Home is You ('Home Is' Book One - Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 70 - Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (The Angels)

NATE

Waking well before sunrise, I got as many chores out of the way as possible....and then some. So my day and conscience would be clear.

Carol and Carl are on fence duty while Judith is with moi in the cellblock.

When Carl handed her over to me for babysitting duties earlier? He proudly introduced our baby sister by her new official names. He's been thinking hard about it for so long now. Finally settling on the first name of a grade school teacher he really admired.

"I'm so very pleased to meet you....Miss Judith Lil' Ass-Kicker  Grimes"  I whispered.

Nuzzling my nose against hers as Carl laughed and left us to it.

I finished prepping our lunch and evening meal in advance while carrying her around in a baby sling. Talking or humming to her softly.

Now, I'm getting on with the prison plans.

I've been reproducing them on huge swathes of draft paper. Layered with some carbon sheets I found in an office. Once we have a few copies then Hershel, Maggie, Oscar and I are going to work things out.

Like the best placements for veggie gardens and where to put the water systems. Sites for solar panels....and so on. Long-term goals, rather than on-the-fly decisions.

One thing I really want to focus on is security. After all? This place was built for locking people in, not really for keeping people out. Living dead or otherwise.

I've got quite a few ideas on the un-dead but need Rick's guidance and expertise on the rest.

Also want to create a proper communications system. Then get the drones up and running again. I know Carl will enjoy them as much as Mig had.

All these plans are running through my head and I let them. Because it stops me thinking of what might be going on back in Woodbury.

They've been gone for over a whole day and I'm feeling every single millisecond of it.

*

Beth sauntered down the stairs and into the common room, her face carrying a secret smile.

I've been trying to ignore her as much as possible. So far it hasn't been too difficult, as she mostly keeps out of my way as well.

Yet every now and then, when I think I'm on my own? I'll get this feeling....and peep around to find her eyes boring into me like death rays.

For reasons unknown, she sees me  as the bane of her life. Laying all the blame for her actions entirely at my feet.

Hershel has laid down the law with her and made it perfectly clear that she only has this one chance left. But I'm in no doubt....she simply won't be able to help herself. If she can have a go at killing me? Then fuck knows what else she's capable of.

She pretends, though....in front of everyone else.

Lays it on so thick that it's just stress. Our new way of living....fighting the un-dead. She acts remorseful and treats me nice as pie when there are other people around.

All of us know better than to believe her.

And now, when I spy that simpering false smile....I instinctively put my guard up.

Because, apart from me and Judith? There's no one else around to see it.

She plonked her lazy ass down at the end of the table and started talking.