“Holy shit! Er… I mean, wow. Sorry, I didn’t mean to swear. But you just totally saved my life,” said Marcus.

  “I think holy shit is the right thing to say. Don’t worry, I’ve heard and used much worse myself.”

  Marcus started laughing. Mel looked over to him as he covered his mouth and the laughter trying to escape it. But it overflowed until he bent over double, almost crying with it. Mel scrunched her brows in the middle as she watched him.

  “Er, Marcus. Are you ok?”

  “No…”

  Mel shook her head and went over to the large exterior doors, closing them both firmly. She leant down and bolted them before reaching up to the top ones as well.

  Christina cried out again, and Marcus sobered up. His entire demeanour changed to concern and stress in a flash.

  He faced Mel and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, Mel. You’re amazing.” He smiled, then hurried into the smaller room.

  Yeah, I did what I needed to do. Mel’s face relaxed into an easy smile.

  When Marcus had disappeared, a moment later, Cheryl and Jerry peered around the corner of the bar. Mel walked over to them and then farther into the room, noticing the dead undead littering their carpets.

  “Blimey! What on earth has gone on here?” said Cheryl.

  “We heard the campervan start up and then all the commotion down here. We could hear it was zombies and just assumed you had all turned,” said Jerry.

  “No, Frank and Lisa let the dead in to kill us and stole the campervan for themselves. Marcus and me fought them off.” Mel’s chin rose when she said this. It was the two of us. I know he attacked them on his own, but he definitely needed me there at the end.

  “You did?” asked Cheryl.

  “Yep. I stabbed the last one with this spear.”

  Cheryl and Jerry both looked at each other and shared an odd look. Don’t they believe me?

  “We thought it was no use trying to kill ’em. That they could always kill us.” Cheryl shrugged before continuing, “So we’ve stayed locked up in here. We never for one second dreamed we could defend ourselves.”

  “You’ve got to cause a brain injury to kill them. And they’re very fast, so if you can’t outrun them, then either hide or fight.”

  “Right, then, love,” Cheryl said and turned to her husband. “I guess we should sort ourselves out with a few weapons, Jerry.”

  “Yeah, I think you’re right. I’ll go have a look about,” he replied.

  “Aargh!”

  Cheryl and Mel both looked towards the small room.

  “Oh, I see your friend is getting ready to deliver again. Come on, lass, let’s see if they need anything.”

  ***

  “Oh my fucking God, this hurts so much,” gasped Christina.

  “Erm… I’m really sorry for how much it hurts, Christina, but is there any chance you could be a little quieter?” said Marcus.

  Christina’s head whipped around so fast Marcus nearly stumbled backwards from his haunches to his backside. Jesus Christ, that was poltergeist speed.

  Everything in the room went quiet, so Marcus looked from one woman to the next, receiving identical stares from all around. He heard a male chuckle from the doorway where Jerry was standing and watching the scene unfold. He heard the stupidest thing I’ve ever said in my life.

  “Uh, ok, I’m very sorry. I’ll just go over there until someone… anyone needs me.”

  Marcus joined Jerry at the doorway, rubbing at the back of his neck.

  “You fucking idiot. I can’t believe you just said that,” said Jerry, still chuckling. “That’s the funniest thing I have ever heard. And when she turned to look at you, oh my God, she could have killed you with that look.” Jerry laughed even louder now, getting stares from all the women.

  “Come on, Jerry, I think we should go in the next room.”

  “Yeah, let’s go get a whiskey. That’s what a man does when he’s waiting for his bairn to be born.”

  Jerry was almost around the other side of the bar when Marcus realised what Jerry had said.

  “Oh no. The baby isn’t mine.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s mighty nice of you taking on another man’s unborn child.”

  “Well, it’s not really like that, either, to be honest,” said Marcus as he rubbed the back of his neck again and found a patch of carpet to stare at.

  “Huh. Well, blow me down with a feather. I could have sworn you two were an item. The missus said as much as well.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, of course. You two look at each other a certain way. Me and my Cheryl recognise this because we still do it too. It’s a ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you’ kind of look, if you know what I mean.”

