Cassie lifts up one of her long braids. “I don’t know.”
“You can think about it,” I tell her. “And decide later if you ever want to cut it.”
“Okay.” Cassie is clearly relieved that the pressure is off her. Then she’s distracted from the topic as she stares around at the neatly reorganized shelves.
She whispers in awe. “Where did all the mess go?”
My back is still a little sore that evening as Cassie and I walk home.
The entire town is behind walls now. A makeshift wall was the first large project completed after we kicked out the militia, and it was fortified and expanded a couple of years ago.
The town has grown in population, and it’s a safe, established community now. We’ve organized communal gardens and a farm with chickens, pigs, and goats. We send out hunting and fishing parties regularly to supplement our provisions, so our rations are almost always comfortable.
I love this town. It feels like home.
And Cade gets voted in as Mayor every two years.
He works a lot during the days, but almost never in the evening and nights. Ever since I’ve shifted to management duties, I don’t have to work many evenings either.
Cade is already home when we arrive, and he’s grilling up pork chops and vegetables on the woodstove.
“Yummy!” Cassie declares, hurling herself at her father’s legs.
He reaches down to stroke her head with his left hand while checking on the chops with the right. “Hey there, peanut. Did you have a good day?”
“Yes! Uncle Pete taught me Tic-Tac-Toe, and I’m going to play you after we eat, and I’m going to win!”
“You think so, do you?”
“Yes, I do! We can play, can’t we?”
“Course we can. After we eat and clean up.”
“Okay.”
“You want to set the table while Daddy finishes cooking?”
Cassie is decidedly unenthused by my suggestion, but she goes to open the utensil drawer and pulls out forks and knives for the three of us.
As she’s carefully setting them at our respective seats, Cade gives me a sharp once-over. “You look tired.”
“I’m not that tired.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. My back is a little sore.” When he opens his mouth, I talk over him. “It’s not that bad. I’ll rest it tonight and tomorrow, and it will be fine.”
He glowers at me.
“Don’t give me that look. I’m doing fine.”
He was really scared while I was pregnant. Terrified. He hovered constantly, so much so I had to dream up reasons to get him out of the house. It was touch and go for a while. My pregnancy was at risk, which meant my overall health was also at risk. But both me and Cassie got through it.
Cade and I never made a decision to not have any more children, but we haven’t gotten pregnant again.
I’m sure Cade is relieved. And honestly I am too.
He pulls the pan off the stove and sets it down so the meat can rest. Then he turns toward me and pulls me against him in long, soft hug.
