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“Don’t be grouchy. People care about you. Let them.”

“No one cares. They just become used to me.”

Mel walked over to him and glared up at him until he looked down at her. “Buchanan cares. And so do I.”

Va’roush looked down into her eyes, afraid to let her know how much he really wanted it to be true.

“Why is that so hard to believe?” she asked, raising a hand to caress his jaw.

Va’roush instinctually pulled away from her hand. “I must check the perimeter fence to be sure it is secure,” he said, stepping back.

“We already did that,” she said.

“It must be done again.” He hurriedly took his leave and as she watched, disappeared into the trees several minutes later.

Sighing in frustration, she latched the gate that kept the livestock in their pasture and made her way back to the house to make dinner. Stepping inside the house, she smiled for the hundredth time that day alone as she looked around. It was the nicest house she’d ever lived in. She paused in front of a small framed photo hanging on the wall, that she planned to leave hanging on the wall, as a tribute of thanks to the people who gifted the house to her and Va’roush. They were a family of four. It was something she’d never have since she was well into the menopause phase, but that was okay. This was good. And it seemed that for the most part her struggle was over. And she wasn’t alone. Va’roush had been with her for months now, though he just decided to make himself known a week ago, she’d somehow sensed him all along. Now that they’d agreed to share the house, that part was over.

Going to the fridge, she smiled at Buchanan’s attempt to clean out the fridge. While she and the others had been outside finalizing safe places for the animals to live in, Buchanan had left once more and come back with lots and lots of food and supplies. He’d taken everything out of the fridge and thrown it away, wiped the inside of the fridge down and placed all the items that needed refrigeration inside, and put away all the pantry staples. There was a note on top of the garbage can that said, “Take me out today.”

Following his advice, she took the plastic garbage bag outside and left it on the porch, thinking she’d take it out to the bins later, then back to the kitchen and chose an easy meal. “Burgers and fries it is,” she said, taking out the ingredients she’d need. By the time she had the burgers sizzling in the skillet, and the fries sizzling in a pot of oil, Va’roush had returned to thehouse. He stood awkwardly at the entrance to the kitchen and watched her cooking.

Looking his way, she smiled at him. “Won’t be long. It’s almost ready.”

He nodded, then walked away. She wasn’t sure what he was doing, but at least he hadn’t run outside again.

Fifteen minutes later he was back, he was wearing a fresh shirt, apparently taken from the closet of clothes Kol’s family had left behind, and his hands were clean. He sat at the table without a word, and waited.

Mel brought in the plates with burgers and fries on them, and a platter with three more burgers and a few handfuls of fries.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked.

“Are you having something to drink?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I will have a drink.”

She went to the kitchen and came back with two bottles of red cream soda.

“What is this?” he asked.

“Red cream soda. I’ve always loved this flavor.”

“I had one while I waited for the security monitors to bring the soldiers to me.”

“What?”

“I had to speak with Kol. I set off the alarms so those protecting the house would send warriors to find out who set off the alarms. I had a drink when I was waiting.”

“Very clever,” she said.

“I can be.”

“Why have you hidden from me all these months?” she asked.

Va’roush had just taken a bite of his burger and briefly looked up at her as he took another bite. “This is very good.”

“Thank you.”

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