  Marcus slumped down on the nearest bar stool and accepted the glass of whiskey Jerry had poured him. He looked at the amber liquid as he swilled it around in the glass.

  “It’s no use to you still in the glass, lad. Get it down your neck.”

  Marcus grinned, then knocked back the double measure, feeling the warmth hit the back of his throat, then spread down his body. He cleared his throat from the small fire that had been lit there.

  “That’s good. Thanks, Jerry.”

  “So what about you two, then? Are you an item or not?”

  “I think we are. It’s really too soon to say. And there’s this whole life and death stuff going on right now. And Christina is currently having her baby. And I seem to be a bit of a fuck up when it comes to women…” Marcus shook his head and stared into his empty glass.

  Jerry poured more Glenlivet into Marcus’s glass before knocking back his own large measure. “Man up, will ya? That woman is a knockout, and I’ve seen how she looks at you, for sure. Is a zombie apocalypse really the time to let things go? There’s no time to waste, lad. Any one of us could be dead today or tomorrow, and personally I’ve always regretted the things I haven’t done far more than the things I have. We go to our graves with memories and regrets, nothing more. Aren’t memories worth the risk of a little regret?”

  Marcus sat back and eyed Jerry. “Shit, you’re good at this.”

  “I’ve been a barman all my life, lad. You learn a thing or two about folk and life in general. What I do know now more than ever is that life is too short, so grab it by the balls and make that woman yours before it’s too late and all you have are regrets.”

  Jerry finished his speech and nodded at Marcus, so Marcus was polite and nodded back at him. The funny thing was, though, that he had started to really feel what Jerry was saying. Hell, Mum has said it to me for long enough.

  “Right,” said Marcus.

  Marcus paced the main room, avoiding sitting at the bar for fear Jerry might keep plying him with whiskey. Jerry had taken well to the bottle he now poured over his glass again, but Marcus had had enough. I need to keep my wits about me, should anything happen. Two double whiskeys are more than enough for me under these circumstances. I already feel the effects of it.

  The noises from the next room had intensified and prolonged, with fewer breaks in between. That means it’s not long now, right? Marcus wrung his hands and breathed through his nose as the thoughts drifted through his mind.

  “You’ll wear a hole in the carpet and then the missus will ’ave ya,” said Jerry.

  “Sorry. I’m just so anxious. Even in the best of medical settings, things can go wrong, and clearly this is no medical setting.”

  Marcus sat on one of the bench seats, still avoiding the bar. If I get too close to that whiskey, I’ll take another drink. He ran his fingers through his hair before rubbing his face and leaving his hands there, covering his mouth. He turned towards the source of the small light filtering between the heavy curtains. The morning had arrived, and it was going to be another scorcher.

  God, I’m exhausted. But my exhaustion must be nothing compared to Christina’s. Marcus looked towards the closed double doors that still bore the marks of the zombie attack from earlier. The doors had opened several times in the last few hours, allowing Cheryl to come and go, carrying various supplies. Every single time, Marcus would stand up and offer to help before being shooed away again.

  One door opened, and Mel exited with Elsa. Marcus stood up, wide-eyed and staring straight at her.

  “Everything is fine,” Mel assured him. “They said I shouldn’t watch these next bits, as they can be gruesome.” Mel shrugged the way she does every few minutes.

  Marcus let out the breath he’d been holding. “But Christina is ok?”

  “As ok as she can be whilst pushing a human head out, yeah.”

  Marcus cringed and sunk back down into his seat. The double doors opened again, and Cheryl stuck her head out.

  “On second thoughts, Mel, maybe you should watch this and it’ll stop you from wanting one in the near future. Keep you away from those boys.”

  Mel looked back at Marcus with a dubious look on her face, but turned and walked back into the room with Cheryl. A few moments later, Marcus stood up suddenly and headed over to the doors. I should be in there too. What is this, the bloody 1950s where men aren’t allowed in the room?

