“Oh, this smells divine,” I said. Claire looked a little greener than she did when we started the whole meal.
“Are you going to be able to eat this? You should at least try.” Addie was insistent. She plated up the chicken for everyone. Then Henry came strolling in. He flashed a slight smile at me, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to smile back.
We polished off the entire chicken and the salad. Well, not everyone. Claire just picked at her meal. Nick took over her plate and divided up the rest of her food between himself, Thomas, and Henry. I was too stuffed to be able to ingest another morsel. It felt amazing to have a full stomach. That hadn’t happened in a long time.
“Thank you so much for this meal.” I sat there in an almost euphoric state.
Henry stood up, and I heard him rummaging through the boxes. He came back with a jar. “It’s the last one. Is it okay?” he asked me.
“Yes. I know how to make it. Someday, maybe, I’ll be able to make it for us.” Henry handed Addie the very last jar of my mom’s famous apple butter.
“Oh, I can’t accept this.”
“Yes, you can, and you will,” Henry said with his stern voice.
She smiled. “Well, I can’t eat it all myself so we will have it with breakfast. I have some fresh eggs I can make you.” She stood up and began picking up the dishes.
I got up to help. “Oh no, we won’t accept another meal,” I said. “You’ve already done too much for us.”
“I insist. You need a good meal to start your day before you head out.” There was no arguing with her. We were staying for breakfast.
***
Seeing as we were all exhausted, we went to bed not too long after dinner. Claire and Nick took the spare bedroom, Thomas took the comfy couch, and Henry and I cuddled up on the hard floor. I laid there for a long time, listening to the outside noises, but Thomas’ snoring was drowning it out.
“Are you asleep?” Henry whispered to me. I rolled over and faced him. “I saw a pile of undeads out back. I would assume she made them true dead.” I shuddered. He snickered.
“Not funny.” I squinted at him.
“Oh, but it is funny. I would think you would be used to it by now. Anyway, her daughter never came home from school. She said she couldn’t get into the school to see if she was there. She checked all the homes where she thought she could be.”
“Henry…,” I said in a warning tone.
“What?” He was pretending to be innocent. He didn’t play that card very well.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“I have to at least try.”
“It’s way too dangerous, and we don’t have a ton of ammo left. Or gas,” I whispered, louder than I should have.
“Shh… Keep your voice down. I have to try. I’ll take Nick and Thomas, and…”
“No. No, you won’t.” And then the tears arrived…because I was that girl.
“You can stay here. She said it’s only about three miles down the road.”
“No.” Tears ran down my cheeks. “It’s far too dangerous.”
“We have to try to help her. Look what she has done for us. I’m not asking for your permission, love. If they don’t go with me, I’ll go alone.” My breath hitched.
“Henry…” He kissed me on my forehead and wiped my tears off my face. I curled up into him. “Please. I can’t handle you being out there on your own. What if something happens?” My thoughts were racing.
“Love, I will be fine.” He was adamant, and I was a giant fucking mess. No matter how he acted, there was no way I could live without him. “Is there any way I can draw a couple vials from you first thing in the morning?” I nodded into his cool, firm chest. He kissed the top of my head. “Thank you. I love you so much. I can’t express that enough.”
At that moment, I needed to be one with him. I snaked my arms up around his neck and pulled his lips to mine. I knew Thomas was there, but he was sleeping. I could be quiet, and I hoped that Henry could, as well.
He returned my soft kisses with more passionate ones. I reached down under the blankets and grabbed on to his hardening length. A small groan escaped his throat. I slithered my way under the blanket and pulled down his pants. I dragged my tongue up his thick shaft.
“Fuck,” he barked out as quiet as he could. I smirked at his response. He fisted my hair with both hands, as I took him in my mouth. I dragged my teeth up him and he growled, “Christ.” He grabbed me under my arms and dragged me up to his face. “You have no idea what you do to me.” I smiled at him. Oh, yes, I did.