Mama's...

...“Ugh, don’t get me started, and you didn’t help.” They continued walking again.

Chris chuckled. “Who is he anyways?”

“Glen O’Dale. He was my first boyfriend. We dated for two years, but when my parents were killed I kind of just stopped talking to him. While I was in Colorado he convinced Mama to put his letters with hers when they were sent to me. So we wrote back and forth a little, but nothing serious.”

“Sounds like it was serious to him.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Do you miss him?” immediately Chris realized he’d gone too far, he sounded like a jealous boyfriend.

“What’s it to you?” Katrina smiled up at him.

“Nothing. Just wondering that’s all.” There was a long awkward pause and Chris felt like shoving his foot in his mouth.

“I think I’ll always have a part of me that loves him because he was my first real anything, but no, I don’t.”

Chris nodded. “What’s not to love about a guy who gets free ice cream?”

Katrina laughed.

They continued walking around for a few minutes talking about ice cream flavors. Katrina showed him the bar Stumps, which was on the corner of Roseberry and Church Street. It looked like any neighborhood pub with few windows that were covered with a stained glass decoration, the door was big and red with a large knocker and sliding peep-hole. They made their way back to Mama’s via Church Street. Chris was admiring the church and bell tower as they walked by. They turned down Mama’s street: Forest road, passed the café and were back at Mama’s in no time.

“I noticed there’s a lot of apartment-type buildings here. Isn’t that unusual for a small town?”

“I suppose so. A lot of the houses are for people who either started or run their companies, or have been here for a very long time. The people who live in the apartments are usually retired, or are the small business owners.

Katrina let them in and they made their way up to the apartment. Chris remembered he had to clean up his blood but when he looked down at the steps, it was already gone. When they reached the third floor and went into the apartment, Mama wasn’t there and it was nearly six o’clock. Chris suggested that they make dinner for Mama’s return. Katrina thought that was a great idea and started digging through the refrigerator. Chris did the same in the cupboards.

Katrina found some fresh pastry, along with some steak tips and random vegetables. “Hey, can you see any beef stock in this cupboard here?” She pointed to the skinny cupboard beside the fridge.

“What are you thinking?”

“Beef pot pie.”

“Good thinking!” Chris looked in the cupboard, shifting through baking soda, baking powder, numerous spices and extracts until he found some OXO beef stock. “Here.” He showed Katrina before placing it on the counter.

“Perfect.”

Katrina grabbed a large saucepan from under the oven and placed it on the stove. She went into another cupboard and pulled out two cutting boards and two large knives. “Here, if you can chop these veggies for me into small cubes, I’ll do the steak.”

Chris grabbed the knife and cutting board and went to work on the onion while Katrina cubed the steak before throwing it in the pot. “Usually Mama would cook the meat for a couple hours to make it more tender, but we don’t have that kind of time.”

“I’m sure it will be great.” Chris smiled back at her. “It smells good already.”

After about forty-five minutes of preparation, they finally put the pie into the pre-heated oven. Katrina grabbed a couple glasses out of the cupboard and a bottle of red wine off Mama’s wine rack. Chris opened the bottle and poured Katrina’s first. “Here’s to Katrina’s amazing beef pot pie.” They both smiled and took a sip of the wine.

“What in the name of God smells so delicious in here?” Mama was rounding the corner with a paper grocery bag in her hand. She set it on the counter and went straight for the oven. “What are you makin’ chickens?”

“Beef pot pie.” Katrina said confidently.

“Oh, well, I’ll be. You didn’t have to do that.”

“It was Chris’ idea.”

Mama looked over at Chris with the softest eyes he had seen.

“It was the least I could offer for letting me stay and everything.”

“Oh Sugar.” She reached as high as she could wrap her arms around Chris’ neck, and then went to give Katrina a hug. “It’s a good thing I only made a Strawberry Apple pie this morning.” Mama went over to the grocery bag to unload the things into the refrigerator. “Where’s my wine?” she winked at Katrina who immediately got up and poured her a glass.

Chris and Katrina sat down at the table and Mama joined them after everything was put away. “Ugh busy day”, She said plopping into her chair. “How’d things with the Doctor go?” She took a big gulp from her wine.

“It went really well.” Chris exclaimed. “The Doctor seemed very cooperative. I got a bunch of information about the infection. I think it will be very useful.”

“Well good Chicken. I’m glad. What about you sweetheart?” she turned to Katrina. “I heard you ran into Glen.”

Katrina threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes. “Good Lord.” Sometimes it amazed her just how small the town actually was. Especially knowing that it was probably one of the old biddies sitting outside knitting that told Mama. “Is nothing private in this town?”

“You haven’t been gone long enough not to know better.”