  Marcus opened the door and strode inside with determination. He walked around the back of Christina and shuffled in behind her.

  “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” said Cheryl.

  “I’m being here for Christina. She can lean on me and squeeze my hands as much as she likes. But I’m going nowhere.”

  Cheryl and Sandra shared a smile before turning back to the job at hand.

  “I thought I didn’t want you in here, Marcus, but I’m so glad you came in just now. Thank yooouuuu,” screamed Christina as she got to the end of the sentence.

  Marcus leant down and kissed her on the side of the head. “Come on, you can do it.”

  “Just one more push, pet, and your baby’s head will be out,” said Sandra.

  Christina pushed so hard with the next contraction that she gasped for breaths afterwards. The baby’s head appeared just as Sandra said it would. A few moments later, the baby was born, the cord was cut, and the afterbirth safely delivered, as per Christina’s instructions.

  All had gone well. Christina lay back in Marcus’s arms and allowed him to comfort her the way he wanted to. He sighed, feeling the most relief he had ever felt in his life. They were safe. Christina and the baby were ok—for the time being, at least.

  Sandra cooed over the baby girl, who was now very content, wrapped up in a soft blanket that Cheryl had provided. She walked over to Christina and handed her the baby.

  “My baby girl. She’s finally here. I can’t believe it,” said Christina.

  “Well, you better believe it, chuck, because that beautiful bundle of joy is all yours,” said Cheryl.

  “What’s her name?” asked Mel.

  Christina sighed as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Suzie, after my best friend.”

  Chapter 26

  Everybody went back to bed, even though it was broad daylight outside. They decided they would stay there for a few days at least to make sure Christina and the baby were fit and well enough to travel.

  Cheryl had a few pieces of baby clothes in the house, as her own grandchildren often came to stay. Her youngest grandson was now four months old, so the clothes were the wrong size, but they were much better than nothing at all. She even had a packet of huge nappies in as well, but a nappy is still a nappy. And thanks to Mother Nature, milk shouldn’t be a problem.

  Cheryl and Jerry insisted the group move upstairs into their living quarters with them, so that’s where they slept the daylight away.

  Marcus held baby Suzie in his arms and rocked her gently in the semidarkness. The curtains were good blackout curtains, but light still crept in that evening. Is it Monday? They were all exhausted and broken, so when Suzie had stirred, Marcus had whisked her into another room to allow the others to rest.

  “Shh, baby girl. What’s the problem, hey?” Marcus cooed at her in his softest voice, which seemed to help her fussiness. “If we need milk, then of course I’ll wake your mama, but I think you just needed a little cuddle, am I right?” Marcus gently stroked the delicate skin of Suzie’s cheek. Her eyes flitted between closed and partly open, still not seeming to focus on anything farther than the face in front of her. She had a small covering of dark hair on top of her soft head, adding to her similarities to her mother. Her tiny fingers reached out and occasionally touched his hand or stubbly beard. Her tininess overwhelmed him.

  Suzie responded well to his calming voice. He continued, but with a hum, which she also seemed to enjoy. Marcus realised his face was hurting a little. He moved his mouth around to relax the muscles and relieve the tension there. Have I been smiling at this beautiful little girl for the last fifteen minutes? That must be why my cheeks are sore. Marcus let out a soft chuckle as warmth spread throughout his body.

  I remember Alex and Jasper at this age. Newborn babies and cute as hell. “But that was before they could talk, little Suzie. You see, you are all so adorable when you can’t talk. That’s when everything changes.”

  Marcus’s face relaxed, feeling the smile disappear. “Will I get to be around when you start talking and walking and becoming a mini Christina? Or will I pull my usual trick and abandon your mother because I want my freedom?”

  Marcus sighed as he stared into Suzie’s face. He let her grasp onto his large forefinger and marvelled at the feelings it produced in him. “I don’t want to do that to you both. I want to stick around and be with your mother. But can I be what she needs me to be? I think I must try at least.”

