“If we have to leave your place, there’s no problem with having your cats here.” Cam shot her a sideways glance. “They’re as welcome in my bunker as you are. They’re your family.”
She smiled. While she’d prefer to live elsewhere, knowing Mira and Luna could come decreased her anxiety.
The air was warm, and the sky blue with a smattering of wispy white clouds as they strolled. The sun had dipped below the wall, but it was still daylight and warmer than expected. Lissa removed her sweater, draping it over her arm as theywalked hand in hand. Two other couples and a family of four joined them on the road, all walking toward the Community Hall.
As they reached the hub of the aboveground community, several people called out greetings to Cam. He waved back but kept Lissa’s hand in his as they entered the hall. The cafe tables had been arranged across the far side of the room. It took them several minutes to make their way to them, with so many people stopping Cam to chat. She received a few curious glances, but everyone seemed welcoming. After the first few introductions, the names blurred together. For someone who kept to himself, he seemed well-known.
At last, they reached the cafe section, with two rows of long tables down the middle and smaller ones along the edge. Several were occupied as Cam steered her toward a table for two.
An older woman with soft-looking shoulder-length gray hair approached their table. She wore a pink apron covered in daisies. “Cam Montgomery. You haven’t come out to eat in ages.” Smile lines crinkled beside her eyes.
Cam took Lissa’s hand from across the table. “I thought I’d bring my girlfriend. Lissa, this is Rose. She used to work at the admittance desk. I’ve known her my whole life.”
Nothing about Rose seemed like how Lissa had imagined the original survivalists. Maybe she knew nothing about preppers. She’d expected someone who’d lived here for years to dress in camo and carry a gun. Instead, Rose was a regular-looking sweet grandma type with a soft voice—like someone who might bake terrific pie.
“It’s nice to see you smiling.” Rose looked around and leaned in, her voice dropping. “Nobody believes half the things your mother said while you were gone. We know you’re a nice young man. I hope you know you have friends here.”
“I appreciate that.” Cam shifted in his chair and looked down, studying the gingham tablecloth. “What delicious food are you serving tonight?”
At the mention of his mother, some of his happiness disappeared. It was subtle, but Lissa was hyperatuned to his feelings, his smile now flat. A change of subject was a good idea.
Rose winked, perhaps not noticing his discomfort. “We have homemade linguine with a rosé sauce, salad with fresh baby greens and new cheese, and for dessert, peach ice cream.”
“You used to name the ice cream flavors,” said Cam with a smile, this one reaching his eyes. He must have fond memories. “What do you call this one?”
Rose laughed. “I know you’re making fun of me, but this one is Peachy Peach. It’s fantastic. We froze the fruit last fall. With all the sun we had, the peaches were so sweet and flavorful, the ice cream is perfection.” She made a chef’s kiss motion.
“Sounds great,” said Cam. “Bring us two of everything.”
To Lissa’s surprise, she liked the relaxed atmosphere of the cafe. In the background, a low murmur of talking, the scraping of dishes, and laughter reminded her of eating at restaurants in the old days. She hadn’t thought to have an experience like this again.
Rose delivered their dinners a few minutes later, the delicious scent making Lissa’s mouth water, and the first bites nearly made her swoon. Fresh food was an amazing treat. She’d need to find out how it was paid for. Maybe a credit system.
Throughout their meal, she and Cam kept up easy conversation, though she looked up to see him staring at her again. She’d blush and carry on eating. One of her favorite things about Cam was that he didn’t always feel the need to speak, which made talking with him effortless, even if they were both prone to being quiet with others. She didn’t have to worry about saying things wrong or oversharing. She could just be herself.
They’d eaten their crispy salads and fresh pasta, and were waiting for their ice cream, when Rose returned, wringing her hands. “I hate to bother you, Cam. I know you’re on a date, but it seems providential that you’re here this evening. There’s something wrong with the main refrigerator. I was hoping you could take a quick look.”
“You fix refrigerators?” said Lissa, lifting an eyebrow. This was new information.
Rose beamed, as though proud of Cam. “He’s probably all modest and just mentioned the Watch, but this boy can repair or make anything. My friend Lewis was an engineer and taught Cam everything, like his apprentice.”
Cam set his napkin on the table, checking with Lissa. “You okay for a few minutes? If it’s a quick fix, I’ll take care of it. If it’s bigger, I’ll come back first thing in the morning.” He waited for her answer.
“Of course. I’m happy to let my dinner settle before ice cream.” She would be content to people-watch while he was busy. The cafe was strangely peaceful instead of being stressful.
Lissa listened to nearby conversations about canning, weaving, and crocheting. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but few people had as much experience or had canned as many varieties of food as she had. Sometimes they sounded frustrated.
When the woman behind her complained about the scarcity of new lids for her mason jars, Lissa turned around. “If you’re careful when you remove the lids, and then boil them well before using them again, you can get several uses out of the same lids. Still, you risk unsealed jars and bacteria with warped lids. Best if you can find reuseable lids or the old jars with a bail and gasket.”
“Thanks,” said the woman with a smile. “I wasn’t sure if it was safe.”
Her friend turned to face Lissa as well. “What would use since we’re low on refined sugar? I don’t want my preserves to be sour.”
“Why don’t you try using apple juice as a natural sweetener?” Lissa said. She’d had success. Apples grew in the wild, were easy to juice, and sweet on their own.
The next thing she knew, she’d given several other tips and met half a dozen new people who seemed friendly.
Ten minutes after the kitchen had swallowed Cam, two almost familiar-looking young men entered the cafe dining room and sat nearby at a table for two. Both were blond, but resembled Cam around the eyes. They kept sneaking glances at her and whispering. She shifted several times and tried to ignore them. Too bad she hadn’t brought a book.
