Chapter 31 Lissa
Cam and Lissa returned to his bunker after Dolores’ arrest. He didn’t seem to want to talk, so Lissa let him stay lost in his thoughts.
It had to be difficult seeing his mother arrested and sentenced to exile.
He remained quiet when they made dinner and ate.
When she finished her spaghetti, she pushed her plate aside. The silence seemed heavy.
“Just say it,” said Lissa. Now that the Slains wouldn’t be a problem, she was free to return home. She hoped Cam was still going to join her.
“xTerra doesn’t feel confining the way it used to,” said Cam. “There are benefits to living here, like my brothers, the Watch, and the community.” He moved his chair to sit beside her and reached for her hand.
Her throat tightened, unsurprised. She’d noticed how important these factors were. “Have you changed your mind about moving to Nebraska?” She was proud that she hadn’t burst into tears and had kept her tone even.
“Yes, and no.” Cam tightened his grip, clearly not fooled by her attempt to maintain an even keel. “Don’t doubt that I want to be with you. Never that. We’re better together, but we could have the best of both worlds.”
She shook her head. Confused. “I like xTerra, but I don’t want to live here full time.” Living underground wasn’t terrible, but she didn’t want to live forever without forest, rivers, and open spaces. She felt alive and free in the outdoors.
“My proposal is that we leave here every March or April and go home. We live there every spring, summer, and early fall.” He held up his hand when she tried to interrupt.
“We can fish, garden, make jam, and sleep under the stars whenever we want. We can enjoy nature and grow most of our own food. When fall turns cold, we come back here. We’d have heat, hot water, friends, and we’re safe. ”
It could work. “We’d be together, enjoying both places.” She loved the idea.
He nodded. “Neither one is home without you. Please say yes. If you don’t like this plan, I still want to come to Nebraska with you. I’ll figure out a way to see my brothers.”
She looked across the room to where her cats were curled up on the couch. In the winter, they probably wouldn’t mind staying in the bunker any more than they did anywhere. He wasn’t wrong about the benefits of living here part of the year. “Yes.”
Cam framed her face with his hands, his lips sealing the deal. “Let’s go home the day after tomorrow. I should be here when they send Dolores on her way. Not for her, but for my brothers.”
***
Lissa and Cam left xTerra at dawn, the mist rising from the surrounding cleared lands.
Now that John Slains had been dealt with, some of this land could extend xTerra’s crop fields next year.
They traveled down the packed dirt road toward the Outpost in his SUV.
Without lingering, Dave waved them through the gate, and they carried on, reversing the route she’d taken three times now, back to Crawford and her house on the hill. Their home.
Upon arrival, they parked the vehicle as usual in its out-of-the-way spot and hiked up the hill along the path on the overgrown driveway.
Once inside the grounds, Lissa opened the cat carrier, letting Mira and Luna free.
They bounded into the overgrown yard, disappearing from sight.
The cats would be back later. She unlocked the back porch, and they trooped inside to drop off their belongings.
Everything looked the way they had left it, just stuffier. Even after a temporary absence the air seemed stale. She scraped open several windows to let the fresh summer air inside.
Cam pulled her in for a hug, and she snuggled into his embrace. “Thanks for sharing your home with me. Finding you was the most luck I’ve ever had.”
She felt the same way. “I’m glad you weren’t an axe murderer.”
He laughed, and then they got to work on the chores. Lissa checked the garden, and Cam refilled the water. The day passed quickly as they settled into a rhythm and unpacked.
They cooked dinner together on the kitchen stove.
After they’d eaten and cleaned up, Cam got out the crib board he’d made over the winter in xTerra.
Perhaps they could have found one, but she appreciated the skill and care that had gone into making one.
Lissa shuffled a crisp, new deck of cards she’d added to her belongings.
They settled in to play at their house, their home.
With the windows open and covered by screens, the quiet nighttime sounds filtered in, an owl’s soft hoot, the distant howl of a wolf, answered by another farther away.
In the forest, coyotes yipped. She glanced at the bed and the curled-up cats.
A sense of peace settled over Lissa as she and Cam played.
Her life felt so different from eight months ago when they met.
She spun the ring on her left hand, still getting used to its presence.
It matched the chunkier gold one Cam wore.
They’d both chosen something plain. They didn’t have a wedding with others.
They’d simply promised to be together and chose matching rings from a supply Robin and Kory had.
Their friends had insisted on joining them for dinner to celebrate.
For Cam and Lissa, that was enough.
She caught a glimmer of light from outside and ran to the window. Streams of green and blue filled the night sky, dancing and shimmering.
“Let’s go outside and stare at the northern lights,” she said.
Cam threw down his cards and stood. “Perfect. I’m losing this one, anyway.”
She laughed as he held her hand, and they ventured into the night together.