Blood Moon by Gwendolyn Harper (books for students to read .TXT) 📕

fire when I was in a bad spot, so I’m sure it’ll help him.”

Pulling the Ziploc bags of pills from the front pocket, he held them out for her.

“Thank you,” Debbie sighed, squeezing Booker’s arm in gratitude.

As she hurried away with the medicine, he smiled and started towards the back hall.

“And where are you going?” Caitlin asked, arching an eyebrow with a grin.

Booker slowed his gait. “Well, turns out Lucille wasn’t completely out of her mind,” he said. “The faucet in one of the bathrooms back there has a leak. Told Jorge I’d give it the ole college try.”

He winked at her, about to walk away, when she caught him by the sleeve of his shirt and tugged him closer. Knowingly, he ducked his head and found her lips with ease.

Together.

You and me.

Always.

Caitlin smiled and sighed against him.

“Hey, can we talk,” she murmured, pulling away a fraction.

“Now, I told you not t’get jealous of me and Lucille. She ain’t really my type anyway.”

She swatted his belly with the back of her hand and Booker laughed.

“I meant, about something you said last night.”

Furrowing his brow, he mirrored her pose, leaning his thick shoulder into the wall next to them.

“What’d I say?”

Caitlin’s gaze dropped to the fabric of his grey undershirt as she tried to find the best way to start.

“When we were…” She raised her brows, hoping he didn’t need her to spell it out with so many children running around nearby.

By the grin tugging at his lips and the sudden flush to his ears, she knew he’d caught on quick.

“Uh huh,” he murmured. “I remember that part very well.”

Now it was Caitlin’s turn to blush.

Clearing her throat, she was determined not to get distracted.

“When you, um… You said you thought we should be more careful.” She looked up at him. “That’s why you…”

“It’s real hard to have this conversation when there’s a paintin’ of Jesus three feet from me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Booker, what I’m trying to say is that’s… not an issue.”

“Whaddya mean?”

Caitlin shifted her weight from foot to foot.

“I mean, I…” She forced herself to hold his stare. “I can’t get pregnant.”

She waited for a flicker of disappointment or something darker to cross his expression, but instead he held still, waiting for her to continue.

“I found out years before the world fell apart,” she said. “My doctor said if I wanted to have children naturally, I’d need IVF treatments and a lot of medical help. And since I’m pretty sure fertility clinics didn’t survive the apocalypse…”

Booker leaned forward a fraction. “Is that somethin’ you wanted? Before…”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I didn’t really think about it. I mean, I like kids, but I don’t know if I want to be a mom.” She faltered. “Wanted. Past tense.”

Nodding subtly, he was quiet for a moment. Caitlin could practically see the wheels turning in his head.

“I know the world has turned to shit, but sometimes people still want those basic, biological things, you know?” She said, a nervous tremor edging into her voice. “So, if you… I mean, if that was something you…”

Booker reached out, warm hand landing on her waist to steady her.

“I want you, Cae,” he said. “Maybe once upon a time I’d thought about it, but now?” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine bringing a child into this kinda life.”

He emphasized his point by glancing around at the makeshift beds, the boarded up windows, and the barricaded doors.

“I’ve got you, songbird,” he said softly. “That’s all I need. All I want.” He smiled and his brown eyes gleamed. “As long as you’re here with me, I’m a content man.”

Relief swirled through her, making her dizzy.

She really had found a good one. In the middle of chaos and pain, she’d found a truly precious thing to hold onto.

Lifting onto her tip toes, Caitlin kissed him firmly, holding him by the collar of his plaid shirt.

Booker smiled knowingly, kissing her once more. “Love you too, songbird.”

She really was an open book to him.

“Hey, maybe once you fix that sink, we could find a coat closet or something and fool around.”

Booker frowned, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder.

“Not in God’s house, Cae.”

She laughed but he only shook his head.

“Oh, come on Booker.”

Starting towards the hallway, he called, “Nuh-uh. Nope.”

“Booker…” She pushed away from the wall, staring in disbelief after him. “Jack,” she exclaimed.

No response.

Huffing out a breath, she turned only to see Debbie and several of the older kids eyeing her.

Awkwardly, Caitlin attempted to hide her blush as she turned and aimlessly searched for Nicole.

* * * * * * *

Day turned to afternoon, and Caitlin was already beginning to feel at home.

It was a dangerous, slippery slope to stand on.

As Debbie tended to Kyle, Travis and another counselor—Jenny—showed them around. They’d seen the kitchen, but the back of the fellowship hall had been turned into a bathing station with buckets and wash cloths, and sheets strung up for privacy. Next to that was another basin clearly being used for laundry, and clothes lines nailed from wall to wall in rows.

Metal tables normally used for church functions were set out, clustered together in some semblance of a dinning room. A few of the elderly sat around one, playing a card game.

Caitlin had to admit she was impressed. They’d truly made the best out of what they had.

As they wound their way back to the worship space, Caitlin frowned as she scanned the room.

“Weren’t there a bunch of girls in here?” She asked, looking to Nicole and Jenny.

Worry made her pulse quicken. They hadn’t gone outside, had they?

Nicole smirked. “Yeah, they’re in the back,