  ***

  Christina moved back into the room she had come from, not letting on she had heard every word Marcus had said.

  ***

  Watching the streets from the upper windows was something Marcus took to doing often. He was wondering when the best time would be to leave and travel the last few miles to Steve’s parents’ house. The power had already cut out yesterday evening sometime, and they had only noticed when Cheryl couldn’t turn on the kettle for her beloved cuppa. Things were only going to get harder from here on out.

  It was early morning the following day, Tuesday, when Christina joined Marcus in his seat at the window. He smiled when they locked eyes.

  “You should go on without us. It’s not far now, and a man like you on your own should be able to jog there in no time at all.”

  Marcus frowned at Christina and blinked several times before answering. “You think I should?”

  “Uh-huh.” She looked at her hands in her lap when she said this, making Marcus believe she wasn’t convinced of her own suggestion.

  “Do you want me to go?” Marcus said as he searched her face. Please don’t say yes. I don’t think I’d believe you, anyway. But, Should I go? is the question.

  “I think you need to do what you need to do, and I do not want to be the one to keep you here when your family might need you.”

  But you’re my family. You and Suzie. And Sandra, and Mel, and God, even Jerry and Cheryl now. Marcus swallowed and looked back out of the window. But I’m not sure I can be the man you need me to be, anyway. I’ll end up letting you down, breaking your heart, or worse still, not protecting you the way you deserve to be protected.

  “Ok.” Say something else, anything else at all. She doesn’t want you to go, Marcus. She wants you to stay, not out of duty but because you want to stay.

  “Ok, then.” Christina cleared her throat..

  I want to stay. I want to love you. I want to love Suzie. Hell, I think I already do love that little girl. That beautiful, sweet baby girl. But… I’ll just let you all down. I know I will. I’ll get panicky and stressed and want to run away like I usually do. But this time, there’s a child involved, and I can’t break a child’s heart. I won’t break their hearts. It’ll be better if I go now.

  Christina stood up and walked away from the window into the next room, where all the ladies had gathered with the baby. Mel was seated a short distance away, and when Marcus looked towards her, she looked to be sniffling a bit and wiping at her eyes.

  Marcus frowned. “Mel, what’s up? Are you ok?”

  Mel whipped her head around to face him, and he reeled back at the intensity she threw at him. She stood up and walked over to him before whacking him straight across the arm with a closed fist.

  “Ow! What was that for?”

  “If you don’t know, then you’re not worth shit,” she said.

  Marcus rubbed at his arm and watched Mel stalk off into a room on her own. He was left a little confused by Mel’s sudden attack and emotions, but when he looked up again, he had Jerry staring straight at him.

  “Oh, bloody hell, what now? Do you want to hit me as well?” said Marcus.

  “I will if it’ll knock some sense into you, lad,” said Jerry.

  Marcus threw up his hands and sighed. “Well, what am I supposed to do? She told me to go. That was always the plan in the beginning. I was on my way to find my sister and her children, and I still need to do that.”

  “Yeah, I see that. You’re looking for your family.” Jerry paused and studied Marcus some more. “But look around you. If you leave here, you’re trading one family for another.” Jerry grinned gently at him, then got up out of his favourite recliner chair and headed into the room with the ladies.

  Shit. I need to find them, I do, but I can’t risk these people only to find out Anna and the kids didn’t make it. That’s not fair, and I won’t do that. Marcus let his head sink down almost into his lap. But they’ll be better off without me. They’re all tough people. I’m sure they’ll be fine without me.

  I don’t want to leave them, but it’ll be selfish if I stay.

  I have to go.

  Marcus packed up his few belongings and left his rucksack near the door of the living quarters. He walked over to Sandra, who was holding Suzie, and kissed the baby on the head before smiling at Sandra.

  Sandra returned the smile and raised her eyebrows at him. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”

  Marcus nodded, but never replied. He tried to speak to Mel, but she turned away from him. “Mel. Mel, I’m sorry, but I have to go.” He sighed before moving on to Jerry and Cheryl.

 

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