Katrina covered her face with her hands and shook her head. “Chris exchanged an interview with Ronnie for a date with me.”

“What?” Mama had a slight smile on her face.

“Yup, they’re going for ice cream. And I get to see him tomorrow.”

“Shut up.” Katrina shouted smiling.

They all laughed; Mama the hardest.

Chapter 7 cont... GLEN

.......he was excited to see more of the town.

The gap between the buildings was too small for a car, but big enough for emergency fire escapes for each building.

“So, are all these buildings just empty? Where does everyone live?”

“They were full at one point and most people still own them, but when the infection hit, no one wanted to live by the forest anymore.”

“Since that’s where they were hiding out?”

“Yup.”

“Everyone moved into houses and buildings closer to the church whenever--” She paused looking for the right words. “—Whenever a new unit became available.”

“I see. And the people that weren’t able to move because there was no ‘availability’?”

“They got better locks.”

They made a right turn into an alleyway behind the Doctor’s office. The building across the alley was brick like everything else in the town. Instead of glass for windows, there were filled with bricks and the back door was reinforced steel. Chris rapped his knuckles on it just to check.

“That’s the morgue and crematorium.” Katrina said.

“Seems the Doctor doesn’t want anyone to get in.”

“Or out rather.”

Chris left it at that. They took a left through another small walkway and ended up on Roseberry Street where they took another left on the sidewalk.

“All these buildings are occupied it looks like. What makes this street different than the one back there? It’s just as close to the forest!”

“I don’t know. They only thing I can think is that this road has more businesses. And a police station.”

Katrina was right: there was a soda fountain and pharmacy, a small furniture store, a bank, a hair salon and hardware store. This street was more welcoming with trees lining it’s sidewalks and people sitting in chairs outside of the buildings; even if they were mostly elderly people.

As they passed the small police station, a stalky kid with glasses, in an officer’s uniform came running out. He had spikey blonde hair and small, evenly placed facial features.

“Katrina, hey.”

“Hey Glen.” He response was less enthusiastic.

Katrina saw this moment coming and she wasn’t overly keen to talk to her ex-boyfriend of two years; not while Chris was around anyways. She knew Glen was still in love with her, she had gotten letters from him while she was in Colorado and while they were relatively innocent, they were always ended with “I can’t wait until your pretty face gets out of there and comes home. Love always, Glen.” It was as if she had gone to jail. Katrina knew she’d always have a soft spot for him, but knew it would calcify soon enough. Glen wasn’t good for her anymore; they had nothing in common. She was infected, he wasn’t. He always talked about having a big family; she couldn’t bear children. She stopped and mumbled under her breath to Chris “Sorry.”

Chris shrugged; he didn’t know what Katrina was apologizing for.

Glen gave Katrina a hug that lifted her off her feet with her hands still by her side. “I thought I would have gotten to see you sooner. You’ve been here for two days now.” He put her down and stepped back to look her up and down.

“Well, I just got here yesterday—“

“And you must be the journalist guy.” Glen stuck out his hand “Nice to meet-cha!”

Chris obliged and commented “word travels a little too fast around here.”

“Pardon?”

“Chris. Nice to meet you too. There’s so many nice people around here.”

Glen smiled and turned to Katrina, “So I was thinking, maybe when you’re not busy we could go for lunch, or ice cream? My treat.” His face was beaming at Katrina and Chris immediately understood what Glen’s intentions were.

“Oh, um that’s very nice of you but—“she glanced over at Chris who shook his head to say: don’t look at me. “I’m going to be pretty busy as long as Chris is here. I’m helping him with his interview stuff.”

Glen looked disappointed and Chris felt bad. “I’m sure you can take some time if you like to have some ice cream of all things with Glen. Don’t let me take up all your time.” He smiled at Katrina who looked at him in disbelief. Glen looked like his parents just told him he could have a puppy. “But on one stipulation: I can come by and talk to you tomorrow sometime at the station?”

“Sure, my shift starts at seven in the morning and I get off at four, come around anytime. And then Katrina, you can let me know about that date.” He leaned in closer and lowered his voice a little. Katrina noticed his breath smelled like bubble gum. “I can take a break pretty much anytime I want, and they give me a free ice cream over at the soda fountain. Can probably get yours free too—but if not I’ll pay of course.”

Chris rolled his eyes and Katrina began to regret losing her virginity to him. “Such a gentleman.” She replied sarcastically.

“You know me. Anyways, it was nice meeting you Chris. And I’ll talk to you two later.” He beamed at them and pushed his glasses higher on his nose with his middle knuckle.

Glen walked across the street towards the Soda Fountain. Chris rolled his eyes but smiled at Katrina. “Sounds like someone has a crush on you.”

