Plague of the Dead | Book 3 | Plague of the Island

wiped my eyes. I hadn’t even realized I had begun crying. “Yeah. I mean, the guy who took vows to stand by me didn’t so…”
“Shelly, I’m not Adam,” He said.
“I know that. Logically I know that.”
Daniel wasn’t anything like Adam. He had proved that in a lot of ways. Nothing big, at least on a level as life changing as having a baby but it was the little things. The way he talked to people was entirely different than Adam. He never acted better than anyone, even as the leader of our little group. He treated everyone equally.
I continued to speak, telling the truth of the heart of my pain, “But the pain he caused is still a part of me. It was just easier to push you away than to deal with you leaving me later.”
He sighed and got up. He walked over to me and knelt on the floor in front of me. He put his hand on my cheek and the rough skin of his thumb rubbed against my skin as he wiped away a tear. A chill ran through me as he did. I had missed his touch so much.
“I love you Shelly, I loved you from the first day we met.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just the zombies being around that made you think you loved me?” I asked, trying to make a joke out of the seriousness.
He chuckled a bit, “No Shelly, I love you because you’re you. I would have felt that way even if there weren’t half dead things trying to eat us.”
“That’s so sweet, though I’m sure they helped you realize it faster” I said through my tears. “But I love you too.”
He wiped away another tear. I kissed his thumb.
He smiled and said, “Good, then we’re in this together. Baby, no baby, baby down the road or not. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Well you can’t,” I pointed out, “We’re on an island.”
He laughed and said “shut up” before placing his lips to mine.
I leaned my forehead against his relaxing in the peacefulness of the moment. The peace would not last, but I had to try to enjoy it when those few moments presented themselves.
I had to ask him one thing though. The one thing that had been bothering me. Despite everything that had happened in our world, I still couldn’t help but be excited at the thought there might be a baby. That was another part of why I had put off finding out. I didn’t want to lose the hope that the thought gave me. The hope got me through.
I had the hope that my sister was still out there but somedays that felt like just fantasy. There was no way of knowing. Perhaps, my cellphone would work again, and I could try to call her, but I didn’t even know if she still had hers. I didn’t know if she held onto it the way I had mine.
Still the hope for the baby seemed somewhat misplaced in all this. Maybe because I had no idea for sure if I was pregnant, but it still felt weird.
So, I asked, “If there is a baby, will it be alright? In all this?”
“Of course. Life is still strong Shell. We’re still fighting for our world.”

Chapter 5
I took the test and confirmed that I was pregnant. As awful as the world was, I still couldn’t help but be thrilled about the prospect of the life growing inside me.
Daniel and I working things out was something I felt wouldn’t happen, but I was so pleased it did. I couldn't believe I'd wasted so much time not being with him. He was the most supportive man and I was head over heels for him. Though I'm sure my emotions were heightened, I knew I was completely in love with him.
Lasa was excited about the baby. She couldn't wait to be a big sister. I was happy she felt that way. I considered her my daughter and I was often worried she didn't see me as family. But it seemed that she did in fact.
Phoebe was thrilled too. I think she was partly happy about it because it got me and Daniel back together and she no longer had to be our go between. She also seemed happy at the prospect of being an auntie.
No one in the group seemed to be bothered that Daniel didn’t punish Luther and me for the run, especially given the full situation. In fact, everyone in the group seemed to be happy for us. Not Holland or Laura of course, but the rest of the crew showed support.
Diana, who watched Brian and Lasa most of the time, was excited about the prospect of a new life added to our group. She said she couldn’t wait to help with the baby.
I knew she used to work at a daycare prior to the plague beginning based on what Daniel had told me. Apparently, that’s where she was when everything began. I didn’t know the details of what happened, but it sounded like she couldn’t save any of the kids when the attacks began. I know she didn’t speak of it. None of us spoke of what we’d been through. She seemed to carry tremendous guilt even if she masked it with her bubbly personality.
Molly, who rounded out the females in our group and had become Diana’s best friend, took to sneaking me crackers and things she thought would ease my stomach. Molly was amazing on runs. She was a sharpshooter and quick. She was also super tiny and a great climber. She was an asset to our group and commanded respect from everyone. Gerald would insist she go on runs with him. She was also as nurturing as she was tough. Her thoughtfulness was touching. She would apologize for