CHAPTER 15
ZOE
Mom called me and asked me to come and pick her up so Bre and Brian could have some time alone with the baby. I couldn’t wait to meet my niece so I left right away.
The room was bright with the early signs of dawn. Bre was sleeping with Brian next to her and mom was sitting there holding the baby.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hi,” she whispered back.
She got out of her chair to let me sit so that I could hold the baby. I got a good look at her. She was such a cute little thing. Her cheeks were chubby but rosy. Her complexion met Brian’s but I could see more of her mother in her. She had a very small amount of reddish brown hair on her head that I could see just under her little cap. She looked exactly like Bre’s baby pics.
I held her and I melted inside. She was simple astonishing. I could feel a tear well up in my eye and I let it escape in plain sight. This was one of those moments that you just didn’t hold it back.
I gave her a kiss on the head. “Mom, what did they name her?” I asked, still whispering.
“Emma.”
“Emma, that’s perfect.”
I sat there in silence and stared at this sweet newborn. Bre began to stir in her bed and it woke Brian up. Within minutes they were both awake. I wondered how long they had been sleeping.
Bre’s voice cracked, “Isn’t she amazing?”
“She is,” I answered. The smile on my face told the whole story as to how I felt about the sweet child in my arms.
Emma began to cry and it shocked me. She sounded almost like a cat in heat. I stood up and took Emma to her mom. She was probably hungry.
“I think she is hungry. She hasn’t ate in 2 hours,” Mom was thinking the same thing I was.
“Were we sleeping that long?”
“Yeah but you needed it. Besides, I got to bond with her. She’s such a doll! I just love her to death!”
Bre began to pull down her hospital gown to feed the baby. I wasn’t shocked or offended by it, it felt natural to me. The baby suckled at her breast for a good 15 minutes while Bre told me the tale of how Emma was brought into the world. I was astonished that she gave birth to her without any medication. Bre was my hero.
The baby unlatched from her breast and Bre mentioned having to use the restroom.
“Should I go get the nurse?” I asked.
“I’ll help her,” mom volunteered.
Bre hobbled to the bathroom and they were in there a long time. Brian held his daughter with such pride. I was so happy for them. It was hard to imagine them as parents but I know they will do just fine.
They reentered the room and mom mentioned that we should give them some time alone. Brian gave mom the biggest, longest hug that I’ve seen him give anyone besides Bre. They gave their thank you’s and we left for home.
They got to come home the next evening. Chang and I volunteered to pick them up. We fastened the car seat and base in the car and headed their way. I couldn’t wait to bring them home.
CHAPTER 16
BREANNE
We were on our way home. I was happy to be out of that hospital but was glad I had decided to deliver there. Pulling up to the manor was a great feeling. I would be bringing my baby home to her family for good.
First and foremost we were greeted by zombies at the fence. They hissed and moaned as we entered the gate. I hadn’t realized how scary looking they were before I had a child to protect.
I looked up to the front of the house and it had a huge sign posted to it. It read WELCOME HOME EMMA! The sign made me tear up. I couldn’t wait for the family to meet my daughter.
I barely made it through the door and everyone swarmed me.
“Oh my god she is beautiful!”
“Wow, she’s so cute.”
“Congrats guys!” Chang had a huge grin on his face and hugged Brian.
I was beaming. I realized that it was hard for me to stand for too long so I took the baby over to the couch and sat down with her.
I heard scratches coming from the back door. Brian heard it at the same time and began to walk over there.
“BRE, GET THE BABY UPSTAIRS! ALL OF YOU GET UPSTAIRS!”
I looked to see what all the fuss was about. There was a zombie scratching at the front door. It must have gotten through when we pulled in. I couldn’t move fast enough. Zoe grabbed the baby out of my arms and ran her upstairs while Chris took me in his arms and carried me up the staircase. I was surprised that he was able to hold my weight. The children all followed almost knocking us down.
I could feel that my weight was finally too much for Chris to bare. I told him to put me down and climbed the stairs myself. Zoe ran past us back down the stairs and headed straight for Brian. From the top of the staircase I could see and hear that she was loading her gun.
Chang was standing right next to her. The walker was right at the door and I couldn’t see any way out of the situation.
“Zoe stay guarded here at the door. Chang and I are going to go on the upstairs bridge and try to shoot it from there. Do not stand by the glass. Only shoot if it manages to break the glass.”
I could hear Chang yelling from by my room. “How did that thing even get in the yard?”
“I don’t know brother. Maybe it got in when we pulled in. They are kind of fast now,” Brian hissed.
The men ran past me and headed out to the bridge. I closed the door to my room where Emma was and followed them out of the window. They shot once and missed the zombie. Chang shot again and got him right in the head this time.
“Bro, we need to figure out for sure how that thing got in here!”
“Go check the front lookout spot and see if you notice anything.”
The baby began to cry. I knew it was time to feed her. That was great timing.
