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.