“Ugh, don’t get me started, and you didn’t help.” They continued walking again.

Chapter 7, leaving the Dr. office

7.

Outside, Chris was sitting with his back against the hot brick wall going over his notes, trying not to look at the picture of the little girls arm. He assumed that the Doctor wanted to talk to Katrina about her ‘condition’ so he wasn’t curious as to why she was being held back.

“Catch a cold?” The familiar voice hammered Chris on the head like the barrel of the rifle the man was carrying. Jerrid? He’s everywhere. He took a deep breath before looking up at the gargantuan man. Ugh. He was dressed in his camouflage, dirty from a day’s work. The rifle butt was peaking out over his right shoulder.

Chris jumped up to his feet and brushed off his butt. “No actually.” He waved his Moleskin at Jerrid. “I was just talking to the Doctor.”

“I see.” And before Chris knew it the journal was out of his hand and in Jerrid’s. He started to flip it open when Chris made a grab for it. Chris knew Jerrid wouldn’t let him have it back; it was the gesture to show Jerrid he wasn’t welcome. Jerrid spun on his heels so his back was to Chris.

“Not much in here kid. What kind of writing is this anyway? Some kind of short hand?”

“No, I just can’t write fast enough. Give it back.”

Jerrid dangled it above Chris’ head like a bully and the picture fell out. Jerrid bent down to pick it up. He unfolded it and glared at it, turning it around in his hands. He made a funny face and looked up a Chris. “Is that the Dawes’ girl’s arm?” He handed the journal back to Chris, still holding on to the picture.

“Yes.”

“I never did get a good look at the real thing, but that’s just as nasty as the Doc said! Poor girl.” He folded the picture up and gave it back to Chris who stuck it back in the Moleskin and pulled the elastic around it.

“Jerrid, hey.” Katrina was coming through the door shielding the sun with her hand.

“Hey kid.” Jerrid reached in his pocket and pulled out an extra pair of sunglasses and tossed them to Katrina. “Catch. Where are yours?”

“I always forget. Never used them before, you know.”

Jerrid nodded. “Just give ‘em back to me later tonight at Stumps. You’re going right?”

“We’re thinking about it.”

“I was only asking if you were going.” Jerrid threw daggers at Chris with his eyes.

“Jerrid!” Katrina glared at him. She knew that Jerrid was joking for the most part, but she could feel that Chris was uncomfortable.

Jerrid threw his hands up in the air to surrender.

“What’s on your shirt? Is that blood?” She leaned in to inspect it. She was always fascinated with the watch-keeper’s job and at one point wanted to join Jerrid before she left Forest hills. He wouldn’t let her.

Jerrid examined the stain on his chest. “Me and Greg were just having a little shot practice. Few birds is all.”

Katrina didn’t believe him for a minute, but there wasn’t enough blood to assume they were successfully patrolling for zombies. Chris on the other hand, hadn’t noticed the blood in the beginning and didn’t care who’s or what it was, just the fact that there was more than a paper-cut’s amount and it was still relatively fresh was enough to give him the shivers.

“Where are you kids headed?”

“I think we’re just going to go back to Mama’s. The long way, I wanna show Chris a bit of the town.” She watched Jerrid’s face for a reaction. “When’s the last time you seen her anyways?” Katrina waved her finger in his face.

“When’s the last time I was in that building Katrina?”

“Fair enough, but you need to go see her on her territory.”

“I know. I’ve seen her around town of course, but I’ll try tomorrow maybe. I would appreciate if you guys could try and stay out of the forest from now on. You should know better Katrina.”

Before Chris could respond Katrina opened her mouth. “I know, sorry Jerrid, I should have told Chris. I didn’t. He knows now.”

Chris put his hands on his hips and nodded. “Sorry.”

“Okay.” He glanced over at Chris. “I have enough to deal with already. Gregory was ready to shoot your ass. You’re lucky we’ve met and I recognized you!” Jerrid was now the one waving his finger in Chris’ face.

Chris wasn’t so sure about that. “Yes sir,” Was the appropriate response.

“Okay then. Maybe we’ll see you at Stumps.”

“Yeah. I might show up a bit later. I’m just going to give the forest a once over before I come.”

“Right. See you then, maybe. If not, tomorrow at Mama’s.” Katrina winked at him.

Chris started to take a few steps towards Mama’s to show he was more than ready to leave. Katrina obediently followed and waved at Jerrid who was already walking away but raised his hand towards her without looking. “Here, we’re going to go this way—“ She pointed at a small gap between the Doctor’s office and the next building. Chris didn’t know where she was taking him, but he didn’t care; he was excited to see more of the town.