Brian and Chang came back about 30 minutes later.
“All clear.”
“What happened?”
“Someone forgot to close the gate all the way.”
“Oh. Maybe it was all the excitement of bringing Emma home.”
Brian knelt down to Emma and I. “Is she ok?”
“Yeah she was just hungry.”
Chang left the room. Even though I was covered I think my nursing Emma made him uncomfortable. I finished feeding her and changed her diaper and clothes since she soaked through them all. Brian carried her down the stairs so that we could join the family once again.
I hardly got to hold my own daughter all day. It was fine but I was used to being the one that held her all day. Zoe called me down the hall once Emma had fallen good and asleep.
“I have something for you.”
I followed her down the dim hall. She brought me to the room that Maria had initially told us was off limits. She opened the door and flicked the light switch. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
It was a full nursery set up. In the corner of the room was a crib with a soft pink canopy. There was a changing table as well as a small dresser. In the other corner was a rocking chair. The room was a soft pink. It was perfect.
“Zoe, did you do this?” I asked, puzzled.
“Chang and I did. We know you are set up upstairs but we figured it would be hard for you to go upstairs until you’ve gathered your strength back. Besides, you spend a lot of time down here. We thought it would be nice for you to have somewhere to care for Emma during the day as well.”
I couldn’t fight back the tears. “Zoe, that is amazing!!!” I hugged her tightly. “Thank you so much!”
She released my grip. “It was no problem, really.”
“No problem? I am sure you had trouble getting all of this stuff!”
“Don’t mention it.”
I exited the room and found Chang. I gave him a huge hug. “Thank you Chang.”
/> He blushed. “No problem.”
We spent the next few hours chatting and enjoying our time with Emma. Everything was perfect except for living in zombie country.
CHAPTER 17
ZOE
We were adjusting to having a baby in the house. Emma was a doll but she required around the clock care. There were enough of us here to do a share to help Bre out, although that wouldn’t last long. Mom was soon scheduled to take her place as President of the United States.
The U.N. let us know that her home was almost ready. She would be living in Fresno once again and that was purely by her choice. We hadn’t discussed the details on how things were going to work out yet. We had a house meeting scheduled for tonight to get the ball rolling. We were running out of time.
The meeting started as any other meeting except for the fact that mom led it.
“Let’s get down to business. I am scheduled to leave next week to go to Fresno. I know this is going to be a major change for us and I needed to know right now who plans on going with me. I have a large, secure home waiting for me and anyone else who wants to join me. I will be taking the kids now since they are now my kids. You are all welcome to come.”
“I’m going,” Chris said in earnest.
After that was silence. “Do you need more time?” Mom asked.
“I think we need to discuss this among ourselves. Can we take a short break?” I answered.
Chang grabbed my hand and took me outside. “You don’t have to stay with me Zoe. I can love you from anywhere. I like living in the same home as you but whatever you decide, I am ok with.”
I was torn. On the one hand I wanted to be with my mom. On the other hand I wanted to be with Bre. She and I had lived together for the last several years. I mostly wanted to be wherever Emma was.
“I want to stay with Bre and Emma. I don’t want to crowd them since I know they are a family now. But with zombies running around I think it’s best if I stay wherever they are so I can protect them until we can eliminate those demons.”
“I am with you on whatever you decide. The manor is my home now. I don’t want to leave either and I certainly don’t want to leave your side if you will have me.”
Chang kissed me. We had made our decision. Wherever I was, Chang would be. And if Bre would have me then I would stay with her and Emma.
We walked back into the room quietly. Brian and Bre followed.
“Have you all made a decision?”
Nods came from everyone in the room.
“Ok, who first?” Mom asked quietly.
I spoke up first. “Chang and I have decided to stay together no matter where we go. I would love to go with you mom but I feel like I have a duty to fulfill. My first and foremost job is to protect Emma. Bre, if you and Brian would have me then we would like to go wherever you go.”
“Brian and I have decided to stay at the manor.”
“We would be happy to have any of you stay that wishes to stay,” Brian followed.
“Are you sure we won’t be imposing? I know you guys are newlyweds and you have a family now,” Chang asked.
“I would actually be relieved to have the extra help to watch over the place.”
So it was settled, Chang and I would stay at the manor. I could see a hint of fleeting disappointment on mom’s face but she put on her brave face and smiled at us.
“Seth, Selena, what have you decided? You are both of age now.”
“We are going with you.”
“Brian, Bre, Zoe and Chang are staying and the rest of you are going with me, correct? I need to let them know today so that they can prepare your rooms.”
“Yes,” I answered. I suddenly felt very guilty but I knew I had a duty to fulfill. Besides all of that, I wanted to stay here. I loved this place.
“Ok, second order of business,” mom started.
“Wait, there’s more?”
“Yes. I was notified today that I get to assign the department heads that are open now that many have been taken out of office. I have job offers for some of you. The pay is great and you can work from home if you would like to.”
We were all astonished at this. “Go on,” I encouraged her.
“Well Chang and Zoe, I would like you to be the head of defense. You would be initially responsible for the elimination of the rest of the zombies who cannot be cured. You will be trained for any other job duties by the U.N. What do you think?”
Chang looked dazed then excitement shown on his face. “I’ll do it. What about you Zoe?”
“I’m game as long as I can work from home!”
“Awesome! Now I am starting a homing and adoption program for orphaned children. I know this is a great need since there are so many of them that have been left behind. I was thinking that would be great for you and Brian, Bre. You could design and run the program from home.”
“Yes,” they said in unison. They didn’t even have to think about it. They knew exactly what they wanted.
Mom smiled a large smile and then turned to Seth, Chris and Selena.
“I want you three to assist John with the cure. I know you aren’t scientists but I will need help with making plans to establish the cure and how to strategize who it will be released to and how. Pretty much you, as a team, will be in charge of distribution of the cure.”
“Yes,” Chris said.
“I can’t say no to that,” Selena replied.
“I’m in,” Seth answered.
“This is so wonderful. I have the beginnings of a team that I can trust,” Mom sighed. “I will have the U.N. contact you for the details. The jobs begin as soon as they can get your paperwork done.
Mom walked out of the room, beaming.
The next week was spent making preparations for our jobs. The U.N. had contacted each and every one of us to give us details of our job descriptions.
It wasn’t hard to make plans for where to begin patching America into place. Chang and I were a perfect team. We started making plans the very day we got the job.
The plan of attack was to get our armed forces and anyone else who was brave enough to help round up zombies for execution. We established teams in each city across America. Brave men and women were signing up all over the place. We weren’t offering food as the government once was, we were offering pay and we were paying well.
It had turned out that the government had been lying for decades and had hoarded so much money that there was plenty to go around. The number one priority of the United States government was to make things safe now that my family was in office.
The kids were working with John and planning to send large shipments of the cure to every nation.
Brian and Bre were making contacts initially. They planned to turn government buildings into large orphanages once the zombies were killed and the people who lived in the buildings were returned to their homes.
They were already working on adoption programs so that those orphaned children didn’t have to be wards of the government for long. Things were beginning to take shape and mom was a happy camper. She knew she could trust her family.
The day had come when it was time to move. The U.N. sent a truck and driver to the manor to pick up mom and the kids as well as their belongings. They were told to pack light since they would get everything they needed brand new once they had arrived.
There were many tearful goodbyes but we knew that it wasn’t really goodbye. It was only until we saw them again.
Now the manor consisted of Chang and I, Bre and Brian, and sweet little Emma.
Emma was growing like a weed. She was already holding her head up and talking baby language. Every moment with Emma was a precious moment.
Mom left us 3 million dollars to live off of on top of our pay from the government. We never had to leave the house because we had everything delivere
d and we were well taken care of.
Mom had called me one day to tell me that John was successful in making a cure that worked on infected people for a maximum of 2 weeks. It wasn’t as accurate as the 24 hour shot but it was restoring many people as we speak. All I could think was WIN!
It only took us a few short months to get our plans in order and working. Chang and I were able in that time to eliminate the U.S. population of zombies down to 10%. At the rate we were going the U.S. would be rid of zombies by the next 6 months. As for the rest of the world, department heads were contacting us and asking us for advice. They were eliminating their problems by our program.
The cure was sent to every nation. Many people were being healed. The kids were doing an amazing job with distribution and all their hard work was paying off.
As the population of zombies was being taken down, people were returning to their homes. The government was supplying the necessary materials to repair people’s windows and fences. Each family was given a ration of food to get them back on their feet. Businesses were opening and the economy was growing once again. There was hope for the world yet. Life was returning to normal.
As the government buildings were being emptied, they were being turned into orphanages. Many children were now safe and well cared for. Adoptions were happening left and right and most children did not stay for very long before finding a home. Brian and Bre’s program was also a success.
I could finally breathe. For the first time in a few years I felt safe.
My mom was a world-wide hero. She had not only defeated the government but she had established a new government. She was born to be president. She had gone from international fugitive to leading a country and leading it well, in just a few short months. Everyone worshiped the ground she walked on. I was so proud of my mother. I looked up to her.
As for Chang and I, were getting ready to go on our first “Official” date. I put on a dress and heels which was so not like me but he asked me to dress up, so I did.
He had plans on taking me up to River Island Country Club for a nice dinner and then we would stop at the lake afterwards to watch the meteor show.
It was nice to drive up there and not have to worry about zombies attacking. Although that didn’t stop me from having my glock stuffed in my little purse. I wasn’t going to take any chances.
Our dinner was nice and peaceful. The room was lit by candlelight and it just so happened that we were the only ones dining tonight. I wasn’t sure how Chang pulled that off but it was nice to have the restaurant to ourselves.